The Perfect Temptation

by Space Chick

Damien Winner is the "Perfect Gentleman" out of all the Gundam pilot offspring. But what happens when he meets Angelina Baker, who happens to be the most pefect of temptations, even if its to cover up her past pain?

14. Don't Think, Just Act and Confess

Disclaimer: I don't own them except for the kids!

The Perfect Temptation, Part 14

There was no way to even describe her. He couldn't even think coherently and he was sure he looked like a damned idiot with his jaw hanging open. Snapping it shut, he walked to the foot of the steps and offered her his hand. It was the only thing he could do since he couldn't think of a word to say to her.

Taking his proffered hand, Angelina smiled inwardly at his speechlessness. Her eyes glanced over at the men who loved her like family. Their faces were registering their shock as well. Especially Duo's, who finally managed to close his and give Hilde a level, look. She could hear the muffled snickers of Randy and Veronica on the landing above. Glancing up at him, she blinked her eyes slowly and smiled. "You're very prompt, aren't you, Damien?"

Her voice broke his trance as he stared down at her. Absently brushing his thumb over her knuckles, he passed her a weak smile. "I like making a good impression, I guess," he replied.

"She looks gorgeous." He handed her the flowers that he brought her.

"Thank you," she replied as she sniffed at the brilliant colored flowers in her hands. She gave him a dazzling smile. He looked so adorable with that flustered look on his face. This was the Damien that girls responded to with shy awkwardness and the flush beginning to seep into his cheeks. "You're making a good one so far, especially with the flowers…and the blushing."

If anything, he felt his face get hotter. He raked his teeth across his lower lip. Clearing his throat, he ignored the very audible snickers of Randy and Veronica, and the overly protective looks boring into him from the four men. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes."

"Good," he replied as he led her towards the door. The stares of the Maxwell men were starting to make him uncomfortable.

"Have a nice time you two," Hilde said as she stepped behind them. She gave Duo and her sons a quelling look before smiling at Damien. "Don't worry about being late."

"Thanks, Hilde," Damien said, grateful for her comforting expression and words.

"Yeah, and don't blush all night, Winner, you don't want people to think you have a permanent case of sunburn," Randy smirked from the landing.

He hunched his shoulders as Hilde shushed her now laughing daughter and best friend. He quickly shut the door behind him. Looking at Angelina, he found her grinning at him, but she had a thoughtful look in her eyes. He cleared his throat again. "Come on, I made reservations," he said as he opened the car door for her.

Angelina couldn't help but smile as he walked around the other side. This was the side of him she had never really seen before. And it was endearing. It had taken all she had not to giggle at the way Duo and her "brothers" were looking at him. She understood their protectiveness and having them turn it on poor Damien, who already looked nervous as hell, was something to laugh about. But right now, she didn't. If anything, she wanted this night to go as smoothly as possible. "Where are you taking me?" she asked as they turned onto the street.

"There's a new restaurant on the top floor of the Graphique Hotel. I made reservations there. The food is kind of eclectic since I don't know what you prefer," he replied as he looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "It has a dance floor too since I think it's supposed to cater to the younger crowd rather than the kind I do business with."

"You mean not for stuffy business men, but young entrepreneurs like yourself."

"Something like that."

"Then I'm sure I'll have a wonderful time."

Damien looked back towards the road. He didn't say anything, but her response made him feel more confident about how the night was going to go. He was taking great pains to make sure that nothing would go wrong or that he would act like a complete idiot. And for the first time in his life, he wished he had the confidence that the likes of Jonathon, Miles, and Dominic seemed to have with the female population. Even his little brother did better than him. He glanced at her again as the sound of her stockings made a soft scratching sound as she recrossed her ankles. He let out a faint sigh and returned his eyes to the road.

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"This is really the most beautiful view I've seen of the bay."

He glanced at her as they sat outside on the terrace before looking out at the water, sparkling under the light of the full moon. A half smile touched his lips before he returned his eyes to her. "I would have to agree with you," he replied as his eyes trailed over her profiled features. The hair, which he was sure was done by Veronica, was in an artful pile on top of her head. Strands of copper shimmered in the soft lighting as she turned her head a little more. A few errant wisps had escaped and lay against her neck and cheek. How he wanted to reach out and touch those soft looking curls, and twist them about his fingers. "How could her mother say that she's not beautiful? She may not have that classic beauty like some, but she possesses something else. It's magnificence. A inner vibrancy that makes her stand out above all the conventional looking girls."

