Lie To Me In Diamonds

CHAPTER 5: REAL ENOUGH

The first sound in the room was Charlotte’s laugh. It wasn’t warm. It wasn’t kind. It was high and brittle and it shattered against the white hospital walls, bouncing back until Nadia’s teeth hurt.

“God,” Charlotte said, clutching the bouquet of white lilies like she was trying to strangle them. “You should’ve seen your face, Nadia.”

She said the name like she’d been tasting it.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it.” Her red lips curved. “Damian told me you’d be here and I just had to see. Reaction test. You passed with flying colors.”

Nadia’s eyes blazed red with anger, she wondered what was going on in her charlotte’s mind to play that kind of prank, it was stupid really, and she laughing about it made Nadia want to punch her in the face till it was covered in red liquid, maybe then it would match her lipstick, the thought amused Nadia.

Damian didn’t move. He was propped up in the hospital bed, grey eyes sharp despite the exhaustion. The bandage under his thin gown shifted when he breathed and pulled at the skin. A muscle ticked in his jaw.

“Charlotte. Stop playing around.”

His voice was quiet. That was the dangerous part.

Charlotte’s laugh stuttered but didn’t die. “I’m just joking, darling. You are so serious after getting shot. It’s not good for your heart.” She turned to Nadia then, and her gaze was slow and cruel. It dragged over the purple bruise blooming under Nadia’s eye, over the split in her leather jacket, down to the bandage on her thigh peeking out beneath the leather pants.

“I’m Charlotte Barton,” she said, holding out a hand with manicured nails. . “We haven’t properly met.”

Nadia didn’t take it. “I believe we have.”

For half a second, the mask slipped. Annoyance. Then it was gone, smoothed over with that same glossy smile.

Charlotte laughed, soft and airy. “You seem pissed, was it the joke? Oh sorry,I was being dramatic. Damian and I have known each other since prep school. Our families are very close. You know how people talk.”

Nadia knew. She also knew Charlotte was lying and bad at it.she maintained her cold stare.

“Right.” Charlotte tilted her head. “You look like you’ve been through it.”

Damian shifted. A low, pained groan pulled from his chest and Charlotte was on him instantly, all concern.

“Are you okay? Do you need water? Ice? Should I call the nurse? The doctor said you shouldn’t be moving—”

“I can take care of my man myself, you can get your hands off him please?,” Nadia cuts her off while smiling, a daring smile “You can go, Charlotte. Thank you for your help.” Nadia signals to the door

The words hit like a slap.

Charlotte blinked. “Go? I just got here. I brought flowers.”

“Yes charlotte,go.” His voice didn’t rise. It didn’t need to.

Charlotte’s smile tightened at the edges. For a moment Nadia saw her — the woman underneath who wasn’t used to hearing no. Then Charlotte laughed again, lighter this time, and leaned down. She pressed a kiss to Damian’s cheek he moved his face away and Nadia grinned in satisfaction.

“ I’ll let you two catch up.” She straightened and turned to Nadia. “It was lovely meeting you, Nadia. Truly.”

The door clicked shut behind her.

And the room dropped 10 degrees.

Silence. Thick and heavy.

Nadia stared at the scuff on the linoleum. Damian stared at her.

“How do you feel,” she asked finally. Her voice was rough from disuse.

Damian’s mouth twitched. “How do _you_ feel.”

He wasn’t looking at her leg. He was looking at her eyes. Like he could see the 3 days of no sleep and panic behind them.

“I heard from the nurse this morning,” he said quietly. “About the attack. I heard you saved me from something strange being injected into my drip”

Nadia’s throat bobbed. “It’s nothing. Six stitches. I’ve had worse.”

“You took a knife for me.”

“You took a bullet for me.”

The air went heavy between them. Damian’s eyes dropped to her mouth, then back up. There was guilt there. Concern. And something darker that made Nadia’s stomach flip.

She cleared her throat and ruined it. “Barely 48 hours with me and you landed yourself in the hospital.” She says while stuffing her hands in her tight leather pockets.

“Could’ve been worse.”

“Could’ve been me.”

Damian’s gaze fell to her face. “I’m sorry you had to go through that”

His hand lifted. Slow. Giving her time to pull away.

