CH.2 - A Strangers Comfort
1690 Words
Chapter Two - A strangers Comfort
Olivia's Point of view .
My chest caved in as my knees went weak, and the bells on my discarded elf hat—still in my hand—gave one final, mocking jingle as my heart broke right there on the kitchen floor.
I didn’t remember deciding to run.
I just knew my legs were moving, my chest burning as I burst out of the apartment and into the night, the door slamming behind me like the final punctuation to everything I thought my life was becoming.
“Olivia—wait!”
Ethan’s voice followed me, frantic and desperate, but I didn’t slow down. I couldn’t. Cold air tore at my lungs as I ran, tears blurring the streetlights into smeared halos of gold.
I didn’t know what hurt more—being betrayed by the man I loved, or by the woman I called my best friend.
Maybe it was the combination. Maybe it was realizing I’d been a fool in my own life.
“Liv, please,” Ethan yelled, his footsteps pounding closer. “Let me explain—”
Explain what?
I laughed, a broken sound that tasted like salt and disbelief. There was no explanation needed. I’d seen it. I’d walked in on it. No words could undo that. He could probably still taste her on his lips as he tried to beg me to listen to an explanation that would not make me unsee what i saw or Unbreak my heart.
My balled up fists landed on my face instead of his as I wiped my face harshly, angry at myself for crying at all. *They are not worth this,* I told myself. *Not my tears. Not my heart and definitely not my mental health*
I turned sharply onto a side street, hoping to lose him—
“Ahhh! D*mmit”
—and slammed straight into a solid chest for the second time today, I couldn't help but find some humour in it …my life's falling apart and my hopes just came crashing down yet here i am , crying over the man responsible for my heartache when there's clearly plenty of fish in the sea literally crashing into me and sweeping me off my feet.
The impact knocked the breath from me, but before I could stumble back, strong arms wrapped around me, steady and warm. My hands pressed instinctively against his coat, and my body reacted in a way that shocked me completely.
For some reason I was expecting Mr green eyes from earlier purely by the firm muscles and ohhh so familiar scent …it was so rich , so intoxicating and soothing. I felt at home in his arms and for a moment there , the world seemed like a better place , cheesy I know.
I froze.
As I slowly looked up, my heartbeat felt so infuriating, like it was about to explode or come out of my mouth . My body's reaction was so instant and feral for a moment there I questioned if I was ovulating or losing my mind . My heartbeat seemed to calm down all on it's own as i stared into him ,not exactly sure how to feel
Dark grey eyes met mine—stormy, intense, and devastatingly beautiful. His face was all sharp lines and quiet power, lips full and dangerously inviting, his presence overwhelming in a way that made my skin tingle everywhere he touched.
For a moment, the world disappeared.
The moment felt perfect, peaceful and in some way eternal as I longed to just stay in his arms inhaling the warm , rich and seductive notes of amber in his scent.
This was not just a comforting moment, it was good and obviously had to be ruined like every other good thing that happens to me.
As if on que ,Ethan skidded to a stop behind me. “Olivia pl—”
I bit back a swoon as the stranger’s arms tightened around me, protective and possessive, as if he’d done this a thousand times before.
“Stay away from her,” he said, his voice low and edged with something lethal.
My heart thundered. I blinked, my mind struggling to catch up. *What is happening?*
“Who the hell are you?” Ethan snapped.
The man didn’t even glance at him at first. His eyes stayed locked on mine, searching, claiming.
“Damien Steel,” he said calmly. “And she’s mine.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “What?”
“My mate,” he added, like it was the most obvious truth in the world.
Ethan let out a disbelieving laugh. “You’re crazy. Olivia, this guy is—”
Damien finally looked at him, and whatever Ethan was about to say died instantly. The air shifted, heavy and charged.
“We don’t have time to waste on you, you're ruining our moment” Damien said.
Before I could protest, his hand came up to cup my face—gentle, reverent—and then his lips were on mine.
