Just One Night Together by Deborah Cooke

Five

Sex with Damoncould easily become an addiction.

Haley threw off her clothes and raced to the shower. If he took a cab, she’d only just be able to clean up after what had seemed like an endless shift. She didn’t take the time to wash her hair, but hurried out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. She looked around the apartment, thinking it looked a bit plain and dimmed the lights. It was the best she could do on such short notice to make it look more welcoming.

Maybe she should get some candles and cushions.

Or would Damon notice and think she was primping the place for him? She didn’t even have a television, although the last thing she wanted to do with him was watch sitcoms.

She was wondering what to wear when the buzzer sounded from the lobby.

Her heart skipped as if she was a teenager with a crush. “Hi,” she said, trying to sound calm.

“Hi.” One word and it was enough to melt her knees.

She buzzed him in and stood motionless, knowing he’d be at the door so quickly that there was no hope of getting dressed in time.

And maybe that was a good thing.

Maybe spontaneity and a direct approach would work the best.

This was her year for trying new tricks, it seemed.

He rapped on the door once, and she peeked through the peephole, then opened the door. If anything, his eyes were darker than before and his gaze more intense. That almost-smile was tugging at the corner of his mouth as his gaze swept over her, then he smiled. “Expecting someone?” he murmured.

“Only you.”

He looked again, his approval more than clear. “I was just going to say thanks.”

“I prefer actions over words,” she dared to say and he actually laughed.

“I was counting on that.”

Haley seized the collar of his leather jacket and tugged him into the apartment. She shut the door with one hand and turned the dead bolt, slamming him against the door with the other. She stretched to her toes and touched her tongue to his lips, then met his gaze. “Unless you’d rather shake hands?”

“Not a chance.” Damon caught her close and lifted her in his arms, locking his mouth over hers in a demanding kiss. Haley didn’t know when or how she lost her towel, but she felt his hands on her skin, caressing her and holding her tighter. He shook off his jacket and she helped push it over his shoulders, never breaking their kiss, then his hand was between her thighs. “You’re wet already,” he whispered, his words husky.

“Anticipation. I knew you were on the way.”

Damon groaned and crushed her against the wall, holding her captive as he kicked off his boots and unfastened his jeans. Haley’s hands were under his T-shirt, pushing it up to his shoulders, wanting to feel his skin against hers. They were kissing as if they’d invented it, as if they’d eat each other alive, and the realization that this man wanted her so badly was enough to drive Haley wild. She gripped his shoulders and wrapped her legs around him, hearing him catch his breath as his jeans fell away and she rubbed herself against him.

“The condom,” he whispered.

But Haley wanted him immediately. She hooked her heel around his hips when he hesitated and pulled his head down for another incendiary kiss. He moaned in surrender and gripped her butt, lifting her as he buried himself inside her. She was crushed between him and the wall, trapped between the hard strength of his body and the wall, and there was nowhere else she wanted to be.

Then he moved and rubbed against her in the most perfect way. Haley groaned and moved with him, the heat rising inside her even more quickly than before. He whispered her name and she felt like they were going to explode together as he moved faster and faster, driving into her as she got wetter. She was starving and only he could satisfy her; burning and only he could quench the flames. All too soon she was clutching him closer, on the cusp of release. She bit her lip, desperate to not make any noise and he smiled before he kissed her with possessive ease.

It was enough for her to let go and he swallowed the sound of her pleasure, even as he buried himself inside her and came until he was shaking.

“Much better than a handshake,” he murmured as they were catching their breath.

“I like how you say thanks,” she replied and they smiled at each other.

“I’m not nearly done.”

“Oh good.”

Damon laughed and threw her over his shoulder, heading for the bathroom. “You should have let me get a condom.”

“I didn’t want to wait.”

“Neither did I.”

“Didn’t it feel better?”

He put her down and gave her one of those simmering looks, the ones that set her blood on fire. “Of course it did. But I expected you to be all about safe sex.”

“I should be. I usually am.” She trailed a fingertip over his chest and to his shoulder, then traced the outline of that tattoo. “But it’s different with you. I feel wilder. Like taking chances.” She flicked a glance upward to find him listening avidly. “Trying something new.”

“It’s very hot,” he admitted quietly.

Haley smiled. “You like your partners to be ravenous for sex?”

He laughed and shook his head, then cupped her chin in his hand. “I like the contrast in you. You look so organized and in control at work, but there’s this wildcat inside, just looking for a chance to break free. It feels like a secret side of you, one that you choose to show to me.”

