Healing Love: A Billionaire Romance (Forever Us Book 2) Read online

  The innuendo isn’t lost on her as she eyes me promising retribution, and mumbles under her breath, “I’m sure, Mr. du Sky, as the CEO, you’ve better things to do. I can complete this project with my team.”

  No, no, no she won’t get rid of me that quickly, but I do respect her attempts.

  “Mr. du Sky, what do you say? Should we nominate someone else?”

  A grin pops on her face, and I raise my eyebrow at her.

  “I’m well aware what my responsibilities are, Miss du Mont, but I’ve made my decision and stand to it. It’s the most important project so far. I want to be personally involved.”

  Her chest bends over the table, her eyes staring me down. “I’m sure with your abilities, we’ll finish it in no time, then.”

  “Thank you for trusting my abilities. We agree firstly and most importantly on quality.”

  Her eyes narrow at me, she reclines in her chair and counters, “I should know better than you what quality is, Mr. du Sky, as you should know better about quantity.” Her accusation slices through me. I shut my eyes for a second while she keeps raining blows. “I mean with all the projects you’ve remarkably completed, you earned a reputation for your quick ability to adapt to a growing market demand.”

  My remarks dry in my throat. Her tone doesn’t waver, but her posture speaks of hurt and disgust, her nose scrunching, her eyes burning with accusation. The truth behind her words crushes me. This would be the greatest problem to overcome between us. I’ve no idea how to offer her security and gain her trust again. I run a hand down my face. Fuck, it’ll be harder than expected.

  “Miss du Mont, I’m sure you can correct me every time you think I don’t rise to the necessary quality requirements. Let me assure you, though, I’m all about quality these days.”

  A storm gathers inside her, and her jaw twitches.

  “Both of you complement each other well. I’m confident that in a short time, we’ll celebrate your success,” George raves, Bria’s eyes crinkle, and he smiles at us as he watches our interaction.

  “I’d like to inform you all that I’ll take into consideration leading the American division,” she says, and my chest knots up.

  Over my dead body! Not as long as I have anything to say about it. You’re not running again, never again.

  I grit my teeth and grumble through a heavy breath of air, “It’s too soon to discuss this matter.”

  Anger blazes in her eyes, her face turns red, but as she opens her mouth, George adds, “I agree with Mr. du Sky.” She purses her lips, discontent etched in her gaze. At least her father backs me up because the others narrow their eyes at us as she’s the best choice.

  “If no one has something else to add, I’ll end this meeting. We’ll reschedule when Miss du Mont and I finalize the project. Thank you all for your good work.”

  Everyone rises to their feet, shaking hands, partaking in small talk. Sophia and Filip rush to Bria. When she embraces them, they freeze.

  I glance at my watch, five minutes, and then I’ll get her. She talks to her father and mine, her feet pointing to the door. A low growl escapes my mouth, she intends to leave me standing behind, questioning. Not this time around. Bria heads to the exit, and I request, “Miss du Mont, I’d like to have a word with you, in private.” Her shoulders tense up, and she halts. She turns around, shooting me a fiery look. The remaining scamper away leaving us alone. It excites every nerve ending in my body. She stares at me, peeling every layer of my insides until there’s nothing left on me untouched. I gesture toward the chair beside me. As I thread my fingers through my hair, I ask, “Are you afraid I’ll bite? Please take a seat.”

  But neither of us moves. She tilts her head and locks her hands over her chest. My attention skips to the valley of her tits peeking from under her cleavage. She notices and points toward her eyes. Later, buddies.

  “What do you want, Damien?”

  “You.”

  “Me?” Her eyes widen, and she points at herself. I fist my hands at her incredulity. It’s her I’ve wanted since the beginning of any atom formation in my body. Why spite me like this?

  My eyes bore into her, and my palms land flat on the table, my upper chest bending forward. “Yes,” I declare, and she strides toward me. She halts in front of me, only inches separating us. Her sweet perfume tickles my nose, enveloping my senses.

  Bria rises on her toes and whispers to my mouth, “You’ve lost your mind.”

  “I can’t deny it as you’re the motive behind my craziness, my love.”