And Ohhhhh myyyyy glooooooob!
The kiss stole everything from me.
It wasn’t rushed or careless. It was deep, consuming, sending heat spiraling through me and wiping out the cold, the pain, the betrayal—taking away everything from my mind , everything but him. My knees went weak, my fingers curling into his coat as my world tilted violently off balance.
When he pulled away, I was breathless, dazed, my heart racing for reasons I couldn’t explain.
Ethan was saying something—my name, maybe—but the words sounded distant, meaningless.
Damien’s arm slid beneath my knees, lifting me effortlessly into his arms. I gasped softly as he held me close, safe, solid.
“We’re leaving,” he said, his voice absolute. I weakly nodded my head as I bit down on my lower lip holding back a squeal for in that moment, I would have followed him to the ends of the earth .
No words were exchanged as he turned and walked away, carrying me down the street and straight out of the life I thought I wanted—while everything I knew shattered quietly behind us.
I stumbled slightly as he set me down beside a sleek black car parked along the curb. The world still felt unreal, like I’d stepped into someone else’s story. Damien opened the passenger door and guided me inside, his hand warm at my lower back, grounding.
The door shut with a solid thud, cutting off the cold night and the echo of my shattered life.
For a moment, we just stared at each other in the dim interior, the air thick with everything we weren’t saying. My pulse roared in my ears. I could still feel his arms around me, the memory of his kiss burning on my lips.
I didn’t remember leaning forward.
I only knew his mouth was on mine again, deeper this time, slower, like he was taking his time learning me. I melted into it without thinking, my hands sliding up his chest, my body humming like it recognized him on some instinctive level. His hand settled on my thigh, warm and solid, thumb pressing lightly as sparks raced through me and settled low in my stomach.
I gasped softly into his mouth.
This felt… good. Too good. Safe and dangerous all at once.
My fingers found the hem of his shirt, tugging before I could stop myself, my mind hazy, my heart still cracked open and aching. I just wanted to feel something other than betrayal. Honestly speaking, I just wanted him and only him …everything else be d*mned .
“Olivia,” he murmured against my lips.
Then—he stopped.
Gently but firmly, he pulled back, resting his forehead against mine. His hand slid from my thigh, lingering just long enough to make the loss noticeable.
“No,” he said quietly. Not harsh. Not judging. Just certain. “Not like this.”
I blinked, breathless, confused. “What?” A part of me wanted to whine out like a child and sulk but I didn't.
His eyes softened, the intensity giving way to something steady and careful. “You’re hurting. You’re not thinking straight.” His thumb brushed my cheek, wiping away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen. “I won’t take advantage of that.”
The words hit harder than any rejection ever could.
Reality came crashing back in all at once—Ethan, the kitchen, the betrayal, the running. The fact that I was sitting in a stranger’s car, half-dressed as an elf, making out with a man whose last name I’d learned less than five minutes ago.
Heat flooded my face.
“Oh my God,” I whispered, horrified. I pulled back completely now, wrapping my arms around myself. “I’m so sorry. I—I don’t know what came over me.”
Damien didn’t look amused or annoyed. If anything, he looked… patient.
“You don’t need to apologize,” he said gently.
“I do,” I insisted, my voice shaking as embarrassment tangled with exhaustion. “You helped me, and I just—” I let out a breathy laugh that held no humor. “I just caught my boyfriend cheating and apparently lost my mind.”
I reached for the door handle, my movements clumsy. “Thank you. For everything. For… stopping. And for getting me away from him.”
Before he could respond, I pushed the door open and stepped out into the cold night. The air hit me like a slap, sobering and sharp.
I shut the door, forcing myself not to look back for more than a second.
Damien was still watching me, his expression unreadable, intense in a way that made my chest tighten all over again.
I turned and walked away before I could change my mind—before I could fall apart completely.
Behind me, the engine started.
And I had the strangest, most unsettling feeling that this was far from over and lord knows that I didn't want it to be.
- Writer