“Or one that you awaken.”

His eyes glowed. “You’ve never been like this before?”

Haley shook her head. “Just with you.”

His smile was slow and hot. “Good.” He kissed her again. “But I think we should use condoms. In the morning, you might worry about it.”

“I might,” Haley admitted, liking that he understood her and didn’t think her nature was a bad thing. “Thanks.”

He smiled down at her. “Come on. You know a better way to say thanks than that.”

Haley laughed until he kissed her to silence.

“I want to make you scream,” he whispered in her ear, his breath making her shiver.

“I know I’m noisy,” she said, feeling self-conscious about it. “I tend to hold back to keep from making noise.”

Damon leaned against the bathroom door, holding her close. “So, you cheat yourself of the big release?”

“I don’t think of it that way...”

“Of course, you don’t.” He shook his head, looking amused.

“What does that mean?”

“That I think you worry more about everyone else than you worry about Haley Slater.”

Haley opened her mouth and closed it again, because he was right. “So?”

“So, maybe I’m glad to be addressing that imbalance.”

“Tonight?”

He met her gaze. “Tonight.” He nodded. “Tonight, you’re the queen, and the only thing that matters is your satisfaction. Whatever you want, I’ll do my best to deliver.”

“Oh, there’s an offer I can’t refuse.”

“And that’s a relief.” He pushed his hand into her hair, cupped her nape and pulled her closer. “Because I’m ready to please you all over again. Let’s start the new year off right, Haley.” He kissed her then, one of those demanding and possessive kisses that turned more than her knees to butter.

Haley collapsed against him in satisfaction.

More, more, more. What could be wrong with more of Damon? Not one thing as far as she was concerned.

* * *

Haley sleptin the next morning. She wasn’t surprised that Damon was gone by the time she awakened, although she was disappointed that he hadn’t left a note or a card.

They’d tried out the massage oil and ended up making love three times more. Contrary to his expectation, she wasn’t particularly worried about them doing it once without a condom. She knew it was the wrong time of the month for her to conceive and she couldn’t imagine that a guy who was so fastidious about his health wouldn’t be clean.

She’d liked how impulsive it had felt.

She’d taken a chance and she didn’t care.

It was 2018 and this was the new Haley. She was going to embrace risk, be passionate, try new things.

She ran some errands before going to work, then stopped to visit Natasha. The older woman was curled up on her bed when she arrived. Haley was sure she got thinner by the day.

“Good afternoon, Natasha,” she said softly. She didn’t want to wake the older woman up if she was sleeping but didn’t want to startle her either.

“Haley,” Natasha said, the name no more than an exhalation. Her head was bare and she’d lost her hair, which made her look almost like a large child.

“You look cold today,” Haley said, trying to sound cheerful. “Should we try to get some circulation going?”

“That would be nice, thank you.”

“Where’s your chemo hat? Did you drop it?”

“It’s too itchy,” Natasha said. “I can’t bear it.”

Of course, her skin would be extremely sensitive. “Maybe I can find you another one,” Haley said as she eased Natasha to her stomach.

“You’re so nice to me.”

“It’s easy to be nice to you, because you’re nice.”

Natasha smiled. “I thought you might like my son.”

“Why would you think that?” Haley began the massage, even more gently than she had before.

“I think he’s nice. Too nice to be alone.”

“Are you matchmaking, Natasha?” Haley asked, teasing her a little.

Natasha smiled, the expression making her look mischievous. “He needs someone and if I don’t find her, who will?”

“Won’t he find his own someone?”

“He hasn’t yet and I’m running out of time to help.”

Haley didn’t know what to say to that. To her relief, Natasha dozed off during her massage and there wasn’t any need to talk about Damon as if she didn’t know him at all. She finished up and put the itchy chemo hat back on Natasha’s head and tucked her in. Then she blew her a kiss, sent a prayer to heaven for her, and headed to her own ward for her shift.

It made sense that Natasha was worried about Damon’s future happiness. It was quite sweet, really. Haley knew that she couldn’t give him that kind of relationship—she wasn’t prepared to lose her heart over anyone ever again—but she could give him something else.

Just sex, especially when it was just sex with Damon, was a very good thing.

And maybe it was exactly what he needed to forget his concerns for a couple of hours.

When Haley got off the elevator, she pulled out her phone and pulled up Damon’s number.

