Disclaimer: I don't own them except for the kids!
Damien's hands flew over the keyboard of his computer as he sat in his office that Monday. His light green silk tie was already loosened a bit as he held a bagel he had taken off of the sideboard that morning before he left the house between his teeth. The peach jelly he had quickly smeared on top of it before he left the house stuck to his upper lip. It was one of his favorites. It also reminded him of Randy when she would lean close and tease him. That scent followed her everywhere, just like the lime scent he associated with Angelina. The clean fresh smell would permeate the air whenever she was nearby, tickling his nose and slowly driving him insane. He squinted at the monitor, reading what he had just typed. He frowned around the bagel. "I never was that good at apologizing," he thought as he reread what he wanted to attempt to say to Angelina. "But just watch me screw this up too. I don't seem to pass up an occasion to stick my foot in my mouth. There's not a choice in this matter though. You have to do it. You were out of line and that's what's grating on you."
He blinked. All he could see was that stricken expression on her face at their last encounter. He wanted so badly to erase that. The guilt from his words ate at him like acid. He could agree with Vaughn though. "I am such a coward when it comes to women," he thought with a derisive snort, almost choking on the bagel in his mouth. He took it out and set in on the napkin on the edge of his desk. "Yeah, killing yourself will do a world of good, Damien," he muttered under his breath as he leaned forwards in his chair and started typing again. He didn't hear his door open. "I'm busy," he said, not looking up.
"I can change that."
His eyes shot up to Claudia's as she leaned against the door. A smirk was touching her lips as she turned the lock on his door. His mind registered what she was wearing, a sheer white blouse with a short silky skirt in deep blue green. The shirt was sheer enough for her skin color to show through as well as the smooth outline of her bra. He swallowed hard and felt his palms sweat. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice faint.
"That should be obvious, darling," Claudia drawled as she approached his desk. She braced her hands on it and leaned forwards, looking into his wide aquamarine eyes. "I want you."
Damien shot out of his chair and pushed his back against the wall. He eyed the door behind her for a moment before looking back at her. She was leaning forwards on his desk, her eyes glittering wickedly. He rolled his lips inwards and shook his head. "That doesn't answer my question," he said as he loosened his tie.
Walking around his desk, she plucked the buttons from her blouse, one by one until a strip of skin showed between the folds. An amused smile touched her lips as he took several steps away. "Don't you want me, Damien?" she cooed as she shrugged her shoulders, letting the sheer material fall to the floor. She kicked it away.
Aquamarine eyes went to the shirt on the floor of his office before raising them back to hers. "Would you please put your shirt back on and leave?" he pleaded, not at all ready to handle this situation. He hadn't thought of a viable way to get Claudia out of his life. He had been too busy trying to figure out a way to apologize to Angelina. He pulled his chair in front of him, blocking her path to him. "Please, Claudia, put your shirt back on?"
"You haven't answered my question yet? Don't you want me, because I most certainly want you," she said as she propped her hands on her hips and thrust out her breasts.
Damien squeezed his eyes shut, wishing he didn't remember what she felt like, what she tasted like, what she sounded like when he made love to her. All that silky skin under his fingertips and those soft rosy lips that begged to be kissed, and that thick luxurious hair that would wrap and slide around him. His eyes popped open. "I don't have time for this, Claudia, as attractive as you may be," he said as he resolutely pinned his eyes to her face.
With a wounded look, she covered his hand on the back of the chair with hers. She trailed her fingers up and down his bare forearm since his sleeves were already rolled up. A knowing smile crossed her lips. "Oh come on, Damien, I know you do. You must if you're trying to ignore me."
"I don't want you," he said as he pulled his hand from under hers. Chills were running up his arm from the caress. "I don't want anyone," he replied as he took a step away from his chair.
"Then kiss me and prove to me that you don't want me, and I'll show you how wrong you really are," she threw out, challenging him. She tilted her chin up and looked at him. "I dare you to prove me wrong."
"I will do no such thing," he snapped, furious at himself because he couldn't stop looking at her and insanely angry for letting her get to him like she was. "Get your shirt and leave me alone. I've worked too hard to pull myself out of the depression you sent me into the first time," he said as he pushed the chair out of the way and took her by the shoulders. "What the hell do I need to do to get you to leave me alone and stop driving me insane?" he growled, shaking her slightly.