“I’m sorry too,Damian” His fingers brushed her cheekbone. Just the pads of his fingers. Barely a touch. But it was warm. And it was careful.

It pulled at his wound. He groaned, low, and his shoulder jerked.

“Damian—” Nadia was at his side before she thought about it. Her hand hovered over his arm but didn’t touch. “Are you okay? Did I—”

He stopped groaning. His eyes opened fully and locked on hers. Gray. Tired. And so close she could see the flecks of silver.

She tried to step back. His hand shot out and caught her wrist. His grip was weak but sure.

“Do you mind getting in bed with me,” he said.

Nadia choked. “What?”

He smirked. It hurt him and he did it anyway. “Lay with me for a while, Nadia. Please”

“You’re on painkillers and delirious.”

“Probably.” His thumb dragged over her pulse point. She could feel her heartbeat jumping under his touch. “No rules today. We’re just two injured people in a bed.”

“A hospital bed,” she protested, but her voice was weaker now. “What would the nurses think—”

“What would they do?” He smiled knowingly, he was beautifully sculptured even down to his dentals and knew it too well, seeing him smile made Nadia smile too, she hadn’t seen him smile since they met. He tugged and she stumbled forward. His other arm came around her back and guided her down with shocking gentleness, like she might break.

Shock was written all over her face.

“Just a few minutes,” he murmured. His mouth was right by her ear. His breath was warm and it raised goosebumps on her neck.

She should’ve argued. She should’ve walked out.

Instead she let him. She slid onto the narrow bed beside him, careful of the IV and the heart monitor. She laid on her side, her back to his chest,with no space between them.

The sheets smelled like him. Clean and something that was just Damian. His body was warm behind her. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest against her back. It felt peaceful.

For the first time since the they met, Nadia closed her eyes and actually relaxed.

---

THREE DAYS LATER

Damian healed like he was personally offended by the bullet.

“Stubbornness and good genes,” the doctor said, signing the discharge papers with a tired smile. “You’re lucky, Mr. Cross.”

He walked out in black. Black tailored pants. Black henley that clung to his chest and hid the bandage under his arm. He was pale. He was also lethal.

Three SUVs,black and tinted,and six guys in black suits were waiting,Nadia could hardly tell them apart,they were all built the same way.

“Welcome Mr Cross” a guy that looked different from the rest spoke,the scar on his neck caught Nadia’s eyes and she wondered what exactly left that kind of scar.

“Gray, all set?”

“Yes sir”

They got into the SUV in the middle,

“Different route,take us to the penthouse on the island ” Damian told the driver as soon as the doors closed.

Nadia frowned. “Why?”

Damian didn’t answer. He pulled out his phone and typed. A second later her phone buzzed in her bag.

She pulled it out.

_The house is bugged. Found 4 devices in the living room,kitchen,bedroom and my study. We’re going to my other penthouse until security sweeps it. Varela’s men were seen 2 blocks from the old place last night. Don’t look scared._

Nadia looked up. Damian was already watching her. His expression was calm. But his eyes were hard.

She nodded once and tucked the phone away.

The “other penthouse” took her breath away. She had only seen this kind of buildings,if she wanted to steal something from it,not live in it, it was majestic and she started to wonder how much Damian actually had

The elevator doors opened with a soft _ding_ and it was like stepping into the sky.

White Calacatta marble floors that reflected the light. Floor-to-ceiling windows that showed the entire city spread out below — New York at dusk, the sky bleeding orange and purple over the hills. The air smelled like cedar and something expensive.

And staff. Four of them. Two men, two women. All in crisp black and white uniforms, standing in a perfect line like this was a 5-star hotel.

“Mr. Cross,” the head housekeeper said. She was in her 40s, hair in a neat bun, eyes sharp but kind. “Welcome home. We’ve prepared the guest suite for Ms. Reyes.”

Damian nodded. “Marisol. Show her to her room.”

Marisol smiled at Nadia. “This way, Ms. Reyes.”

The guest suite was obscene.

The door opened and Nadia stopped walking. She mouthed a wow but the words couldn’t form.

A king-sized bed with a white duvet so plush it looked like a cloud. A sitting area with a real fireplace and cream velvet chairs. A wardrobe that was bigger than her entire childhood bedroom.

But the bathroom made her forget how to speak.Marisol pushed the door open.

