Damian sat on the edge of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped together tightly. The storm outside had calmed, but the tension in the room hadn’t. Aurora sat cross-legged on the bed behind him, the silence between them heavy.
“Why was your dad here?” she asked softly, her voice breaking the quiet.
Damian’s shoulders stiffened. He didn’t turn around. “It’s none of your business,” he said flatly.
Aurora frowned, leaning forward slightly. “It feels like my business when he’s threatening my life,” she said. Her tone wasn’t angry, just curious, as if she wanted to understand the man sitting before her.
Damian finally turned his head, his cold eyes meeting hers. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to,” he said.
Aurora tilted her head, not backing down. “I do want answers, Damian. You’re cold to him, but he’s your father. What happened between you two?”
Damian sighed, running a hand through his hair. He stood up, pacing the room, his boots heavy against the floor. “You’re pushing your luck, Aurora,” he warned, his voice low.
Aurora watched him carefully. She didn’t respond, letting the silence fill the room again. She knew when to stop pressing. Damian was like a storm; pushing too hard could trigger something she wasn’t ready for.
He finally stopped pacing and looked at her. His expression softened, just a little. “You don’t need to know,” he said, his voice quieter now.
Aurora didn’t argue. She simply nodded, though her mind was filled with questions.
Damian moved toward the bed and sat beside her. His hand reached out, and he gently touched her face, his thumb brushing against her cheek. It was such a soft gesture, so unlike him, that it made Aurora freeze for a moment.
“You think too much,” Damian said, his lips quirking into a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“And you don’t think enough,” she shot back before she could stop herself.
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Go to sleep, Aurora.”
But instead of pulling away, he leaned in and kissed her forehead. It wasn’t like his usual kisses rough, demanding, claiming. This one was tender, almost affectionate.
Aurora blinked in surprise as he lay down beside her, pulling her into his arms. His head rested against her chest, and his breathing began to slow.
Her heart raced as she looked down at him. Damian was rarely this vulnerable. In this moment, he wasn’t the cold, ruthless man who controlled her life. He looked peaceful, almost human.
Her fingers hesitated before reaching up to his hair. She ran her fingers through it gently, feeling the softness of it. He didn’t stir, his breathing steady, his face relaxed.
Why am I doing this? she thought to herself.
He was the reason she was in this mess. He had bought her, made her his slave, and then turned her into his mistress. And yet, here she was, holding him like he was something precious.
Why do I care?
Her fingers continued to run through his hair as she studied his face. His jawline was sharp, his lips slightly parted as he slept. He was beautiful, she couldn’t deny that. But he was also dangerous-a man who could destroy her without a second thought.
I’m just a toy to him, she reminded herself. Nothing more.
And yet, a part of her wished things were different. A part of her wanted to believe there was more to him than what he showed the world.
She closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the headboard. One day, someone else will take my place. He’ll get bored of me. He’ll replace me, and I’ll be free.
The thought should have made her feel hopeful, but instead, it left a hollow ache in her chest. She didn’t want to admit it, but a part of her didn’t want to leave.
She glanced down at him again, his face calm in sleep. She sighed softly.
Why am I admiring him? she thought bitterly. He’s the reason I’m here. He’s the reason my life is like this.
Her hand stilled in his hair, and she let herself relax against the bed. Despite everything, she couldn’t bring herself to let go of him just yet.
As she drifted off to sleep, she held onto the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, there was more to Damian than the man she had come to know. But even if there wasn’t, she knew she was already too far gone to stop caring.