Page 67 of Deathless & Divided

“Cry.”

She made a face. “I’m not crying.”

“You’re thinking about it. Even your eyes are watery. Don’t cry or I’ll be forced to do whatever you need to make you stop. I don’t like women crying. I don’t do well with tears. Please don’t put me through that nonsense.”

Lily laughed bleakly. “I think that was the most selfishly sweet thing I’ve ever heard someone say. You’ll do whatever I need to make me stop just so you can feel better.”

Damian shrugged one shoulder. “Yeah, well, that’s me. Just don’t.”

“I’m not a crier. It’s just been a really shitty day, that’s all. I’m still processing.”

“Good. I don’t think I’d manage with a woman who makes a scene at every little thing.”

Lily wet her lips, forcing back the lingering emotions. “No, you seem to like the shadows, huh?”

“Very.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because my raising taught me it was better to be invisible and men like me don’t work well out in the open.”

“And what kind of man are you, Damian?”

“Not a particularly good one, sweetheart.”

He’d been good to her so far, even when she had acted rude or nasty to him. Sure, there were still a lot of questions hanging in the air between them and the arrangement for the marriage, but Damian didn’t once treat Lily like she was anything less than a woman who deserved his respect and care.

“And I like being this way,” Damian added quieter. “On my own time, doing my thing. I get to choose where I’m going from here but at the moment, and probably for a long while, I’m going to stay just as I am because I’m good at it and I enjoy it.”

Lily considered his words for a brief moment. She liked that he didn’t have a desire to be front row and center like everyone else seemed to want. He was content in his place, even if Lily didn’t like what his statements about his profession implied.

“Why did you join the Outfit?” she asked, honestly curious.

“I didn’t know anything else and I didn’t really want to. It was the only family I ever trusted enough to want to protect.”

His frank, straightforward answer took her by surprise.

“Do you still protect it?”

Damian smiled. “The most important parts. The parts I think should be kept.”

Lily didn’t respond because she really didn’t know how to. Damian tugged off his suit jacket and loosened his tie before kicking off his shoes. When Lily still didn’t make an effort to remove her own heels, Damian bent down, lifted her right foot and slid off the stiletto. His fingers ghosted along the arch of her foot before he dropped it back to the floor and repeated the motions with her left side.

Instead of standing when he was done, Damian stayed down on his one knee as the warmth of his hands skimmed over her calves. His touch traveled higher until his palms rested along the back of her thighs and the tips of his fingers pressed into the hyperaware skin under her dress. Desire swept over her senses like a tidal wave, dragging her under the current quickly. She didn’t think it was a devastating feeling but instead, heady and lovely.

“It’s been a long day,” Lily said.

“It has.”

“I suppose I should thank you for taking care of me today.”

Damian’s lips curved into a sinful smirk and his blue eyes glimmered with wickedness. “I didn’t mind.”

“And that kiss was … nice,” Lily said. “Before the whole killing thing, you know.”

“So you said.”

“I’d like to do that again. With you, soon.”