Chapter six

Liora

“Did Liora tell you about her past?” Kate interrupted us, her voice dripped with poison.

“ I mean if we are going to be a family, shouldn’t we be looking out for each other?”Her eyes met mine for a moment. She saw the fire rising in me, as I never wanted to be reminded of that night.

Her lips moved up, now she had a genuine evil smile, Not the fake smile she wore earlier, but the face I remembered from my past life. The same cold expression she wore when she drove a machete into my head without flinching, no pity. Just pure calculated cruelty.

Damien didn’t even spare her glance, he acted like no one was speaking. Just like every moment since we arrived.

Then, as if to shatter whatever pride they had left, he moved towards me slowly, deliberate and unbothered. His strong yet careful hands slipped around me and lifted me effortlessly like I was weightless, like I was something precious.

God, he smelled like danger wrapped in warm clean masculine, intoxicating temptation. I melted into him before I could stop myself, stunned at the way my body responded to his touch.

He carried me gracefully, rubbing it in their faces and for the first time in my old and new life, I felt different, I felt support that was so real. How have I never seen this side of him before? I asked myself for the upteenth time.

I love it, I screamed silently in my head, a grin threatening to split my face as he carried me out of the door, leaving the woman who once killed me and cajoled  me into a life I never wanted for myself.

The ride home was cloaked in silence.

Inside the car, I suddenly found myself lost for words. Damien, ever the man of few words made no efforts to fill the stillness either.  Sometimes I'd wonder what he was thinking in that cold head of his. And why he was oddly quiet.

But you know the saying, the quiet ones are always the dangerous ones.

The air between us grew tighter with each passing second, tension curling in the corner like invisible smoke.

We both sat at opposite ends of the back seat, quietly watching the city blur past the window but I could feel his eyes on me. Heavy. Burning. Curious.

Soon we arrived at his estate. Damien stepped out first, then circled around to open the door for me, Gentlemanly. Without a word, he guided me to the entrance of his home.

"I'd be glad to get a separate room to get settled," I said softly as we stepped inside. "That way, we can have our privacy. We don't need to pretend here, do we?" I said calmly without even thinking.

I glanced at him, half-expecting a nod, maybe a sarcastic remark. But his face immediately scrunched up.

“Your things are already in the guest room Liora. What are you thinking?” This freaking Greek God looked at me with disgust etching on his face before transforming into a lopsided grin.

“No..no.” That's not what I meant. I started to stammer. Shit! I haven't stammered since I was born, what was happening?

he left me like a fucking stammerer and walked silently up the stairs.

Inside the guest room, I paused before the mirror, studying my reflection. “Don't think about it, Liora. You definitely never thought about you and Damien sharing the same room”. I took a deep breath.

“Yes you did”. A small voice sneered at me.

“Fuckkkk!!! I yell internally before looking at myself with a sweet smile. You've got this Liora.”

After the fight with my reflection I finally had a warm shower. The chic, form fitting clothes l'd worn all day suddenly felt suffocating. Beauty is pain, they say and they're absolutely right.

Once clean, I dried my hair and slipped into silk pajamas: a soft button-up top and a pair of shorts. the kind that barely covered my butt cheeks. I didn't think too hard about it.

Then, I dried my hair before making my way downstairs. I spotted Damien sitting at the dining table.

"What took you so long, kitten?" he asked without looking up and acting like nothing happened. What a punk. I thought silently.

"Oh... I didn't know you were waiting for me," I said, making sure to go with the flow.

He was clad in a plain white shirt and gray sweatpants. Casual. Comfortable and somewhat Dangerous.

I had only ever seen him in sharp suits and tailored confidence, but this? This version of him looked... relaxed. Sexy. Effortlessly tempting.

Margaret, the live-in nanny, had set the table with an array of dishes. And not just any food but three of my all time favorites

Buttery mashed potatoes with cream cheese, lobster, and spaghetti tossed in garlic butter sauce.

I blinked. How does he know?  I was genuinely impressed.I glanced at him, expecting him to say something but he just stared at me, like he was waiting for a praise.Instead, I smiled and looked away. I liked that he was trying to figure me out.

He didn't eat much. Just salad, some shredded chicken, and orange juice.

That could never be me. I love food too much to let it go to waste.

Dinner went smoothly, and soon after the night started to call on me.

"I will be retiring to bed now Damien," I mentioned and started to walk away, but I suddenly stopped.

"My bed's big enough for both of us, and I promise to behave." The old guy suddenly said.

I smirked. So who has the thought of sleeping together now. I liked the fact that we were thinking in sync. But I wasn't going to let it be that easy for now.

He raised a brow, but before he could speak, I added, "Easy, husband. Don't get ahead of yourself. It's just a contract and we're not even friends."

His face shifted slightly disappointed, maybe but he said nothing, and whatever emotion flashed there disappeared just as fast as they appeared.

I turned and walked toward the guest room , fully aware of Damien's eyes trailing behind me, especially the way my shorts left very little to the imagination.

Once I got into my room my sleepy eyes were wide awake. The silence of the house felt strange, like something hollow echoing through the walls. Restless, I decided to explore after all, we hadn't had a moment of peace since everything began.

The house was breathtakingly clean, modern, minimalistic with expensive touches and purposeful decor. Damien had taste. Every room was curated with quiet luxury.

But then I came across a door that looked different. Heavier. Slightly older.Unique, 

in a way none of the others were.

Curiosity stirred. Just like I had done with every other thing that seemed strange. I reached out to open this one.But just as my fingers touched the handle,

a cold voice stopped me.