T E N

~ ANASTASIA ~

I think I'm going insane. Or. I've already gone insane. Jesus Christ, what have I done. I close my eyes tightly, feeling the mild tingles between my thighs. I've never been this embarrassed in my life, jeez.

I slowly peel my eyes open, and I shut them again when I catch him sitting beside the bed in my peripheral vision. Jesusfuckingchrist.

‘Don’t you dare act like a hussy!’

Inhaling, I gather what's left of my pride and sit up, rubbing the remnants of fake sleep away from my face with a yawn. I spare him a glance which soon turns to a glare when I spot the amused look on his face.

“What time is it?” I ask, the question coming out harsher than I'd intended.

He places his palm under his chin. “An hour and fifteen minutes after you blackout from cumming around my fingers.”

I feel heat pooling between my thighs as my face grows hot from embarrassment. Then, I clear my throat and throw away the duvet, hurriedly climbing out of the bed.

Wrong move.

Blood rushes to my head and I fear I'm going to burst. I stand still, my eyes fixed on my naked legs before I let out a shrill scream and hurriedly grab the duvet, wrapping it around my body.

Damien bursts out laughing and I still, my eyes fixed on his stretched lips and the heaving of his chest. The sound of his laughter is rich, deep and low. And I stop midway into wrapping the duvet around myself like a cocoon. His laughter. It looks so harmless and… beautiful. It was a contrast to the dark soul I know Damien Vicenzo had and to be honest, his laughter had changed over the years.

He stops, assessing me with a squint of his eyes while he cleans some tears from the corner of his eyes. I let out a shaky breath and hold the duvet like a lifeline.

“You don't need to cover what I've already seen, you know?” He says with a shrug and I huff.

“Oh, thanks for the permission, kind sir. But I will pass.” I snap, trying to keep my fury at bay. Then, I'm marching towards the closet.

He sighs and stands up, blocking my way. “You don't need to make this hard for us, Ana.”

“One, don't you ever call me that. We are not close enough for you to call me that you—”

“But—”

“Hey.” I bite out, holding my hand to my front.

“Anasta—”

“Two, what happened earlier was a mistake, okay? Let's forget about it and act like it never happened. Now, move out of my way, asshole.”

I watch as his jaw clenches and silently, he moves away from my path. I hiss as I step into the closet, slamming the door as hard as I can. I drop my hands beside me and the duvet drops to the floor.

Naked, I scroll through the racks before deciding to settle for a pink and black PJ with Mickey mouse prints. It's a matching PJ I got with Isa when we decided to go thrift shopping two months ago. I wrap my hair into a messy bun.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I pick up the duvet before opening the door. Damien stands before the floor to ceiling windows, overlooking the city with his hands by his sides.

With another hiss, I drop the duvet on the bed and my face heats up when my gaze wanders to my wedding gown which was still on the floor before the mirror. I can't find my panties anymore.

I shoot him a glare and as if he could feel the death glare on his being, he turns to me and his eyes freezes me on my feet. He slowly walks towards me until the king-sized bed is the only thing between us. And our clothes of course.

Holy shit. There's something about the way Damien looks at me that makes me want to drop to my knees and worship him. And suddenly, I wish the bed can turn into nothing and the clothes can disappear.

I stop myself from rubbing my thighs together as I let out a loud huff and place my hands on my hips.

“Yes?”

He rakes his fingers through his hair as he stares at me straight in the eyes. “I knew you earlier right?”

My brows shoot up. “What?”

“Like from crescent high?”

I bark out a low humorless laugh as I draw the chair he'd sat on earlier closer to the bed before sitting on it.

“Yes, you should. Afterall, you made my stay there memorable.”

He assesses me with raised brows. “Memorable?”

“Yes, who didn't know Damien Vicenzo the head bully.”

I watch as his jaw ticks. What did I expect though? The fucker used to be the head of the most popular bully gang who calls themselves ‘The four henchmens’ at crescent high. He'd definitely forgotten the faces of those he made their lives a living hell just for crossing his path, literally.

He chuckles. “The last time I checked, I didn't bully anyone directly.”

I stand up, the stool screeching against the tiled floor. “But you watched the core members of your friend-group do while you were the leader. Do you even have any knowledge of what that cost me?”

“Anasta—”

“Did you even know the countless times I was cooked in the school’s main group just because you…” I inhale, fanning my face with my hand.

“Did you know that the four henchmen's enemy automatically becomes the whole school's enemy?” I ask, my voice low while I try to keep my emotions at bay.

“I did nothing to you guys that day. I was just standing up for my friend…” The same friend that snitched on me by telling Elora, the cheerleading captain of my little crush on her boyfriend who's now my husband on paper.

Damien rounds the bed and takes slow steps towards me. I step back, holding my hand to my front to stop him.

“Don't come any closer.” I say, shaking my head, looking anywhere but him.

He shakes his head and steps forward until the smell of his bathing gel clogs my senses.

“I swear, if you don't step—”

“What will you do?” He asks, his voice low and deep as he steps even closer till his chest grazes my palm. I raise my second hand to his chest and I shiver when my palms meet his hard hot chest. I can feel his heart thudding in his chest.

I inhale deeply before I raise my head, daring to meet his gaze while I hold myself back from getting lost in his brown mesmerising eyes.

“You don't want to know.”

He chuckles. His eyes move to my lips before moving back to my eyes and I gulp, pushing at his chest again but he stays rooted to the ground like a boulder.

“I swear, I'm going to murder you if you don't step back.” I grit out.