Beautifully Damaged Page 4

  He nodded toward my hands. "You look good with my guitar."

  He gave his sexy smirk, which made me feel better, and I found my ability to smile.

  "Yeah about that, I really am sorry, I shouldn't have touched it. I tried not to, I did but I couldn't help myself. Please don't be mad." I fumbled over my words and could only hope like hell he wasn't upset with me. Damon looked at me, the way only he could, and I wished he would stop.

  "No worries, Ariel. However if anyone else touched my guitar I would be breaking some hands right now but for some reason I just don't have the urge."

  Arrogance colored his tone. "I actually came back to get it, I can't believe I left it. My mind was elsewhere I guess."

  "Yeah, you left like a bat out of hell."

  "Hmm… I'm surprised you noticed. After all, you hardly acknowledged me tonight." I loved his sexy little facial expressions.

  I smiled up at him. "From your tone, I would say that bothered you." I threw his words back at him and at the same time I wanted to fist pump the air.

  "I didn't like it," he admitted.

  Why is he so damn beautiful?

  He grabbed a chair close by and placed it right in front of me. Before we'd had a little distance. Now, not so much. He was directly facing me, too close for comfort.

  "Will you finish your song?"

  "Umm no, I don't think so."

  "Okay, what if I play, will you sing then?"

  I shook my head no. "I'm sorry about touching your stuff."

  I could tell by his sinister laugh, he was about to say something sexual.

  "You can touch my stuff anytime you want."

  "Oh wow, don't go there." I laughed and so did he.

  "Fine, then sing for me."

  "I'm just…. no one has heard me sing or play in a long time, Damon."

  "Come on, it's just me, we can finish the song you were singing."

  "Just you? I don't really know you, do I?"

  He cleared his throat and took a second in responding.

  "That could change you know," Damon said.

  Not wanting to take things there I said, "How about you sing for me?"

  "I sing all the time but if that's the way you wanna play this, I'll sing. Do you realize how many times you've told me no?"

  I rolled my eyes and at the same time told myself I needed to break the habit.

  "What would you like to hear?"

  "Surprise me," I said.

  He started to strum a few chords and then switched it up.

  "Your milkshake brings all the boys to the yard,

  And they're like it's better than yours

  Damn right it's better than yours, I can teach you.

  But I have to charge.

  I know you want it—"

  He tapped the guitar lightly for a beat.

  I busted out laughing listening to him sing Kelis's song.

  "A real smile, I was dying to see that tonight."

  "I bet you know all the lyrics, that's kinda sad," I said.

  He laughed. I could listen to his laughter all night.

  "Yeah well it was pretty catchy. I heard Xavier singing it to you and it made you smile. I really wanted to see if I could do the same."

  Wow.

  "Mission accomplished I guess."

  "Yeah I guess so." His voice sounded so serious; his tone changed. Damon stared down at his guitar and started playing "Fall into Me" by Brantley Gilbert. His upper body was bent over his guitar a little as he strummed the first chords. Damon straightened up on the seat where he could look right at me as he sang the first line of the song. His eyes pierced mine as if we were in a trance. There was no looking away for me. He was able to continue with the perfect melody, while I had trouble remembering how to breathe.

  A few seconds passed and he went back to looking at his hands. I think that was more for my sake than his. Damon's eyes found mine once again as he finished the song, repeating the lyrics at the end. His voice seriously made me melt. Chills ran from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. His voice could wrap around me and make me feel like I was the only person in the world. He was amazing and should be on the radio making millions. But I was so glad he was right beside me at that very moment. I had no control over the few tears that slipped out. I knew if I tried to fight them I'd only cry harder. I wiped at my eyes quickly, hoping it was dark enough he hadn't seen.

