Son of Sin (Book 3 of the Forbidden Series)

8

The next morning Damien came downstairs just in time to catch Eve walking out the door with her suitcase. “Wait.” He demanded, jumping in front of her so she could not leave. “What are you doing?”

Eve planted her hand firmly on her hip and glared at him. “Damien get out of my way. I’m leaving. I’ve decided I can’t stay here.”

“Why not?”

“Because you are here. It will just be awkward and hostile. That’s no way to live for either of us. I called around, and there is a women’s shelter down near the school I can stay there until I find a job and get a place of my own. How hard can it be to find a place?”

“In New York City?” Damien laughed she had no idea what she was in store for. Any place that was affordable was either taken or a slum. Any place nice was out of her price range.

“Quit it; it’s not your concern.” Eve snapped pushing past him. His arm rubbed against her knocking an envelope from her pocket. Damien picked it up and removed the letter inside. Eve noticed and reached for the letter demanding he gives it back. “Damien that is not yours. Give it back.”

Damien held the letter out of her reach as he read what was written:

Dear Mom and Dad, please send money, I am broke and in need of just enough to get me through. Please don’t worry. ~ Love Eve

Damien lowered the letter and Eve snatched it away from him stuffing it back into the envelope. “They are just going to tell you to come home.” He told her. “They won’t send you the money, and you know it.”

“I have to ask,” Eve said, her bottom lip trembled as she tried not to cry. She reached for the doorknob, and Damien stopped her.

“Eve let me help you out. You can stay.” He assured her, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

“No, I can’t.” She whimpered. “I messed things up so bad.” She sniffled on the verge of crying. “I should have just stayed in my room. I should have never come to your room. I ruined everything. Now it’s all wired, and I can’t stay.” Eve whimpered having lost the battle another tear rolled down her cheek, and she began to cry.

A sick knotting feeling balled in Damien’s stomach. Guilt, he hated guilt. He didn’t feel it often, and usually, it was just his mother who managed to make him feel it, but it was definitely guilt. He had made her feel like she could not stay without being his mistress and now he had driven this sweet little thing into the mean streets of New York.

Damien took Eve’s hand and walked her over to the couch forcing her to sit down. “Look Eve stay. You don’t have to leave because of me. I promise to forget the whole thing; I don’t hold grudges. You can still stay here, and we can still go shopping and get you a few things of your own, so you don’t have to borrow any more, and we can think of it as roommates. I feel responsible for you while you are here I can’t let you leave.”

“You don’t have to buy me anything.” She protested.

“Yes, I do. I was a jerk. Let’s call it a peace offering.” Damien smiled. When she didn’t protest, he stood up and took her bag from her. “Just let me change, and we will go out.”

***

He had changed and returned to Eve in record time afraid she might flee while he was gone. Damien took Eve to the most popular boutique in New York. It was one of the places he took most of his conquests for trinkets and bobbles to appease them. They had comfortable chairs and good coffee. When he came in with Eve at his side, the proprietor smiled and clasped her hands together ordering her staff to jump to attention for her best customer. “Welcome back Mr. Sanchez. Always a pleasure to see you.”

“Morning Lunette, I have a lovely young lady in need of some fashionable wear. The whole works. Evening dresses, casual wear, poolside attire, and other essentials.” He listed shaking the tall skinny woman’s hand.

Lunette smiled knowingly and nodded. “I do believe we can accommodate your taste.” She said showing them to the dressing room. Damien sat down in the large plush lounging chair and settled in for a long day. Another store staff member brought him a cup of coffee without the need to ask him how he took it. Eve found herself wondering how often he brought women to this establishment.

Lunette took out her tailor’s tape to take Eve’s measurements. She wrapped the tape around Eve’s waist and smiled at her. “You are a young one, aren’t you?”

Eve wasn’t sure what to say to that. “This is not what you think.” She told the woman.

“Oh of course not.” Lunette said in a tone that told Eve the woman did not believe her. “We do not judge here. We are paid very well for our discretion.” She said turning her eyes to Damien as she measured the length of Eve’s arms. “He is quite a man. Do not get attached, my dear. Many have tried to hold him, and all have failed, but at least you get some nice clothes out of the deal.”

“This is not what you think.” Eve protested again.

“Of course, not dear.” Lunette smiled. “Size two I believe will do.” She called to her staff as they went through their inventory for articles for Eve to try on.

