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“A man is never more himself than when he is alone,” Damien says, in answer to my unspoken question “That is when the mask comes off Shut the door, and the persona drops away Alone, you reveal your soul You and I know that better than most people”

I nod, but say nothing

He brushes his lips over mine in a kiss so soft it makes me want to cry from the sweetness of it “You, Nikki, are the only person I can be with and still be alone You see me—the core of me And not only do you see me, but you love me”

“Yes,” I say, and only when I taste hout my entire life I have played a part Social Nikki Beauty Queen Nikki Dutiful Daughter Nikki But with Damien, I am only Nikki

“I am alone with you,” he says “And at the saain”

I blink away the tears “It’s perfect,” I say “You could have searched forever and still not found a better place for us It—it fills me up” The words are inadequate, but when he squeezes my hand and says, “I know,” I think that perhaps he understands

When we arrive at the bungalow, hts are still on Damien’s words and this place Iperfect Ever since his s have been just a little crazy And he’s right, this is a well-deserved respite for both of us Tiether A chance to stop the rin at the thought

“What’s that for?” he asks, brushing the corner of ertip

I lift a shoulder casually as he opens the bungalow door forabout how easily you control the universe Stopping the earth’s rotation is no mean feat”

He chuckles “Is that what I do?”

“Mht now, I don’t want the earth to stop Just the opposite Make the earth ainst his I draw in a deep, self-satisfied breath as he shifts against ainst my abdomen “I want you to make me fall apart,” I whisper “Please, Damien I want you to make me scream”

“As you wish,” he says, in the kind of low voice that le in anticipation “After all, Mrs Stark, this is your wedding day”

Chapter 2

As it turns out, I don’t screaainst his chest, h and kick as he carries me toward the bedroom

“I’ to make you screaoing to ”

“Because you like it when I beg” My voice is breathy as I repeat what he said to me on the beach