Chapter 3: Mine
1023 Words
The gala was exactly what Aria hated.
Crystal chandeliers, champagne on silver trays, women in dresses that cost more than her car. And cameras. Everywhere. Flashing the second Damien’s hand settled on the small of her back as they stepped onto the red carpet.
“Smile,” Damien murmured, leaning down so only she could hear. “You look like you want to stab someone.”
“I’d settle for stabbing you,” Aria muttered back, pasting on a smile for the cameras.
His hand tightened slightly. Not painful. Possessive.
“Play nice, Mrs. Voss,” he said, voice low enough that it sent a shiver down her spine. “Or I’ll have to remind you who you’re married to.”
Husband” The word still felt wrong in her head. Temporary. Fake. But the way he said it made it feel real for half a second.
Inside, the ballroom was worse. People circled them like sharks. Voss Corp’s board members, business partners, socialites who’d been trying to get into Damien’s bed for years. All of them looking at Aria like she didn’t belong.
Which she didn’t.
“Damien, darling,” a voice purred.
Aria turned to see a woman in a red gown, red lips, red nails. Vivian Hayes. One of Damien’s oldest “friends.” And the woman he’d been photographed leaving a hotel with six months ago.
Vivian’s eyes raked over Aria, then landed on Damien with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“I didn’t know you were bringing a plus-one. And such an… unexpected choice.”
Aria’s jaw tightened.
Damien didn’t miss it. He stepped closer, his arm sliding around Aria’s waist like it belonged there.
“This is my wife, Vivian,” he said smoothly. “Mrs. Voss. You’ll address her properly.”
Vivian blinked, surprised.
“Wife? Since when?”
“Since three days ago,” Damien said. His thumb brushed against Aria’s side, a small, deliberate motion that made her breath hitch. “And I’d appreciate it if you kept your hands off my business partners. And my wife.”
The implication was clear. Territorial. Final.
Vivian’s smile slipped.
“Of course. Congratulations.” She forced a laugh and walked away, shooting Aria one last look of venom.
Aria let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I did,” Damien said, guiding her away from the crowd. “She was out of line.”
“And what about me?” Aria asked quietly. “Am I just another business asset to protect?”
Damien stopped walking. The music, the noise, the crowd all faded out for a second. He looked down at her, and for once his mask was gone.
“No,” he said. “You’re not.”
Before Aria could answer, a photographer called out.
“Mr. and Mrs. Voss! Over here! One more shot!”
Damien’s hand found hers instantly. His fingers laced with hers, warm and firm. He pulled her close, his other arm around her waist, and pressed a kiss to her temple for the cameras.
It was supposed to be for show.
But when his lips lingered a second too long, when his breath ghosted against her skin, Aria forgot how to breathe.
“Smile, Aria,” he whispered against her hair.
She did. Even though it felt like she was lying to herself.
The flash went off.
Damien pulled back first, his expression unreadable again. He let go of her hand like it burned him.
“We should mingle.”
Aria nodded, her cheeks hot.
Across the room, Vivian was watching them. And she wasn’t smiling.
Half an hour later, Aria found herself cornered near the balcony doors.
“Quite the performance,” a man said, stepping into her space. One of Damien’s competitors, if she remembered right. “Marrying the Ice King so fast. Must’ve been a hefty price tag.”
Aria stepped back, uncomfortable.
“Excuse me”
He grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t be like that. I’m sure we can come to an arrangement. Damien doesn’t have to know”
“Get your hands off her.”
Damien’s voice cut through the air like ice.
The man dropped her wrist immediately.
Damien was there in two seconds, stepping between them. His jaw was tight, eyes dark.
“I said, get your hands off my wife.”
The man paled.
“It was a joke, Voss. Calm down.”
“I don’t joke about this,” Damien said coldly. “Leave. Now. Before I make sure you never set foot in this building again.”
The man scurried off.
Silence fell between them. Damien turned to Aria, his hands flexing at his sides like he was holding himself back from doing something he shouldn’t.
“Are you okay?” he asked. His voice was softer now. Rough around the edges.
Aria nodded, still shaken.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Damien exhaled slowly.
“Don’t ever go off alone with him again.”
“It was one minute”
“I don’t care,” he cut her off. “You’re my wife. Publicly and privately. I don’t share what’s mine.”
Mine.
The word hit her harder than it should have.
Aria looked up at him, heart pounding for all the wrong reasons.
“Damien…”
Before she could finish, the music changed. Slow song. The lights dimmed slightly.
Damien held out his hand.
“Dance with me.”
“It’s not part of the contract,” Aria said, even as she placed her hand in his.
“No,” he said, pulling her onto the floor. “It’s not.”
His arm came around her waist, pulling her close. Too close. Her hand rested against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.
“You’re playing with fire, Damien,” she whispered.
“So are you,” he replied, lowering his head until his lips were near her ear. “Try not to get burned, Mrs. Voss.”
The song ended too soon.
And Aria wasn’t sure if she wanted it to stop.
- Writer