“Damien, she thinks I’m one of your tarts,” Eve complained. “I want to leave.”

“Who cares what she thinks we know the truth.”

“It is embarrassing.” Eve insisted.

Lunette came back with a handful of stunning dresses. “These will bring out your eyes my dear.”

“I am not sleeping with her,” Damien said frankly and Eve turned bright red with embarrassment.

“Of course.” Lunette smiled politely and passed the dresses to Eve who quietly took them and disappeared into the dressing room, so she did not have to look anyone in the eye. After trying on a stunning red dress Eve peeked outside to see if the woman was still there and much to her dismay she was. “Come out my dear let us see you.” The woman encouraged.

“I don’t want to,” Eve said shutting the door again.

“Why not dear? I bet you look fantastic.” Eve groaned and looked at herself in the mirror. It was beautiful, long but low cut and backless. It was so revealing she crossed her arms over her chest before coming out self-conscious about the way she looked. They both laughed, and she felt herself turn as red as the dress. “My dear relax. You are too tense for the dress.”

“I feel like I will fall right out of it.”

“One can hope.” Damien teased receiving a hateful glare from Eve. “Ok if you don’t like it try another. Lunette, something a little more modest perhaps.” He suggested. The woman frowned and went off to search for something to suit Eve’s taste. She returned with a new set of dresses and Eve took them into the dressing room. There was a nice blue one and another red one. A yellow gown with black trim that she liked very much. It had short sleeves and a bit of a train with an elegant empress cut waistline. It was lovely and fit nicely.

She came out of the dressing room with a smile and spun around to show off the dress she would wear to David and Kat’s anniversary. “Isn’t this one beautiful?” Eve said showing them both the back.

“Absolutely stunning.” Damien smiled. “If you like it it’s yours.”

Eve searched the gown looking for a price tag, but she did not find one. “How much is this dress?” She asked.

“This particular gown is twenty-five hundred.” Lunette announced. Eve almost fell over. She could feel the dress depreciating just being on her.

“Oh, dear lord!” Eve gasped. “That is way too much.”

Damien laughed. “Come now dear it looks wonderful on you. We’ll take it. Now go try something else on.”

“I can’t let you pay that much for one dress.” She protested.

“Trust me, darling, it is chump change. I can more than easily afford that gown and many more. Now you let me worry about the bill, and you worry about what you like. If you’re going to be a sophisticated New York woman, you will need to look like one. Now go on and try on the blue one.” He encouraged her.

It took Eve a few more outfits to get into the spirit of things. Changing quickly and strutting about on display for Damien’s approval. He made her feel like a supermodel and before she knew it the day was gone.

Damien had bought her five evening gowns, six outfits for the nightlife, more than a dozen casual wear, and four lovely bathing suits she liked very much. A skimpy bikini he liked, and he had slipped in a few intimate apparels without her knowledge. He had quietly selected a wide array of lingerie while she had been changing and added them to the bill. They were wrapped up and added to her many bags and Eve was none the wiser.

They returned to the penthouse and Eve couldn’t wait to sort her new things out before they went for dinner. Dane had called Damien while they were out to ask Eve to dinner and she had accepted. She was hanging up her new dresses when she noticed the extra bag with small tissue-wrapped packages. Eve tore open the paper and found a number or lacy panties and teddies. Eve laughed, she should have been mad at Damien for such an inappropriate gift, but for some reason, she found it funny. He wouldn’t even get to see her in them. The irony of it was bittersweet.

She heard drumming coming from the other room and Eve tucked the garments away in the drawer of the wardrobe. She walked into the hall and down to Damien’s bedroom. Pushing the door open a bit Eve peeked inside and saw him sitting behind the drum set in the far corner. He had stripped down to just his pants, and his eyes were closed. His strong arms flew so quickly as he laid down the beat. He was very talented; it was clear to see why he was so successful. Eve had never realized how much work drumming seemed to be until she watched Damien lay down his fast beat. He threw his whole body into each calculated strike. His upper body leaning into each beat and his foot tapped out the rhythm on the snare drum. Eve found herself wondering how long it had taken him to learn to play so flawlessly.

Suddenly Damien stopped, his breath laboured from the exertion. His hand went out to still the symbol, and he tapped his foot again and spun the sticks between his fingers. Damien noticed Eve at the door and lowered his sticks. “Was I disturbing you?” He asked pushing his sweaty hair back off his face.

