Chapter 3 – Ghosts of the Past

Ava's Pov

“…he might protect her too much,” I heard Clara whisper. “She’s still the first wife. Damian can’t keep her here forever..”

They hadn’t gone home after dinner like I thought they would. Clara and Ethan had decided to spend the night at the Blackwell manor, right next door to my room, apparently.

That was how I could hear every word. It was one am when I woke up to the sound of their voices.

Silk sheets rustled around me, another reminder that I wasn’t home, and I wasn’t anywhere familiar. I pressed my ear against my wall, wondering if the happy couple we're having a fight.

They were…

 “Clara, calm down. Damian doesn’t care about anyone but his company. She’ll stay. She won’t leave unless he decides.”

Clara wasn't satisfied. “We can’t risk her getting in the way, and what about the divorce? You’ve waited long enough.”

I closed my eyes and my hands folded into fists. Divorce.

I bit my lip, trembling, and slowly pulled away from the door. I didn’t want to hear more. I didn’t want to be reminded how easily they had rewritten my life while I was unconscious.

I wrapped my nightgown around myself tightly and moved to the front door, out the hall, careful not to make any noise. My body was barely holding itself up but I could manage.

But by the time I reached the garden door, the moon was high in the sky, the pool by the side flowed peacefully, and the night breeze rolled against my skin. I closed my eyes and let a tear drop. 

This was my life now. It was crazy to be thrust into a life like this after being brain dead for years.

I whispered to myself. “Everything I loved… everything I had… it’s gone.” 

The grass was cool as I stepped into the manicured lawn that also had a small garden of roses and tulips. As I walked, I barely felt the roses brushing against my skin.

“Are you trying to collapse again?”

I nearly jumped, and tripped over a small stone. The man standing a few feet away was tall and broad shoulders and wearing shorts and nothing else. His dark hair fell just above his eyes, and the way he looked at me made me look away. It was my step father-in-law, Damian Blackwell.

“I… I—” I stammered and straightened my back, trying to appear stronger than I felt. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“You’re out here in the cold,” he said, taking a few steps closer. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”

“I’m fine,” I snapped, trying to walk past him, but my legs wobbled under me, and my knees gave out.

“See…I told you.” He was suddenly there, his strong arms catching me before I could fall. His hand pressed firmly against the small of my back, keeping me upright. 

I pulled back slightly embarrassed, trying to regain my balance. “I can stand on my own.”

“You’ve been through a lot,” he smiled at me. “Your body isn’t ready for this kind of—”

“I said I’m fine,” I snapped again, why did everyone think they knew what was best for me?

He didn’t let go immediately. His hand stayed at my back, his eyes scanning my face with a kind of attention that made my pulse race. “Don’t test me, Ava.”

“I’m not testing you,” I whispered, my lips barely moving, but my legs shook as I tried to step away.

He wasn't letting me go so easily. “Look you're under my care and there's no way I'm letting anyone die in my house.”There was no scolding in his tone, and that made me want to lean into him.

“I needed… air,” I admitted, finally, I felt tiny in the vast garden and his arms. “I couldn’t sleep. I… I needed to feel something else.”

“Like what?” He asked, his eyes trailing down to my cleavage peeking through my nightgown. 

I swallowed hard, dragging my eyes away from his shirtless abs. For an older man, he looked nothing like it. “Why are you helping me?” I asked, hating the way my voice shook. “You don’t owe me anything.”

He didn’t smile, not really. “I don’t do things because I owe people, Ava. I do them because I have to, and right now, keeping you away from public eye is the best.”

Somehow that was even worse. “Public eyes? What the hell does that mean?” 

He studied me, “I can't have my company image in shambles. Look, Ethan made a mistake but I don't think the rest of us should suffer.”

“And what about me?” I asked, my eyes blurring with tears. God, how can this be my life and not my life at the same time? I felt like I dropped into an alternate universe.

He said nothing, but his hand on my waist pressed even deeper. So I did the only irrational thing that made sense at that moment.

I turned to the pool, took small steps and dove in.

“What the— Ava!” My father in-law yelled, diving in after me.

The shock of hitting water hit me like lightning, and that was when I remembered that I didn't know how to swim. Before I could say jack, I was sinking.

 It was quiet, and almost peaceful, until strong hands wrapped around my waist and pulled me upward.

“Are you out of your damn mind?!!” Damien held me above the water. He was wet as well, and the water danced around us.

I coughed and dragged the wet hair plastered on my face away. Water streamed down his chest as he held me close. My heart pounded wildly and whether from the cold or him, I couldn’t tell.

“What is wrong with you? You can't swim and you just jumped in?” His eyes were wide with amusement not shock.

Before I could say anything, Ethan and Clara ran out. “Damian? Ava? What happened?” Ethan asked.

But neither of us looked up. He was staring at my nipple which I could feel peeking out of my nightgown. “Oops.” I said, but my face burned as he helped me cover up.

Damian's hands stayed on my waist, his naked upper body brushing against my wet semi clothed one. I felt a familiar thrill run down my legs.

And it was hard not to, especially when I could feel his semi hard dick pressing into my ass.

For the first time since I woke up, my body remembered what being horny felt like.