Smirking, Claudia grabbed him by the shirt collar. "Kissing me," she replied as she yanked his mouth down to hers.
Heat surged through him as soon as her mouth touched his. Those supple lips of hers were parting to tease his with the tip of her tongue. His own resolve crumbled a bit under the onslaught, but he managed to pull his lips away. "Don't be a fucking pushover where she's concerned, Winner! You fell prey to that once, not again," he thought as he looked down at her heaving breasts against his chest. "No," he said as he looked back into her appealing face and pushed her away. He sat back down in his chair and returned his attention to his computer monitor.
Her eyes narrowed at his rebuff. "I don't think so," she said as she got on his desk and pushed herself forwards onto his lap. "I'm not leaving until you prove me wrong," she said, an edge to her voice. She crushed her lips against his once again.
Several heartbeats passed as Damien kissed her back. Part of him was rejoicing the feel of her lips on his again. But it was a very small part now. He was surprised not to feel the all-consuming emotions he had felt for her, now all he felt was the barest twinge of them, but nothing more. He had wondered what it would feel like for her to kiss him, to touch him again like she was now. Memories still came back, but all they were, were memories, not reality like he had thought for a long time. He gently brought his hands up to her shoulders and pushed her away. He had finally found the words he needed to say to her. "No, Claudia. I don't love you anymore. This isn't going to make me take you back. Your change of heart is a surprise, but no. Kissing me was a revelation."
Claudia looked at him, flabbergasted from his response. "You couldn't possibly mean that."
"Have I ever lied to you? I'm serious when I say this and for the first time, I am telling you exactly how it has to be," he said as he pushed away from his desk. He set her away from him as he stood up and went to the window behind them. He started out into the distance. "I loved you, Claudia. I was head over heels in love with you and when you broke up with me, it sent me into a depression that lasted for months. I spent hours talking to Miles, Jonathon, Dominic, my brother, and even my father. I needed to or else I wouldn't have been able to look at myself in the mirror every morning. I was so ready to ask you to marry me when you broke up with me. I couldn't completely understand why and that's what hurt the most. I loved you so much that I couldn't see straight to save my life," he said as he raked a hand through his hair. He took a deep breath before he continued. He felt confident for the first time since their breakup. He knew exactly what he was saying and how he would say it. He wasn't going to hold back.
She
blinked her eyes several times as she looked at his back. With supreme effort
she reigned in her temper and walked over to him, pasting on her sweetest
smile. "But, Damien, how can you push me away? I never knew you wanted to marry
me and if you had, I would've said yes. There is still time for us you know. I
want you back. That should be enough for you."
Turning his head, he looked her straight in the eyes. "I can push you away because I don't need you anymore. I loved you, yes, and part of me will probably always love you, but it's past. If you had come back a few months ago, then maybe, but now, I think I can go on very well without you," he explained, his tone gentle. He smiled slightly. "Don't take any of this the wrong way, you're everything I've ever wanted, but I think I need someone who needs me. You don't need me, Claudia."
"I do!" Claudia burst out as she clutched his arm. She was determined not to let him get away. And to make sure that, that Angelina girl, did not get him either. "I do need you! I want you! If I'm everything you want, why don't you take me back! It'll be different this time, I promise!"
With a rueful smile, he shook his head. "No, Claudia. You'll be able to find someone capable of giving you what you need. It would be the same as the first time with us. It was clear that I wasn't giving you what you needed, but like before the business and my family still come first right now."
A frustrated growl escaped her lips. "And what about that assistant of yours? That little redhead, Angelina, does she come first too?"
Slightly taken aback by her brusque tone, he shook his head. "What does she have to do with anything?"
"She's infatuated with you. Is she what YOU need? Do you want her like she obviously wants you?"
He chewed on his lower lip for a second, trying to choose his words carefully. "Angie is Angie. I know she's been chasing me, but I can't stop her from doing what she wants."
"And have you encouraged her behavior towards you? Do you want her?" Claudia asked pointedly.
Frowning, he shook his head again. "Whatever gave you that idea?" he asked as he removed his arm from her grasp. "Angelina is very attractive, I'll admit that, but I'm only friendly with her, nothing more."