Angelina was aware that he was looking at her, but she continued to look out at the mirrored waters. It had not been the first time she had felt his eyes on her. Even when he was driving, she had felt his gaze light on her more than once. She swirled the wine in her glass and took a sip, still looking out past the meticulously pruned shrubs that lined the wall of the terrace. He had not said anything about the answer he promised her he would have tonight, and she didn't press him for it. It was his move now, and knowing him, she knew how he acted when he was confronted with something. "However…" she thought as she stole a look at him from under her lashes, "He hasn't looked at all apprehensive since we got here. He seems to be enjoying himself and he's made sure that I'm having a good time. He has no idea how much this means to me." A smile touched her lips as she turned her head to look at him. "I'm having a nice time, Damien."

His eyes sprang to hers. He had been studying the curve of her jaw, imagining how it would feel to slide his fingers along it. A guilty look crossed his face at her look of amusement. He cleared his throat and ducked his head to hide the tell tale heat creeping up his neck. "I'm glad that you're having a good time," he said, his voice a little lower then normal. Lifting his head again, he found her leaning forwards and smiling at him. "What?" he asked, self consciously running his finger under the collar of his shirt.

"Nothing. I just think it's cute when you blush like that."

Her reply caused him to lower his fiddling fingers away from the shirt and rest them on the top of the table. "Randy and Veronica used to delight in doing that to me when they got old enough to have an effect. They did it to Vaughn too. As old as we both are, we can't seem to control it. It just happens."

"Well it's very attractive. It lets a girl know she's having an effect," she said as she set her elbows on the table before lacing her fingers and resting her chin on them. Her eyes trailed over his face as the flush faded away. "And I'm flattered that you like to look at me too."

"You're nice to look at…and you do look…well, pretty in that dress," he stammered. He noted that her eyes brightened several degrees as she tilted her head to one side. His eyes fell away from the directness of hers. He had always liked a simple black dress on a woman. It never failed to flatter. And she was no different. He thought back to when he watched her come down the steps. The knee length dress had clung to every curve she had and had accentuated the creamy whiteness of her skin. He liked how the discreetly plunging neckline allowed just enough cleavage, but what made the dress just more than a simple little black dress, was the straps. They were thin and they were tied at the shoulders in a bow. His mind had made a brief detour, thinking that one tug on either strap; the dress would fall in a heap. He had to shake his head to dispel that pleasant thought.

She looked very pretty, but it didn't seem like the right word to describe what she looked like. "She looks more than pretty in that dress…she looks hot in it. It's simple, elegant, and very sexy, so I know it's not out of Randy or Veronica's closets. She should wear black more often because it shows off that beautiful white skin of hers," he thought with an inwards smirk. "But at the same time, try not to get all flustered by her. Gaze into her eyes like she's doing with you. Be a little bolder than normal. You must have learned something from watching Miles, Jonathon, and Dominic." He raised his eyes back to hers. He could hear the music playing in the background. "Would you care to dance?"

Angelina noted the change in his eyes this time when he looked up at her. There was a more determined, much more appreciative look, shining in their depths. It made her curious to what he was thinking behind that now enigmatic smile he was wearing as he came around the table. "I thought you would never ask," she replied as she took his hand and let him lead her out to the dance floor that spilled out onto the terrace. Chills raced down her back as his hand firmly grasped hers and slid his other one around her waist to her back. The heat from it was making a distinct impression through the material as he pulled her close.

Damien closed his eyes for a brief moment as he caught the subtle scent of her perfume. It made his nose twitch and caused him to absently lick his lips. Her closeness had already put his body into a near crazed state, and being even this close caused his hormones to go into a frenzy. And if she pressed her body against his, he knew he would be lost. He dared to touch his chin to her temple, feeling the softness of her hair against him. "Actually, you look more than just pretty in that dress," he said as bent his head a little more.

"What do I look like then?" she asked as she leaned her head back to look at him. She could feel his breath against her lips, making them burn. Her heart thumped against her ribs.