Heated marble floors. A rainfall shower with three shower heads and glass walls. A soaking tub deep enough to disappear in, with a view of the city through another window. Every lotion, oil, and product lined up like a spa. Scented candles. Towels folded into swans. The view was heavenly.

“Wow,” Nadia whispered. “He really throws money around.”

Marisol smiled. “He said you needed somewhere quiet to rest, Ms. Reyes.”

After Marisol left, Nadia locked the door and stripped and got into the tub The hot water hit her and she nearly cried,her moans of relaxation as she felt the water wash away the stress of the last few days. For 20 minutes she didn’t think about Varela. Or bullets. Or the way Damian’s hand had felt on her back.

She came out in a plush white robe, hair wrapped in a towel, and opened the wardrobe. It was full. Jeans that fit. Sweaters. Heels. And nightwear. Silk slips. Lace. All in her size.

She picked a teal slip dress. The silk slid over her skin like water and caught the light.

On the dresser was a black box. Inside, a phone. Brand new. Sleek. And a folded note in Damian’s messy, impatient handwriting:

_Nadia,

Your old phone wasn’t safe. Or fitting for a billionaire’s girlfriend.

This one is encrypted. Don’t lose it. Don’t break it. .

-D_

Nadia laughed. Quiet. She turned the phone on. It was beautiful.

She laughed loud, barely able to surprise her joy as she landed on the plush bed, for the first time, she didn’t feel hunted, she felt safe, and she felt taken care of, she made a mental note to thank Damian.. The bed was too soft. Her brain was too loud.

She got up. Bare feet on the cold marble. She walked.

Past the kitchen with marble counters. Past the library with floor-to-ceiling books. Past the gym with equipment she couldn’t name. Exploring every bit of the penthouse,waving at all the servants who gave a curt bow as she passed.

And then she saw it.

A black door. With gold inlays in a geometric pattern. The only door in the whole penthouse that wasn’t white. It sparked curiosity in her.

Moving slowly towards it and turned the golden knob, feeling excited that it wasn’t locked

White. Gold. Black. All sharp lines and expensive furniture. A bed that could fit four people. A view of the city that made her dizzy.

“Looking for something?” Nadia spun so fast she nearly fell.

Damian stood in front of the bathroom.

Fresh from the shower. Water dripping from his dark hair down his bare chest. Over the defined abs. Over the new pink scar on his side. Down to the towel slung low on his hips.

He was tall. Broad. And he was looking at her like she was the only thing in the room.

Nadia’s eyes dragged over him before she could stop them. Shoulders. Chest. The water on his skin.

“My eyes are up here,” he said. Smirking.

She flushed. Embarrassment hugging her tight and she mentally cussed. “I— I was just walking. I didn’t know this was—”

She turned to go and knocked over a black marble decorative vase. It shattered. She yelped, tripped over a low cupboard, and caught her bad leg on a brass clothing stand.

“Shit!” Pain shot up her calf.

Damian was on her in two seconds. He scooped her up, one arm under her knees, the other around her back. He smelled like different things,soap mint,aftershave, he smelt like himt. He set her down on his bed like she weighed nothing.

“What are you doing?” she asked, breathless.

“Stay still.” He went to a drawer and pulled out a first aid kit. He sat on the edge of the bed and lifted her leg into his lap.

His hands were warm as he cleaned the scrape with antiseptic. His thumb brushed over her ankle. But his eyes kept lifting. To her face. To her bare long legs and beautiful skin. To the way the teal silk had ridden up her thighs and her breasts that perked so perfectly in that night dress. Damn must she always be this hot?he thought to himself. He wondered if she was on panties,but shook the thought out of his head

Nadia’s breath caught. She see the droplets of water on his collarbone.

She tried to pull her leg back. Her balance went. She tipped sideways.

Damian caught her. They fell back onto the bed. Him on top. Her beneath him.

Chest to chest. His weight holding her down. Her hands on his bare shoulders. His towel damp against her thigh.

The air went thick. Heavy. She could feel his heartbeat. Her self control slipping away.

“Damian—”

His eyes were dark. “I should go”

He rolled off her before she could say anything else. He walked back to the bathroom but not before giving her his signature smirk.

Leaving her on his bed, heart hammering, with no idea what the hell had just happened. What happened to the rules she set from the start?