“No.” She said. “I was just curious. People pay hounded of dollars a night to see you play and I’m getting a free show.” Eve grinned.

Damien chuckled, his smile was dazzling. “Well then come on in and take a front row seat.” He offered, pointing his sticks to the edge of the bed and then spinning them between his fingers. He tapped out the beat with his foot and laid into the drums once more. He started playing a song she recognized and then another. After an hour he hung up his sticks and stood up from behind the set looking as if he had just had a rigorous workout.

“How long have you been playing for?” Eve asked out of curiosity.

“The drums, since I was about ten. I used to watch Ronny go nuts on these during practices and dress rehearsals, and I just knew I wanted to be a drummer. But I’ve been playing the guitar since I can remember. The bass since I was thirteen. I picked up the violin and piano at six.” He listed his many talents off.

“Wow, that is incredible.” She said impressed by how much he had accomplished. “So, you have travelled worldwide, I assume you speak more than English, and you can play everything under the sun it would seem.”

“My parents believed in being well rounded. They also hoped that if they kept me busy I would stay out of trouble, but they were wrong.”

Eve picked up his guitar and held it in her arms. “So how good are you at this?”

Damien took the guitar from her and sat down on the edge of the bed. He briefly checked to see that it was in tune and then started playing an acoustic version of one of FX’s more popular songs. He sang the lyrics and kept time by tapping his foot on the floor. Eve bobbed around in her seat to the music he was making and clapped when he broke into an impressively difficult looking guitar solo. When Damien had finished, he took a playful bow and put the guitar down.

“You are talented. Why didn’t you become the front man? You seem good at it.”

Damien sighed. “Because you can’t front from behind a drum set and drumming is what I wanted to do with my life. People got me wrong. They think I joined FX to make money.”

“Didn’t you?”

“No, I just wanted to play, and my dad said ‘Son you got to do something with your life I won’t carry you forever.’ So, I started a band. Let’s be realistic I wasn’t going to become some great trial lawyer. I was good at gambling, women, and music. So, I picked the most respectable of the three. Besides Blake’s pretty good at the showboating. I get enough attention off stage. I don’t need the spotlight too.” He said reaching for a clean shirt. “But now I need a shower.” He said moving past her and pausing to linger far too close for respectability sake.

He was looking down at her, and she tried not to look up, but she could not help herself. Like a magnet, her lips were drawn up toward his. He was going to kiss her she could feel it, and god help her she was going to let him. Suddenly a doorbell startled them both back to reality. Damien looked away and cleared his throat awkwardly. “I believe your date is here.” He said heading toward the washroom. “Have fun.” Damien shut the door behind him and Eve shuddered.

She had forgotten completely about Dane. She wasn’t even dressed yet. Eve went downstairs and let Dane in. Apologizing for not being ready she ran back to her room and quickly threw something on. When she left Damien was still in the shower. She felt a little odd going out with Dane after coming so close to another intimate moment with Damien. Why did he affect her so much? She had always been more level-headed than this. Eve knew better than to get involved with a man like him. Damien meant nothing but heartache for whatever poor woman was foolish enough to give him her heart. Eve needed to keep her distance from the charming rogue. She could not trust herself around him.

***

Damien paced the floor tapping the phone to his head with silent frustration. He would lose it if she didn’t stop whining. He held the phone back to his ear and took a deep breath. “No baby, I’ve just been very busy that’s all.”

“You don’t call; you don’t miss me at all,” Mary whined on the other end.

“That’s not true how could I not miss you?” He lied. God, how could she and Eve be related they were different.

“What about Eve, have you talked to her recently?” Mary asked. “Mom and Dad are just wondering how she is doing since they have not heard from her in some time.”

Wow, was that concern? He was surprised they remembered they had another daughter. “Yeah, I talk to her from time to time. She’s been seeing my nephew a bit, and from what I’ve heard she starts at Kurtwood in September. She is pretty excited.”

“Did she get work?”

“Um yeah, I think she is a live-in maid for some guy.” He answered. It wasn’t a complete lie. He didn’t think she would understand him shacking up with Eve. He wasn’t interested in dealing with that issue at this time. “She’ll be going to Vegas with my nephew for my sister’s anniversary, so don’t worry about her she’s just fine.”

