Blind Her With Bliss (7 page)

Damon shot Julie a knowing wink that had her tummy doing little flips of pleasure. As he walked away she admired both his nice ass and the way he’d managed to ingratiate himself into her family. Maybe Dee was right and he was nothing more than a cool player racking up woman with his ratings.

There was definitely something dark and dangerous about Damon. Julie just hadn’t quite put her finger on what it was just yet and until then, she needed to guard her heart.

* * * *

Wind whipped past his body, but the thrill of speed was nothing compared to having the heat of Julie pressed against his back. The vise-grip of her arms around his waist spurred Damon into reckless abandon. The faster he pushed the Harley, the tighter she clung. Her breasts were crushed against his back, her legs intimately hugging his thighs. And all he could think about was getting her alone and naked. But perhaps that wasn’t what she had in mind.

No, it wasn’t
Demon
taking her home. He needed to take this slow. The afternoon with her family had been filled with friendly banter. The people surrounding her in love at the barbeque certainly didn’t seem to know anything about the sexy Jewel who’d been at Starry Knights last night. She’d skirted around questions of how they’d met through an old college friend of Jason’s with barely a stumble. But the tension in her shoulders and pleading looks she’d sent his way had communicated an uneasiness he didn’t quite understand.

Still, it was early and he didn’t want to go home just yet. The sun had barely slipped behind the tree line, throwing ribbons of color over the clouds. The day held a tenuous grasp of the sky even as the purple shades of night fought for control in the east. He wasn’t sure how Julie was feeling about her one-night stand showing up at the family picnic. He’d have to go slow until he figured out how she felt about his unexpected arrival.

 
“That one.”
Julie’s arm pointed to the house he already knew. She jumped off the seat before he had a chance to shut off the engine. “Well, that was fun,” she said with a nervous giggle.

“You ever ride a motorcycle, Julie?”

She pulled off the helmet and fluffed her hair. The corkscrew curls of copper fit her cute features much better than the black wig that had overpowered them.

“Not one this fast,”

He bit back a smile. “No, I meant
any
motorcycle.”

“Was it that obvious?” Color rose from her chest and deepened her already flushed cheeks.

“I like to be a woman’s first.”
Shit.
Even clean shaven and wearing his glasses, Demon’s persona had a bad habit of popping up at inopportune moments.

Julie stopped contemplating her toes and stared straight at him. Emotions moved over her face and clouded her eyes, but he didn’t know her well enough to read between the lines. He’d just met this wonderful woman. He hadn’t intended to scare her off.

“Julie, I—”

“No, Damon. It’s fine. I understood the score last night. I knew what this would be when I seduced you.”

He hadn’t thought her cheeks could become redder, but he was wrong.

“You have a lot of women available to you,” she said, quietly. “I’m sure they’re much more experienced than me.” She shrugged and nervously fiddled with the strap of the helmet. “I’m sure you weren’t really expecting the person you found at the
family homestead
?” She emphasized the last two words as if they were obscenities. “The Jewel of last night was more your speed. I get that.”

“No, Julie, I—”

She lifted her hand between them. “No, Damon. Seriously, you don’t owe me anything. Obviously my father dragged you into an uncomfortable situation. Well, you’ve done your social obligation. You politely got through a Tilling family dinner and now I’m home safe and sound. I didn’t mean to disappoint by being the girl next door and not the wild party bimbo you expected.” The helmet landed in his lap. “It seems I have a hard time living up to even a virtual stranger’s expectations of who I should be.” She turned on her heel. “So, thanks. I get it. Good night.”

“No, Julie, really, you don’t understand.” He yelled at her retreating back. “Julie, wait.” Damon attempted to jump from the bike, but the stand wasn’t down, and he had to juggle the extra helmet. “Damn it all to hell. Julie…” He finally managed to extricate himself from the bike and the helmets and caught her just as she pushed open the front door. “Please. I think you’ve misunderstood. Just give me a minute to explain. Then I’ll leave.”

Her arms knotted across her chest for protection.
A wounded heart?
He’d have to tread carefully. The emerald eyes shimmering in the waning light telegraphed her pain and embarrassment, but her lips were pursed thin with determination. The woman was a walking enigma. Damon suspected she had no idea how damn sexy she looked standing there, inviting him to explain himself—daring him to breach her defenses.

“Look, Julie. I’m not going to lie to you. Demon Jones is very popular with the ladies.
Damon Corey…not so much.
If you’re looking for the person I was last night, well, you’re in for a big surprise. He’s as
fake
as Santa Claus.”

The tip of her tongue darted out to wet her full lips. “I still believe in Santa Claus.”

.
“The Easter bunny, then.”

“But he doesn’t try to pass himself off as anything but the chocolate peddler that he is. I don’t think any hearts have ever been broken by the Easter bunny.”

“Julie…” Damon’s hand found its way to her cheek, his fingers tangling in her hair. She smelled earthy and fresh, and he gulped in great breaths of heaven, not sure he could ever completely fill his lungs. He gauged her reaction as he leaned in, his gaze sweeping her rounded cheeks and pouty mouth. When he brushed his lips against Julie’s satin warmth, her eyes fluttered closed and he nibbled on her full bottom lip. A sweet moan of surrender escaped a moment before she opened for him. Their tongues tasted and explored, and he walked her backward into the living room to shut out any neighbor’s prying eyes.