There was that look in her eyes. The look of wanting. Daring him. Daring him to say what he really thought about her in that dress. He pressed his cheek against hers, so his lips were barely an inch away from her ear. His heart pounded in his chest. "You look very elegant…and very, very…sexy," he whispered before lightly kissing her ear and moving his head away from hers. He mentally patted himself on the back for learning something from his two friends and his cousin.

Stunned by his words, she felt a blush of her own race up her cheeks. She could feel his eyes on her face again, so she raised her eyes back to his. The aquamarine was much warmer than before. It made her pulse leap and heat run through her veins. She tilted her chin up and gazed into them despite the color in her cheeks. "Is that your honest opinion?"

"What do you think?" he asked as he bent his head closer to hers.

"I don't know. Maybe you do, maybe you don't."

A smile crossed his lips as he bent his head even closer to hers. "Are you trying to get me to prove something?"

She smirked. "Maybe," she replied as she slid her arms around his neck, her own face inching closer to his. "You have something to prove, don't you?"

The flirtatiousness of her question caused him to hesitate and his earlier boldness to flee. He was treading in uncommon territory. He had never been that good at flirting. His nervousness with members of the opposite sex had intensified as he had gotten into his early adolescence and later teenage years. The girls he had been close to and grown up with had also had that effect on him. He could feel her body pressing up against his, teasing him. He knew he could prove it; he just didn't want to do the wrong thing. Mentally bracing himself again, he let his hand trail from her back, shoulder blades bared by her dress to her chin and neck. He raked his teeth over his bottom lip. "If I told you that you're turning the head of every man in here, including mine. That you…you look better than anything shown on the dessert menu…and that I…I would rather have you for dessert…instead of what's shown," he managed to say as he stymied the impulse to start blushing again. "Or that I've always thought you were one of the sexiest girls I ever laid eyes on…but I never wanted to admit the fact. So, does any of that prove it to you?"

"Yes…it does," she whispered as she smiled into his eyes.

"Kiss her. Don't think, just kiss her. Thinking will get you into trouble," his mind hammered at him. He followed his instinct and bent his head even closer. Her lips were barely a breath away.

She leaned into him. Her eyes drifted closed. And her heart rate escalated.

"I can't believe what I'm seeing."

Damien's eyes popped open at the familiar sounding voice. He jerked his head around to come face to face with Claudia. "Shit!" Her slender ringless fingers were propped on her shapely hips. There was an indignant look on her face. "Hello, Claudia," he said as he turned to face her.

Angelina's eyes narrowed to slits. "What the hell do you want?" she hissed.

Claudia gave her a nasty smile. "Didn't you know? He asked me to come tonight too."

"I did not invite you," he sputtered as he glanced over his shoulder at Angelina. He looked back at his ex. "Claudia, this is not the time and place for…"

"For what? I thought you wanted to see me tonight so you could tell red, there, that we were…you know. I mean she does deserve to know because she is completely infatuated with you. But she's no more than a real beauty's daughter, who has nothing to…"

"Why you little…"

Damien felt her push against his arm, but he turned and grabbed hold of her shoulders. "Angie, this is not the time and place for you to…"

"To what! Nail her sway-backed ass to the wall? I certainly think it is!"

"Don't cause a scene, Angelina."

She looked up at him with disbelief written in her features. "Is she telling the truth? Are you protecting her?"

"No, I didn't invite her and I'm not protecting her. I just don't want to draw any more attention than we already are," he replied firmly as he turned around to face Claudia again. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I'm proving a point. She's ready to cause a scene like some ill bred child, while I'm being calm and rational like the perfect woman," she responded with a triumphant smile directed towards Angelina. "I told you that you couldn't win him, red. Not when I'm still around. You see, you have nothing, you are nothing, Angelina. You're far from being beautiful, so no guy is going to want you. Why would they? It's hard to believe that your mother was named one of the most beautiful women in the ESUN. It must rankle her that she had a daughter that looks like you."

Fury ripped through Angelina with each barb, but it also brought a lump to her throat. It was twisting a knife into her heart because she knew each word to be true. She had no chance of competing with what she had been born with. Her mother was gorgeous. "And then there's me. Poor Angelina who only received her father's brains and nothing else. She's right. I can't even compete with her." Her eyes went to Damien's. He was quietly standing there, not saying anything. Gritting her teeth, she pushed away the hurtful feelings. "At least I'm not some spoiled little bitch like you," she growled over his shoulder as he continued to hold her back.

