TRADING MY EX FOR HIS STEP BROTHER

I MARRIED YOU BECAUSE I WANTED TO

CHAPTER 10: I MARRIED YOU BECAUSE I WANTED TO

KIMBERLY:

I was curled up in bed when I heard the soft click of the door.

I faced the wall and pretended to be sleeping. I didn't want him to see the dried tears in my cheeks..

I heard Damien’s footsteps as he walked into the room, then crossed toward the bed slowly. His cologne.filled the room and I heard him call me.

"Kim?" His voice was low, and cautious.

I didn’t move.

"Kim, I know you’re awake," he said gently.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a second before forcing myself to turn over. "Hey," I said, trying to smile. "You're back."

He sat on the bed, his eyes searching mine. "Have you been crying?”

"No," I whispered, shaking my head too quickly. "I'm fine."

Damien reached out, and brushed his thumb along my cheek. "Don’t lie to me, Kimberly."

I breathed down heavily, being touched by the tenderness in his voice. "I’m just tired," I said, my voice wobbling.

He didn’t argue with me. Instead, he stood up and started loosening his tie, his movements slow and deliberate.

"Come downstairs with me," he said after a moment. "Let’s talk."

"I’m tired, Damien," I said again, burrowing deeper into the covers.

He didn’t move for a while. Then he said quietly, "Please."

Something in his voice made me sit up.

His eyes were on mine and I just couldn't say no.

I wore his robe and followed him downstairs. The house was silent, probably because everyone has gone to sleep. Even the lights were dimmed.

Damien led me to a cozy little lounge off the main hall, away from the heavy formality of the living room.

He gestured to the couch. I sat stiffly.

Damien poured himself a glass of whiskey and offered me one. I shook my head.

“No. Thanks.”

He sat on the armchair opposite me, resting his glass on his knee. "What happened, Kim?"

I stared at my hands. "Nothing."

"Kim."

I lifted my eyes to his. "Your step mother hates me."

He exhaled slowly. "She hates everyone who doesn't dance to her tune."

"I think mine is a special kind of hatred," I said with a bitter laugh.

"What did she say?"

I swallowed. "That I’m a gold-digger. That I’m tearing your family apart. That Roland’s in jail because of me."

Damien’s jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened. "I need to put her in her place."

"Please don’t," I said quickly. "It’ll just make things worse."

He leaned forward, and put his elbows on his knees. "Kimberly, listen to me. You did nothing wrong. Okay?"

"I shouldn't have kissed you, Damien," I whispered. "Maybe I shouldn’t have even married you."

"Just a little heat from Barbra and you already regret marrying me?”

I turned my gaze away.

"Listen to me, Kimberly. I married you because I wanted to," he said fiercely. "Not because I had to. Not because grandmother forced me."

Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I fought them back. "Then why does it feel like I’m completely alone?"

Damien cursed under his breath and stood up, pacing.

"I should never have left you tonight," he muttered. "I should’ve been here."

"You had work," I said quietly.

He turned to me, his eyes tortured. "I should have anticipated Barbra’s reaction. Work can always wait."

I didn’t know what to say to that. So I stayed silent.

After a long moment, he came over and knelt in front of me again, taking my hands in his.

"It doesn't matter how much trouble Barbra or Roland throws your way," he said hoarsely. "But I swear to you, Kimberly, you’re not alone. I’m with you."

I stared at him, my heart pounding so hard in my chest. "What if your step mother forces me to leave?"

"She can't," he said fiercely. "If she tries to push you away, I’ll pull you closer."

I heaved a sigh. "Damien..."

He rested his forehead against the back of my hands. "I’m sorry. For all of it."

I blinked hard. "It’s not your fault."

He looked up at me, his eyes so raw it made my chest ache. "Yet I'm sorry."

"I think all of this is my fault, Damien," I whispered.

"Don't blame yourself. I think this is destined to be," he said fiercely. "We're destined to be married. Neither of us planned this.”

The tears finally spilled over. Damien reached up and wiped them away with his thumbs.

"Don’t cry," he murmured. "Barbra doesn't deserve your tears."

I tried to stop the tears but they just kept coming. "I just can't help how I feel right now."

He cupped my face in his hands, his touch so gentle it comforted me.

"I’ll take care of you," he promised. He put his hand in his pocket and brought out a debit card. “Take this. Tomorrow, just go shopping. Buy whatever you want.”

I hesitated. “I can't take that card. Barbra said I was after your money.”

"I don’t care what she said, Kim," he said roughly. "You're my wife. You're my responsibility noi."

A sob escaped before I could stop it.

Damien pulled me into his arms, wrapping me up tight against his chest. I buried my face in his shirt, clutching him like he was the only solid thing in a world that had suddenly turned against me.

We stayed like that for a moment, neither of us speaking.

Finally, he pulled back just enough to look at me.

"Come to bed," he said softly. "Let me hold you."

I hesitated, then nodded.

He took my hand and led me back upstairs.

As we stepped into the room, I suddenly had the urge to ask. “Damien?”

“Hmmm!”

“Are we supposed to be intimate?”