She bolted from the room as fast as she could escaping from the confusion.

THE NEXT EVENING - 7:13 PM

At 6 PM sharp, three staff knocked on her door.

“Ms. Reyes. For the Whitaker Foundation Gala.”

Royal blue silk. Backless. It hugged every curve and dipped low and made her feel dangerous. 4-inch strappy heels. Diamond earrings and a bracelet that felt like it weighed a pound.

It came with a note yet again

_Teal isn’t the only color that looks good on you

D_

Nadia found her self blushing at the thought that he took it personal to send short notes with every of his action. She felt important.

By 7:00pm they reached the Gala, cameras flashing everywhere, they both made heads turn and they liked the fact.

The Meridian was obscene. Crystal chandeliers that threw light everywhere. A string quartet playing something soft.

“Nadia.” He took her hand. His was warm and his thumb brushed over her knuckles. “You clean up well.”

“So do you.”

“Nadia Reyes!”

Charlotte. Red dress. Red lips. Like a warning.

“Darling!” She kissed Damian’s cheek. Her hand stayed on his chest. “You look incredible. Are you sure you should be out? The doctor—”

“I’m sure.” Damian’s voice was polite ice.

Charlotte turned to Nadia. “You look lovely too. That blue is... bold.”

“Thanks.”

Charlotte drifted away, but not before her eyes dragged over Damian like she owned him.

Nadia rolled her eyes and turned right into Elias.

“Nadia.” He held out champagne. “You look stunning.”

“Thanks” she said, declining the drink.

Across the room, Damian was talking to two men in suits. While Elias tried so hard to make a conversation with her, she couldn’t help but dare her eyes to Damian every few seconds, her eyes caught charlotte walk up to Damian,hands all over him with her fake laughter.

The quartet started playing.

“Can I have this dance?” Elias asked.

Nadia was about to say no. Then she saw Damian lead Charlotte to the dance floor. His hand on her bare back.

Jealousy. Hot and stupid.

“On second thought,” Nadia said. “I’ll have this dance.”

She downed the champagne and let Elias lead her out.

She danced well. Too well. Laughing at his jokes. Her hand on his shoulder. His on her waist. She made sure Damian could see.

It worked.

Halfway through the song, a hand closed around her arm and pulled her away.

“Elias,” Damian said. Low. Dangerous. “My turn.”

Elias just smirked and let go. “Have fun.”

Damian pulled her into his arms without asking. His hand settled on her bare back. His other hand held hers.

“What do you think you’re doing,” he murmured in her ear.

“What are _you_ doing,” she shot back. “With her?”

“I was talking business.”

“And I was dancing.”

“Liar.”

She tried to pull away. He held her tighter and guided her to the edge of the room, into an alcove behind a marble column. Out of sight.

“Why did you let him touch you like that,” he demanded.

“Why were you letting her touch you like that?”

“How did she touch me? Are you jealous Nadia, because there really isn’t any reason to be, charlotte is just…”

“True, there is no reason to be jealous, why would I be, this isn’t real,” Nadia snapped. “I can dance with whoever I want.”

Damian’s eyes went black. His hand slid down to her waist and squeezed her ass through the silk.

“Is that right?”

He kissed her.

It wasn’t gentle. It was claiming. Hot and desperate and it knocked the air from her lungs. Her hands fisted in his tux jacket. His other hand slid up under the back of her gown, bare skin to bare skin, pulling her flush against him. She kissed him back, hot, desperate, she couldn’t breath, he moved his mouth to her neck, kissing her there, her ears too, utmost pleasure filled her, it felt good, she liked this rough side of him, she felt good, in a familiar way, he placed his big hands on her waist, slowly bringing it down to her ass as he grabs s a cheek,

“No panties? So hot” while bringing his mouth to hers again and showing her how real this felt.

“Damian_” she moaned loud enough for him to hear. For moments she couldn’t count, the world didn’t exist.

Then he pulled back. His eyes were dark and it was obviously he wanted more, she wanted more too, their eyes focused on each other with ragged breaths.

“I hope that felt real enough,” he said. Smirking. He adjusted his tux and walked away. Back into the gala like he hadn’t just imprinted something on her.

Leaving Nadia pressed against the wall, shaking, with one thought:

_What the hell just happened?_