The problem with desire is that once you taste it, you can't pretend you never wanted it."
Damian's POV
She had been avoiding me.
Not in the obvious way Trina Sinclair wasn't the type to run and hide. No, her avoidance was calculated, controlled.
Three weeks of cold indifference. Of perfectly timed exits from rooms I entered, of sending her assistant in her place for meetings. Three weeks of events where she smiled for the cameras at my side but never quite met my eyes.
She had shut me out completely. And it was driving me insane. I usually knew how to make sure everything went as planned in this case, I couldn't control the outcome.
Three straight weeks of avoidance, I wasn't going to let it continue. She was going to be my wife and she had to bend to some rules. I wasn't trying to control her, I couldn't just continue with the constant ignoring.
At first, I told myself it was a blessing. Let her keep her distance. Let her pretend that night on the balcony hadn't meant anything.
But it had.
And I wasn't about to let her forget it.
She tried to arrive separately.
I made sure that didn't happen.
I had to pick her up, even if I had to leave a very important meeting to meet up with her.
We stepped into the ballroom together, the picture-perfect couple. Cameras flashed, reporters murmured, and Trina played the role flawlessly.
Poised. Elegant. Untouchable.
Her hand rested lightly in mine, her smile effortless, but I felt the way her fingers stiffened for just a second.
She wasn't as indifferent as she wanted to be.
I leaned in, lowering my voice so only she could hear.
"You're putting on a good show, sweetheart. Almost convincing."
She didn't even glance at me. "I don't need to pretend, Damian. Unlike you, I'm perfectly fine keeping things professional."
I chuckled, slow and deliberate. "Is that what we're calling this now? Professional?"
I felt, rather than saw, the subtle tension in her shoulders.
She was cracking.
Good.
"Professional is for business partners, whatever we have is not in any way professional, darling." She stared at me with a bored expression. More like she was questioning my sanity.
"And what are we Damian, what are we?" She asked looking away and not expecting an answer.
She smiled and stared back at the camera like whatever happened didn't just happen.
She wasn't lying. We were nothing like the regular power couple we were playing out to be. But, why did it affect me . It was like her words pierced through me.
Get a grip. I reminded myself. She was just a means to an end anyways, or was she.
The event was great, there was no denying it. The charity ball was a way for rich and snippy aristocrats like my father get to evade tax. It was a smart strategy I couldn't deny but it made the charity lose it's meaning in actual sense.
But who am I to complain. It was the cycle I was already continuing.
The voice of the announcer pulled me out of my thought.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and distinguished benefactors, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this magnificent evening a night dedicated to generosity, elegance, and the power of unity."
"And now, it is time for one of the most anticipated moments of the evening—the opening dance. Leading us tonight are two individuals whose union has captivated the city. He is a man of power and vision, a force in the business world, and the soon-to-be CEO of Lockwood Enterprises. And she... she is as fierce as she is captivating, a woman who turns heads not just with beauty, but with fire in her spirit."
A murmur ripples through the crowd as all eyes turn toward the two figures standing at the ballroom's edge.
"Please welcome Mr. Damian Lockwood and his fiancée, Ms. Trina Laurent."
A polite round of applause swells through the room, punctuated by the soft clinking of champagne glasses. The orchestra swells, the first notes of a slow, intimate melody filling the air.
I pulled her in by her waist, Ignoring the tingles I felt on my palm. She hesitated slightly, I could almost taste her reluctance and challenge. But, I could also feel the shivers that ran through her when my hand youched her skin. I affected her as much as she affected me. Ignoring the tingles I felt on my palm.
The Trina effect I called it. She mighy not have been aware she caused that but she definitely did. I didn't understand it either so I chose to ignore it.
As the soft music played we moved perfectly in sync. Like every turn and movement was calculated.
I leaned in slightly and whispered." Are you still running from me Trina?" I asked
Her reply was cool like she was trying to hide emotions. "I'm not running, I call it keeping my distance."
I smiled softly, she had a way of making me tick. I couldn't help but ask."are you always this stubborn or is it only when you are around me?" I asked with a tiny smirk on my face.
She looked up at me, with an expression ready for banter. "I'm not stubborn I just like to show things for what they are. Does that disturb you,Mr Blackwood?"
It was like she said my surname as an act of defiance. I really couldn't wait to call her that same name and get a reaction out of her.