“Damon.” The husky way she spoke sent blood rushing from his head south, stealing any coherent thoughts. But he knew this was too important to rush.

“Julie, I haven’t stopped thinking about you all day. You crawled into my head last night, and all I’ve thought about is how to be with you again.”

She leaned back to look at him, her brows knit in confusion, her lips swollen from his assault and her cheeks flushed. She looked so damn sexy. His innocent vamp with the killer smile raked her gaze over his face, no doubt searching for deceit. But the hot desire he felt at this moment was about as real as it got.

 
“I don’t do this…” she said finally, her hand stirring the heated air between them. “
Very well.
I’ve been told I’m not good at it. I think you may have lucked out last night.”

“That’s not how I see things.” He scooped her into his arms, her laughter quickening his heart rate. “And your bedroom would be where?” He was already heading in the direction she pointed.

They passed family photos and her home office, their kiss deepening, tongues tangling and teeth nipping. Moans were shared and swallowed as they made their way to the bedroom.

Damon
lay
her on the bed and Julie’s first coherent thought was
s
ex twice in less than twenty-four hours—how very wicked.
Even when she’d been in a relationship, she hadn’t been this bold. But the man stripping off his shirt and molding to her body didn’t allow any time for her to second-guess this decision. Who cared if they didn’t know each other? He wanted her. She needed him buried deep inside her. When it came right down to brass tacks, who truly knew anyone?

“You have no idea what you’ve done to me this afternoon in this tank top and flirty shorts.” His breath was hot on her neck. “Little peeks at your back and belly have been driving me insane all afternoon. So much more alluring than the show-all outfit you had on last night. Every time you bent down, I couldn’t help staring at one luscious curve or another.” Damon’s tongue traced the shell of her ear, sending hot tremors of need straight down her core.
“And these legs.”
His wide palm slid over the outside of her thigh and tickled behind her knee.
“Long and smooth and just right for wrapping around a man.”

“You do have a way with words.”

He stared at her. “Julie, they’re not just words. I mean it. I don’t think you realize just how beautiful you are.” His fingers swept the hair from her face. “I’ll admit the wanton sex goddess cavorting on the dance floor last night definitely got my attention. But it was the compassionate woman worried over a friend that held me captive.”

The man was a womanizer. Not that she cared at the moment as he lay bare-chested on her bed, manipulating her emotions and her body into a frenzied confusion of lust. “Damon, you’ve got me here. You’ve sealed the deal. Superfluous flattery isn’t necessary.” Julie forced out a laugh.

“Julie, stop it.” Damon swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up.
“Stop putting yourself down.”
Frustration had him plowing fingers through his hair. “I’ve been used before, but it didn’t matter, because I knew the score before the game began. I just thought you were different. I was hoping ours wasn’t going to be that kind of cat and mouse game.”

“Damon, I’m sorry.” She leaned into his back, her lips grazing the hard set of his jaw. She kissed her way over the tattoo on his shoulder. “No one, and I mean no one, not even my family, has seen this many sides of Julie Tilling. I didn’t mean to reveal so much. It’s just a little…disconcerting.”

“Julie.” He turned to face her and she sat up to meet his gaze. “People aren’t always who they seem. Look at me for
chrissake
. I didn’t come here today to lure you into bed.” He laughed. “Okay, that’s a lie.” He cupped her face in his hands. “This is what I want, but not because I thought you were easy.” Pressing his forehead to hers, his breath feathered across her lips. “Don’t get me wrong, my thoughts of you today were anything but pure. But trust me when I say you’re like a very pleasant itch I’m desperate to scratch. It’s new and I like it.” He kissed her. “But it’s because I really like
you
and I want to show you how beautiful and desirable you are. We skipped several rungs of the dating ladder last night, hell, we obviously leaped without one. But it doesn’t make this any less real.”

“This is new to me, Damon, but I’d sure like to keep falling. Last night was a pretty nice leap into the unknown.” Her heart did a stutter-step in her chest.

“A gentleman should never deny a lady.” Damon’s hand molded to her breast, peaking the nipple with a pinch. Her breath hitched as Damon’s talented hands had them both naked, satin skin and power covering her before she could catch her breath. There was only him and the heated compliments whispered against her skin.

He teased her nipples, licking and sucking, pinching and rolling, sending electric jolts of pleasure sizzling along her nerves. Her internal muscles clenched, moisture seeping out to dampen her trembling thighs. His fingers tangled in the auburn thatch of hair at the apex of her thighs, her hips lifting, inviting him lower.

Damon slid seductively down her torso, his tongue and fingers taking a leisurely tour down her stomach. His tongue laved her hip bone as his thick fingers parted her folds. Her nails bit deep into his muscles as the pleasure rippled over her nerves.

“I want to taste you, Jules and I want you to see me ravage your body. Prop yourself on some pillows and see how hungry you make me.” Damon nipped at her inner thigh, and she did as he instructed. He pushed her legs wide, his fingers splaying her open.

“Like a flower, sweet nectar for sipping.” He tugged at her pubic hair with his lips.

She closed her eyes, sliding into the anonymity of darkness.