The morning light poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, casting long shadows over the polished hardwood floors. Sienna stood by the counter, absently stirring her coffee as her thoughts swirled in a haze of confusion. It had been a few days since she'd spoken with Ethan, and despite the sense of relief that had washed over her, something lingered in the pit of her stomach.
She'd closed that chapter of her life, but she couldn't shake the feeling that the story between her and Damien was just beginning—and she wasn't sure if she was ready for what that might mean.
Damien had been different since their conversation. More attentive. More... present. And though she could tell he was trying to give her space, there was a constant undercurrent of tension that made it impossible for her to fully relax. Each time their eyes met, there was a weight in the air between them, an unspoken truth neither of them was willing to acknowledge.
The sound of footsteps behind her broke her from her thoughts, and she turned to see Damien entering the kitchen, his shirt slightly untucked, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His presence filled the room, and she couldn't help but notice the way the muscles in his arms flexed as he reached for the coffee pot.
"Morning," he said, his voice low and warm.
"Morning," she replied, offering him a faint smile.
He filled his mug, taking a sip before leaning against the counter. "You seem quiet today. Everything okay?"
Sienna hesitated. How could she explain the storm swirling inside her? The mix of attraction and fear, the confusing emotions she couldn't seem to untangle? She didn't even know where to begin.
"I'm just... thinking," she said, trying to sound casual.
Damien raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
"About... everything," she replied, her voice a little softer than she intended.
Damien studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, as if making a decision, he pushed off from the counter and stepped closer to her. "I get it," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "Things between us have been... complicated. And maybe we've been avoiding talking about it. But you don't have to pretend with me, Sienna."
Her breath caught at the intensity in his gaze. He wasn't wrong. They'd danced around their feelings long enough. But she wasn't ready to dive into that conversation—not yet.
"I'm not pretending," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Damien's lips curved into a small, almost sad smile. "You are. You're pretending you're not scared."
Sienna looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "I'm not scared."
"Then why are you shutting me out?" he asked, his voice soft but insistent. "I can feel it, Sienna. There's something between us. I know you feel it too."
Her heart raced as his words sank in. She wanted to say something, to argue, but the truth was, she couldn't deny it. She had felt it from the moment they'd shared that first kiss—something deep, undeniable. But it terrified her.
"Damien..." She struggled to find the right words. "This isn't supposed to happen. We agreed this was a fake engagement. We're not supposed to have these feelings."
Damien's expression hardened for a moment, but then he stepped even closer, his presence overwhelming. "We can't control how we feel, Sienna. I didn't plan on any of this, but I'm not going to pretend it's not real. Not anymore."
He reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek in a way that felt both tender and possessive. Sienna's breath hitched, and for a moment, she couldn't move. His touch was gentle, but it ignited something inside her that she wasn't sure she was ready to confront.
"I don't know what you want from me, Damien," she whispered. "I'm not ready to jump into something... something real. Not after everything that's happened."
"I'm not asking you to rush into anything," he replied, his voice calm but firm. "I just need you to be honest with me. About how you feel. About what you want. We can figure this out together."
Her pulse quickened, and she could feel the weight of his words pressing down on her chest. It was too much—too much to process, too much to face. But there was one thing she knew for certain: she wasn't indifferent to him. The connection was there, undeniable and powerful. But was it enough to overcome her fears? Was she willing to take that leap?
"I don't know if I can do this," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.
Damien's gaze softened, and he reached for her hand, pulling her gently toward him. "You don't have to do anything you're not ready for. But I'm not going anywhere, Sienna. I'm here, whether you're ready or not."
His words were like a balm to her frayed nerves, but they also stirred something deeper inside her—a longing she wasn't sure she was ready to confront. She had spent so long protecting herself from getting hurt that she wasn't sure how to let someone in, especially someone like Damien.
"I'm trying," she said, her voice small. "I really am."
Damien nodded, his expression a mixture of understanding and determination. "I know you are. And I'm patient. But don't shut me out, Sienna. Not when we're this close."
Sienna's heart clenched at the sincerity in his eyes. He wasn't asking for her to have everything figured out. He was asking for her to trust him, to trust them. And that was the scariest thing of all.
"I'll try," she said quietly. "But I can't promise anything."
That was all Damien needed to hear. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "That's all I'm asking."
The moment stretched between them, filled with unspoken promises and lingering tension. For the first time, Sienna didn't feel like she was pretending. She felt something real stirring between them, a connection that was impossible to ignore.
But whether she was ready to face it—ready to embrace it—was another question entirely.