“Oh Vegas, that sounds like fun I can’t wait to go.”

Wait… what? Damien didn’t recall inviting her. He closed his eyes and slapped himself in the head with the receiver once more. He shouldn’t have even mentioned it, of course, she would naturally assume that he would want to take her with him. Now he was stuck for it. It was either bring her or upset her. Blowing her off on a big family occasion like this could be a deal breaker and a bet loser. “Yeah me too.” Damien lied. “I’ll swing by in the jet and pick you up next week. Don’t wear white it will clash with Kat.”

“I can’t wait to see you.” Mary cooed.

“Yeah me too, but I got to go my… brother-in-law just walked in, and we got to talk shop and all that. Bye.” He said quickly hanging up before she could argue with him. Damien hung up the phone and dropped onto the couch. God help him, how would he make six months? Now he had to introduce her to everyone. They were all going to take this the wrong way. What a headache, but he could do this. He was going to prove that he could date a girl and not devastate her, even if it killed him.

***

Dane had taken Eve to an expensive restaurant said to be run by one of the world’s top celebrity chefs. The menu had no prices, and the atmosphere was stylish and romantic. Their table was small allowing for intimacy with white linen and candles.

They ordered their meals. Dane had the lamb and Eve the duck. They talked… well, he talked. Eve pushed her food around on the plate with her fork only hearing half of what he said as her thoughts had returned to Damien. The man was utterly frustrating, reducing her to a wanton effortlessly. He was hot one moment and cold the next. What was worse was that he could still make her crave him even when she wanted to hate him.

Dane reached across the table and took Eve’s hand. “Is there something bothering you? You don’t seem focused tonight?”

Dane was right she was unfairly distracted. “I’m sorry it’s just that Damien is impossible to live with.”

Dane relaxed back in his seat. “Now he’s not all that bad.” Dane was quite fond of his uncle, and she did not have the heart to tell him that Damien had not once thought about him. If he knew what had happened between them, he would not have asked her out.

“I disagree I think he is a very selfish man. He is always thinking about what he wants.”

“Well I suppose that is true, but he is paying for your schooling. That’s awfully nice.”

Again, he was right. Had it not been for Damien she would have never even made her audition let alone been able to attend. Maybe she was too hard on him, after all, it had been her who went after him. Regretfully she did know his reputation before her seduction. They didn’t call the man the Son of Sin for no reason.

“Would you like me to talk to him?” Dane offered.

No! That was the last thing she wanted to do; it would only make things worse. “No, let’s just leave it alone and pretend I never mentioned it.”

“Ok,” Dane said returning to his meal, “I have something for you.” He smiled reaching into the inner pocket of his jacket. Dane removed a long thin blue velvet box and placed it on the table.

Eve looked at the box and then picked it up. “What is this?”

“Open it up and see.” Eve lifted the top and gasped. Inside was a diamond bracelet. “Do you like it?” Dane asked eagerly. “Put it on.”

“I can’t accept this,” Eve said trying to hand it back to him.

“Why not?”

“It’s far too lavish.”

“Nonsense,” Dane said standing up. He took the bracelet from the box and came to her side. “If you can accept Damien’s wardrobe you can take this,” Dane said placing the bracelet on her wrist. “See it looks wonderful.”

“Thank you.” Was all Eve could say. It didn’t feel right to take his gift after what she had done.

“Why do you look so sad?” Dane asked returning to his seat. “Diamonds usually make women happy.”

“Oh, Dane I have done something terrible,” Eve said the guilt eating at her.

The smile on his face faded away as he studied her. “I’m sure whatever you did is not as bad as all that. Even if it is, it’s forgivable. My family does stupid things all the time. Did you know my dad was once thought to be Damien’s dad?”

Eve was shocked. She would have never guessed. “Are you serious?”

“Yep, it was a huge scandal that followed all three of them around for years after Damien was born. Then he married his buddy’s daughter. Then Layla married Alex who was once a stripper. Oh, and Alex beat a guy to death. Of course, he was defending Layla from a stalker when he did it, but the guy is still died; and don’t even get me started on how many times Damien has made the scandal sheets.”

That was a lot of bad things. Perhaps her minor indiscretion was in comparison not so bad. “You’re right.”

“Of course, I am. So just put it out of your mind and let’s have fun.” She liked the way that sounded.