Guilty Pleasure

Making a Move

Hoping to get a reaction, I peel a banana and eat it slowly. Damon looks uncomfortable, but soon his annoyance turns to something else. "If you want to play that game... I could use a favor."

"I..." I feel so nervous, I can't say anything. 

"I have one need, and I want you to give it me, whether you like it or not."

"W-what is it?"

"I want you to..." Damon is so close to me, it feels like he's taking all of the oxygen out of the room. "I want you to give me some space, and I'd appreciate it if you'd stop with the flirty act." He gets up and leaves, leaving me alone with my embarrassment. 

Whatever, I'll just enjoy my day off and hang out with my friends. 

*Later that day: "... and so, that's how I broke up with my boyfriend."

"That doesn't sound so bad, though. You guys are going in different directions, but you still respect each other. Unlike Mike and Jalissa, which is a shame cause I shipped them so hard."

Hailey winks at me. "I know you liked seeing us together, but things have changed. Mike and I are not together."

"I'm sorry. Obviously, I was wrong. Look at your summer so far! Instead of moping around your house all day, maybe you should find someone. It doesn't have to be serious."

"Yeah, just get yourself a summer fling!"

"Not you too, Karen. I'm busy with my summer job, okay?"

"You work at a gym. A freaking gym! Just find someone who works out there and ask him out. It's that simple!"

"But..."

"Look at you! You look... stressed. I know there's something wrong."

"I just hate staying with my mom."

"What's wrong with her? I thought she's super successful and cool. I mean, come on, she even has a hot boyfriend!"

"She's good at everything... except parenting."

"Oh."

"Jalissa, I think you need someone who can make you happy and fulfilled. That's why I'm urging you to find someone new as soon as possible. You can do it, Jalissa!" 

I smile, but I feel that Hailey is right.

I return home later that day and think how hard it is to go out and look for guys when the hottest one is right under my nose. 

I go downstairs to make myself comfortable on the couch. I switch to a news channel and start watching. Ten minutes later, Damon shows up. "You're back early."

"Yeah. Less training sessions today." He looks at me, taking in my outfit. For a moment, I swore he blushed. "So, umm... How was your day off?"

"It was good. I talked to my friends about my breakup, hoping to find closure. They wondered if I didn't look sensual enough for my ex."

"Oh."

"What do you think, Damon? Do I look sensual enough to you?"

"I..." He definitely blushed. "I think you look great, okay? You're one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"So, why did you act like you hated me this morning? Do you hate seeing me around?"

"No. Of course not. I'm sorry about the way I talked to you this morning." He steps closer and smiles and slid his hand up my arm and neck. "Will you forgive me?"

"Um... yes. Of course I forgive you."

"Thanks. That means a lot."

Just when I'm hoping he'll do more, he let go and walked out. He can't just leave me like that!

I spend the rest of the afternoon watching TV. At some point, my mom comes home, and I hear noise from upstairs. "Hey mom, what's up? What are you doing with all those suitcases?"

"Oh, hi! Remember the conference I told you about? I'm leaving today. Wish me luck, alright?"

"You're smart. You don't need luck."

"Oh, you're exaggerating. Everyone needs a bit of luck!" 

She winks at me. She's clearly happy about this. I wonder if she ever cared this much about me. 

"Don't get into any trouble, okay? Never leave your cooking unattended. No touching my computer and papers. And don't mess with Damon's garage hobby."

"Got it."

"Goodbye, Jalissa."

"Bye mom, have a great trip!"

"Oh, I will."

She kisses my cheek and rushes off, probably to catch her flight. 

*** Later that evening: Damon returns from giving my mom a ride to the airport. "Evening, Jalissa." He simply said hi and left. 

He's 100% avoiding me. I finish my TV show, then go look for him around the house, but it's all silent. What's his deal? "Damon? Hello?" 

I remembered my mom mentioning his garage hobby and he indeed was there. He completely redid the garage. OUR garage. It is unfair! Mom wouldn't even let me decorate my bedroom! "Damon?" 

He doesn't answer. He looks busy sweating over his tools, working with metal. As I look around, I noticed a room full of metal sculptures. "Wow!"

"Jalissa!" He finally notices me. 

"Damon, these look amazing."

"I completed that one last week. Took days, but was worth it."

"It's so amazing! I wish I could make metal sculptures like you."

"I can teach you if you want?"

"Are you sure you won't change your mind? You're avoiding me all the time."

"I'm sorry about how I acted. It won't happen again, I promise."

"I would be nice if that were the case. I don't want to have to tiptoe around my home."

"Listen. There's... There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I've been feeling pretty awful because something bad happened last night. I couldn't... kiss your mother... because I kept seeing you whenever I closed my eyes. God, this is humiliating." 

"Damon... I don't get it. I thought you hated me."

"I don't hate you. I hate myself for feeling this way towards you. But I had to talk to you. I want to know whether I'm alone in this. Is it all in my head, or do you, well..."

"Honestly, I'm kind of into you too. But I try to ignore it."

"You know... with everything that's been happening between us... and the fact that Kara has grown so distant from me lately."

"Distant? But you go to fancy dates and dinners!"

"Jalissa, she only talks about work and barely lifts her head from her phone screen. She's never home. She cares about the lunches I cook more than she cares about me. God, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be telling you this. I just... want you to understand that normally I wouldn't... never mind. The point is, I don't feel like I can stay here. I should return to my condo and get out of your life."

"Please, don't go."

"But it's for the best."

The room becomes silent then we kiss. I fell into his arms, and he held me. Just as I imagined his body, his sweet and warm lips, the kiss is intoxicating but not enough and Damon breaks it off."

"I... I'm sorry, I... Damn. I'm sorry."

"Should we be sorry? No need." I grab his face and kiss him again. His hands slid down my back, giving into the kiss. He's so into me that I can sense his lust in the way he touches me. His tongue slips in, and I pull his hair as he moves from my lips. His lips move to my neck, then my collarbone.

As if it's a competition, I kiss him back as passionately wherever I can reach. He groans, and our lips meet again. His hands hold me tight, and he's practically carrying me. He's all strength and power. 

He moves towards my ear and lightly nibbles it. Then, he pulls my clothes a bit to gain access to my shoulder. "May I?" Damon looks at me with a mix of seduction and passion. I nod in approval. 

He removes my clothes and touches my collarbone. "You're so beautiful." His lips go from my lips to my collarbones to my breasts. I feel so exposed but appreciated. I pull him closer to me and he grabs me tighter. Then, he whispers...

"Can I see all of you?"

"Yes."

He pulls off my clothes and lifts my naked body on the desk. He starts to then kiss me again. He kisses my knees and my thighs while slowly moving up. Every touch feels like an electric shock. I have to admit I never met someone who can make me feel this way. Not even Mike.

Before I can think about Mike, I hear the noise that excites me. Damon is unzipping his jeans. I reach out and touch him, and he steps back. "We should stop, Jalissa."

"No, please..." I move my hand, teasing him and pleasuring him. He looks tense, excited and so damn attractive. "Damon... take me."

He gently moves my hand away and fixes his clothes. "No. Not here. Not like this. I... We got carried away." 

Damon helped me get dressed. "But this didn't feel wrong. In fact, it felt right." 

He sighs. "I know, okay. But what are we supposed to do?"

I turn to walk back into the house. As I turn around to look at Damon, I see that he's staring at me and I decide to tempt him. "Do you want to come to my bedroom later?"

"What?"

"We're all alone, Damon. I think we are both lonely and desperate for each other. So, do you want to?"

"Yes. I... I'd love to."

"I'll be waiting."