Damien
The relief of knowing that Serena was conscious and better now completely enveloped me.
I didn't move an inch, I stayed up all night watching her sleep. It felt like if I left her for even a minute, something would happen to her again.
Lydia the head chef came in occasionally to make sure that I was doing well. If there was one thing I loved about my staff, it was the fact that they treated me like family and not like some evil beast like other people saw me as.
Serena stirred in her sleep, the look on her face was one of fear and she tossed and turned on the bed. I wanted to move and hold her still to my chest but the doctor said that she needed to get some rest.
So all I could do was sit by her side and watch her go through possible flashbacks of the event that had almost claimed her life.
The night was chill and noiseless. On a good day, it would be perfect for making love.
Serena stirred once more, but the look on her face this time was more relaxed than it was before.
I couldn't restrain myself. I leaned over, and pushed the strands of hair that fell over her face. She purred like a baby and I could tell that she was more relaxed now.
I rubbed my eyes, exhaustion filled my entire body.
"You should get some rest milord." I turned to see Stephen standing so close to the door.
How didn't I notice him standing there? It further made me realize just how exhausted I was and for the first time in a long time, I listened to another person who wasn't me.
I pulled myself out of the chair and took one final glance at Serena before I made my way way to the guest room.
I couldn't sleep here even though it was my room. So I asked Stephen to order the servants to prepare another room for me.
The moment I stepped into the shower, the sound of water filled the silence that had clung to me all night.
It came down hard, beating against my skin, washing away the lingering scent of chlorine and the faint traces of fear that still lingered in my chest.
I braced my hands on the cold marble wall and let my head fall forward, eyes closed. For a few minutes, I didn't move. I just stood there, letting the steam cloud the room and the heat soak deep into my muscles.
Everytime I closed my eyes, I saw her. Serena, floating motionless in that pool.
The image burned like acid behind my eyelids. I'd pulled her out myself, held her cold, almost lifeless body against me while shouting her name. The memory of that moment, the panic, the helplessness and the memory of my childhood trauma still had its claws on me.
I tilted my head up, letting the hot stream hit my face, leaning in further in a bid to immerse myself in the warmth.
However, the only thing it did was remind me how close I'd come to losing her. I'd convinced myself that it was just the humane part of me that cared and nothing else but the way my entire body still felt tense revealed something else—something I didn't want to think about.
When I finally stepped out, the air was cool against my damp skin. I wrapped a towel around my waist, exhaling slowly as I walked toward the bed. I didn't bother to turn on the lights. The room was dim, quiet, almost too peaceful for how my mind felt.
Sleep didn't come easy. I tossed, turned, replayed the day over and over until exhaustion finally won.
But even in my dreams, I could still hear her voice.
I woke up a few hours later, restless. The first thing I did was head back to her room. The house was still, the corridors empty except for the faint glow of morning slipping through the curtains. The blizzard had calmed a bit.
When I stepped inside, the air felt different. Warmer somehow. Serena was still lying there, her breathing was soft and even now. Her hair spread across the pillow like silk. I pulled up a chair beside her bed, lowering myself slowly.
For a while, I just watched her. The steady rhythm of her breathing was oddly calming. She looked peaceful now; nothing like the fragile, trembling woman I'd pulled from the water.
And then, her lashes fluttered.
Her eyes opened slowly, hazy and unfocused at first. She blinked, squinting a little before her gaze finally settled on me.
"Hey," I said softly, almost afraid that if I spoke too loud, she'd slip away again.
Her lips curved weakly. "Hey."
Relief flooded through me all over again. "You scared the hell out of me," I muttered, leaning back slightly, running a hand through my hair.
She gave a faint smile, voice barely a whisper. "You should've known I wouldn't go down that easy."
"Yeah, well, maybe next time don't test that theory," I said, my tone sharper than I intended. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "You've had enough drama for a lifetime."
She shifted slightly, wincing as she tried to sit up. "How long have I been out?"
"A few hours," I said. "Doctor said you just needed rest."
Her eyes softened when she looked at me. "You stayed?"
"Of course, I stayed. What the fuck was I going to tell your dad?"
For a moment, silence filled the room again. It was thick, and heavy. Her gaze lingered on me longer than it should have. The air between us gree warm, and I suddenly became so aware of how close we were.
Her voice broke through the tension, soft and fragile.
"Damien…."
"Yeah?"
"Hold me."
The words hit me like a punch in the gut. I stared at her, every rational thought in my head warning me to stay still. But the look in her eyes, made it impossible to move away.
"I can't promise I won't do something stupid Serena," I said quietly, the corner of my mouth twitching despite the tension filled moment.
She didn't look away. "Maybe that's what I want you to do."
"I promise, you do not want that Serena." I said, my voice full of heat.
"Oh but I do." She said stubbornly.
My breath dropped. For a heartbeat, neither of us moved. Then, slowly, almost unconsciously, I reached out and brushed my fingers against her cheek.
Her lips parted slightly, our breathing shallow. The silence between us shifted.
"Serena…" I murmured, my voice barely more than a whisper.
"Don't stop," she breathed.
I swallowed a curse as my erection strained against my pants. She licked her lips and my eyes followed the sensual motion.
"Touch me Damien…" she said, her voice cracking softly.
Fucking hell. I was a gonna.