This was getting out of hand fast. He could feel the anger rippling off of her like heat waves and Claudia was wearing a triumphant smile. He took a few steps until he was directly in front of her. "This has to stop. Why can't you leave it, Claudia? You're not making this situation any better by making her mad. And I believe I already told you I wasn't interested anymore. I loved you then. This is now. While I will always have a place for you as the first girl I loved, there is no way I could ever be with you again," he explained as he took her by the shoulders. He looked into her eyes and gave her a rueful smile. "You hurt me so bad I thought I was going to die because I loved you so damn much. I thought you loved me as much."

"But I did! Damien…"

He shook his head. "You might have loved me, but nowhere near as much as I loved you. You loved me because I was the guy you could lead around. I let you because of how I felt, but I can't go back to that now. It's too late for us, Claudia. I'm not saying this to hurt you, but I found a way to go on without you. And I just can't let you upset Angie anymore because I don't want her distressed any further. Please, Claudia…do this for me. If you still care anything at all about me like you say you do…just please stop this…"

"But…" she sputtered.

"Please…"

Claudia gazed into his eyes and she looked over his shoulder at the still enraged girl. She looked back into his imploring face. Nodding her head, she took a step back. "Fine, but I'm not doing this for her…I'm doing it for you," she said as she quickly took a step forwards, placing her hands on the material of his shirt, pulling herself level with his face. "A good bye kiss," she said as she kissed him slowly before pulling away. "Good bye, Damien," she said at his shocked expression. Once her back was turned, she let an evil smile cross her lips. She had seen Angelina's face. One last stake into the girl's back made her feel much better about her decision.

Damien stood there, stunned by her acquiescence. His mouth was warm from hers. He sighed and turned around to face her. Her face was a bright shade of red and her silvery eyes were practically burning daggers into Claudia's retreating back. "It's over. Let's leave it at that."

Angelina fisted her hands at her sides. "Leave it at that? Leave it at that!" she hissed, trying to keep her tone down. "You didn't even stop her from kissing you! You let her walk away when she deserved to have her spoiled little ass kicked. And instead, you go soft on her and let her walk away!  You should have told her off and be damned if you were causing a scene to make a point!"

Frowning, he shook his head at her too. "I'm not like that. It was better to nicely ask her because she did exactly as I asked. When I did it the other way several days ago, she persisted. I don't like making a scene over anything, not even something like this. Yes, she probably deserved to be dealt with a little more harshly, but I don't like being or acting like that towards any woman."

"Except to me," she snapped as she turned on her heel and stalked over to their table. She picked up her purse and crossed her arms. "I think this night is over. Take me home."

"Fuck!" he swore as he raised his eyes heavenwards and went over to the table. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Her foot was tapping on the floor. "Things finally start to go my way and I manage to screw it up again. You're luck with women just sucks! You were so close and you managed to go and put your foot in your mouth once more. You're such a fucking idiot!" he thought as he paid the bill and followed her out. He practically choked on his own fury. He ruined things between them for her, but he had been honestly taken aback by Claudia's response. "I could have been firmer with her," he muttered under his breath as he started up the car.

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She sat with her arms crossed, slumped down into the soft leather seat. Blood was still boiling in her veins and she was biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from screaming. She could taste the salty sweetness of blood in her mouth as she held everything in. "So damn close and she had to get involved once again! My mother was right, I'm never going to have a happy life with anyone," she thought as a sob formed in her throat. She could feel the burning in the back of her eyes as she kept herself under the rigid control she had taught herself to keep out the pain.

Well aware of the silent treatment she was subjecting him to; he let out a frustrated sigh. "This wasn't supposed to happen."

"Well it did."

"You think I wanted this to happen? No, I didn't."

"She saved you the trouble of turning me down."

"I never anything like that, otherwise, and you know it."

"She still wants you."

"I told her I wasn't interested."

"It doesn't matter to her. She'll find a way to sucker you back in."

"How stupid do you think I am to let her go and hurt me a second time?"

"Because like all men, you're idiots," she shouted at him, "And because you looked pretty stupid when she went and kissed you! And you let her!"

The bone shone through his knuckles as he clenched the steering wheel. "I didn't know what she intended. And I'm not insane enough to take her back. I didn't kiss her back," he growled.

"You wanted to."