She shouldn’t.

She would.

“Hi.” He answered on the second ring. His tone was friendly but she noticed that he hadn’t called her by name.

“Working today?” she asked.

“You know it. I’ve got to pay for being off last night. You?”

“Absolutely. I just gave your mom a massage. She’s sleeping, by the way.”

“Thanks.” His voice warmed even more and Haley took a breath.

“How disappointing,” she said, then sighed.

“What is?”

“I prefer the other way you say thanks.”

He chuckled, surprised but not really. “That can be delivered, if you give me a time.”

“I get off at 2 a.m.”

“And I know where you live,” he agreed easily. “I’ll see you there.”

“Sounds good,” Haley said, finding herself out of breath. She ended the call and stood there for a moment, gripping her phone. Since when had she become a woman who ordered booty calls?

Since she’d met Damon.

And she had no regrets.

Look out, 2018.

* * *

Damon hadtime to feel a bit of anticipation after Haley’s call before his phone rang again. It was his mom’s oncologist.

“I apologize for not calling this morning, Mr. Perez.”

“The nurse said your hours might be different today. It’s fine.”

“Do have a moment right now?”

“I do. Let me just shut the door.” Damon closed the door to the F5F office and sat at his desk, fighting a bad feeling. He’d been restless after leaving Haley’s place and had only managed to doze for an hour or so before heading to the club. He had a sense of pending doom and that had kept him vigilant.

He had a feeling he was going to learn why in the next few minutes.

“As you know, we’ve been pursuing an increasingly aggressive course of treatment with your mom, since the first round of chemotherapy had little discernible effect.”

“It was still spreading,” Damon said.

“It is still spreading, Mr. Perez. Unfortunately, your mother’s leukemia is particularly resistant to treatment. We’re not seeing much progress at all.”

“Is there any reason why that might be?”

The doctor sighed. “Well, there are still a lot of variables that we haven’t identified. We do find acute myeloid leukemia more resistant to treatment in adults over sixty years of age, which your mom is. The other variables that are known don’t seem to apply. She never smoked.”

“No, she didn’t.”

“She’s certainly not male and she hasn’t had cancer before. There’s no exposure to radiation in her history, is there?”

“Not that I know of.”

“It’s impossible to say exactly why we’re not making progress, but her blood work makes it very clear.” He paused. “I am not certain how much will be gained by beginning the next course of chemotherapy.”

“I thought there was always a chance of improvement...”

“There is always a chance, Mr. Perez. The universe works in mysterious ways. But there are also statistical probabilities, and there is your mom’s quality of life to consider, as well as her comfort.” He cleared his throat when Damon didn’t speak. “I see that you have already arranged the power of attorney.”

“Yes, my mom insisted on it when she was home in the fall.”

“It’s probably wise to have those details arranged while everyone is thinking clearly. It means, though, that you have a decision to make, Mr. Perez, regarding your mother’s care from this point onward.”

“You think treatment should stop.”

“I am looking at six month’s of data, Mr. Perez, and the only thing that I see making a difference in your mother’s health and welfare is the calming effect of therapeutic massage.”

Damon nodded and bowed his head, then realized the doctor couldn’t see him. “I see,” he said and it was hard to force the words free.

“She was talking in her sleep this morning to someone named Marco,” the doctor noted.

“My dad.”

“And has he been to visit her?”

“No. He’s been dead for thirty years.”

“I see. Is there anyone else your mother would enjoy seeing again?”

Tears pricked at Damon’s eyes. He was being warned and he knew it. “Maybe a few people. Can you give me a timeline on this?”

The doctor hesitated for only a moment. “When we reach this point, Mr. Perez, sooner is always better.”

“I understand.” Damon struggled to think clearly. “And if you don’t continue with the next phase of chemo, what happens?”

“I think you know what happens, Mr. Perez, although I don’t think chemo is going to make any difference to the end result. Or even, really, to the timeline. The main difference will be in your mother’s comfort.”

“Will she come home?”

“Would someone be with her all the time?”

“No. I have to work.”

“You could have nursing staff come in. Those services can be arranged.”

“I’ll talk to her about it when I visit tonight.”

“She could also remain here, Mr. Perez, although you’ll also need to decide if there should be a DNR on her record.”

DNR. Do Not Resuscitate.

Damon took a shaking breath. “No more chemo,” he said in a rush, knowing it was the right choice but hating that he had to make it. “No more radiation. I’d like her to be comfortable. I’ll sign the DNR tonight.”

