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I open my eyes and see the intensity on his face

“We’re together now” His voice is fir “Neither of us is alone We’re one And whatever you have to face, I will face it with you Whatever battles you have to fight, I will fight theh this”

I s, thinking of hoanted nothingfro from Damien, too, even as I felt protected in the shadow of his arms I should have known better I should have known he would see right through me—and that he wouldn’t let me hide

“Do you understand?” he asks

“Yes”

“Does that bother you?”

I think about it, then shake my head “No,” I say truthfully “It makes me feel safe I have no more secrets from you” I’ And, yes, there was a time when that would have bothered me, but noback the layers of this man

He watchesto convince hi to have my attorneys deal with this bullshit”

“Damien—”

“No It’s your lawsuit, and I get that But you don’t have a litigator on retainer, and I have an entire tea you” He cups my chin “Okay?”

I glance down to where our bodies intersect, then look up at hiest times to have these conversations”

“It’s the ood businessman” The corner of his mouth curves up “Find your opponent’s weakness and exploit it”

I roll my eyes

“Okay?” he asks And because I am not a fool, I nod

The truth is, before, I sio away But Damien has reminded me that I aer than I think

Even better, I aer with him

I want to say all that to him, but instead I simply say, “I love you”

He pulls me forward to catch me in a kiss, and I take the opportunity to shimoing to be landing soon? Maybe I should stay like this for touchdown Might be interesting”

“Maybe you should,” he says, and for a moment, I think he means it

Then he pinches ulation Best not to te dinner warm for us”

Again, I’m reminded that she is just past that little door and could come in at any time