Aurora finished the last bite of her meal, setting the tray aside with a small sigh of relief. Damian, who had been watching her intently, stood and walked over, his gaze never leaving her.
“Good,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “You needed that.”
Aurora looked up at him, her expression soft. “Thank you for staying,” she said quietly. “It feels… different having you here.”
He leaned down, scooping her up in his arms before she could say another word. Aurora gasped, clutching his shirt as her eyes widened. “Damian!”
“You’re staying in my room from now on,” he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“What?” Aurora blinked, confused. “But why? I’m fine here!”
“No, you’re not,” Damian replied as he carried her toward the door. “I need to keep a closer eye on you. And I don’t want you walking around unnecessarily. You need rest.”
Aurora sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing with him. She rested her head against his chest as he carried her up the stairs, his footsteps steady and confident.
When they reached his bedroom, Damian pushed the door open with his foot, stepping inside and closing it behind them. He walked over to the bed and gently laid her down, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“From now on,” he said, his voice soft but firm, “this is where you’ll sleep. No more excuses.”
Aurora looked around the room, taking in the large bed, the heavy curtains, and the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air. “Damian, this isn’t necessary,” she said hesitantly.
“It is,” he replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside her. “I can’t take any chances with you or the baby.”
She gave him a small smile, her hand resting on her belly. “You’ve changed so much,” she murmured.
He tilted his head, his dark eyes softening. “Maybe I have,” he admitted. “But you’re the reason for that.”
Aurora’s cheeks flushed, and she looked away, embarrassed. “Damian…”
Before she could say anything else, he stood and began unbuttoning his shirt. Aurora’s eyes widened as she watched him. “What are you doing?”
“We’re taking a bath,” he said matter-of-factly, shrugging off his shirt and tossing it onto a nearby chair.
Aurora’s jaw dropped. “What? Damian, no! I can bathe on my own!”
He smirked, his hands moving to his belt. “I’m not asking, Aurora.”
Her face turned red as she scrambled to sit up. “I… I’m fine, really! You don’t have to-”
Damian stepped closer, cutting off her protest. “Take off your clothes,” he said softly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Let me take care of you.”
Aurora stared at him, her heart racing. “Damian…”
He knelt in front of her, his hands gently taking hers. “Aurora,” he said, his voice tender. “You’ve been through so much. Let me help you. Please.”
She hesitated, her cheeks still flushed, but his sincerity melted her resistance. Slowly, she nodded.
Damian helped her stand, his hands steadying her as she started unbuttoning her blouse. Her fingers trembled slightly, and he placed his hands over hers, guiding her movements. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “Take your time.”
Once her blouse was off, he helped her step out of her skirt, his touch gentle and respectful. Aurora felt her cheeks burn, but she didn’t stop him. When she was down to her undergarments, he paused, his dark eyes meeting hers.
“You’re beautiful,” he said quietly, his voice filled with awe.
Aurora looked away, shy and unsure of how to respond. “Damian, you don’t have to say that.”
“I mean it,” he insisted, tilting her chin up so she had to look at him. “You’re carrying my child. There’s nothing more beautiful than that.”
Her eyes softened, and for a moment, she forgot her embarrassment. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Damian stood, taking her hand and leading her to the bathroom. The large tub was already filled with warm water, steam rising into the air. He helped her step in, his hands steadying her as she lowered herself into the water.
Once she was settled, he climbed in behind her, his strong arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her close. Aurora leaned back against his chest, her body relaxing for the first time in days.
“This feels nice,” she admitted softly.
He kissed the top of her head, his lips lingering against her hair. “You deserve it,” he said.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the warmth of the water surrounding them. Damian gently ran his hands over her shoulders, massaging away the tension. Aurora closed her eyes, letting herself enjoy the moment.
“You don’t have to do all this,” she said eventually.
“I want to,” he replied simply.
When they were done, Damian helped her out of the tub, wrapping a soft towel around her. He dried her off carefully, his movements gentle and precise. Once she was dressed in a fresh nightgown, he carried her back to the bed, tucking her in like she was the most precious thing in the world.
“Get some rest,” he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
Aurora smiled up at him, her heart full. “Thank you, Damian.”
He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his eyes warm. “Anything for you,” he said softly.
With that, he turned off the lights and settled into bed beside her, holding her close as they drifted off to sleep.