Chapter 9

**Damon's POV when Rick went to get the burger.

Damon

Rick said he was going to get food. Something about a burger. He asked if anyone wanted anything.

I said no.

Laura said she would go with him.

He told her to stay.

She looked at me. Just for a second. Then she said okay.

Rick grabbed his keys and walked out.

The door closed.

And it was just us.

I was in my chair. She was on the couch. The TV was on but neither of us was watching.

"You did not have to stay," I said.

"I know."

"Rick will be gone for at least twenty minutes."

"I know."

"So you are choosing to be here. Alone. With me."

She turned her head. Looked at me. "Yes."

I leaned back in my chair. Ran my hand over my face.

"Laura. You are making this very difficult."

"Making what difficult."

"Being a decent person."

She smiled. A small smile. "I do not think you are as decent as you pretend to be."

"What is that supposed to mean."

"It means you look at me like you want to eat me alive. And then you act like I am imagining it."

I did not say anything.

"Am I imagining it, Damon."

"No."

She stood up. Walked toward me. I stayed in my chair.

"You should sit back down," I said.

"I do not want to."

"Laura."

She stopped in front of me. Looked down. I had to tilt my head up to see her face.

"How long have you wanted me," she asked.

"That is not a fair question."

"Answer it anyway."

I looked at her. The way the light hit her hair. The way her lips were slightly parted.

"Since the fountain," I said. "Since before I knew who you were."

She put her hand on the arm of my chair. Leaned down.

"Good," she said. "Because I have wanted you since the hallway. Since you bought me that candy bar like it was nothing."

"It was nothing."

"It was not nothing. You looked at me like I was someone worth looking at."

I reached up. Touched her face. My thumb on her cheekbone.

"You are someone worth looking at."

She turned her head. Kissed my palm.

"Rick is not coming back for a while," she said.

"I know."

"So stop being a decent person. Just for a few minutes."

I pulled her down. She landed on my lap. Her legs on either side of me. Her hands on my shoulders.

"This is insane," I said.

"I know."

"He is my son."

"I know."

"He will be back any minute."

"Then do not waste time."

I kissed her.

She made a sound. Soft. Her fingers went into my hair. She kissed me back like she had been waiting her whole life.

My hands were on her hips. Her back. Her waist. I could not touch her fast enough.

She pulled back. Looked at me. Her lips were wet. Her eyes were dark.

"I think about you," she said. "All the time. When I am with him. When I am alone. When I am supposed to be sleeping."

"What do you think about."

"This. You. Your hands on me."

I slid my hand under her shirt. My palm on her stomach. Her skin was warm.

"Like this," I said.

"Yes."

I moved my hand higher. She gasped.

"Damon."

"Tell me to stop."

She shook her head.

I touched her breast. She arched into my hand. Her eyes closed.

"Look at me," I said.

She opened her eyes.

"I want you to remember this," I said. "When you are with him. When you are in his bed. I want you to remember whose hands were on you first."

"Yours."

"Yes."

I kissed her neck. Bit down. Not hard. Just enough.

She moaned. Covered her mouth with her hand.

"No," I said. I pulled her hand away. "I want to hear you."

"Damon. He will hear."

"He is not here."

She moaned again. Louder.

I pulled her shirt over her head. Then mine. Her skin against mine. I could feel everything. Her heart. Her heat. Her want.

She looked down at me. Her hair was falling in her face.

"I want you," she said. "I do not care what it costs."

"You might."

"I will not."

I flipped her onto the couch. She was under me. Her legs parted. I was between them.

"Last chance," I said.

"Do not give me a last chance. I will not take it."

I kissed her again. Deep. Slow. My hand went to the button of her jeans.

She lifted her hips. Helped me.

I heard a car outside.

We both froze.

Rick's car.

She looked at me. Her eyes were wide.

"Go," I said. "Back to the couch. Now."

She scrambled off me. Pulled her shirt on. I sat in my chair. Grabbed a magazine. Pretended to read.

The door opened.

Rick walked in with a bag of burgers.

"Food," he said.

Laura was on the couch. Her shirt was inside out. Her hair was messy. Her lips were red.

I looked at Rick. He did not notice.

He handed her a burger. Sat down next to her. Put his arm around her.

"Everything okay," he asked.

"Yeah," she said. Her voice was steady. "Everything is fine."

He looked at me. "You look weird."

"I am tired."

"Then go to bed."

I stood up. Looked at Laura. Just for a second.

She looked back.

Rick did not see.

"Goodnight," I said.

"Goodnight, Mr. Hales," she said.

I walked to my study. Closed the door. Leaned against it.

My hands were shaking.

I could still taste her.

And Rick was sitting right next to her. Eating a burger. Having no idea.

I sat at my desk. Stared at the wall.

This was going to destroy him.

And I was going to let it.