Chapter 4 – Dangerous Curiosity

Damian’s POV

“You’re not sleeping either, are you?”

It was almost seven am and Ava's voice startled me. After that pool incident, she'd gone back to bed.

My dick did a little jerk when I looked up and saw her standing barefoot on the Persian rug like she belonged in my study.

She was wearing another nightdress, a pink one that hugged her curvees. Her hair was up in a messy bun with a strand falling over her pale beautiful face.

I set my glass down with more force than I intended. “Do you make a habit of sneaking into other people’s studies?”.

She shifted from one foot to the other and tucked the stray strand behind her ear. “Do you make a habit of drinking alone before breakfast?”

I almost smiled. Almost. I was doing everything I could not to look at her breasts. “Touché.”

I leaned back in my chair, although I felt her body from last night, and her nipple, black at the edges, and pretty, just like she was. My mouth watered thinking about it.

Damn, I thought about it.

Ava standing here now, made the room feel too small. She walked closer, dragging her fingers along the spine of a book on the shelf. “This place is… intimidating.”

“Good,” I muttered. “Why are you here?”

She looked unsure for a minute. “I…I was heading to the kitchen and I saw the lights on in this room. I was just curious.”

I studied her, and she bit her lower lip. Something told me she was lying. “The maid can handle breakfast, you know.”

She hesitated, then crossed the room, and she sat opposite me, lifting my cup with both hands. I couldn’t stop noticing how delicate her fingers looked wrapped around the porcelain as she took a sip.

 “You hate me being here, don’t you?”

“I don’t hate it. But I’d be lying if I said you weren’t… complicated.” I retorted, amazed that she'd drank from my cup. Suddenly I wanted to drink from that same cup, to know what she tasted like. Wtf? Focus Damian. 

Ava smiled, and was about to reply when Ethan rushed in. He didn’t wait for an invitation as always, and he was dressed in my favourite pajamas, and he was wearing my shirt.

“Ava,” he said, brushing past me. “We need to talk.”

She stiffened, putting her cup down. “I don’t want—”

“It’s for the best,” he cut in, pulling some papers from his pajamas. “The sooner you sign the divorce papers, the sooner we can move on, please don’t make this ugly.”

Her hands trembled in her lap. “No. I won’t sign, not like this. It feels like you're trying to erase my existence.”

“Look, I'm sorry for the way things turned out, but…I have a son.” He ran his hand through his air and sighed. “Please, sign, Ava.”

I stared at the document and then at him, forcing air out of my nose. “Ethan…what happened to us? I love you.” My eyes watered.

Ethan blinked and he looked sad for a moment. “I did too, but that's all in the past. You really shouldn't have decided to be gone for five years.”

“Was that a joke?” She asked staring daggers at a sheepish Ethan.

“Just sign and get this over with, come on.” Ethan continued, taking a step toward her. She simply stared at him, and a tear rolled down her eyes.

I stepped forward before he could push her harder. “She won’t be forced into anything under my roof.”

Ethan turned to me, arching an eyebrow. “Damian, what are you doing? This was your suggestion.”

“Well, I changed my mind.” I snapped harder than I meant to. Ethan blinked in confusion, but he didn't challenge me further. He knew better.

He stepped forward then muttered u der his breath dramatically and stormed out, taking the papers with him and slamming the door.

When he left I walked over to Ava. She was still in that same position, but I noticed she was shaking like a leaf and her knuckles were white against the chair.

I circled her slowly as if she were a puzzle. “Why do you let him speak to you like that? And why don't you want a divorce?”

“Because I don't know how to throw two years of my marriage away. I still remember him as my husband you know, and now everyone else moved forward while I'm still stuck in the past.” 

Ava buried her face in her hand, and her shoulders started shaking. I thought she was crying, so I went in to comfort her.

But she wasn't crying. She was…. laughing?

I stopped beside her chair, leaning one hand on the back of it. “Are you okay?”

Her head raised up, eyes wet, but her teeth was bared. God, I've never seen anyone smile this way before. She looked unreal.

I wondered briefly why Ethan would throw such a beauty away, but then again, the boy had always been stupid.

“Love is a fucking scam.” She told me, still laughing and shaking her head. 

I agreed with her. I wasn't the same after Ethan's mom died. I had lived her truly for 10yars of our marriage and the day she'd died, I'd felt exactly the same way she did.

 For years, I had told myself to feel nothing, except for the little boy she'd left behind. I know we have a strained relationship, Ethan and I, but I had a soft spot for the kid.

“I know more than you think,” I said quietly.

I was closed the distance between us. I was so close that I caught the faint smell of soap on her body. My hand rose to touch her, but I stopped myself.

“You have to let go, Ava. That's no longer love if it's one sided.” I told her.

She inhaled deeply. “I know. Which is why I'll be giving him that divorce. But…where will I stay? I have nothing…”

I leaned in, my mouth near her ear. “Well, what do you say to staying in the Blackwell manor until the divorce is finalized and the settlement comes in?”

She bit her lower lip, her eyes fell to my lips and she swallowed. She made a noise in her throat. “Thank you.”

“Good,” I whispered “But remember, Ava… while you’re under my roof, you play by my rules.”