“I’ll ensure that everything is ready for you.” The doctor paused. “I’m sorry, Mr. Perez.”

“Me, too.”

“There are some research programs, but I don’t believe your mother is a good candidate in her current condition. The choice, however, is yours to make and I can make some recommendations...”

“No. I agree with your advice. I think this is the right path.”

“So do I, Mr. Perez, if that’s of any consolation. I’ll leave all the paperwork with the nurses for you to sign and continue as you’ve decided.”

When the call was over, Damon braced his head on his hand and let futility sweep over him. His mom was leaving him soon, and he didn’t know what he was going to do without her.

He certainly shouldn’t be having a fling with Haley.

Two nights would have to be enough.

This time, he’d say thanks with a handshake.

* * *

Haley smiledwhen she saw Damon’s silhouette in the foyer of her building.

She paid the fare and got out of the cab, almost tripping over her feet in her hurry to get to the door. Damon held open the door for her, but his expression was grim.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, fearing that something had happened to his mom.

“Nothing. I just can’t stay.”

Haley had been putting her key into the lock of the security door, but she stopped to stare at him. “If nothing is wrong, then I’m an iguana.”

Damon didn’t smile. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

The very fact that he’d taken the trouble to come to her apartment hinted that he did want to talk about it. “You could have just called to tell me you’d changed your mind.”

He shook his head, more emphatic than he should have been. “No, because it’s not just tonight. It’s the whole thing.”

“What whole thing?”

“Us. This. It can’t happen any more.”

“Okay,” Haley said, because he seemed to expect a fight from her. His gaze flicked to hers. “So, you’ll say thanks by shaking hands and we’ll just part amiably?”

Damon exhaled. “Sure.”

He was really upset. Compassion welled in Haley and she knew she couldn’t let him go home alone just yet. She put out her hand and he shook it, quickly, but when he tried to let go, she tightened her grip. “What happened today?” she asked quietly.

This time, his words were more clipped and his eyes flashed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Haley guessed. “Things got worse for your mom?”

The fight went out of his stance and she knew she’d guessed right. “There’s no improvement from the chemo and radiation.”

“I’m sorry,” Haley said and meant it.

“I signed the DNR tonight,” he admitted heavily. “There won’t be any more treatment.”

If he’d known or suspected the truth before, the reality was hitting him now. Haley waited and watched, more than ready to listen.

Damon hauled his hand out of hers and shoved it through his hair. He swallowed and she was shaken by the anguish in his eyes. “But it’s not your concern.”

He wanted to put distance between them so badly, but he’d made the effort to come and see her. Haley had to think that he needed to talk to someone—and she was the only one in the vicinity.

“You know, I’m starving,” she said lightly. “Instead of saying thanks your usual wonderful way, why don’t you come up for something to eat instead? I’m not much of a cook, but the world always looks better after scrambled eggs and toast.”

“Scrambled eggs and toast?” He looked skeptical and Haley smiled a little.

“Perfect food.”

“Not hardly.”

“I really like scrambled eggs and it’s not good to eat something heavy at this hour.” Haley turned her key in the lock, noting that he didn’t leave. “Come on. Maybe my scrambled eggs will change your perspective.”

Damon shook his head, almost smiling.

“Keep me from eating alone. Come on.”

“Just to eat?”

“Exactly. Aren’t you hungry?”

“Maybe a little.”

“Then eggs it will be.”

His eyes narrowed a little but he caught the top of the door. “You’re not going to argue with me about ending it?”

“Ending the thing? I didn’t think we even had a thing, actually.” There was no one in the lobby. “We had sex and it was great, but a thing is something else altogether.” She punched the button for the elevator, aware that he was watching her. “I thought it was one point of agreement between us.”

He made a sound that might have been a muffled laugh. “I was all ready for a fight. You know, the usual one about the future and commitment.”

“It’s not my usual one,” Haley said and stepped into the elevator. “I don’t like to argue. It’s bad for the digestion.”

Damon filled the elevator again, as much with his raw size as his presence. Haley knew he was watching her and halfway wondered if she could change his mind about sex. She dared to say that out loud. “Sex might be good for you, you know. It helps a multitude of ills.”

“So, this is pity?”

Haley laughed as the elevator doors opened at her floor. “No. I like you. I think you need someone to talk to and I volunteer.” She bumped his shoulder, then continued to her apartment.

