Chapter 31: An Interesting Night

Claire's scent drifted over him, and Damian went momentarily still.

His gaze dropped, taking in exactly how little the slip left to the imagination.

She pressed lightly against him, that same faint, deliberate fragrance surrounding them both.

Claire caught the shift in him instantly, her smile deepening.

There it is.

She'd already decided she wanted to see this arrogant man knocked off balance. And here he was, walking straight into it on his own.

Every time he'd looked at her tonight, and back at Julian's apartment there'd been contempt underneath it. Obvious, deliberate.

But underneath that contempt was something else entirely the kind of heat a man tries very hard not to show.

He'd hidden it well. Not well enough.

She traced a slow line along his jaw, voice dropping low.

"Damian."

"You want this. Don't pretend you don't."

"Claire."

He cut her off, his voice rough with warning.

She looked up, meeting his eyes directly. Something crackled in the air between them.

Up close, that same cold, disciplined face read as unbearably attractive arguably more so than Julian's.

She leaned into him, lips brushing his ear, voice barely above a whisper.

"What's the matter?"

"Scared to actually follow through on what you're feeling?"

Her mouth grazed his cheek as she said it.

Damian's whole body went taut, something electric racing through him.

His jaw tightened, some deep, unfamiliar restlessness clawing at his control.

Right as her lips drifted toward his, he caught her by the shoulders and pushed her back, firm and final.

"Enough of this."

"You're not remotely who I'd choose."

Claire, unbothered, simply adjusted the neckline of her slip and settled back against the cushions, entirely at ease.

Let's see how long that composure holds up, she thought.

You want to play stubborn? Fine. We'll see who cracks first.

Bet you don't sleep well tonight.

"Well, Uncle. You've had your coffee, said your piece. Guess that's everything."

She stretched out lazily, picking up her phone, her bare legs shifting under the hem of her nightgown as she waved him off without a second glance a complete reversal from moments earlier.

Damian had no reason left to stay.

He stood, hands sliding into his pockets, watching her with a look cold enough to frost glass.

"You're exactly what I expected. Reckless. Undisciplined."

"Don't flatter yourself."

"I'm not Julian. Whatever that was, it won't work on me."

With that, he turned and walked out.

That voice really is unfairly good, Claire thought, watching him go. Shame the personality attached to it is so insufferable.

She kept her eyes on her phone, entirely unbothered by the parting shot.

Doesn't matter, she thought. I've decided. I want him.

That gaze of his sharp, cold, faintly dangerous was unlike anything she'd encountered in a man before.

Something about the challenge of it made her want to push harder, not back off.

The more arrogant they start out, she thought, smiling to herself, the more satisfying it is watching them fall eventually.

That contrast is exactly my type.

A moment later, she heard the front door close behind him.

Claire smiled, satisfied, and got up to turn off the TV.

Her phone buzzed a string of messages from Lucas, one after another.

You really don't miss me at all, do you.

Go ahead, open your door. Let's see which lucky guy's in there with you tonight.

Claire stared at the screen, a slow smile tugging at her mouth.

Tonight really has been something.

She'd genuinely assumed Lucas didn't know her exact address.

And yet here he was, apparently arriving right as Damian left.

If I didn't know better, she thought, amused, I'd think the two of them coordinated this.

Guess everyone's decided to dig into my life at once.