Chapter 17

When consciousness returned to me, I was alone. The bed was empty except for me. My clothes were still thrown all over the floor. I clutched the blanket to my chest, covering my bare body as I sat up in bed.

It took a minute until I realized where I was and what exactly had happened. Once I did, I fell back into the pillows with a big oof. I was still in disbelief over what happened.

My arms were covered in red marks, and I was sure the rest of my body was much the same.

His voice still rang in my ears, my name the last thing I heard as he repeated it over and over before I finally fell into an exhausted sleep.

I felt like I had been run over by a truck; there was not a single part of me that wasn’t bruised or aching. I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was already well past noon.

I was lucky I had the day off today. I was going to need time to recover.

It took me a while to muster up the strength and energy to get out of bed, take a shower, and peel my clothes off the floor.

Once I was dressed, I headed into the kitchen, my stomach rumbling for sustenance. But it turned out, I didn’t need to.

On the counter sat a simple black mug and three pancakes in an even row on a plate. Butter and syrup had been left out. The apartment was strangely quiet.

I frowned, gazing around the empty apartment in case Damon suddenly showed up to claim the food. With a shrug, I approached, squeezing onto one of the kitchen barstools. There was a note left to the right of the food, and I read it as I took a sip of my cooled coffee.

‘Addie,

I made breakfast and coffee. Have as much as you want. I had to leave on a business trip for a week and a half, but I’ll be back in time to have our wedding. We’ll need to have some kind of ceremony if we want the press to stop being so nosy. Sorry for leaving without telling you, but you were too cute to wake up.

Chapter 17 -Damon’

I nearly choked on my coffee, my face burning bright red at the last words. Cute? Me?

I crumpled the note in my hand and dropped it to the side. I glanced at the pancakes. Topped with strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream.

He really knew me too well. And he thought I was cute. How long had he thought that?

I wasn’t really sure how to feel about everything that had happened. Last night was… impulsive.

Most of it was a blur once I had shut my brain off. All I could remember was the feelings.

It wasn’t bad, though. I thought blushing as I drank the rest of my coffee. Damon knew what he was doing, and while I felt exhausted, I also felt extremely satisfied.

to stop thinking and sighed, rinsing

of coffee from the still-full pot when I spotted. something large and

mug in my hand at the figure as if that would stop an intruder. The man screamed as soon as I did and somehow caught the mug in

in here? Get out!” I screamed, rounding on the man as I grabbed the

protect me.

whoa!” The man raised his hands in defense, the cup still

cool. I’m Peter, I’m Damon’s friend,” he said with his hands. held up in surrender. The man before me did not look like a

movie, a comic book,

Chapter 17

are you doing here?”

and gentle like he was trying not to spook me. I appreciated it, but I also

ex-marine.” Peter explained, slowly. “Damon sent me to watch over you while he’s gone. To make sure you’re safe. I didn’t think you’d be up

that Peter was still very much a stranger as I set down the

me, thinking I’d be happy about the

I was not.

of oranges sitting on the counter and threw them at him, one by

He looked like a kicked puppy as he followed me around everywhere but

was almost 3:00 by the time I was ready to leave the house, but Peter didn’t seem to mind the slow morning, all smiles

was dressed in a black suit with black sunglasses, looking

go home, you know,” I grumbled, unhappily as we left the

casino.

He popped the P, still grinning like a mad fool. “Damon would kill me if I left you alone.”

be doing me a favor,” I mumbled under my breath. As soon as I took a single foot outside, however,

the bushes was

Chapter 17

me behind his huge body. I huffed but was secretly glad not to be harassed

take the backdoor,”

I protested as he ushered me through the

it up later. I’m taking you back to your house

bewilderedly but Peter was a master of his craft. His smile

he led me through the gardens. I didn’t have time to stop

to be staying in the penthouse?” I asked, still not following the

to the car for me. I got in

covered any hint of sunshine, seeming dark and depressing

his sunny disposition was just a cover

turns at 50 mph. Enough that I

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