  My emotions were all over the place. Music had a way of speaking to me. I loved when you heard a song and you could feel it in your heart and soul, then you got those crazy chills from head to toe. The good kind. I loved that feeling, the emotion that crawled all over you. That was what just happened to me. I glanced around the huge empty room with just the two of us in it. I had been so lonely here by myself but that feeling of loneliness slowly slipped away with him by my side. The feeling that replaced it, I wasn't so sure about, but it was real and comforting even if I only allowed it to last a little while.

  "That was beautiful Damon," I whispered.

  "Thanks. It's your turn, a promise is a promise."

  "What? I didn't promise you anything."

  "Yeah you did, you just don't remember. I heard the words clearly, 'you sing first Damon, I'll go next I promise. Come on you're not the type to break promises are you?"

  "You're so full of it."

  "How about sing with me then? I'll let you choose whatever you want and we'll do it together." He wiggled his eyebrows up and down when he mentioned doing it together.

  "Okay, Romeo, don't get any ideas."

  "All right, my Juliet. I just want to hear your beautiful voice, can you at least give me that?"

  "Fine, but don't judge me. How about "Give Into Me?"

  He nodded his head in agreement. "You ready?"

  "As I'll ever be," I whispered.

  I couldn't really remember the last time I felt so good. He was so much fun to be around, and I loved that song. We kept making eye contact. It was insanely hard not to look into his eyes, even when I tried my best. I even had him missing a beat on the guitar, and he just shook his head back and forth, grinning the entire time. It was hard to believe he actually faltered. All the joking was gone toward the end of the song. I loved being this close, watching how he strummed the guitar. I had a perfect seat to see his masterpiece. His hands were so strong and masculine. Powerful.

  With every guitar string he strummed, I felt it as if he was strumming me instead. It was an intense feeling, one I knew I shouldn't have but I wanted more. A feeling I had never had. I closed my eyes and focused on the lyrics and singing as much as I could with him so close. When I opened my eyes, his body had moved closer to mine. He was so close, in fact, all I would have to do was lean in just a tiny bit for our lips to touch. His hand left the guitar and caressed the side of my face. His touch was so soft I could barely feel his hand against my skin, but I knew it was there. A simple touch had my heart racing and made my body temperature rise. Just a touch. His eyes flickered to my lips as he slowly licked his own. Then he looked into my eyes as if he sought permission.

  He saw my hesitation and played it off well. Damon backed away while sucking in a deep breath. He let it out slowly. I could see his chest rising and falling heavily with each breath. The entire time he never took his eyes off mine. I should have just let him kiss me. I had my heart telling me I was a fool for missing out on the opportunity to have that gorgeous man's soft lips against mine but my brain was also saying in the background that those lips had been against countless women and chances are that I wouldn't mean anything. I decided I didn't want to take that chance but at the same time I knew I would live to regret it. It was just a kiss; he didn't have to freaking marry me.

  Such a fool. I already knew thinking about that what if kiss would drive me insane. Such an idiot. Damon didn't say anything for a few seconds and looked toward the floor. I tried to look anywhere but at him. When I sensed his body move, I felt drawn to look at him. His eyes penetrated mine, and what I saw I
could never describe, but I held his gaze. I didn't know what to do or say but he spoke first. The silence, however, had been comfortable.

  "You're beautiful, Ariel."

  Once I heard those words, I quickly turned away. Accepting compliments or believing them was difficult for me. I couldn't look in his eyes any longer after that. His eyes held too much truth, and I wondered what it would be like if I gave into him.

  He leaned in and gently held my chin.

  "Look at me!"

  His voice held a tone that wasn't meant to be messed with.

  "Don't do this."

  "Do what, Ariel? Give you a compliment?"

  I shook my head at him.

  "What happened to you? You're completely different from any girl I know. I don't even know much about you, but what I do know scares me, what I see in your eyes scares me." The concern in his voice drew me in. "I watch you, and you tense at personal questions. Your body language changes when rowdy guys get a little too close for comfort. I see everything! You can tell me anything, Ariel. Anything" Damon finished with a whisper.

