IT FEELS LIKE A DREAM
1126 Words
CHAPTER 11: IT FEELS LIKE A DREAM
KIMBERLY:
When we stepped inside the bedroom, I hovered near the door awkwardly, watching as he tossed his jacket onto a nearby chair.
“Damien!” I called.
“Hmmm!” he answered.
“Are we supposed to be intimate?”
He nodded, unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirt casually. "Yeah, We’re married, Kim. We're a real couple."
I licked my lips nervously and dropped my gaze to the floor. “But.. this is an arranged marriage,” I mumbled.
Damien crossed the room in two strides and tipped my chin up gently. "Arranged, yes. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be real," he said softly. "It doesn’t mean we can’t make it work."
I swallowed hard. "I don't know, Damien." I whispered.
"What? You don't want to get intimate with me?" he said, brushing his thumb across my cheek.
“I need time.”
"It's fine. I’m not going to touch you until you are ready, okay?”
“Okay,” I responded with a nod.
"I just want to hold you tonight," he said. "Nothing more."
I hesitated, then nodded again.
"Now," he said, stepping back. "Let me take a quick shower."
I watched him disappear into the bathroom. I heard the water start running, while I sat on the bed scrolling through my phone.
A moment later, I heard his footsteps and looked up.
He was bare-chested, wearing only his sweatpants.
My breath caught in my throat.
Damien looked like a perfect work of art—lean, with defined muscles that stretched under smooth, and tan skin. His abs were sculpted, each ridge perfectly cut. His broad shoulders tapered down into a slim waist, and a faint trail of dark hair disappeared beneath the waistband of his gray sweatpants.
I blinked rapidly, my face heating up so fast I was sure I'd catch fire.
He smirked slightly, clearly catching my reaction. "You okay?"
I took my gaze away, pretending to scroll through my phone. "I'm fine," I muttered.
Damien chuckled under his breath. "Come here, Kim."
I raised my head slowly, feeling my cheeks blush again. He winked and gestured for me to come.
Slowly I stood up and went to him. When I reached his side, he simply tugged me gently into his arms and wrapped them around me.
I froze for a moment as my body tingled and my heart hammered in my chest.
Then slowly, I relaxed.
His skin was warm and slightly damp from the shower. His heartbeat thudded steadily against my cheek.
He smelled so good I couldn't stop sniffing.
I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath.
"Better?" he murmured against my hair.
"Yeah," I whispered.
He tightened his arms around me slightly and guided us to the bed, pulling the covers over both of us.
True to his word, he didn’t try anything. He just held me.
And I drifted off to sleep like a baby in her mother's arms.
I woke up to the sound of soft movements.
I opened my eyes and found Damien standing near the dresser, buttoning up a crisp white shirt. The morning sun streamed through the windows, catching in his messy dark hair and highlighting the hard lines of his jaw.
He looked breathtakingly handsome.
I stretched lazily, making the sheets rustle.
He turned around and smiled. "Morning, sleepyhead."
I blinked at him. "You’re leaving?"
He nodded, fastening the last button on his shirt. "I have a meeting. Early one."
I rose and leaned on my elbows. "Oh."
He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "I’ll be back around noon," he said, smoothing a hand down my hair. "Will you be okay?"
"Of course," I responded with a smile.
He grinned. "Okay, try not to cross paths with the vixen until I figure out how to handle her.”
Before I could respond, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.
I froze.as my body tingled.
And then he pressed another kiss to the corner of my mouth.
"See you later, Mrs. Carter," he said warmly.
I stared after him as he grabbed his watch and keys and left the room.
My heart thudded wildly in my chest as a result of that kiss..
I sat there for a few minutes, dazed. It still feels like a dream, being married to Damien.
I picked up my phone and dialled Beth's number. She picked up on the second ring. "Kimmy! Finally!"
"Beth," I croaked.
"Where are you, baby girl?”
I hesitated for a moment. "I'm at Carter's estate.”
“What are you doing at the Carter's this early, Kim? I thought you broke up with Roland yesterday?”.
I glanced around, as if someone might overhear me. "I’m married now, Beth"
“What? To Roland?”
"No," I said, smiling. "I'm married to Damien Carter."
There was a dead silence.
Then she said, "I don't believe you, Kim."
"You have to believe me, Beth. It happened in a flash,” I whispered.
Beth let out a long, theatrical gasp. "Oh my God, Kim. How? When? Why didn’t you tell me?!"
"It just… happened," I said helplessly.
"Kimberly Walker, you better start explaining right now before I lose my mind!"
I flopped back onto the pillows, covering my face. "It’s a long story."
"I’ve got time," Beth said quickly.
So I told her everything.
"And now," I finished, "I’m in Damien's apartment. Married. To him. And I don't know what I’m doing."
Beth was silent for a long moment.
Then she said, "First of all, breathe."
"I am breathing," I said miserably.
"Secondly," she said firmly, "calm down. You are amazing, Kim. And if Damien Carter had half a brain, he’d be thanking the universe right now for putting you in his life."
"Beth," I moaned, "you don’t understand. His step mother hates me and has vowed to make my life miserable. She basically called me a gold-digger last night."
"Forget his step mother," Beth said dismissively. "Focus on him. How’s Damien treating you?"
I hesitated. "Well... I can't really say Beth. We've only been married for one day."
"Well?" she asked eagerly. “You can tell through his attitude if he likes you or not.”
"Well, I think he doesn't detest me. But I can't tell what's on his mind.”
"Tell you what," Beth said, her voice brightening. "Come meet me at my office. I’ll take you out for lunch. We’ll talk everything out. My treat."
"You sure?"
"Positive," she said. "I’m dying to see you and hug you and grill you for every tiny detail."
I laughed, "Okay. I will be in your office in an hour or two."
- Writer
