Chapter 4

Lila’s POV

“Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad! Drive safe and have an amazing trip!” I called out, waving enthusiastically from the front porch as the car engine hummed to life.

Mom leaned out the window one last time, her expression stern but affectionate. “You two behave yourselves, okay? I don’t want any calls from the neighbors complaining about chaos.”

“Yes, Mom,” Damien replied smoothly, placing a hand over his heart like he was making a solemn vow. “I promise we’ll be on our absolute best behavior. Nothing but peace and quiet here.”

I rolled my eyes at his overly innocent tone, watching as Dad backed the car out of the driveway and turned onto the street. The taillights disappeared around the corner, and suddenly the house felt bigger. Emptier. Just the two of us now.

Damien slipped his hands into his pockets, leaning against the porch railing with that easy, confident stance that always made my stomach flutter. “Well… looks like we’re officially alone in this big house.”

“Yeah,” I murmured, avoiding his gaze by staring at the perfectly trimmed lawn instead. The afternoon sun warmed my skin, but a different kind of heat was already building low in my belly. Being alone with him felt dangerous in ways I didn’t want to admit.

He tilted his head, studying me with a small smile. “It’s Saturday, no classes, no plans forced on us. What do you say we do something fun together? Unless you’ve already got something else in mind?”

The way he said “something fun” sent a little thrill through me, my heart skipping like it had missed a step. I knew I should shut this down, suggest something safe like watching a movie or ordering pizza. But the words tumbled out before I could stop them. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

Damien’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he stepped closer, close enough that I caught the faint scent of his cologne—something woody and masculine that always lingered on his clothes. “Oh, a few ideas. But let’s start simple. How about a game? Truth or dare, maybe? We used to love that when we were younger.”

My pulse quickened at the suggestion. Truth or dare with Damien now? In an empty house? Images flashed through my mind—daring him to do something silly, or worse, him daring me to reveal secrets I’d buried deep. “I… don’t know. That might be a little risky these days.”

He chuckled softly, the sound low and warm, sending a shiver down my spine. “Risky in a good way, though. Come on, Lila. It’s just us. No one else to judge.” His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before flicking back up, and the flirtatious glint in his eyes made my cheeks heat. “Or are you scared I’ll uncover all your hidden truths?”

I swallowed hard, trying to play it cool even as forbidden thoughts swirled. What could possibly go wrong? We’ve played games together a hundred times before. This is harmless… right? “Fine, but only if we keep it light.”

Damien grinned, but then his expression shifted playfully. “Actually, you look like you’re already getting cold feet. How about balloon stomp instead? Remember how competitive we used to get with that?”

I laughed despite myself, shaking my head. “That’s so childish. We’re way too old for popping balloons like kids at a birthday party.”

He raised an eyebrow, challenging me with that cocky smirk that made girls on campus weak. “Or maybe you’re just afraid I’ll win this time. I’ve gotten faster, stronger… better at spotting when someone’s trying to cheat their way to victory.” His voice dropped a notch, teasing. “You know I’ve always suspected you had an unfair advantage back then. Those pretty eyes distracting the referee—me.”

“Seriously?” I crossed my arms, but a reluctant smile tugged at my lips. His flirting was light, but it landed like sparks on dry tinder. “You think sweet-talking me will make me agree? I know I can still beat you.”

“Oh yeah?” He whistled low, stepping even closer until I could feel the warmth radiating from his body. “Prove it then, Lila. Or are you worried the big bad wolf has finally caught up?”

I huffed, stubbornness winning out. “Fine, I’ll play. But only because I want to, not because you talked me into it with your lame challenges.”

He chuckled again. “Sure, whatever you need to tell yourself.”

A short while later, we were in the backyard, a pile of colorful balloons scattered across the grass. Damien blew a sharp whistle. “One, two… ready, set, go!”

We both dove in, stomping wildly. Laughter mixed with the sharp pops of latex under our feet. I was so focused on crushing as many as possible that I lost my balance on a slippery patch of grass. The world tilted, and I started to fall…

Strong arms caught me instantly. Damien pulled me upright against his chest, one hand steady on my waist, the other gripping my arm. My breath came fast, chest heaving as I looked up into his eyes. They were so close now, deep, intense, with flecks of gold in the sunlight. I couldn’t look away.

His eyes had always been striking, but right now they felt magnetic, pulling me in. No wonder so many girls chased after him. Up close, they held promises of things I shouldn’t want.

It felt like the seconds between us were stretching till forever. The scent of crushed grass and his skin filled my senses. My heart hammered so loudly I was sure he could hear it too.

Damien’s POV

I had suggested balloon stomp on purpose. Truth or dare could come later, once she relaxed and let her guard down. I had bigger plans for us today, plans that involved pushing boundaries slowly, testing how far this forbidden tension could stretch before it snapped.

But holding her like this right now? It felt like a mistake and the best decision I’d ever made all at once.

Her body pressed against mine, soft curves fitting perfectly in my arms. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, brushing against me with every breath. Up close, her lips looked so full and inviting… plump, slightly parted, practically begging to be kissed. I wanted to lower my head and claim them, to taste her and see if she was going to kiss me back with the same hidden hunger I had sensed for months.

My heart pounded wildly against my ribs. The urge was so strong it took real effort to hold back. Instead, I let my thumb brush lightly over her waist in what could pass for a steadying touch, but we both knew it lingered a second too long.

“Are you… okay?” I asked, my voice rougher than I intended as I finally broke the trance.

“Yeah… yeah, I’m fine,” Lila stuttered, pulling away quickly, though her cheeks stayed flushed.

I forced a casual grin, like the moment hadn’t just set my blood on fire. “Let’s see who the real winner is then.”

We counted the burst balloons together. In the end, Lila came out on top. She immediately launched into a victory dance around me, singing triumphantly, “I won you, I won you! I’m the best, and you’re the loser!”

I smiled, pretending to sulk even though I’d held back on purpose. Letting her win would put her in a good mood—confident, playful, more open to whatever came next. “You can stop gloating now. You win, geez.”

“Why should I stop?” she teased, still dancing closer, her laughter bright and infectious. The tension that had thickened the air between us lately seemed to ease a little with every silly spin. “I won fair and square. You’re the loser!”

Her joy was contagious, and for a moment I just watched her—hair bouncing, eyes sparkling. It made the dark ache inside me twist tighter. I wanted this version of her all to myself.

“Can we move on to truth or dare now?” I asked, keeping my tone bored even as anticipation coiled low in my gut. “Or are you too scared I’ll dare you to do something actually fun?”