Chapter 3

Damien’s POV

I grabbed Rachel’s wrist and pulled her hand away, glaring at her hard.

I shouldn’t have kissed her back earlier. I only did it because I thought it might help scrub my sister from my mind. But seeing Lila standing right here in front of me, cheeks flushed and eyes blazing, made me want to grab her ass and crush those pouty lips under mine.

Rachel crossed her arms, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Why the hell are you defending yourself to her like she owns you? She’s your twin, not your keeper. You can kiss whoever you want without her throwing a tantrum.”

“Back off,” I growled, my patience snapping.

She smirked, eyes narrowing. “You know what? The whispers around campus are spot on. You’re obsessed with your sister, and she’s just as bad—rushing over here like she caught you cheating on her. It’s sick, honestly. Both of you need help.”

Rachel flipped her hair and sauntered away, leaving the air thick with tension.

Kendall mumbled something about needing to be anywhere else and stared at her shoes.

Lila looked rattled, her breathing uneven. Before I could say anything, she turned to Kendall. “We’ve got that literature seminar starting soon. Let’s not be late.”

Kendall latched onto the excuse. “Literature—right. We should head there now. See you around, Damien.”

“I actually joined the literature seminar this term,” I said, stepping closer on purpose.

Lila halted mid-step. “You what?”

“Same class,” I clarified, voice low. “And it doesn’t start for a while yet.”

Her cheeks colored. She shot Kendall a quick look and pinched her arm lightly. “Professor Hale asked us to stop by early about the reading list. Right?”

Kendall nodded fast. “Yeah, Professor Hale. We better go handle that. Later!”

Lila pulled her friend away quickly, but not before I caught the flicker of panic—and heat—in her eyes. I stayed behind, fists clenched at my sides. Watching her walk away only made the dark craving worse. Kissing Rachel had been a stupid attempt to distract myself, but it had backfired spectacularly. All it did was make me want Lila more.

Lila’s POV

Dinner that night felt heavier than usual. The savory aroma of grilled chicken and spices filled the kitchen, but my appetite had vanished. I poked at my plate from the far end of the table, deliberately choosing a seat away from Damien.

Mom glanced between us as she passed the salad bowl. “You two are awfully quiet tonight. Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” Damien and I said almost simultaneously.

Dad raised an eyebrow when he joined us, kissing Mom on the cheek before sitting down. “I heard there might be some tension. Your mother and I are taking off tomorrow evening for a week. I expect peace while we’re gone—no arguments, no drama.”

“A week?” The words slipped out sharper than I intended. Staying home alone with Damien suddenly felt like stepping onto thin ice. One wrong move and everything could crack wide open.

Mom smiled reassuringly. “It’s just a short weekend getaway, and besides we have your cousin's christening to attend. I'm sure you'll survive for six and a half days without us!”

I wasn’t so sure. The charged looks, the lingering touches, the way my body reacted whenever he was near—it was getting harder to ignore. And from the way Damien had looked at me earlier on campus, I suspected he was fighting the same battle.

After we cleared the table, I escaped upstairs, hoping for some space. But when I pushed open my bedroom door, Damien was already inside, leaning against my desk with his arms crossed.

I stopped short. “Why are you in my room?”

He shrugged, a lazy smile tugging at his lips. “Felt like it. Your room’s more comfortable than mine.”

“We outgrew sharing space a long time ago,” I said, trying to sound indifferent as I grabbed clothes for a shower.

“We didn’t always,” he reminded me. “Used to be normal.”

“That was before….” I shot him a pointed look. “It’s just not the same, Damien, okay? We're not kids, and– and– anyway! You have to leave just because I said so. I’m going for a shower. When I come out, I want this room to myself.”

The hot water did little to calm my racing thoughts. When I stepped back into the bedroom wrapped only in a towel, hair dripping onto my shoulders, Damien hadn’t left. He pushed off the wall and approached slowly, eyes dark with something dangerous.

“You’re still here—!”

I said, clutching the towel like a shield.

“Couldn’t leave without saying goodnight properly.” His voice dropped lower as he stopped just inches away. “And besides, I really wanted to see that pretty face up close. Helps me sleep with better dreams… the ones that involve you.”

He leaned in and brushed a slow, deliberate kiss along my jawline, then another just beneath my ear, his breath warm against my damp skin.

My pulse spiked. I touched the tingling spots instinctively, words failing me. “Damien… that… why would you…”

He pulled back with a satisfied smirk. “Your face right now, it makes it all worth it. It means I can still get under your skin.”

He turned and left without another word, the door clicking shut behind him.

I sank onto the edge of my bed, heart hammering, fingertips tracing where his lips had been.