Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

It was late, and the world outside was quiet. Aubrey emerged from the steamy bathroom, her soft nightgown clinging to her, her hair already dry.

She was about to turn off the living room lights when a sudden knock echoed through the silence.

It wasn’t a polite tap, but a heavy, insistent pounding–a relentless, almost suffocating demand.

Aubrey’s heart skipped a beat.

At this hour, with that kind of relentless banging, she barely needed to guess who it was. She knew it was Damon.

She walked to the door and peered through the peephole.

Sure enough, Damon’s left hand was propped against the wall, supporting his upper body, his right hand pounding on the door. His head was bowed, shoulders heavy, face unnaturally flushed. His body swayed slightly, as if he might collapse at any moment.

She stood in silence for a full two minutes, hoping he would simply leave.

The knocking came in fits and starts.

It was clear he wouldn’t give up until he got what he wanted. With a sigh of resignation, Aubrey unlocked the door.

A soft click echoed.

The moment the door opened a crack, the weight from outside pressed in.

Reeking of heavy alcohol, his scalding body tumbled against her without warning, his head burying heavily into the crook of her neck.

The momentum sent her stumbling back two steps, and she barely managed to steady herself.

His scorching breath ghosted over her freshly showered skin, still damp with moisture, triggering a fine shiver that ran down her spine.

His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her impossibly tight against him with a possessive, undeniable force.

Aubrey’s body stiffened. Her breath hitched, filled with his clean, familiar scent–a fragrance she knew intimately and was utterly captivated by–now laced with the potent tang of alcohol.

Her heart hammered, her breath catching. Her hands braced against his firm, muscular waist, pushing with all her might. “Damon,” Aubrey gasped, “Get away from me. What are you doing here, drunk? Go home.”

His body was a wall of muscle, tall and imposing, overwhelmingly massive against Aubrey. The disparity in their strength was stark, and it took almost every last ounce of her strength to shove him away.

Damon stumbled backward, slamming the door shut with a bang. He leaned drunkenly against it, his body going limp, his face and neck flushed an unnatural crimson.

He lifted his heavy eyelids, his gaze hazy and unfocused. His eyes, veined with red and glistening with moisture, held a weariness that ran deep.

As their eyes met, a dull ache pulsed through Aubrey’s chest, and her fingers instinctively clutched at her dress.

Her cold resolve melted, the strength of her dismissal giving way. “Why did you drink so much?” she asked softly. Damon pressed his lips into a bitter smile, his fingers impatiently tugging at the buttons of his shirt.

Aubrey rushed forward nervously, covering his hand as he undid a button. “Damon, what are you doing?” she asked, her voice laced with panic. He was just too hot, unbuttoning two buttons to let in some air.

And here she was, worried he was trying to make a move.

He hadn’t intended to, but the cool, soft touch of Aubrey’s hand against his, and the fresh scent of her shower wafting into his nostrils, stirred up impulses he’d long suppressed.

Her shapely figure, provocatively outlined by the thin nightgown clinging to her curves, was alluring, and she was utterly unaware of it.

He clamped her wrist, his Adam’s apple bobbing. His breathing grew heavy as his gaze dropped to her flushed, delicate face, his voice low and rough “Aubrey, what else have you been lying to me about?”

Aubrey tugged her hand, but he only tightened his grip.

She tilted her head back to meet his gaze, feigning composure. “Damon, you already knew about my father going to prison, didn’t you?“

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< Chapter 76

Then what about Ethan Sterling?”

Aubrey froze, a flicker of panic crossing her face.

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“Childhood sweetheart, or just your guy best friend?” Damon’s eyes were bloodshot, his husky voice catching in his throat, every word laced with raw pain. “You liked his money? Chased after him? Threw me away to be with him? Aubrey, how many lies have you told? You knew he was gay since childhood, knew he didn’t like women. That’s a ridiculous excuse for a breakup.”

Aubrey’s breath hitched. She lowered her head guiltily, lightly biting her trembling lip.

“Bree,” he murmured, the name drawn out, a soft, broken sound.

Aubrey’s every movement, even her breathing, stilled in that moment.

When they were together, he’d call her that whenever he was being affectionate, his voice soft and drawn–out, always melting her heart. The sound was whisper–light, like a feather brushing her heart, yet it carried a crushing weight, slamming into the most tender part of her soul. The impact made her eyes burn and her nose ache.

She squeezed her hands into tight fists, her nails digging deeply into her palms, the sharp pain a desperate anchor to keep her from completely falling

apart.

His voice was muffled, thick with congestion, sounding like a choked sob or the delirious murmurings of someone drunk. “Your dad’s arrest, your breaking up with me–it wasn’t a coincidence. It’s because you loved me too much, you couldn’t bear to destroy my future, could you?” Aubrey took a deep, steadying breath. Her voice was firm. “No.”

“Why won’t you just admit it?‘ Damon let out a bitter, cold laugh, his bloodshot eyes swimming with unshed tears. He gripped her shoulders, spinning her around and pinning her against the door. ‘Just tell me the truth, tell me… what are your true feelings? You don’t have to worry about my future, and I won’t force you to stay with me, but please… just tell me you’ve always loved me. Please, Aubrey, just one sentence…“”

Each of Damon’s raw, anguished pleas drilled holes deep in her chest, threatening to rip her heart right out. How was she supposed to survive this?

Given the profound, overwhelming depth of his love, if she dared to admit even a sliver of the truth, he would undoubtedly sacrifice everything for her without a moment’s hesitation.

Her heart ached, her body trembling. Her nose stung, and uncontrollable tears welled in her eyes, but her voice was chillingly cold, “No, I don’t. We’re over. Why can’t you just be a decent ex and stay out of my life? Stop hounding me.”

“Playing innocent, are we? Go on, keep pretending…” Damon chuckled softly, a dismissive sound as he gently pushed her away. He then sauntered with a loose, easy stride toward the living room.

Aubrey spun around, her heart pounding, watching him stumble into the living room. He dropped onto the sofa, throwing his head back against the cushions, his eyes falling shut. His arms spread wide, a picture of reckless abandon and weary nonchalance.

She followed him, standing in front of him, watching him feign sleep. “Damon, can you just leave?”

Damon’s voice, thick and slurred, murmured, “I’m drunk. Can’t leave.”

“I’ll call you a ride–share.”

“Didn’t drive.”

“Get a ride–share.”

“And if I get into trouble, is that on you?”

Aubrey grabbed her phone, only to freeze, utterly speechless.

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