  She snaps her head to the side, her jaw set. “So we’re clear, I’m not your anything.”

  I dip my head, tuck a golden-brown hair behind her ear, my mouth caressing her lobe, and confess, “You’re right, Bria, as you’re my everything!”

  She pushes me off, her hands cupped together over her heart. “Stop it, dammit. What’re you doing?” So many emotions pass through her hazel eyes, and my voice drops to dejected.

  “Is this how things will be from now on?”

  “What do you mean?”

  I run my fingers through my hair and shut my eyes. I breathe through my frustration, “In case you forgot the night we spent together before you left me standing there like a complete idiot, you let me have you, all of you. I want it back.”

  She waves a hand in front of her, biting on her inner cheek. “It was a mistake. I got carried away.”

  This woman, this incredible woman, this woman I love with the heat of a thousand suns drives me crazy!

  Breathe in and out, Damien. You know she loves you.

  She’s just hurt because you fucking hurt her.

  DAMIEN

  I yank at my shirt button. The room cages me in, and I stumble backward.

  My jaw drops and my eyes narrow at her. Bria’s stubbornness burns in her hazel eyes, spatting with me. The mental calming from a few seconds ago fades away.

  “You got carried away? You won’t have a problem with me testing your theory then?”

  Her eyes widen, and she stutters, “What?”

  I lift my hand and caress her cheek with one finger. Like I hoped, a breath flees her body and goosebumps erupt on her skin.

  “It’s damn warm, Bria. Are you cold or is it because I touch you and your body responds?”

  Her breath speeds up, and she mumbles, “You’re a bastard.”

  She smacks my hand from her face and stomps toward the window. She’s mesmerizing, strong yet vulnerable. I come undone. I can’t play this game anymore. What I need is to touch and feel her. Unable to control myself with her near me, I falter and reach to her pure perfection wrapped in beauty.

  The way I affect her puts me on my knees. She leans in, and I lock my hands around her waist, squeezing her to my chest. I bury my face in her soft hair. I’m a gone man in the land of paradise. This woman is my world, maybe she’ll allow me to be her sanctuary. She rests her head on my chest and says, “Why won’t you release me? Why can’t I be free from you? Let me go!”

  “I can’t. I simply can’t, baby. I don’t want to either. You feel so right in my arms. Why let go of my world?”

  She disentangles herself from my arms and stares out the window. “The sad part is I’ve no defenses against you. It’s cruel. I’m the puppet, you’re the puppet master. I don’t want it to be this way. To be honest, I hate it.”

  Her confession pulls at my emotions. It’s not what I wish to hear from her. I want to be everything else, but not that. Is this what she honestly believes? That I have power over her? Is she blind? I spin her toward me and cage her between my arms.

  “You don’t mean it.”

  Her head and shoulders sag. “But it’s the truth. What am I to you if not a toy you forgot in the closet but then remembered you had it after years of letting it rot?”

  I cup her face in my hands and kiss the few tears rolling down her face. “Why are you so cruel? How much longer do you intend to put me through hell? Not that I don’t deserve it.”

 
“Why don’t you leave me be? You can crawl back on your own out of the hell you say I put you in?”

  I set my forehead on hers. “I’ll endure it until you lead the way into a life I want to live because you’ll be at my side.”

  She peers at me, through wet, long, and velvet like lashes. “Why do you do this? Do you enjoy torturing me, Damien?”

  “I’ve missed you like I haven’t seen the sun for thousands of months, Bria. Here you are, and the pain was all worth it.”

  Her forehead creases as she draws her lip through her teeth. “You’re a masochist.”

  “At last something we agree on.” I smile, her lips curl up, and my heart jolts awake.

  The energy between us shifts around us, and she pokes me in my ribs.

  I dip my head while my thumbs caress her neck. My intention is clear in my gestures, and her tongue pokes out and wets her lips. I take it as an invitation and cup her face between my hands. I trail kisses starting with her forehead and whisper, “You’re so sweet when you frown as if in deep thought. I love it.” I kiss her eyes. “Your eyes captivate me. Whenever you look at me, I’m lost in their depths and locked in your soul. You have the most attractive nose.”

