Chapter 10

The silence in the car seemed loud as we stared at each other. His eyes looked like a calm blue sea, but with a raging storm.

I wanted him to say something, so I sat there waiting for his next words, but Damian just sat there, denying me the attention I was craving for.

Before I could open my mouth to explain, Damian reached out, his big hand circled the back of my neck. He pulled me forward, closing the space between us, and crushed his lips against mine.

It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was possessive, and demanding. He kissed me as if he wanted to pass a message to me that I was his and I got the message.

I gasped for air and he used that moment to deepen the kiss, his tongue tangling with mine in a way that made my head spin.

I completely melted. My hands flew to his chest, gripping the thick fabric of his dark sweater, his shoulders and my hands finally moving to his neck.

Although the air was blowing cold air inside and outside the SUV, inside my skin, everything felt like it was on fire. The heat is about to consume me.

The windows were completely blacked-out, hiding us from passers-by, which only made the adrenaline rush harder through my veins.

Suddenly, Damian’s hands gripped my waist. With effortless strength, he lifted me entirely out of the passenger seat. I gasped against his mouth as he pulled me right onto his lap.

Now, I was straddling him in the driver’s seat. My knees rested on either side of his hard thighs, and our bodies were pressed completely together. The tight space of the car made everything feel ten times more intimate.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, I just wanted to feel him more. His large hands slid down to my waist, caressing and squeezing tightly.

For a second, I forgot about everything, I forgot about Stephen, Brenda, I forgot about my environment and focused on the man right in front of me. I just wanted him to consume me.

My heart thumped faster in my chest, and I thought we were going to go all the way in the car, just then, Damian pulled away.

He stared at me trying to catch my breath on his laps . His breathing was heavy, his jaw clenched as his blue eyes looked down at my swollen lips. He didn't say a word. He just gripped my waist again, lifted me up, and settled me right back into the passenger seat.

I sat there, dazed, my heart rate calming as I caught my breath. He noticed my messy hair, and helped me to smooth it.

I looked at him, waiting for him to pull me back, or kiss me again but his face had that cold look again. The warmth was gone, replaced by that distant, icy look that always drove me crazy. He was putting the walls back up, pulling his attention away just to keep me guessing.

I heard a stomach growl, we both looked at each other. He heard it too, before I could recover from the embarrassment my stomach put me through.

Damian started the car. The engine roared to life, and he shifted the SUV into drive.

“What are you doing? Where are we going?” I asked, my voice filled with surprise as he steered the car out of the deserted lot. “Damian, I have class. I need to go back.”

He didn't even look at me. His big hands just turned the steering wheel, driving right past the main campus gates and onto the highway. “You’re skipping class,” he said simply, his deep voice leaving no room for argument.

I can't believe he was making me skip class, he was the preacher of ‘never skip class’ and here he was making me skip one.

“But I’m wearing a casual hoodie and jeans!” I protested, looking down at my outfit. “Where are we even going?”

“To get lunch,” he murmured, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “You skipped breakfast. You need to eat.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the absolute authority in his glance shut me down. I sank back against the leather seat, pouting and annoyed that he was completely taking control.

Twenty minutes later, the SUV pulled into a high-end restaurant. It was the kind of place where the city's wealthy elite hung out. The place’s quiet environment screamed class.

Walking inside next to Damian, I felt completely out of place in my student clothes, but Damian walked in like he owned the building. The hostess didn't even check the reservation list; she just guided us to a private booth in the back.

The lunch was quiet. Damian ordered for me without even asking, commanding the table effortlessly. As the food arrived, I kept trying to catch his eye, wanting to bring back the heat from the car. But he remained distant, shutting me out, talking in short sentences and keeping his eyes entirely on his own plate. I realized he was in total control.

The frustration in my chest grew with every minute, making me want to do something crazy just to break his control.

Right as the waiter cleared our plates, my phone vibrated loudly on the table.

I picked it up quickly, thinking it was a sassy text from Brenda asking where I went and how she needed my presence. But when I unlocked the screen, I turned nervous for no reason when I saw it was a text from an unknown number.

I tapped the message, and my breath caught in my throat. Attached to the text were two photos. The first photo was a shot of me from earlier today, caught in the act as I snuck around the back of the faculty building toward the black SUV. The second photo was of me, walking hand in hand with Damien into the restaurant.

‘Your secret is safe with me.’ I read and looked up at Damien who already noticed my discomfort and was staring at me.

My eyes went wide, and a wave of pure panic washed over me. Someone had been watching us. Someone knew us enough to be interested.

Below the photos, a single line of text appeared on the screen:

‘Enjoy your lunch, sweetheart.’

The text didn't have a name, and the tone was completely mysterious, leaving me absolutely terrified. Was it Stephen playing a dangerous, manipulative game with me? Or was there someone else on campus tracking my every move, waiting for the perfect moment to destroy my entire life?