“You’re doing it again,” he accused as he followed her.

“Doing what?”

“Looking out for others first.”

“It’s a habit.” She flashed him a smile.

He leaned down beside her as she unlocked her apartment door. “So, why is it that you didn’t think this was a thing?”

“It can’t be a thing because I don’t want one.”

“Everybody wants a relationship.”

Haley shook her head, ushered him inside and locked the door. “Not me.”

“I don’t believe it.” He took her coat and hung it up, then hung up his own. They both left their boots on the tray.

Haley turned on the lights, closed the shades and went to the kitchen. “Well, you should. It’s true. I wouldn’t lie to you and I’m not deluded.”

“It’s like the candles.”

Haley laughed. “Maybe.” She pointed to the bar stool on the other side of the counter. “Sit. It’s a small kitchen and I can manage eggs on my own.”

Damon did as instructed, still watching her. “If you were anybody else, I’d think you surrendered that too easily.”

“But I’m only me.”

“And you’re very honest.” He braced his elbows on the counter as she got out the eggs. “So, tell me, why don’t you want anything more? Or is it just that you’re smart enough not to want more with me?”

“How could you be the issue?”

“I know I can’t give you more than we’ve had.”

“I don’t know why you’d think it would be bad to have more of the same.”

“You know what I mean. The problem with coming back is that people, women, start to have expectations about the future.”

“Well, I’m the odd one out, then. I just wanted sex and I’d still be up for more of it.”

Damon seemed to be perplexed. “Why?”

“Why not?”

“Why don’t you want more?”

Haley broke eggs into a bowl, considering her reply. She’d only tell him half of the story, but it would be more than enough. “Because I know better.” He shrugged, inviting her to elaborate. “My parents had a love affair that was the envy of everyone they knew. They met in high school, fell in love at first sight, and loved each other more with each passing day. They had four kids and built a life together. They worked hard and they loved with all their might and everybody, everybody, held them up as an example of the perfect marriage.” Haley paused for breath, noting how Damon was looking confident.

“See? You must want the same thing.”

“Except that when I was sixteen, my father walked into the World Trade Center, doing the job he loved almost as much as he loved my mom, and he never came out again. My mother’s life was destroyed. Her heart was ripped out and shredded with his death, and she became a shadow of her former self. My sister and younger brother were too young to understand. My big brother didn’t know what to do. I was the one who had to help my mom get through the loss of the man who was more important to her than life itself.”

Damon sobered and waited.

Haley whisked the eggs while the skillet heated. “I picked her up every morning, and I held her tight every night. I didn’t know anyone could cry that much. She tried to put on a good face for friends and family, but she poured her heart out to me.” Haley frowned as she felt her own tears rise at the memory. “I decided then that I would never ever permit myself to be that vulnerable.” She shook her head. “I was sixteen when I chose to be the one with the career. I’d put everything into my job and that would make me happy—and no one could ever take it away from me.”

It wasn’t the whole truth, although it was true as far as it went. She quickly put out the dishes and cutlery, then put some bread in the toaster.

“But that’s not true,” Damon protested. “People lose their jobs all the time.”

“Can you slice this, please?” she asked, giving him a tomato, a cutting board and a knife. He did as requested.

“But nurses can always find a position somewhere. Look around: I’m ready to go anywhere at any time. I have all the credentials I need and more.”

“That’s what you meant when you said you take care of yourself.”

“Absolutely.”

“But isn’t it lonely?”

“I work too much to be lonely.”

Damon arched a brow, looking skeptical as he finished slicing the tomato. “So, here’s the other side of the story. My dad died when I was six and my mom was devastated by the loss. He was the love of her life and she never stopped mourning him. But I took the opposite lesson from that. I believe that when you find someone to love, you should love them with all your might, because no one knows how long you’ll have.”

Haley gave him a look. “You do not.” She stirred the eggs, which were cooking quickly, then got down some plates. She pushed down the button on the toaster, then began to serve the eggs.

“What?” He seemed to be startled that she was challenging him.

“You don’t believe that. You can’t believe that.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re alone, and I don’t believe that a man like you would be alone unless he chose to be alone.” She offered him the plate of eggs and he held her gaze for a minute before taking the plate.

“Extenuating circumstances,” he said and averted his gaze. “This looks great.”

“Uh huh.” Haley gave him a plate with toast and the butter dish. “Jam? Peanut butter?”