  I tried to look at him but failed miserably and forced my eyes back toward the opposite wall. Being afraid of what he could see was terrifying. Taking deep breaths, I tried to steady myself in hopes my voice wouldn't shake. I shrugged my shoulders but couldn't answer him. I wished like hell I could but I'd never told another person besides Grams about my past. It was complicated; it broke my heart and soul even more, if that was possible, just to say the words out loud. I could literally feel myself closing up, my walls caving in, in order to protect me.

  "Shit, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. You're right, you barely know me. I just feel so close to you, it's hard to accept the fact that we just met."

  "It's okay." I exhaled. Two words I could manage.

  "So what's your story Ariel Montgomery? Tell me something about yourself."

  Yeah right, like I would ever tell him my story. I lifted one shoulder and let it fall. "Not much to tell."

  He raised an eyebrow. "You can do better than that."

  "Fine, I hate the movie The Little Mermaid."

  He busted out laughing.

  Really, where the hell did that come from, Ariel?

  His carefree beautiful loud laugh had me smiling in seconds.

  "Really? I figured it would be a fave. Man was I wrong."

  I loved his laugh and I think I might have actually craved it.

  Then my internal alarms alerted. Something had almost gotten past me, almost. "You used my last name. I never told you it, Damon."

  My tone was accusing, but I couldn't help it.

  Damon laughed. "I did, I was hoping you wouldn't catch that." He let out a long, breathy sigh and took his time answering my question. It was almost like he didn't want to admit the truth. "So… I might have asked Big Joe a few things."

  "What did he say?" My stomach quivered from the nervousness that started spreading.

  "Nothing really, I swear." I believed him, besides I trusted Big Joe not to air my dark secrets.

  "It's been a long day, I should probably get home."

  A tiny part of me felt like I could have opened up to Damon then, but I wasn't sure I wanted to. Being around Damon was dangerous. It was crazy. I barely knew a thing about him, but I was starting to feel his power. It scared me.

  For the first time I wanted to know everything about a person; about him.

  I couldn't let this happen.

  "Yeah, sure. I'll walk you out." He stood up and stretched. "So, why aren't you singing?"

  "I do sing," I said.

  "You know what I mean, Ariel, you should be singing as a career. You're so damn talented. People would love you. You could easily get a record deal. Something tells me the guitar isn't the only instrument you can play either."

  "Just a few others."

  "Ha! I knew it," he said excitedly. Then he mumbled, "You really are something special."

  I wasn't sure I was supposed to have heard those words. I did have an amazing time singing with him, but I hated when people stared at me. Well I didn't hate when one person did it. I needed to get over some fears if I ever wanted to perform in front of a crowd. "Thanks Damon, that means a lot from you. I'm sure you know you're crazy talented." I smiled at him.

  Damon stared at me, and his eyes narrowed like he was contemplating something. He eventually snapped out of it.

  "Come on, I'll walk you out."

  The click of his guitar case when he closed it broke the hush surrounding us. As I walked down the stairs he caught up with me and placed his hand on my lower back.

  "Be careful," he whispered softly.

  I felt him everywhere, a simple touch of his hand caused shivers all over my entire body. The door was unlocked and that reminded me. "I locked the door, how'd you get in?"

  "Oh, I have a key for when I want to practice here." His tone sharpened. "But why the hell were you here alone? That's dangerous!"

  "I know. I just wanted to be alone, I guess," I said.

  "Just please don't be alone here at night."

  I nodded, turned, and walked away from him. Why did he make me feel so crazy?

  "Look, Ariel wait a second." He jogged a few feet to catch up with me. "Can we…? We should do this again sometime."

  I placed my hand on my hip, turned back around, and faced him.

  "Are you asking or telling?"

  He laughed a little before messing with his hat. "I'm asking, definitely asking." Damon smiled.

