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"I could do this all htly away His breath came heavy, and she could see he was affected as she was

"Mmmm, me too," she said as she cuddled back into his arh to eat?"

She nodded against him "You?"

He stroked his hand down her ar a kept rinned "You’re too much of a control freak to ever be a kept man"

"You doubt your abilities, Serena mine A man would have to be crazy to object to a wo forward more than ever to the month ahead"

Her cheeks warmed as she basked in his words She’d had her share of relationships Flings and all things in between, but she’d never felt as appreciated as she did in the short time she’d been with Damon It made absolutely no sense to her that they could have this sort of connection so fast, but she couldn’t doubt its legitio that extra mile to make him happy She wanted his approval, wanted to see his eyes flash in satisfaction

"I need to get you dressed," he announced

She leaned back and raised one eyebrow "What happened to keepinga prospect as that is, I can’t take you out in public wearing only the jewelry I gave you" His hand slid playfully to her ru for appropriate clothing for the next month"

"Hm to?"

"Not only do I like to shop, but I like to spend money on ladly get dressed," she said as she grinned broadly at him

As he started to move her from his lap, she suddenly re Julie, she would indeed have the cops beating on Damon’s door if Serena didn’t check in

"Crap," she muttered "Damon, I need to use the phone My friend Julie You oing to killto call the police and have them knock on your door"

Dahed "By all ress"

Serena s heart, even if her er"

"I’ll leave you to your phone call then I’ll go up and get your change of clothes fro"

He moved her from his lap and stood "I’ll take you into my office so you have privacy"

This tiers into his as he walked her out of the kitchen and across the living rooestured toward his desk

"Take asroom, so just come out when you’re done"

He dropped a kiss on her forehead and then turned and strode out of the roo the door behind him

CHAPTER 17

Satisfied that her friend was still alive and kicking, Julie hung up the phone Serena wasn’t giving any details, but she sounded pretty darn cheerful for soht in slavery Not for the first ti a bum rap

Nah

She shook her head and eyed the phone with trepidation Serena had asked if Julie had called Nathan yet, and of course Julie had lied and said yes She couldn’t have Serena thinking she was a chicken even if she was growing feathers and developing a cluck

When had she becorabbed her cell phone and punched in the number that Nathan had left as his personal contact when he filled out his card at the salon She had no idea where the hell she was calling She only hoped it was private

Cursing her nervousness, she put the phone to her ear and listened to it ring After the third ring, the call connected, and she sucked in her breath

"Nathan Tucker"

"Nathan Uh, hi, this is Julie Stanford froe place"

God, could she sound like a biggerpause on the line like he was trying to place her

"Julie, hi Hey, I’ot busy"

"No," she said quickly "II, u lad to do it," he said with easy chared

"I’"

She closed her eyes and shook her head "Did anything happen that night? I mean did I act inappropriately?"

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, she sounded like soht out with a hooker

"I don’t understand," Nathan said She could hear the genuine confusion in his voice

"Did I jump you? Rape you? Did we have sex?" she asked impatiently

"Good lord, no"

Well, he needn’t sound so appalled

"Then howwhy did I end up naked in my bed?" she asked quietly

"Goddamn it!" Nathan roared