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Telling myself that, I open h this time I do not touch This time I ait for Damien, because I know that he will take what he needs from me, just as he lets me take what I need from him

A moment passes, and then another Finally, he speaks “I will pay,” he repeats, as if he is responding to a question I just posed He has been facing straight ahead Now he turns to look at er flat, but fierce “You say that you’re strong enough to handle seeing that shit with me and Carmela, and I believe you But this … no”

“I can handle whatever co “With you beside me, you know I can And so will Jamie She ets it And she understands what it will cost you to pay extortion money And, Damien, it’s not even your choice The file was sent to Jaes a twisted smile “You and I both knoho they expected to pay”

Since I can’t argue the point, I don’t “Even so, it’s not your decision”

“I’ it my decision”

“Dammit, Damien—”

“No She made bad choices? She damn sure did But she’s turned it around She doesn’t deserve this And I won’t have her tossed out there to the wolves anyfor your friends Not when I can fix it”

“It’s blackmail”

“It is, yes” He takes my hands and pulls me close “Dammit, Nikki Do you think I didn’t see?” He brushes my cheek, and I shiver from his touch “You were fine when it was just about us—you can stand it because you’re strong, and because you’ve stood it before But where Ja pain for a friend—baby, do you think I don’t knorecks you? Don’t you know by no clearly I see you?”

I nod, my eyes flooded with tears, because I do knoell he sees me Just like I know that Damien will do whatever it takes to protect me and mine, no matter how much a sacrifice that protection is

But this isn’t a sacrifice I want hih it So long as I have you to anchorthat you did so it will chip away at the core of the uish on his face

“I love you,” I whisper, but I barely get the words out before hisAnd I know that I was right—Damien will always take what he needs from me, and he knows that it is already his

“Nikki” My name is a moan, and I cannot respond Not when he has clai and tasting, so deep and wild and hot that I can feel the power of this kiss reverberate through h I will die if I don’t feel his hands upon hly so that le inthe back of my head as he bruises my mouth ild kisses