Page 61 of Arrogant Heir
Later, he shows me into a pale grey and white suite with the biggest bathroom I’ve ever seen. ‘Fancy taking a bath?’ His playfulness is back.
I say that would be lovely, and he draws me one in the freestanding tub with gold taps. I climb into it, imagining what it must be like to live in this kind of modern luxury forever. And then he returns with a glass of pink champagne and clicks on some classical music. This caring side of him stirs up my emotions, and I have not seen it before. I’m in treacherous territory. I’m tingly and vulnerable after the sex and if I didn’t know it isn’t an option, I would say I’ve fallen in love with him.
But he’s a smooth operator. That’s what he does, and I mustn’t let myself forget it. He knows how to woo women, so they fall at his feet and he’s doing it with me now as he lights the candles. This is a fake date with benefits. I’m his Cinderella for the ball. It’ll all be over soon, and he’ll go home to his kingdom and forget about me. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up with Stephanie as she’s not married the guy she went off with yet. Damian clearly still pines for her.
He kisses me sweetly—unaware of the fiendish thoughts circling in my head—and says he’s going to get ready and that we have plenty of time so I should enjoy the bath.
Stretching out in the steamy bubble bath and sipping the champagne as the water laps over my skin, I remind myself I’m here to have fun and will not make a big deal of it.
I knew what I was getting into, and I came with my eyes open.Well, actually they were closed.I giggle at my silliness. As the hot water seduces my muscles and the soft music washes over me, I think about how many times he made me come and relive how passionate it was.
After a leisurely bath, I do my make up carefully and find my emerald-green dress hanging up in the walk-in-wardrobe. The driver must have brought up my stuff earlier, and I marvel at how seamlessly Damian’s staff take care of him without us even knowing they’re around.This is serious wealth.
When I emerge from the room, now fully dressed for the ball, my heart’s thudding, but I stride confidently into the main room.
Damian’s sitting scrolling on his phone on the sofa, where recently, his tongue teased me into a pulsing wave of multiple orgasms. He looks so handsome in his tux I think I might die with longing for him even though he’s here with me.
Is it possible to miss someone when you’re still together?
He stands and whistles. ‘You look absolutely stunning,’ he says. ‘What a dress. Women will weep at the sight of you, and men will wish they could take my place.’
I laugh and my cheeks grow hot. He knows how to lavish me with compliments and, as cheesy as it sounds, he lights me up like the sun.
His phone pings. ‘The car is here,’ he says, and then he offers me his arm and says, ‘Shall we?’
We enter the lift and, on the way down, he asks if I’d like to stay at his place tonight. ‘No point going back to your flat at that time of night. Come back with me,’ he says. ‘We can spend the night together.’
For a second, I consider saying no because I’m scared of wanting him even more than I do. But the thought of spending an entire night with him undoes me. Before I can think it through, I turn to him and say, ‘I’d love that, thank you.’
I’m burning up at the thought of an all-nighter in his arms, back in his glorious silky bed. At this point, I’d happily skip the ball and stay here and get naked with him again.
He reads my mind and tells me we must show our faces. There may be press, he warns. ‘Just act like we’re a couple and they’ll get their photo and leave us the hell alone.’
This is getting more and more like Cinderella every minute. I’m wearing the stilettos he treated me to from the store.
On the drive over, I ask what he wants me to say if anyone asks how we met.
‘Don’t worry about it. No one will dare.’
‘You sure about that? I’d rather have our cover story ready in case they do. I’m not a good liar.’
‘You’ve done alright so far,’ he quips.
‘Ouch! That’s not fair. It wasn’t a proper lie. Iwasengaged.’
‘True. That was out of order, and I apologise.’ He shoots me an appealing smile and shrugs his wide shoulders.
His gold cufflinks glint in the light and I catch sight of the monogrammed R.
‘People aren’t scared of me like they are of you, you know,’ I say.
‘Oh, I don’t know about that. You scared me a couple of times. You can be pretty fierce, Red.’
I laugh. ‘That’s nonsense.’ I love when he calls me Red. Makes me feel special to him.
‘Just say we met and fell madly in love.’ His green eyes glow with golden flecks as he looks at me and says the words.
The air around us sizzles and my heart soars and then dips like a rollercoaster.