Sweet Sinful Night

Sealed With a Kiss

Seraphina’s POV

“You can’t keep playing games with me, Damon,” I murmured, my voice harder than I intended, as I glanced at the man standing across the magnificent apartment. “This isn’t some corporate acquisition where I’m just another pawn. If we do this, there has to be trust. Real trust.”

Damon’s visage clouded, his typically placid demeanor shattering for the briefest of minutes. He leaned back against the grand piano, his eyes fixated on me like a predator analyzing its prey. “Trust isn’t given, Seraphina. It’s earned.”

“And yet you expect me to sign my life away on a piece of paper,” I shot back, holding up the lengthy document he’d handed me. “How am I supposed to trust you when you won’t even tell me why you’re really doing this?”

“I told you my reasons,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “This benefits both of us. Your company gets saved, and I secure my merger. It’s simple.”

“It’s never simple with you,” I yelled, throwing the contract onto the coffee table. “There’s always an angle, always something you’re not telling me. So, tell me, Damon—what aren’t you saying?”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he may actually answer. But instead, he pushed off the piano and closed the distance between us in a few fast leaps.

“You want the truth?” he questioned, his voice falling to a menacing whisper. “Fine. The truth is, I can’t afford to lose this merger. And I can’t afford any diversions. That’s why this partnership is completely business. No emotions. No complications.”

His remarks stung more than I cared to acknowledge. I straightened my shoulders, refusing to let him know how deeply he’d touched me. “Good,” I responded coolly. “Because the last thing I want is to get tangled up in your mess.”

For a minute, neither of us spoke. The air between us was thick with tension, the kind that may ignite at any minute. His eyes blazed into mine, and I felt that familiar pull, that magnetic force that seemed to bring us together no matter how much I fought against it.

“You keep saying you don’t want this,” he remarked finally, his voice gentle but cutting. “But your eyes tell a different story.”

“Don’t,” I advised, taking a step back. “Don’t try to twist this into something it’s not.”

“And what is it, Seraphina?” he pressed, stepping closer. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks a hell of a lot like desire.”

His comments shot a jolt through me, but I refused to let him prevail. “Desire?” I scoffed, crossing my arms across my chest. “You’re delusional.”

“Am I?” he asked, his gaze hardening. “Because every time I get close, you don’t pull away. Every time I push, you push back just as hard. So, tell me, Seraphina—what are you so terrified of?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but the words froze in my throat. What was I terrified of? Losing control? Letting him see the fractures in my carefully crafted armor? Or was it something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to confess, even to myself?

“You think you have me all figured out,” I remarked finally, my voice wavering slightly. “But you don’t know anything about me.”

“Then tell me,” he continued, his voice lower now, almost imploring. “Tell me what you’re running from.”

I glanced aside, unwilling to face his stare. “I’m not running,” I murmured, though I didn't even believe it.

“Yes, you are,” he answered, his voice hard. “You’ve been running since the night we met. And I’m tired of chasing you, Seraphina. It’s time to decide—are you in, or are you out?”

His ultimatum lingered in the air, thick and immovable. Part of me wanted to walk away, to put as much distance between us as possible. But another part—the one that couldn’t forget the way he made me feel—knew I couldn’t leave.

“I’m in,” I murmured finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “But don’t think for a second that I trust you.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” he murmured, his lips twisting into a little, knowing smile. “Now, let’s make this official.”

He reached for the contract on the table, flipping to the page where my signature was needed. I hesitated for a moment, my pen hovering over the paper.

“This is just business,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. “Nothing more.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself,” he said, his voice filled with humor.

I gave him a sneer before signing my name with a flourish. As soon as I finished, he snatched the pen from my hand and put his own signature, finalizing the sale.

“Congratulations, Mrs. St. Clair,” he murmured, his voice dripping with contempt. “Welcome to the family.”

The weight of what I’d just done hit me like a freight train. I was officially bound to Damon St. Clair, for better or worse. And knowing him, it would be a lot worse.

“What happens now?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

“Now,” he added, stepping closer, “we celebrate.”

“Celebrate?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow. “You mean drink champagne and pretend this is some kind of fairy tale?”

He chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Not quite,” he said. “I mean we show the world that this is real. Starting with dinner tonight. There’s an event at the St. Clair Foundation, and I expect you to be on my arm.”

“An event?” I asked, frowning. “You didn’t mention anything about an event.”

“I didn’t think I needed to,” he added, his tone unrepentant. “You’re my wife now, Seraphina. This is part of the deal.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he stopped me off. “Be ready at eight,” he said, his tone leaving no space for negotiation. “And wear something… appropriate.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of his apartment, my mind racing. This wasn’t just a contract. It was a trap, one I’d walked into willingly.

By the time eight o’clock got around, I was a bundle of jitters. I’d picked a sleek black gown that caressed my curves in all the right places, but even the confidence the dress provided me couldn’t suppress the unease seething in my chest.

When Damon spotted me, his eyes darkened, and for a second, I thought I saw something like admiration flicker across his features. But then he smirked, and the moment was gone.

“You clean up nicely,” he added, offering me his arm. “Shall we?”

I unwillingly grasped his arm, my skin prickling at the contact. “Let’s get this over with,” I mumbled.

The celebration was a frenzy of flashing cameras, champagne toasts, and hushed talks. Damon played the part of the doting husband wonderfully, his hand resting possessively on my lower back as he introduced me to everyone in the room. But beyond his lovely exterior, I could feel the tension brewing between us.

“I need some air,” I murmured after what felt like hours of small conversation and forced grins.

Damon’s grasp tightened slightly on my waist. “Don’t stray too far,” he urged, his tone low and demanding.

I nodded, sneaking out to the balcony. The cool night air was a wonderful respite, and I closed my eyes, taking a long breath. But my moment of tranquility was short-lived.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Seraphina.”

I turned to see Elaine Carter, one of Damon’s business rivals, standing a few steps away. Her keen eyes gleamed with hatred, and her crimson lips twisted into a predatory smile.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

“You think you’ve won,” she replied, her tone dripping with disdain. “But trust me, darling, Damon St. Clair doesn’t share. And when he’s done with you, he’ll throw you to the wolves.”

Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to let her see my fear. “You don’t know anything about me,” I responded, my voice steely. “And you definitely don’t know anything about Damon.”

“Don’t I?” she questioned, raising an eyebrow. “Let me give you some advice, Seraphina. Keep your friends close and your foes closer. Because in Damon’s universe, everyone is expendable.”

Before I could react, Damon appeared, his demeanor cold and threatening. “Elaine,” he murmured, his voice sharp. “I didn’t realize you’d stooped to cornering my wife.”

Elaine’s smile didn’t falter, but I could see the flicker of panic in her eyes. “Just making conversation,” she answered effortlessly. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

With that, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving me alone with Damon.

“What did she say to you?” he demanded, his tone sharp.

“Nothing I didn’t already know,” I responded, my voice softer now. “She thinks you’re going to destroy me.”

He stepped closer, his eyes flashing with passion. “Do you believe her?”

I hesitated, the weight of his question crushing down on me. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “Should I?”

His jaw stiffened, and for a