Damien slammed on the brakes. Oddly enough, he had taken her back to his house. "I didn't."

Angelina looked out of the window. "This isn't where I'm staying. Take me home."

"No."

"No?"

"You're hearing is excellent. Now, get out of the car."

"NO!"

"Fine, we'll do this the hard way," he said as he got of the car and walked around to her side. He flung the Mercedes door open. "Get out."

"Fuck off," she snarled as she turned her nose up at him.

Her response infuriated him even more. He reached in and yanked the seat belt off of her before jerking her out of the seat. "You're making this harder then it has to be."

She sent him a look full of rage. She pushed her hands against him. "I don't have to take this."

"God help me," he muttered before he tossed her over his shoulder and shut the door with his foot. "You're going to because I'm not done with you," he said as he started walking towards the back of the mansion. He ignored her fists pounding into his back as he walked though the archway into the back and into the maze of fruit trees.

"Put me down!" she shrieked as she squirmed on his shoulder.

"Gladly," he said as he dumped her, unceremoniously onto her feet. "Now, you're going to listen to what I have to say to you." He raked one hand through his hair as he took a deep breath and stared into her face. "She looks amazing when she's angry."  "I did not want to kiss her back."

"Liar."

He snapped, making him slam his hands on the stonewall behind her, imprisoning her between them. "Fuck! What the hell do I have to do to get you to listen to me! I didn't want to kiss her! She surprised me before I reacted because I was not expecting her to do that! How many times do I have to say this! I'm not lying to you!"

The sudden outburst made her freeze and her eyes go wide. His face was inches from hers. The aqua eyes in front of her were burning with an inner light she had never seen before. This was the first time she had seen him lose his control. She titled her chin up. "Fine. Now let me go."

"I'm not finished."

"I am."

"I haven't told you what I wanted to say to you."

"I don't want to hear it."

"You're going to hear it whether you like it or not."

Angelina let out a mirthless laugh. "You think that's going to help you now? Say what you like, but she did exactly what she set out to do. She made damn sure that I never got you. But instead, she made sure that I wouldn't want you anymore."

"And do you still want me?"

"No, I don't."

"Dammit, Angelina, don't lie to me when I can see that your eyes are telling me otherwise! You wouldn't be denying it if you didn't!" he exclaimed as he grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a slight shake. "You do care. I know that you do. Because I care about you too and I'll be damned if I let you go because of your stubbornness!"

The vehemence in his tone made her gasp a split second before he kissed her. Really and truly kissed her. She felt his grip loosen and slide up and down her arms to her elbows. Sensations began to hit her from every direction. This is not how she imagined getting kissed by him. Sweet and soft had come to mind, but it was hot and intense. Her knees buckled as her clenched fingers fell slack as she reached up to steady herself while her universe tilted on it's axis.

Damien couldn't believe he was kissing her. He couldn't believe that she was kissing him back. His own feelings rushed towards him from all directions as he felt her touch on his arms. He gathered her even closer, his arms wrapping around her back.

Angelina couldn't help herself as her hands crept up his arms before plowing them though his hair to securely lock behind his neck. All thoughts fled once his tongue insinuated its way between her lips. Her fingers dug into the back of his neck, pulling him as close to her as she could.

The push of her nails stung, but he didn't care. All he cared about was what they were doing, and how they were making each other feel. But he had to come up for air as he tore his lips away from hers. Sucking in the cool night air, he waited as her eyes finally opened. They were shining. "Angelina, I do care about you. I wanted to be able to tell you that because I didn't want you go on thinking that I didn't feel something for you."

"Do you really mean that?"

He nodded. "I care so much it scares me."

Tears welled up in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. The damn holding back all her emotions finally broke.

He pressed his forehead against hers. "Don't cry."

"I can't help it," she wailed softly as nearly ten years worth of pent up crying hurdled to the forefront.

Tilting her chin up with his finger, he did what he did the last time. Her trembling lips parted willingly against his. They were already wet from her tears. Intent on making her stop the only way he knew how, he swung her up in his arms and carried her into the house, his lips still connected to hers.

A/N: Hi, I'm back! I know I've been a bad girl by not updating very quickly, but my life is so full right now, I couldn't even begin to describe it to you. But here it is, the next installment. I hope you all enjoy it and get set to see the conclusion of this story and Out of Control in the upcoming week! XOXO!!