I avoided Damian the next morning.
Not because I wanted to, but because I had to.
After what almost happened in the library, I could not trust myself around him anymore.
One more moment like that and I would probably kiss him first, which would be a humiliating disaster.
I sat outside near the pool with a cup of coffee, pretending to enjoy the peaceful morning.
The storm from last night had disappeared, and the sunlight reflected beautifully against the water.
Everything looked calm, but I was not.
My phone buzzed beside me.
Liam Carter.
I stared at the name for a second before answering.
“Hello?”
“Well, that sounded depressing,” Liam said immediately.
I laughed softly.
“There is the smile I was looking for,” he said.
Liam had always been easy to talk to.
He was funny, relaxed, and warm in a way Damian never allowed himself to be.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Trying not to die from boredom.”
“That serious?”
“You have no idea.”
“Then come have lunch with me.”
I hesitated.
Part of me wanted to say no, but another part wanted distance from Damian.
“You are thinking too hard,” Liam said.
“That usually means yes.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Fine. Lunch.”
“Good. I will pick you up in an hour.”
After ending the call, I leaned back in my chair.
Lunch with Liam was harmless, normal, and exactly what I needed.
No dangerous tension, no forbidden attraction.
Just normal.
Unfortunately, normal disappeared the second Damian walked outside.
My body reacted before my brain could stop it.
His sleeves were rolled up, exposing strong forearms.
He looked calm as always, but his eyes immediately found me near the pool.
Then his gaze shifted toward my phone resting on the table.
“Who were you talking to?” he asked.
I hid a smile behind my coffee cup.
“A friend.”
Damian walked closer slowly.
“What friend?”
Interesting.
Very interesting.
I set the cup down.
“Why do you sound jealous?”
His expression did not change.
“I asked a question.”
“And I answered it.”
He stared at me, his eyes narrowing.
“You are enjoying this.”
“A little.”
That dangerous look returned to his face instantly—the one that always made my heart race.
Damian stopped right beside my chair.
Too close again.
“Who is he?”
I looked up at him innocently.
“Why are you assuming it is a man?”
“Because you are smiling at your phone.”
The jealousy in his voice was impossible to miss.
It made me feel bold.
“It is Liam.”
The second I said the name, Damian’s jaw tightened.
“We are having lunch,” I added casually.
A heavy silence followed.
Damian looked toward the pool for a moment before speaking.
“Cancel it.”
I blinked in surprise.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
I stared at him.
“You cannot be serious.”
Damian crossed his arms calmly.
“Liam Carter is not someone you should spend time with.”
“Why?”
“He likes attention.”
I laughed softly.
“That sounds personal.”
“It is experience.”
I stood up, irritated by his tone.
“You do not get to control who I spend time with.”
His eyes darkened.
“I am responsible for you while your parents are away.”
“I am twenty-two, not fourteen.”
“That does not change my answer.”
Anger mixed with frustration inside me.
This was not about protection.
This was pure jealousy, and Damian hated that I noticed.
“You really do not like the idea of another man near me, do you?” I asked quietly.
The silence felt dangerous.
His gaze locked onto mine.
“You are testing me again.”
“Maybe because your reactions are interesting.”
Big mistake.
Damian stepped closer instantly.
He was close enough to make my breathing uneven.
“Interesting?” he repeated softly.
“Yes.”
His eyes dropped briefly to my mouth before returning to my face.
His voice lowered.
“You keep pushing until something breaks.”
The words wrapped around me like heat.
I should step away, but instead, I whispered, “Maybe I want to see what happens.”
The atmosphere changed completely.
Damian looked at me like he was seconds away from losing control.
His restraint was hanging by a thread.
I could feel it, and so could he.
Then, a car horn sounded near the front gates.
Liam.
The moment shattered.
Damian stepped back sharply, his face closing off again.
The cold billionaire mode returned immediately.
I hated how disappointed I felt.
“I am leaving for lunch,” I said quietly.
Damian grabbed my wrist before I could walk past him.
It was not rough, but it was firm enough to stop me.
The touch sent electricity through my body.
His voice was dangerously calm.
“Do not flirt with him just to provoke me.”
I looked down at his hand on my wrist, then back at him.
“What if I actually enjoy spending time with him?”
A shadow crossed his face.
For one second, real, possessive anger appeared there.
The kind that made my pulse race.
“You do not know men like him,” Damian said.
“And you do?”
“Yes.”
Damian slowly released my wrist, but his fingers lingered for one second too long.
I stared at him.
“You are not worried about Liam. You are worried about yourself.”
Silence.
We both knew I was right.
I walked away before he could answer, but even after leaving the pool area, I still felt his eyes following me.
Liam waited beside a silver sports car.
When he saw me, he smiled easily.
“There she is.”
I smiled back.
Liam pulled me into a quick hug before opening the passenger door for me.
“You look stressed,” he said as we drove away.
“You always say that.”
“Because you always look like you are fighting invisible demons.”
If only he knew.
The restaurant Liam chose overlooked the water.
It was elegant but relaxed.
For the first time in days, I almost relaxed.
Almost.
Until Liam leaned back in his chair and smiled knowingly.
“So,” he said casually, “how is living with Damian Cross?”
I nearly choked on my drink.
“What?”
Liam laughed.
“You reacted way too fast.”
Heat rushed into my face.
“There is nothing to react to.”
“Sure.” I narrowed my eyes.
“What exactly are you implying?”
Liam studied me for a second, then his smile faded slightly.
“I think Damian looks at you differently now.”
My heartbeat stopped.
“You barely even see him.”
“I see enough.”
Panic mixed with heat inside my chest.
Was it really that obvious?
Liam leaned forward.
“And honestly? I do not like it.”
The playful atmosphere disappeared.
“Liam—”
“He is dangerous, Aurora.”
The words sounded strangely similar to my own thoughts.
I forced a laugh.
“You sound dramatic.”
“I am serious.”
Liam looked directly at me.
“Men like Damian do not lose control easily. But when they do, people get hurt.”
My chest tightened.
Deep down, I already knew that.
And the worst part?
I was not afraid of Damian hurting me.
I was afraid of wanting him anyway.
When lunch ended later that afternoon, Liam drove me back.
The entire ride, my thoughts stayed trapped between two men: one who openly wanted my attention, and one who wanted me far more dangerously while pretending he did not.
As Liam’s car pulled into the driveway, I looked toward the mansion windows automatically.
And there he was.
Damian stood inside his office watching us from above.
He was completely still and completely silent, but even from that distance, I could feel the jealousy in his eyes.
Damian is clearly struggling with his possessive side, and Liam is starting to see right through the act.
Things are definitely heating up!
What do you think about Liam’s warning?
Is he just looking out for Aurora, or does he have his own agenda?
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Can’t wait for Chapter 8!