"Than why does she chase you even though she knows this?"
"Because she's headstrong and doesn't take no for an answer. I think she's a delightful person when she's not throwing herself at me."
"You're attracted to her, aren't you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing a bit. "I knew she was something that would catch your interest, but she's not perfect. She's not the girl for you. I am. Forget her about her. I'm everything you've ever wanted in a woman."
Annoyed, he fully turned to look at her. "Claudia, would you please stop this? I'm not looking for a girlfriend. I don't have the time right now to fulfill the needs a girlfriend requires. Angie is just my assistant. She may not be the perfect woman, and I know that she isn't. I don't care about that. She's just nice to have around since she knows what she's doing."
Pursing her lips in a thin line, she propped her hands on her hips and regarded him. "I saw her the other day. She's not going to take no for answer. She means to have you at any cost. She said she would do anything to keep me away from you."
Arching a brow at his ex-girlfriend, he contemplated her words. They didn't seem like they were something that his little red head would say. He dared to glance back at Claudia. , who was looking more and more upset as the time went on. He thought it odd that she was acting the way she was because to him, it was so unlike her to be like that. He let out a sigh. "Claudia, don't be silly. That sounds nothing like her at all."
"Well, I'm not! I heard her say the words! Jonathon heard her too! He encouraged her!"
"That might be a given since you know he doesn't like you. But it still doesn't sound like something she would say."
Walking away, she paced back and forth before slapping her hands on the edge of his desk. "Then you don't know that girl very well. She's some brassy redhead with no manners. No scruples, no morals, and who knows what else she doesn't possess! You deserve better!"
Now completely surprised with her outburst, he gave her a puzzled look. "And you don't know her very well either, Claudia, so what are you basing your opinions of her on?"
"Her looks, of course."
His jaw tightened a bit. "Her looks have nothing to do with the way she acts. I don't even know why you're losing your temper over her. This is pointless. I may not have strong feelings for her, but I certainly know her better than you do."
"You're lying when you say you don't have strong feelings for her! You're an open book, Damien! You're willing to bed down with a whore!"
Completely shocked, his aquamarine eyes frosted over from her words. "And you're the one calling her a whore, when you so clearly came in here to seduce me?"
Claudia blanched, but recovered and stood up straight, thrusting out her chin. "I haven't slept around. You're the one who so conveniently relieved me of my virginity, or don't you remember?"
His jaw clenched. "I remember perfectly, but you could have said no. I wasn't asking for any."
"But you took what I gave to you and you had no problem making love to me other times afterwards!"
"You offered! I loved you, so I had no problem."
"Don't you miss it, Damien, the way that I say your name, the way I touch you, the way that I made you feel?"
Squeezing his eyes shut, he reigned in his temper that rolled under the surface. "I haven't forgotten that either, but it won't change anything," he replied as he opened his eyes again to look at her, coldly. And right now, I guess I'm getting to see your true nature, aren't I, Claudia? That perfect lady veneer of yours is just an act, isn't it?"
"No, it's not. I am the perfect woman and I get what I want to. And you're what I want and if I can't have you, then she won't either. I will make her so miserable, that she won't want to have anything to do with you."
"Whom the hell are you talking about?" he hissed.
"Angelina, of course. If I can't have you, neither will she. I'll prove how unworthy of you she is and maybe then, you'll come to your senses and come back to me," Claudia snapped back as she swiped her shirt from the floor. "She doesn't stand a chance against me," she said as she walked towards the door, pulling it open, only to come face to face with her rival. A wicked smile touched her lips. "Well, well, isn't it, Angelina. So nice of you to stop by. Don't keep him too long, I think I wore him out," she said, her tone sweet and nasty as she nonchalantly pushed some buttons back through their holes on her shirt. "Later, darling," she said as she smiled at Damien before shutting the door behind her. Sighing, she rubbed her hands together, an evil glint in her eyes as she walked away.
Damien gulped as he looked at Angelina and back at the closed door. Those silvery eyes of hers were wide with hurt and disbelief. "Angelina…"
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this out, but it's here and I hope you like it. More to be coming soon! Like the cliffhanger? XOXO!!