The Right Kind of Love(53)

The band started playing the song, and Damien and I started belting out the song. This song was a favorite of mine, and the way we sang it was beautiful. It actually made my eyes a little misty it was so pretty. When we sang, we looked into one another’s eyes, jade green to espresso brown, and we got lost in one another. It simply was breathtaking.

He was simply breathtaking.

We finished the song, and I stepped away from the microphone. The place was going ape shit. Damien walked over to me and placed a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you for that, you were amazing.”

I looked him in the eyes, like really looked him in the eyes. “No, thank you, Damien, but I have a bone to pick with you, Mister Sneaky.”

“What’s that, baby?” And there was that word again, baby. My belly wooshed again and my palms grew clammy.

“You tried to buy my drinks all night. It was a sweet gesture, but you’ve done so much for me. So the drinks are on me tonight.” I gave him a wink and a smile that held so much promise.

And with that, I walked off the stage, but not before Damien could place the tenderest kiss on my cheek.

My belly whooshed again, and this time it was a big whoosh. I felt that kiss all the way to the bottom of my toes.





Sydney

“You little cock tease, you think you’re going to fight me on this I will make you pay.” He took my hair between his fingers and pulled it tight making my scalp burn.

“No, No, No, please don’t. Please don’t do this to me. I know you don’t mean it, Wes.”

“Sydney.”

“No, Wes! Please, get away from me!”

“Sydney.” I felt myself shifting back and forth. “Sydney, baby, it’s okay. I’m here.”

“Get your hands off me!”

“Sydney, it’s me, Damien. Open your eyes. See that I’m not here to hurt you. Come on, girl.”

I sucked in a breath and immediately sat up completely startled and out of sorts. My sleep shorts and cami were plastered to my body and half my hair fell down out of my ponytail. I was covered in sweat and my body was trembling. The bile rose in my throat from what I was about to relive in my dream. Swinging my legs off the bed, I ran as quickly as my short little legs would take me to the bathroom where I violently started throwing up.

Feeling a presence at my back, I felt my hair being pulled away from my face. “Get it up, I’m here. I got you. I so got you. I’m never going to let anyone hurt you.”

His words were touching. I only wish he could have stopped Wes before. My stomach churned and I heaved some more.

“Hang tight, babe, you’re burning up. I’m gonna grab a cool towel. The vomiting finally subsided, and I sat on the tile floor trying to pull myself together.

That nightmare had to be the worst one yet. No doubt, those bone chilling text messages were the cause.

Damien came back over to where I was sitting with two washcloths. He placed one on the back of my neck and then started wiping my face with the other one.

My body began to shake and the sobbing began. He took me in his arms and cradled me to his chest. “Shh, baby it’s going to be okay. I got you.”

I sobbed on his chest for what felt like an hour. He was so caring and saying soothing things to me and tenderly rubbing my back. He truly was my savior.

Pulling away, I looked him in the eyes. “Thank you, Damien, for being there for everything. You really are an amazing friend.”

“It’s no problem, Sydney. I just wish you would let me in and tell me what these nightmares are about so I can help you work through them.” I took a deep breath. “I already know they have to do with that Wes.”

“Yeah.” I sighed and put my head on his chest again.

“I promise I won’t tell anyone. This will be between us. I won’t judge you or think any differently of you. I just want to be your friend and help you through this. Do you think you can find the courage to tell me?”

It was time. I couldn’t live with this secret anymore on my own. He seemed to really care about me, and I needed someone here that I knew to support me when times were rough. He had come to my rescue on more than one occasion when I had a nightmare, and I couldn’t forget how he’d protected me at the hospital or in the club.

But could I really do this? I wasn’t a weak person, I was strong, and I’d gotten away from the situation. I was safe. But what would happen if Wes found me? Damien already was so protective of me, and I couldn’t imagine what he would do to Wes if he tried to hurt me.

I brought my head away from his chest and looked him in the eyes. This was going to be hard for me, but I could do it. I just needed to get out three words.