As she sat in the car, her mobile rang. Father? She answered, wanting to get this conversation out of the way.
“How did it go with the beast yesterday?” Trust him to go straight to something that might benefit him. Even if Damien had said yes, there was no way she would share that with father, who would only try to manipulate the deal for his own benefit.
“He didn’t give an answer.”
“I’ve tried to approach Kareel Investments several times with no luck. Any chance—”
“I am dealing with him on behalf of the project, not your political party.”
“But if there ever was an opportunity…in fact, we should meet over lunch to discuss how your project can be tied in with my political activities.”
Bile rose to her throat, but she unable to say what she thought of him. You want to benefit from a project set up to help people you hate? “I’m busy, so no chance of lunch soon.”
When he spoke again, his voice had less of the politician about it, slightly warmer. “Will you ever get past what happened, Iris? It’s been years.”
“I really don’t know.” And it didn’t help that he wouldn’t let go of any chance to exploit the misfortune of others. “Look, dad. I’m busy with work—”
“So how about that lunch? I miss you. You are my only child, you know.”
She repressed a sigh. “Maybe next week.”
A soft word from him, and she gave in to this damn guilt. When will I stop carrying it around with me?
She hung up the phone, and as she drove, focused her mind on the meeting to take place. She couldn’t let others down just because she couldn’t keep her own feelings in order. If this project went ahead, it would make a difference to many…a series of safe houses for families, with counselors and support workers on site. She had to forget about Damien’s motives and concentrate on her own reasons for being at the meeting.
But no matter how much I do, will I ever forgive myself for what happened to Damien and his family?
She had been a kid when Damien told her he loved her, too. When she promised to keep his secret, before he told her what he was. She’d heard the stories of how his kind had beasts hidden inside them that could emerge at any point. Damien could have shifted, torn her apart, while they had sex. The thought had made her retch, and she’d pushed him off her.
He had tried to defend himself, but her mind had been in a daze, and she was unable to make out his words. All she cared about was getting some clothes on and getting out of there.
When she reached home, her luxurious multi-story home, father was in the drawing room. One look at her face, and he wanted to know what happened.
“Nothing,” she said, even as tears streamed down her cheeks.
He had taken her in his arms, one of those rare moments where he was only a father. “Tell me. I promise I will fix it.”
That was all it took for her to break her promise to Damien and blurt the truth…how she had lied about Damien only being an acquaintance. Her father remained silent, but his face had tensed as she told him how she had been with the son of a factory worker. But the worst was to come. When she told him who—what—Damien truly was, father had grabbed her shoulders, his fingers biting into her skin.
For a moment, she thought he might strike her, but then he stepped back, a look of disgust on his face. One she had never forgotten.
“You let one of those monsters touch you?” And then grief had softened his expression as he took her in his arms again. “This is why I hate their kind. That beast stole your innocence.”
And as he whispered comforting words, they alleviated some of her self-disgust. Playing the victim, shifting the blame to Damien, a dangerous animal…it helped.
Yes, it was in the nature of his kind to exploit humans for money, social status and sex. He never cared about her. If he had, he would have told her the truth sooner, but no, he had taken her virginity like an animal.
The next morning, father had called a meeting in the church and revealed the secret. His moment of glory as mayor of Bay Hill. The God-fearing folks had agreed with him that they would make life difficult for the Kareel family until they were forced to leave. They even got their kids involved with the plan.
Serves Damien right, was Iris’ first thought when father told her what had been agreed. But as the anger ebbed, it was replaced by concern for Damien…fear of what others would do to him. What Damien and she had…it wasn’t just a beast wanting to fuck her, was it? That first night, he even refused to go to the hotel room with her, telling her she needed to know something. And what had she said?
Nothing you could say would make any difference.
And what of those times when he tried to gauge how she felt about other species? She cringed when she thought of her cold taunts aimed at the other kind. And yet he’d been willing to give up his own plans for the future to be with her.
Perhaps his kind were not the beasts father had led her to believe…
Iris pulled her thoughts from the past to park in the underground car park of the building where Damien’s office was located. In the luxurious reception area, a brunette with none of Iris’ weight issues, asked her to wait.
Iris sat on the plush sofa, the gorgeous receptionist’s eyes on her attire. The black dress and low-heeled shoes were smart, but anyone with half an eye on fashion could see they were cheap deals.
Iris could have got a better paid job at a myriad of private firms, but instead, she still tried to make up for her mistake.
Iris. I never want anything to do with you or your kind again.
She had never forgotten what Damien said when she called him to apologize. She had wanted to meet him, convinced they could get past this, but his love had gone…and that was when she realized what she had lost. The only person who had cared for her unconditionally.
Dear God…the day she found out that Linda’s friends had turned on her…hurt her…Iris had decided to meet Damien. She would apologize…make him understand that she had not wanted this to happen.
They could work this through…they cared about each other and that was enough, wasn’t it?
But before she could make things right with him, he was gone.
CHAPTER FIVE
* * *
IF HIS INSTINCT WAS CORRECT, Iris still wanted him, too. Maybe that was what his beast needed—one last time with her, one that would both banish this need for her and convince him that their bond ended when he told her what he was. Yet, there was something beyond lust as Damien picked up his mobile, but he resisted the urge to call Rahul and check if she was in reception. Damn it, it’s only 9.45.
He paced the office instead, his wolf growling as they awaited her arrival. The All Lives funding contract was ready on his laptop, because after speaking to Fatima last night, he’d told Rahul to finalize the documents. His PA didn’t ask questions and did as Damien told him to—a reason he was a hell of an assistant.
Damien didn’t care about her proposal or show of social work—or whatever she had planned for this morning. The funds were going to a good cause, so he’d just hand them over…there was no way he would dangle potential funding in front of her.
If she fucked him, it would be because she wanted it, too…