“Neither, thanks.” He took a bite. “Okay, you might be converting me. This is really good. Thank you.”

Haley gave him a wicked smile as she came around the counter to take the other seat. She sighed. “I like it so much better when you say thanks the other way.”

Damon chuckled and gestured to the couch. “If we end up there tonight, doesn’t that mean we have a thing?”

“No, it means you’ve said thanks. Again. No more and no less.”

He made a growly sound of disagreement but was too busy eating to argue.

Haley knew the opportunity to explain wouldn’t last but she wanted him to know that she really didn’t expect a long term commitment. “It’s like mermaids.”

“Mermaids?”

“I can like the idea of mermaids without believing they actually exist or that I’m going to meet one when I go to the beach.”

“Okay.”

“I can even like the idea that other people believe in mermaids without believing in them myself.”

Damon nodded. “But will you ever find a mermaid if you don’t believe in them?” he asked, not really talking about mermaids at all.

Haley shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t really care. Maybe I wouldn’t even recognize a mermaid if I saw one.”

Damon leaned closer, his gaze locked upon her. “What about Garrett?” he asked softly. “How does he fit into this?”

Haley was shocked. “Garrett?”

How did Damon know about Garrett?

His gaze was unswerving. “You say his name in your sleep.” He nodded. “And smile.”

Haley looked down at her plate, appalled that she had been so indiscrete. Even asleep. “That’s not your business.”

Damon grinned. “That’s what I thought.”

Haley caught her breath, hearing his implication that she was deluding herself, if not him as well. “Garrett was a mistake,” she admitted, her words husky. “I broke my own rule, and proved to myself how right it was.”

“You loved him?” Damon was very interested in her reply, so interested that Haley found herself blushing. She knew he noticed that, too.

“Passionately,” she admitted, the eggs tasting like dust to her.

“You still do?”

“Absolutely. He was The One, but he married someone else.” Haley shrugged. “That takes me out of the game of spotting mermaids forever.”

Damon didn’t say anything.

She risked a glance his way to find his eyes dark. She felt the urge to warn him. “I’ll never love anyone the way I loved Garrett.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing.”

“It doesn’t matter. I knew better, but I ignored what I knew, so the lesson is learned.”

“And now there’s only work,” Damon concluded. “And sex.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

He slanted a bright glance her way. “Maybe I like you enough to want you to have more.”

“I don’t want more.”

“Maybe you should.”

Haley felt defensive. “No. I like this. It’s simpler and it makes me stronger.” She spun to her feet and carried the dishes around the counter to the sink, needing something to do with her hands. “It’s sensible. As long as I don’t surrender my heart to any one person, I can police my boundaries. I can decide when I’ve given enough and I can stop, and I can protect myself from the kind of hurt my mom still experiences to this day.” Despite her words, Haley felt raw and vulnerable, as if she’d shared too much. She cleaned the dishes quickly, unable to even glance Damon’s way.

She didn’t know what she’d do if he touched her.

Yes, she did know.

But it was just sex.

“I’m sorry,” Damon said quietly. “Garrett was an idiot.”

“No, he’s brilliant. Handsome, brilliant, he has it all.”

Damon snorted. Haley glanced at him, her heart skipping at the heat in his eyes. Their gazes held for a long moment, one that made her breath catch in her throat.

Then Damon got to his feet and turned away. He reached for his jacket and Haley understood. After he walked out the door, she was never going to hear from him again. A lump rose in her throat, one that challenged her own claim that it was just sex, but she ignored it.

She still wanted more.

Damon came around the counter, moving with that feline grace that made her knees weak. “Thanks for the eggs and the conversation.”

“Don’t go,” she said, her voice a mere whisper.

“I can’t do this anymore, Haley,” he murmured in reply.

“Just keep your promise and say thanks,” she replied. “Just one last time.” She saw him hesitate, but stretched up to touch her lips to his. Her heart fluttered at that fleeting contact, but he didn’t kiss her fully.

He was going to turn her down.

He was going to leave.

But then he sighed and lifted a hand to her cheek, sliding his fingers into her hair. He looked at her as if she held the keys to the universe and the corner of his mouth lifted in a tentative smile.

“I’ll have to do it twice,” he murmured, his breath across her lips. “Given the eggs.”

“Of course,” Haley managed to say, relief flooding through her, before Damon claimed her mouth in a hungry kiss.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and wished for the night to last forever.

Even though she knew it wouldn’t.