The Kiss That Changed Everything
459 Words
The first public event came three days later.
Elara stood in front of the mirror in Damon’s private dressing room, barely recognizing the woman staring back at her.
Her hair had been styled into soft waves. Her makeup was subtle but flawless. She wore a deep red gown that hugged her body in ways she wasn’t used to seeing.
She looked powerful.
And dangerous.
“You’ll smile tonight,” Damon said from behind her. “You’ll stand by my side. You’ll touch me when I touch you.”
“I’m not your toy.”
“You are my wife,” he corrected. “And tonight, the world will see that.”
The gala was filled with people who whispered when they saw her.
“That’s Blackwell’s wife.”
“She’s so young.”
“I thought he hated women.”
Elara’s arm was looped through Damon’s. His hand rested possessively at her lower back, guiding her, claiming her.
It made her skin burn.
“Relax,” he murmured. “They can smell fear.”
“I’m not afraid of them,” she said. “I’m afraid of you.”
That earned a faint smile.
They stopped to greet investors and executives. Damon was charming, ruthless, brilliant.
And when he looked at her in front of them, his gaze softened just enough to sell the lie.
“Are you enjoying the city, darling?” he asked.
Elara forced a smile. “Very much.”
His thumb brushed her skin.
It was a small touch.
But it sent a shock through her.
Later, as the crowd thickened, a woman approached them—tall, elegant, beautiful.
“Damon,” she said smoothly. “I didn’t know you’d married.”
His grip on Elara tightened.
“Isabella,” he replied coolly.
Her eyes swept over Elara with clear disdain.
“So this is the girl who replaced me.”
Elara stiffened.
“I didn’t replace anyone,” she said.
Isabella smiled thinly. “Oh, sweetheart. Everyone is replaceable.”
Damon said nothing.
That hurt more than Elara expected.
When they finally escaped to a balcony, she turned on him.
“You let her talk to me like that.”
“She doesn’t matter.”
“She does if she knows you.”
He leaned closer, voice low.
“Are you jealous?”
“No!”
But the way her heart pounded betrayed her.
Damon’s gaze dropped to her lips.
Something shifted.
The air grew heavy.
Without warning, he kissed her.
It was deep. Rough. Full of everything they refused to say.
Elara’s breath caught as heat surged through her.
When he pulled away, his eyes were dark.
“This changes nothing,” he said.
But she knew he was lying.
So was she.
- Writer
