Chapter Four

Something changes.

It's subtle.

Barely noticeable.

But I feel it anyway.

Davien is looking at me.

And somehow...

His attention feels heavier than everyone else's.

It's not like the rest.

Lucien watches like he's collecting information. Like he's observing the things you might not have realized about yourself.

Sebastian watches like he's bored. Like a playboy. Like someone looking for the next interesting thing to focus on.

While Davien?

He watches like he's deciding something. He looks at you and you suddenly feel like he has a million things going on in his head. He does it very calmly but it spikes something in you.

Dinner ends. All the conversations follow suit. 

Lucien disappears first. He goes upstairs like he's exhausted from being around so much people. If it were up to him, he wouldn't have come downstairs at all. His mum made it compulsory maybe because of me.

His presence didn't make a difference at the table. He barely said a word. He didn't contribute to the conversations. He didn't smile or react to any jokes. Just a slow smirk and it's done. Answering questions with short nods.

Sebestian followed next. He whispered a joke into Chloe's ears and she chuckled before he left.

She followed right behind him to go grab her earpods.

Chloe's mum moves into the kitchen to clear the dishes.

And suddenly it dawned on me.

It's just me.

And him.

I raise my head to look at him. He was already staring at me. His eyes fixed on me with arms folded loosely.

He leans back into his chair. “You're not tired”. He said calmly.

It's not a question.

It's more of an observation.

“I said I was”. I replied too quickly.

“You said it,” he agrees. “You didn't mean it. You only said it because that was the fastest excuse you could make up at that point. That's what you do especially when asked uncomfortable questions”.

My chest tightens. The air in my lungs are limited at this point.

How long has he been studying me for?? I said to myself.

This is pure analysis.

I manage to speak up.

“I don't know what you mean”. I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.

He studies me for a long second. Then he stands slowly.

My breath caught in my throat. God, he was tall . Tall enough to make me tilt my head back just to look at him. His figure blocking the warm dining room light behind him, casting a shadow across the table.

As he stood, his broad frame stretched beneath the black shirt hugging his body perfectly, making the room suddenly feel much smaller.

He slowly walks around the table.

Not touching .

Not cornering.

Just…. invading my space enough to unsettle me. To make my breath falter.

He bent and leaned over. I could feel his breath all over my ear and neck. His scent wrapped around me slowly clean, masculine and dangerously addictive.

It was intoxicating, making it harder for me to think straight.

“You look at us” he says quietly.

My heartbeat slams.

“Everyone looks at you “. I say too quickly.

A pause.

His gaze sharpens.

“That wasn't what I said”.

Something in his expression grew darker.

“You look at us differently. Not the way everyone does. And don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about because you do in fact know exactly word for word what I'm talking about. Don't you?”

I couldn't deny it. Before he asks, he already knows. His questions are confirmations to what he already knows.

He tilts his head slowly. 

“Which one is it?” he asks softly.

My breath stutters.

“Which one is what?”

“Which one of us makes you nervous or act the way you do?”

The question isn't loud.

But it feels like a trap snapping shut.

I feel the tension in my body.

Heat floods my entire body.

The air just grew thicker.

And in that split second_

He knows.

Not everything.

But enough.

I start thinking about all the things I've done. All the things I did last summer.

Does he know about the times I fucked myself tiredlessly last summer??

A slow exhale leaves him.

Not a smug.

Not amused.

Just……interested.

“Relax” he whispered into my ears.

Then he steps back.

Chloe's footsteps each down the stairs.

The moment dissolves.

He goes to his seat casually like nothing happened.

Like he didn't just shift the entire balance of power in this house.

Like he didn't just snap breath out of my lungs.

Chloe drops back into her chair, oblivious.

Davien doesn't look at me again.

“Like how does he even do that?” I thought to m

yself, while staring at him in shock but he didn't react to anything.

But I feel it.

He's not ignoring me anymore.

He's studying me.

And that's worse.