  She huffs, her snub nose scrunches, and the corners of her eyes crinkle in amusement. “Now you compliment my nose. Are you going to describe my entire anatomy, too?”

  “Why not, and you have a beautiful nose. It’s delicate, soft and symmetrical, all without rhinoplasty.” She nudges me in the stomach, and my mouth grazes her cheeks. “But do you know what my favorite is?”

  “No, I don’t, but I’m sure you’ll tell me. You’ve always been a spoiler.”

  “Smartass, but I better show you.” I plant my mouth on hers. She crosses her hands around my neck and tips her head back. I nibble on her neck, bite, kiss, and lick the sensitive flesh until she writhes in my arms. I kiss her long and demanding with my hands clasped around her waist. My lips devour her moans, while I alternate between biting and sucking on them.

  I scoop her in my arms and lay her on the conference table. I slide my hand up her skirt and strike her leg. “If you dress like this every day, I won’t be able to stop having these vivid images of me ripping your clothes off, and in our line of work we can’t afford to lose focus. Will you wear a sack when we’re in a meeting, although when I think about it, it would be easier to peel off.”

  She throws her head back, her laughter echoing in the room, and my heart leaps in my chest.

  “You’re exaggerating, Damien. If Rebecca hears you . . .”

  She isn’t around to preach about how a woman can dress however she wants, and men and society should stop sexualizing and objectifying women. I agree with her. Growing up with her and Sophia, I would never dare to denigrate any woman.

  But Bria! She’s mine, as I’m hers, possession scratching on madness.

  “Don’t tell her you reduce her son to primal urges when I’m around you.” I wink at her, and she shakes her head at me. “But you see I’m not, I’m just crazy about you. Have I told you I’m smitten with your laugh? It’s music to my ears.”

  “A poet too. Who are you?”

  “A man in love. Your skin, it’s like an addiction. I need to touch and mark you. I can’t stop wanting you, claiming you. You’re mine, Bria. You can fight me, but I won’t let you go. Not this time around.”

  She puts a hand on my face and confesses, “I’m always lost to you. It’s a losing battle fighting with myself over you.” Her nails crawl down my back, and my palm rests on the inside of her thigh, my teeth grazing her neck.

  She bites down on my earlobe and I demand, “How do I make you feel? Hmm?”

  “Like there’s nothing else except you, and with you I’m reborn. Every time you touch and look at me like you have the most spectacular view in front of your eyes, I light up.”

  “Tell me what I can do, so you never doubt me again.” I rest my forehead on hers and clasp her shoulders. “It kills me when you eye me as if questioning if I’m telling the truth or not. I’m crazy and mad about you. You’re all I think about, want and wish to love. Forever you, forever us.”

  Like the universe wishes to mock me, my smartphone rings. I would’ve ignored if I didn’t leave it on the table. As we both angle our heads to my phone, I cuss at the name of the person calling me.

  I don’t know what I expected but not her doubling over with laughter, hysteria bubbling inside her.

  “I am so stupid. Congratulations, you almost fooled me again.” She claps her hands in front of me. “You’re phenomenally good at fooling me.”

  She jumps to her feet and shoves me, storming away, shouting over her shoulders, “Stay away from me.” Bria bends and grabs her purse from next to her chair leaving me standing there in utter bewilderment. Until I process what happened and try to stop her, she’s gone. I rush out and press the button for the next elevator cursing under my breath.

  I bolt out of the building, and a pang of hurt and jealousy strike me as I catch her in the arms of my archenemy with Sophia standing next to them. Anger consumes my insides watching her beaming in his embrace. Where is the disturbed woman who stormed out of the room? All I observe is a put-together and extremely satisfied Bria in the arms of another man. I rake a hand through my hair and growl. She has the nerve to tell me I’m not trustworthy when she doesn’t even allow me to explain myself. Their conversation boils up the blood in my veins. I could cut my ears not to hear them, and my vision blurs with the volcano of emotions swirling inside me.

  “I’ve missed you so damn much,” he says, pressing her to him, and she giggles. She giggles.

