Chapter 44
859 Words
CHAPTER 44
ANGELA
The restaurant was beautiful.
Not the kind of place where people came simply to eat.
It was quiet, elegant, and intimate. Soft music played somewhere in the background, while warm lights hung above each table.
Damian walked beside me as we entered.
His hand rested lightly against my lower back.
The simple touch sent a strange warmth through me.
I tried not to react.
He noticed anyway.
“You're tense.”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
I glanced at him.
“You always think you're right.”
“I usually am.”
I laughed softly.
“There you go again.”
He smiled.
Our table was in a quieter corner of the restaurant.
Damian pulled out my chair.
I stared at him for a second.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“I’m just surprised.”
“By what?”
“You can be sweet sometimes.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“Sometimes?”
I smiled.
“Don't push it.”
He laughed as he took his seat opposite me.
For the first time in days, I felt myself relax.
No threats.
No documents.
No fear.
Just Damian.
And somehow, that felt good.
He picked up the menu.
“What do you want?”
“I don't know.”
“You always say that.”
“Because I don't know.”
He looked at me over the menu.
“Then I'll choose.”
“You're not choosing my food.”
“Why not?”
“Because you might choose something I hate.”
“I know what you like.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“How?”
He smiled.
“I pay attention.”
My heart skipped.
“You do?”
“More than you realize.”
I looked down at the menu, suddenly unable to meet his eyes.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
“Angela.”
“Hm?”
“Look at me.”
I slowly raised my eyes.
He was already watching me.
There was something different in his expression.
Something softer.
“I like seeing you smile.”
I swallowed.
“I smile.”
“Not enough.”
“Maybe you don't give me enough reasons.”
He leaned back.
“Then I'll have to change that.”
I smiled.
“Good luck.”
Dinner arrived shortly afterward, but somehow we spent more time talking than eating.
He asked me about things I rarely spoke about.
My childhood.
My favorite places.
The things I wanted to accomplish.
The things that scared me.
I answered some.
Avoided others.
But he never forced me.
That surprised me.
At one point, I caught myself laughing so hard that I had to cover my mouth.
Damian stared at me.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Looking at me like that.”
He smiled.
“I like your laugh.”
My cheeks warmed.
“You've said that already.”
“I can say it again.”
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
I paused.
“Because I don't know what to say when you talk like this.”
He leaned slightly closer.
“You don't have to say anything.”
The words were quiet.
Simple.
But they made my heart beat faster.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
His eyes dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes.
I noticed.
And he knew I noticed.
“Angela.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know how difficult you're making this for me?”
My breath caught.
“What?”
He smiled faintly.
“Trying to behave around you.”
I laughed nervously.
“You're behaving perfectly fine.”
“That's because I'm trying.”
I looked away.
“Maybe you should stop trying.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Silence.
I immediately looked back at him.
His expression had changed.
“Are you sure?”
My heart raced.
I didn't answer.
He reached across the table and gently took my hand.
His fingers closed around mine.
Warm.
Steady.
He didn't pull me closer.
Didn't pressure me.
He simply held my hand.
And somehow, that was more intimate than anything else.
I looked down at our joined hands.
“Damian…”
“Hmm?”
“I’m scared.”
His thumb moved slowly across my knuckles.
“Of me?”
I shook my head.
“Of everything.”
He watched me carefully.
Then he said quietly,
“You don't have to be afraid when you're with me.”
My chest tightened.
Because those were exactly the words I needed to hear.
And for a moment, I hated myself for how much I wanted to believe them.
Damian squeezed my hand.
“I mean it, Angela.”
I finally looked into his eyes.
And for the first time that night, I allowed myself to imagine what it would feel like to actually be his.
Not because I needed protection.
Not because Benedicta had told me I needed someone powerful.
But because I wanted him.
And that realization scared me more than anything else.
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