More Reasons To Run

The ride back home dragged on in silence, thick with Damon's anger and frustration.

His grip on his tie tightened with his tug until he yanked it off his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. He hadn't uttered a single word since pulling Naomi from the garden.

He couldn't even if he wanted to. Not when his head was boiling with rage that he could barely contain.

Naomi's eyes studied him in silence, this was why he didn't want to go in the first place. He saw this coming and she didn't notice his hesitation.

Sitting next to him, she could feel how upset he was. She could feel it in the tense set of his jaw, the rigid line of his shoulders, the furious glint in his eyes that occasionally caught the dim glow of the dashboard lights.

The grand estate, with its twinkling fairy lights, faded behind them rather quickly. Even the driver knew to get them out of that house quickly before Damon did the unthinkable.

She glanced at him, then away. Now wasn't the time to talk to him, she could tell. But he had defended her, something she wasn't expecting from him.

His fist was clenched on the seat next to him, eyes staring out the window as he tapped his feet impatiently. Naomi covered his fists with hers and he froze, a sigh of relief escaping him.

He had no clue how much he needed her to touch him, to let him know she wasn't disappointed in his family even though he was very much disappointed in them. His tensed shoulders relaxed under her touch and he was finally able to breathe again. Slow and steady.

Finally, they arrived at Damon's mansion and the car came to a halt on the front porch.

Naomi got out of the car first and Damon followed, maintaining a reasonable distance between them. Naomi went up the stairs, one flight after the other and Damon remained two flights away from her.

Hesitant, Naomi pulls to a stop and turns to face Damon whose eyes were hooded.

"You didn't have to do that." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze met hers, eyes still burning with a controlled rage. "Yes, I did." He replied.

Naomi sighed. “They are your family Damon..”

His jaw clenched at her words, yes they were and several times in his life, he had hoped they weren't to begin with.

“Unfortunately.” He offered.

“I mean looking at it this way. We've been married for six years and you didn't invite any of them to the wedding and aside from that, they didn't even know I was in the picture for six years. They have every right to be upset “ she reasoned as he got closer, pulling a stop in front of her at the landing.

"I couldn't stay there and let them disrespect you like that." He said simply. “I accept my fault in all this but they are the least people in my life that I would want at my wedding.”

Her heart skipped a beat, the look in his eyes was unmistakable. He couldn't let them disrespect her that way.

“But they're your family.” She adds.

“So is Clara and Amanda.”

Naomi's eyes narrowed on him, fist clenched. “That is different.”

“Is it?” He asked. “They had no right to talk to you like that! No bloody right!”

"Why?" she whispered. "Why do you care about them respecting me?"

Damon froze, his eyes staring right into hers in silence.

“I mean, you pretty much told me not to accept her invitation but I didn't listen anyway…”

“Its not your fault.”

“I’m asking why you care.” Naomi said, covering the distance between them. “You wanted me gone. And honestly, this could have been your chance to do that..”

Damon's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes suddenly intense, searching. For a moment, he seemed hesitant as his gaze moved away from hers.

“We should go to bed.” He muttered, trying to walk around her but she blocked his path.

“No. I'm not going anywhere until you tell me why you care so much! Why are you giving me mixed signals?! Why do you pretend not to care about me but tonight just showed how much you do. Tell me Damon Sinclair!” She snapped, her voice vibrating with frustration.

"Because you're my wife, Naomi!" he blurted out, his voice sharp, almost desperate. "And no one. No one is allowed to disrespect my wife."

Naomi was stunned, eyes staring back at him wide open in shock. He just called her his wife and that look in his eyes….he meant it.

“You're my responsibility, of course I care! You're my wife, whether I admit it or not. What kind of man would I be if I let you go through that? You don't deserve it. I don't deserve you..”

She stared at him, speechless, her breath caught in her throat. The anger in his eyes vanished, replaced by emotion. One she's never seen him expression before.

“Damon..” she whispered.

“I shouldn't have allowed this. None of this would have happened if I had listened to Jordan.”

Naomi is silent, it felt like a dream. Is Damon being vulnerable right now?

He exhaled, running his fingers through his hair. “What the hell am I doing?” He mumbled to himself, chuckling under his breath.

“What do you mean you don't deserve me?”

Damon's gaze met hers once more, twinkling under the chandelier lights. “Look at you. Just…take a look at you. You're…you're perfect.” He muttered

His gaze dropped from her eyes to her lips, lingering there.

“The very first day you barged into my office with those divorce papers..” He approached the landing, standing right in front of her. “I knew I was fucked. There's no place to hide now.”

His fingers brushed her chin, her skin tingling under his touch.

“Why did you stay away?” She asked,her voice trembling.

“I was scared.” He admitted.

“Of what?” She asked..

His hand, which had been by his side slowly reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek, a feather-light touch that sent shivers down her spine.

His thumb grazed the corner of her mouth, tracing the curve of her lower lip. Her eyes fluttered shut, her body leaning closer. She felt the warmth of his breath on her face, the faint scent of his cologne.

He leaned in slowly, his eyes still fixed on her lips, seeking permission without uttering a word. She gave it to him by tilting her head up, meeting him halfway.

Their lips met. It was not a gentle but a desperate clash, charged with all the tension they've both been ignoring.

His mouth was firm, demanding, yet soft. He tasted of wine and something uniquely Damon, something gentle and passionate.

His hand moved from her cheek to cup the back of her head, his fingers tangling in her hair, holding her firmly as the kiss deepened.

She responded, her own hands reaching out, her fingers clenching to his shirt as if to anchor herself. Her body arched into his like they were perfectly shaped for each other.

His other hand moved to her waist, pulling her closer, pressing her against him until there was no space left between them.

The kiss became more desperate, possessing and exploring her mouth with his tongue. Her grip on his shirt tightened, pulling her closer to his body; she wanted more. More of this..

He reached for her thighs and lifted her up, making her wrap her thighs around his waist without breaking the kiss. Trying to keep his knees from buckling under him, under Naomi's soft and moist lips, he led them both to the room, slamming the door shut behind them.

He places her down on the table, sending all the things on it to the ground. He breaks the kiss, his eyes glazed with passion, stared back at her as though pleading with her.

He could barely stand straight, her kisses had rendered him weak in the knees and unable to think straight.

He was right. He had every reason to be scared of this woman, he was right to run..

“Naomi, what are you doing to me?”

Her eyes, the way they stare at him, does things that he couldn't explain in words..

Naomi pulls him closer with her thighs, leaning closer to his body as his lips crash down on hers again, cupping her cheek.

With the length of her dress now hanging around her waist, Damon ran his hands over her inner thighs slowly, tracing his finger around her panties.

It was already soaked already. He rubbed it against her clit, earning a moan from Naomi. It felt so good she parted her legs even wider for him.

His fingers slipped under her panties and he thrusted in his fingers, making Naomi wince in pain.

Damon froze, his eyes staring back at her in concern. “Does that hurt?”

She nodded.

His face paled as he took a step away from her. “You've never done this before, have you?”

She shook her head.

Damon went dead silent. Fuck. What was he thinking?!