  “Alex, I need to breathe.” He puts her down while I breathe in and out, calling for a calmness that refuses to show up.

  “Yes, right, sorry. I’m just relieved to see you. I was going crazy not knowing where you were.”

  “I’ve missed you, too,” she says and hugs him again while his head sinks to kiss the top of her hair.

  “You look amazing. Don’t disappear on me, again.” Hurt encompasses his words. I stand immobilized, torn between anger and love.

  “Thank you. I promise I won’t.” An unspoken agreement passes between them, and their intimacy goads me.

  He folds his arm over her shoulder. “Let’s go home, Bria, it’s packed with an outrageous amount of stuff that came today.”

  She elbows him, and they burst into laughter. “I was gone for three months. What do you expect?”

  “I’m just glad you’re back. I hope you’re not tired. It’s going to be a long night.”

  I fume at picturing them together in a room, and rage tears at my insides. I stride to them. Not so quickly! Not as long as I still walk and breathe. “Bria.”

  She twirls on her heels, her cheeks heating, her hands and eyebrows shooting up. “Honestly, Damien, what now? I’m sure there’s nothing left for us to talk about.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  Sophia links her arm under my elbow and pleads, “This is not the right moment. Let her leave. They haven’t seen each other in months.”

  My eyes narrow at her. It’s incredible that the suggestion comes from my sister.

  “Bria.” My eyes bore into her where she detects my determination. Fuck if I were to leave without her. Frustration flickers in her eyes, and she stomps her feet on the concrete.

  “You’re impossible.”

  “Get in the car, please.”

  She steps in front of me, and Alex gets between us. I crane my neck and glance at the burning sky.

  “No. She’s coming with me. You can finish whatever craziness is between you some other time.”

  She rests her palms on his chest, and I cram mine into fists in my pockets.

  “It’s okay. It won’t take long.”

  “But, Bria.” Lines burrow between his eyebrows and my body trembles with a mix of violent emotions I barely keep sealed inside.

  “I’m just supposed to stand with crossed arms while this madman t
akes you with him? I thought you got better!”

  Both Bria and Sophia shout at him at the same time, and his eyes widen.

  “You yell at me for saying the truth, while this one gets his way?”

  If anyone witnesses this scene, we would all lose our credibility and respect in front of the persons who view us as professional, capable persons to lead international companies. We’re also humans and not fucking heartless robots.

  “Stop it, all of you. We’re in the parking lot. Everyone knows who we are,” Sophia interjects, and we snap our mouths shut.

  “Don’t worry, Alex. Trust me, please.” Affection pours out of Bria’s mouth, and her eyes plead with him for understanding.

  My heart tears inside my chest. Why don’t I get one of those strokes from overstressing? I’m such a pussy, which isn’t politically correct. I’m a man on an emotional rampage. I admit it. Feel better? Hell no.

  “Fine, have it your way, nothing new, anyway. I’ll wait for you at home tonight.”

  My patience evaporates, and I growl, “I don’t want to be the bad guy here, Alexander, or actually scratch the politeness as I don’t give a fuck if I’m that guy. Bria will come home to you only after we settle everything between us. Whatever this is, it can’t go on. We both deserve a life, and we’re unable to have one as these unfinished things between us choke the life out of us. Now, could you get in the car, please, or I’ll carry you because I can do both.”

  Her jaw drops, she shakes her head at me, her eyes glowing, and puffs, “You’re impossible. Ugh!”

  “Bria, Dad comes today. What do I tell him? That he kidnapped you in front of my eyes?”

  Bria rolls her eyes at him and then she tilts her head to me, sorrow enveloping her features.

  “He won’t hurt me. He shredded my heart once, and I survived it. What can he do worse than that? I’ll be fine. For once, he’s right. We can’t go on like this, it’s not healthy. Dad will understand. He knows I have to end this.”

  She rises on her toes and kisses him on his cheek. A low grunt leaves my mouth. I would’ve lost it right here if the intimacies between them continued. She embraces Sophia, their eyes shining with the promise of a new start. Their gestures speak of forgiveness, love, and friendship.