  I kept walking toward my old truck with him close by. I still hadn't answered him. I threw my purse inside and climbed in but left the door open. Just like a guy, he stopped talking to me and admired my baby. It was a Chevy C10 that had belonged to my father. Damon leaned into the cab where I could see him.

  "Wow, nice truck, not what I expected you to drive though." He smiled and ran a finger over the edge of the door.

  Something stirred inside as I watched his hand play with the door frame. "Yeah, it was my dad's."

  Shit.

  "Was?"

  I crossed my arms to ward off the chill that crept over me but didn't elaborate.

  "Did you enjoy your time with me, even if it wasn't long enough?" Damon looked a little nervous which was strange because he was always so cool and confident.

  "It was fun. I needed it, thank you."

  "Then it's settled, I would like to get to know more about you."

  Again my heart and my brain pulled me in two different directions. He needed someone better than me. I was too far gone and damaged. I would only bring him down with me. At that moment I felt like my heart could explode. I wanted to say the hell with everything, and jump into his arms. I also had a huge weight on my shoulders telling me I should run fast. Yeah, he may have been a player but he wasn't in a serious relationship with anyone, everyone knew that. He was single; it was none of my business anyway. Something clearly told me that he was a great guy and there was more to him than what he allowed others to see. Kind of like me.

  "Trust me when I say this Damon. There's nothing about me worth knowing. You shouldn't waste any time on me."

  "Ariel!" he whispered, and he looked at me sternly as if he was disappointed in what I said about myself. Well sometimes the truth hurt. I put the truck in reverse and started easing off the brake to let him know my intentions. I was done talking.

  "Bye Ariel, drive safe."

  "I'll see you soon." I pulled away without looking back.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  IF I RELATED TO A SONG, it held a special place in my heart forever. Music could hold so much power. I wasn't sure what I would do without it. It had been my coping mechanism for so long. My happiest moments growing up revolved around music. I used to listen to my grandparents and my parents sing all the time. I had wanted to learn to play musical instruments just like them and I had wanted my own damn guitar. Once they'd seen how interested I was, it didn't take long. Daddy spent countless hours teaching me to play dif
ferent instruments. He was always caring and patient. It was fun, and learning never felt like work. That was the best part.

  I instantly reached for the necklace hidden underneath my shirt where my parent's wedding bands were along with an angel charm Daddy had given me. I'd once had them on a shorter chain but people saw. They were curious so they asked questions. I didn't want to answer said questions, so I bought a longer chain that helped keep it more hidden. It made me feel worse at times because I felt as if I should have talked about them. Maybe I should have shouted from rooftops and let the entire world know just how awesome they were. Every time I tried though the vise around my neck and heart got tighter and squeezed painfully.

  I always froze. I wasn't in denial, I knew exactly what had happened that hellacious day, I had had front row seats. Denial wasn't what kept me from talking about them. It was just — overwhelming.

  A FEW WEEKS WENT by, and it was wild and busy at work. I took on some extra shifts to try and save some money. Damon surrounded my thoughts. I'd loosened up a lot around him since the night we sang together. He was always trying to get me to smile more at work, and it hadn't gone unnoticed that he wasn't trying to get the ladies' attention. I wasn't positive he ever tried; they just seem to flock toward him. I doubt there was any effort on his part. Trust me, the groupies were still around and pawing desperately after him. The bait was out but he wasn't biting.

  Trish, Xavier, Damon, Sean, and I were all sitting around the bar. The guys were goofing off and having a few beers. They talked about a new popular gym called Intensity that Damon and Sean co-owned.

  Thankfully, my shift was over, and we were about to close. The only real customer there was some older guy who sat in the corner. It appeared that he was nursing some wounds and just wanted to be alone. The guys were talking major trash tonight, and their bravery had rubbed off on me.

  The need to talk junk to Damon about all of the women falling at his feet overpowered me, and before I could actually think it through I said, "Hey Damon, why is that you keep pushing all of these lovely tramps away, did you finally catch something from one of them?"