Damien
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d bothered to notice if it was raining.
High school, maybe? Or maybe the first year of university-back when I was a dumb, emotional fuck, dangerously close to throwing my life away because of…
Forget it.
It didn’t matter.
What mattered was right now-standing on the terrace, watching her. Not the woman I usually saw when I looked at Hailey. No, that version of her had vanished, stripped away by the downpour. Right now, she was something else entirely-a girl lost in the rain, spinning, laughing, arms outstretched as if trying to catch the sky in her hands.
And I couldn’t fucking look away.
At this moment-Hailey had my soul wrapped around her fingers.
My soul that wanted to trace every inch of her skin like those rain droplets.
My soul that wanted to wander around her, to chase her laughter like the wind.
My soul that wanted to hear every little giggle, every breathless sound leaving her lips as if they were my goddamn salvation.
She was something else. Someone too different.
But she was also naive. Too naive for this world. Too soft, too easy for men to hurt. And that thought grated against my nerves like nails on metal-sharp, screeching, impossible to ignore.
And yet, who the hell was I to judge? I was the one who would hurt her more than anyone ever had.
The constant buzz of messages in my pocket told me just that.
That day wasn’t far off-the day Hailey would regret ever trying to see the good in me.
Before my thoughts could spiral deeper, her voice cut through the rain.
“Come here, Damien! It’s not too late! I promise you’ll feel good.”
Her voice was light, innocent-too hopeful.
A low chuckle slipped past my lips. I leaned against the railing, tilting my head as I called back, “Not convincing enough, Bunny.”
Her brows furrowed slightly, though I was sure she didn’t even realize it before she tried again, voice dipping into something softer.
“Pretty please?”
Fuck.
She was adorable.
Another laugh escaped me, shaking my head. I didn’t answer-not because I didn’t want to. God, I wanted to. More than I wanted anything else in this fucking world.
But…
I had reasons not to.
Reasons to stay put. To keep my distance.
To not act like a fool and let stupid sentiments get a hold of me.
“Whatever! Your loss!”
She turned away, just like that, lost in her own world again.
And I watched her. Again.
And again.
And again.
Until the space between us-the distance-got on my fucking nerves.
Before I knew what I was doing, I was heading downstairs, yanking my phone from my pocket and tossing it onto the sofa without bothering to look at the unanswered calls from Jenna.
And then I was standing at the threshold, reining in my urges, watching her from afar as the rain drenched her completely.
And my heartbeat? It was pounding. And I hated it.
Because I knew this feeling.
And I wasn’t supposed to feel it.
But….
She looked so ethereal there. With that white cotton dress hugging her curves and her hair drenched. That big pretty smile on her lips. God! I wanted to die right now- because I would probably snatch this smile one day.
And then she froze noticing me, her eyes looking at me in nervousness-that was the thing about Hailey. So fucking innocent without even trying.
However, before she could say anything, all my restraints snapped. I couldn’t think about anything or maybe I chose not to. I pulled the t-shirt over my head and threw it away. I approached her slowly, drinking every inch of her in.
As I stood before her, I could see how fast her breathing has gotten, how the goosebumps covered her skin and how her beautiful doe eyes shined. She looked at me through those lashes, “I thought…You didn’t want to join.”
She looked ethereal standing there. Drenched. Glowing. That white cotton dress clung to her curves like a second skin, her wet hair cascading down her shoulders, strands sticking to her flushed cheeks. And that smile-that big, unguarded, heartbreakingly beautiful smile.
God.
I wanted to die right now-because someday, I would probably be the one to snatch that smile away.
Then she saw me.
Her body froze, her eyes wide, laced with something hesitant-nervousness.
That was the thing about Hailey. So fucking innocent without even trying.
But before she could speak, before she could question me, before I could stop myself-
I gave in.
I pulled my t-shirt over my head and tossed it away.
Then, I moved toward her.
Slow. Purposeful. Dragging my gaze over every inch of her-memorizing her. Claiming her with my eyes before I even touched her.
And when I finally reached her, I saw it-the way she trembled.
Not from the cold.
Not from fear.
From me.
Her breath came faster. Her skin prickled with goosebumps. Those wide, doe eyes of hers shined as she blinked up at me through long, dark lashes.
“I thought… you didn’t want to join.”
Her voice was soft, breathless. Tempting.
Fuck.
A slow, unbidden smile curved my lips. For once, I didn’t fight it. I slid an arm around her waist and pulled her into me-hard.
Her body crashed against mine, soft against firm, warmth against heat. Every curve-every goddamn inch of her-branded itself onto me. Her destructive beauty burned into my skin.
And then, I whispered the truth, “Couldn’t help myself when you looked like this, Bunny.”
She held my gaze for a moment-just long enough for me to see something shift in her eyes-before she let go of her lip.
And smiled.
“Then… here’s your punishment for being late!”
Before I could react, cool droplets splashed against my face.
I turned my head to the side, momentarily stunned.
If any other woman had done this, she’d have been thrown out of my house.
No hesitation. No mercy.
But Hailey?
Hailey was different. Instead of rage, something else stirred inside me. Something I didn’t want to name. I wiped the water from my face slowly, meeting her gaze with a dark, dangerous grin.
“You are so dead, Bunny.”
Her brows shot up at the threat-but then, she laughed.
Laughed.
The sound hit me like a punch to the gut. Light. Carefree. Addictive.
And then-
She ran.
“Joke’s on you!” she called out over her shoulder, giggling like a child.
And fuck me-I ran after her.
The next hour?
We forgot everything.
Who we were. What we were supposed to be.
I chased her through the rain, her laughter ringing through the evening like a song I’d never heard before but somehow knew by heart.
Every time I caught her, I’d spin her around, waiting for the moment she’d surrender, give in, let me have her-
But she never did.
Every time, she’d catch her breath… and run again.
And every time-
I let her go.
Because maybe… just maybe…
I wanted her to keep running.
Because if she stopped-
She’d realize that the cracks she’d made in me weren’t small anymore.
They were spreading.
And one day soon-
They’d shatter me completely. Because these cracks spelt disaster.