40 Chapter 42
Chapter 42 – Intoxicated Confessions and a Familiar Stranger
I stared at the man before me, his face blurring slightly as I tried to focus. Something about his question made me giggle uncontrollably.
“His name?” I slurred, leaning in conspiratorially. “It’s a secret. But he’s very important. Very powerful: 1 made an exaggerated gesture with my hands that nearly sent me toppling sideways.
The man caught me by the shoulders, steadying me with firm hands. “I think it’s time to get you home, Hazel
His phone rang, and he answered it while keeping one hand on my arm to prevent me from sliding off the couch.
“Yes, I have her, he said into the phone, has voter deep and authoritative. “She’s had too much to drink… No, I’ll take her home… I know, Chloe. Don’t worry.”
Chloe? My foggy bram tried to make connections, Chloe’s brother… Damien Sterling
Before I could piece is together, a commotion at the entrance to the VIP section caught my attention. Through my dinken haze, i secaged Adnan pushing past the bouncer.
“Hazel!” fulan called out, sending foward us “but are you doing? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.
I gromed, burying my face in my hands. “Go away, Julian. It’s my birthday, and you’re
mot d
The man beside me stood up, positioning himself between Julian and me, I admired the broad expanse of his back as he food down my ex
“She’s not going anywhere with you,” he stated flatly.
Auftian’s face flushed with indignation. “And who the hell are you to decide that?”
Someone who doesn’t betray their fance for her dying sister” came the cold reply.
I gigged, ponting a wobbly finger at Julien. He’s got you there! Busted!
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Julian’s jaw clenched. “Hazel needs to come with me. She’s clearly not in a state to ma decisions.”
“Which is precisely why she shouldn’t be with you,” my defender countered. “You’ve proven yourself untrustworthy when it comes to her wellbeing.”
“This isn’t your business,” Julian hissed.
“I’m making it my business.”
Something in his tone made even Julian back down. I watched in fascination as Julian’s eyes widened with recognition.
“You’re… Sterling,” he said, his voice faltering.
“And you’re leaving,” came the immediate response. “Now.”
Julian hesitated, glancing between us with narrowed eyes before finally turning on his heel and stalking away.
I clapped my hands in delight. “That was amazing! Did you see his face? He looked like he was going to pee his pants!”
The man turned back to me, his lips quirking in a slight smile. “Can you stand?”
I pushed myself up, swaying dangerously. “Of course I can stand! I’m perfectly fine-” I stumbled forward.
He caught me easily, his strong arms wrapping around my waist. “Clearly.”
“You smell nice,” I mumbled into his chest, inhaling deeply. “Like expensive cologne and… safety.”
“Safety has a smell?” he asked, amusement coloring his voice.
“Mmhmm. You have it.” I pulled back to look at his face, struggling to focus my eyes. “You know, you look just like Damien Sterling. Has anyone ever told you that?”
His eyebrows rose. “Once or twice.”
“He’s the one I was telling you about earlier,” I confided, leaning closer to his face. “The amazing man who makes me feel things.”
“Is that right?”
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I nodded enthusiastically. “He’s gorgeous. Kind of intimidating. But in a sexy way, you know
“I’m not sure I do,” he replied, his voice dropping lower.
“And his eyes…” I continued, reaching up to touch his face. “They’re just like yours. Like they can see right through me.”
Without thinking, I leaned forward and tried to press my lips to his. He gently turned his face, my kiss landing on his check instead.
“You’re drunk, Hazel,” he said softly.
“So?” I pouted. “Don’t you want to kiss me?”
His eyes darkened. “That’s not the issue.”
“Then what is?” I demanded, swaying on my feet.
“The fact that you’ll hate yourself in the morning if I take advantage of this situation.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the world suddenly tilted sideways. The last thing I remembered was strong arms catching me before everything went black.
I woke to the sensation of being carried. My head rested against a firm chest, and strong arms held me securely.
“Wha-?” I mumbled, struggling to open my eyes.
“We’re at your apartment building,” a deep voice informed me. “Do you have your key?”
I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. We were in a hallway–my hallway. The man carrying me was…
“Damien?” I gasped, suddenly more alert. “Damien Sterling?”
“Yes,” he confirmed, his expression unreadable.
“Put me down!” I exclaimed, mortification washing over me as memories of the club came flooding back.
He complied, carefully setting me on my feet but keeping a steadying hand on my elbow as I swayed.
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“My key, I muttered, fumbling with my purse. My coordination was still off, but I
manag
5 extract the key and unlock the door.
Damien guided me inside, helping me to the couch where I collapsed in an ungraceful heap.
“Water,” he said, not a question but a statement as he headed toward my kitchen.
“Wait!” I called after him, my brain finally catching up. “How do you know where I live?”
He returned with a glass of water, handing it to me. “I had my driver find your address
while we were en route.”
I took the water, eyeing him suspiciously. “Why were you at the club?”
“I was picking up Chloe,” he explained, sitting down in the armchair across from me. “When I arrived, she told me you were still there, extremely intoxicated”
My cheeks burned with embarrassment as fragmented memories surfaced. “Did I… did I try to kiss you?”
A hint of a smile played at his lips. “You did.”
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “And did I tell you that you look like… you?”
“That was rather amusing, yes.”
I peeked at him through my fingers. “And there was a guy…?”
His expression darkened. “He was trying to take advantage of your state. I intervened.”
“And Julian showed up?” Each memory was like another nail in the coffin of my dignity.
“Unfortunately.”
I dropped my hands, sighing heavily. “I’m so sorry. This is mortifying.”
“Don’t apologize,” he said simply. “Everyone is entitled to let loose occasionally.”
“Not like this,” I muttered, taking a long drink of water. My head was beginning to pound. “Not in front of you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why not me specifically?”
I stared at him, caught off guard by the question, “Because you’re… you know… you.”
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And what am I exactly?” he pressed, leaning forward slightly.
The al ol still in my system made me braver than usual. “You’re Damien Sterling. You’re impossibly put–together all the time. You probably never get drunk and make a fool of yourself.”
“You’d be surprised,” he replied, a glint in his eyes.
I snorted in disbelief. “Right. I’m sure you regularly get hammered and have to be carried home by virtual strangers.”
“We’re hardly strangers, Hazel.”
Something in his tone made me look at him more carefully. “Aren’t we? I barely know anything about you.”
“What would you like to know?” he asked, his expression open.
The alcohol was making me bolder than I would normally be. “Why are you helping me? What do you want?”
He considered me for a long moment. “Does everyone who helps you want something
in return?”
“In my experience? Yes.”
He nodded as if my answer confirmed something for him. “Perhaps you’ve been surrounded by the wrong people.”
I laughed humorlessly. “You can say that again.”
We sat in silence for a moment, me nursing my water and him watching me with those
intense eyes.
“I should go,” he finally said, standing up. “You need rest.”
As he moved toward the door, a sudden panic gripped me. I wasn’t ready for him to leave yet–not when I had so many questions burning through the alcohol fog in my
brain.
I stumbled to my feet, nearly losing my balance as I grabbed his hand. “Wait!”
He turned, his eyes dropping to where my fingers were wrapped around his wrist.
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“I’m going to ask you a few questions,” I declared, swaying slightly, “and you have to… answ me honestly!”
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