Caveman by V. Andrian Page B

Sawyers died two years ago from cardiac arrest.”
    He sighs and closes his eyes. “It doesn’t make a difference. I don’t want to go back anymore. I’m going to sound bitter but I don’t trust people anymore. The man who should have loved me like a father hated me. My mother believed everyone else’s words but mine. I even blame Cole because he was so fucking oblivious that at times it was beyond maddening. The people I called my family disappointed me. That was the reason I gave up everything. The reason I gave up who they had told me I should be only to destroy me later. And the reason I never want to go back.”
    Now the tears fall for a whole different reason. For him. Because I know what he means. “This is what you meant when you insisted you’re not Damon Sawyers. Not only that you left that life behind.”
    “I left everything behind. Most of all my name because I never was Damon Sawyers. I was born a mistake, raised a crime and kicked out like trash.”
    Oh, my heart. I think it just broke in half and is weeping for him. I have a crush on Damon Sawyers but this man – my caveman – I could fall in love with. So broken and yet so strong. So closed off and yet so open.
    I switch my weight to my one elbow and run my fingers through his hair, tugging lightly until he’s looking at me. “I don’t know about that but I know you’re not no one, Damon. And yes, I’m using that name for the sake of conversation but also because you are him. Whatever happened in your life, you were given that name with love and you grew up the man you are today as Damon. You may choose to leave the last name aside but keep the name.” I give him a small smile. “The name reminds me of you. It suits you.” And then, because I can’t fucking help myself, I lean down and kiss his cheek lightly.
    His eyes hold a million swirling emotions I can’t discern. They are holding me captive, boring into my soul and leaving me wide open for him to do as he pleases. In this moment, I feel like I’m his. I feel like he owns me, just by that look.
    He stands and I follow his movements as he turns around and leans over. His hands cup my face and he tilts my head further back without any resistance from me. Like I said, he owns me. “And you, Cassandra are nothing like any of them. Nothing like any person I’ve ever met in my life. And I’m going to be a fucking asshole and tell you I’m glad you ended up here. That I got to meet you and see the world through your eyes. See myself through them.” His lips descend on my forehead and linger there in a sweet kiss. “Thank you.”
    “Even though I’ll be commandeering your bed for a few more days and you will have to carry me up to the spring again at some point?”
    He laughs and slides his hands in my hair. There is a shift in his eyes, something that makes me want to squirm and burn. He tugs lightly just like I did before and I feel my entire body melting for him. “Maybe even because of that.” He lays another kiss on my forehead and leads me back on the pillow carefully. “Get some rest and I’ll make us something to eat.”
    And I’m left on my own again, dripping wet for this gorgeous broken, caveman who I was never supposed to start falling for.
     
    “Tell me about you,” he says as we’re eating. Yes, we’re actually having dinner together for the first time in the ten days I’ve been here. And while there is only one chair, I’m very comfortable sitting on the bed.
    I shrug and swallow my bite. “There isn’t much to tell. Born and raised in DC by my mom. My dad left before I was even born and her parents cast her out. She had me and when I was old enough to live on my own, she left too.”
    “Fuck,” he mumbles.
    I shrug again. “I’m over it thanks to my two best friends, Layla and Dean. I met them in college and the first day that went by without seeing them ever since, was the day I came to Alaska. They are my real family. They’re married now and