temptation and morality

Sofia's POV

I couldn’t sleep. Jake’s warning echoed in my mind like a poison, creeping into every thought. His words had been unsettling, but they weren’t what kept me awake. It was Damien. Or rather, the way he had looked at me when Jake left...

his eyes glowing faintly in the dark, his jaw was clenched tight as if he were fighting something deep within himself.

Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling of Damien’s penthouse, the silk sheets cool against my skin. This contract marriage had started as a means to an end, a transaction for revenge. But now? Now I wasn’t sure what it was anymore. My heart raced as I replayed the moments between us—the way his hand had brushed mine when he handed me a glass of wine, the heat in his gaze when our eyes met across the room. I felt drawn to him in a way that terrified me.

Down the hall, I heard Damien pacing in his study, his footsteps echoing against the polished wooden floor. The full moon was approaching, and I knew what that meant for him. I could sense the tension in him, the struggle he fought so hard to control. And then there was the way he reacted to me. His gaze, his touch… even when he tried to keep his distance, I could feel the pull between us.

A soft knock at my door made me sit up, pulling the sheet around my shoulders. My heart pounded. “Come in,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

The door opened, and Damien stepped inside, his tall frame silhouetted in the dim light. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us crackled with tension, heavy and electric.

“I can’t sleep,” I admitted, breaking the silence. My voice trembled slightly, betraying the storm of emotions raging inside me.

Damien moved closer, his movements deliberate yet cautious, as if he were afraid of startling me. “Neither can I,” he murmured, his voice was so low and rough.

He stopped at the edge of the bed, gazing down at me with those piercing dark eyes. My breath hitched as I met his gaze, feeling vulnerable under his presence. I wanted to look away, to shield myself from the intensity of his stare, but I couldn’t. There was something magnetic about him, something that pulled me in despite my better judgment.

“Are you afraid of me?” he asked, his tone softer now, almost hesitant.

I hesitated, my fingers twisting the edge of the sheet. “No,” I said finally, though my voice wavered. “Not of you.”

Then what? I could see the question in his eyes, but he didn’t ask it. Instead, he sat down on the edge of the bed, careful to keep a safe distance between us. “Jake’s words got to you,” he observed, his tone neutral but his eyes sharp.

I nodded, swallowing hard. “He made it sound like there’s more to this… to you… than I know. Is there?”

Damien’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he didn’t answer. Then he sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “There’s always more, Sofia. But knowing the truth comes with consequences. Are you prepared for that?”

His question hung in the air, heavy and unspoken. I stared at him, my mind racing. Was I? Could I handle whatever secrets Damien was hiding? I thought about Jake, about the pain he’d caused me, and the plan for revenge that had brought me here. But now that plan felt distant, overshadowed by the man sitting beside me.

“Tell me,” I whispered, leaning closer. “I want to know.”

Damien’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might pull away. But instead, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, making my breath catch.

“You’re playing with fire, Sofia,” he warned, his voice thick with restraint. “Once you step into my world, there’s no going back.”

I didn’t respond, my gaze locked on his. Slowly, hesitantly, I reached up and placed my hand over his, pressing it against my cheek. His skin was warm, his palm rough against mine, and a shiver ran down my spine.

“Maybe I don’t want to go back,” I said softly, my voice trembling but firm.

For a moment, Damien froze, his entire body tense. Then, with a growl that sent a thrill through me, he leaned in, capturing my lips in a searing kiss. I gasped, startled by the suddenness of it, but I didn’t pull away. Instead, I melted into him, my hands tangling in his hair as I kissed him back with equal passion.

The kiss was fierce, desperate, as if we were both trying to drown in each other. Damien’s hands slid down my back, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. His scent surrounded me—sandalwood and something wild, untamed—and it only fueled the fire building inside me.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing heavily, our foreheads resting together. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind spinning with the realization of what we’d just done. This wasn’t part of the plan. This wasn’t supposed to happen. But I think I’m falling for him.

“Damien…” I whispered, my voice shaky.

“Shh,” he murmured, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke. “Don’t think. Not tonight.”

And then he kissed me again, deeper this time, his hands roaming over my body with a hunger that made my head swim. I let myself be carried away by the sensation, losing myself in the heat of his touch. But somewhere, deep in the back of my mind, a small voice whispered that this was dangerous… that I was treading on thin ice.

Unbeknownst to us, outside the penthouse window, Jake watched from the shadows, his face twisted with bitterness. “Enjoy it while it lasts, princess,” he muttered under his breath. “Because when I’m done, neither of you will walk away unscathed.”