" No, it doesn't. It definitely wouldn't matter anyways." I said trying to control whatever tension was brewing.
She didn't take her eyes of me, she raised her eyebrow slightly, " Do you always enjoy being in control, Damian.?" She asked calling my name in a voice that was made for wet dreams. I wanted her to say it again but I knew she would never if she knew how it made me feel.
"I prefer saying I like things in order. I don't think there is anything wrong with liking order " I answered.
"Oh, I'm sure you do l, Mr control freak." She answered, laughing like I had said the funniest thing. I didn't understand but I liked that the smile was for me for the first time.
I could sense the tension in the room. We suddenly became closer and it was starting to seem like everyone else was blurred out. We were the only ones left in the room. I stared at her beautiful eyes. It seemed we were closer.
She squeezed my arm slightly as she got tense. I could sense how her eyes flicked with a hidden vulnerability.
This was just a game I tried to remind myself. But, why was there a spark neither of us could ignore
The music slowly came to an end. I gently guide Trina away from the prying eyes to a quieter alcove near the balcony.
"Why do you keep keeping me at arms length? When would this game end?" I asked
Trina's response is measured, yet laced with a challenge: "You expect me to play along, but I won't pretend to be someone I'm not."
I stared at her. I could notice the crease lines around her eyes. She seemed to always Saint whenever she was angry or pushed to show emotions.
"No I don't, I'm just trying to understand you here, whether you want to marry me or not it is happening. The earlier you make peace with that the better for us." I said I really wanted her to work with me on this.
She looked so perfect under the dim light. I was fighting the urge to do everything I felt. Her slight angry made her look hotter.
"Well, who told you I was trying to make peace with anything. If at all I'm trying to accept my unwanted fate." She replied. I was already losing a grip on my control. This was not good. I couldn't stop looking at her inviting lips listening was getting harder.
"I don't want this, I have tried to tell you and everyone else, since you all decided not to listen you can't expect me to seat still and act pretty." She retorted looking slightly annoyed.
I was fighting every ringing in my head telling me whatever I was going to do tonight was wrong. " Do you have to always look this beautiful when you defy me, Catherine." I said as I slowly seeped my head.
I kissed her.
I didn't plan it, she was surprised but didn't pull away which was a good sign.
I pulled her in closer, as my mouth slightly opened. I wanted to test the waters as I slowly licked her lips begging for entrance. She wrapped her arms around my neck as her lips parted slightly.
My tongue went in as I hear her whimper softly. This urged me on.
I pulled her tighter has our tongues fought for dominance. As they where getting to know each other. I could feel the tingles down to the core of my being.
Sure, I have kissed a lot before, but this was different,This was perfect.
Our tongues continue to explore each other as my hands made their was to her ass, I pulled at the soft flesh. She turned me on beyond what I could control or understand.
"God, Trina. You would be the death of me" I said as I pulled her leg up, resting her centre on my thigh.
She let out a moan as she grind herself against me. The kiss got deeper as I tugged her lip between my teeth. I sucked her tongue deeper into my mouth. My hands were all over her. I could feel myself hard as a rock but that didn't matter all I could focus on was her grinding on me.
It was the hottest scene. Her lips parted slightly as she whimpered getting herself off on me. The look on her face was the most beautiful sight to behold.
I held her waist as I try to set a pace. If I didn't do anything at all I'm going to get her off I promised myself.
She started to move faster as she got closer.
I kissed her hard. This could be my only chance and I wasn't going to let it go. I didn't understand why but the hunger was beyond what I could control, all I could do was satisfy it.
She finally let out a loud moan as she went off. I kissed her deeper to muffle her screams. It was beautiful.
We parted slightly to catch our breathes as we were both panting.
It was like it snapped her out of the daze she was in. She pulled away from me like I burned her.
She stared at me looking flustered and flushed. She looked like a beautiful panting mess.
My beautiful panting mess.
It was like she was embarrassed by her reaction. She turned and ran. She ran like her life depended on it.
I laughed hard. It seemed my princess took running to a literal sense.
What did I just do. I asked myself.
This girl was going to drive me crazy before we got to the alter, I was sure of it
But, was I doing anything to prevent it.
No I wasn't. It was like I was enjoying every minute of it.
I needed to fix myself before anyone noticed I was gone.
I walked into the toilets to fix up my self I looked at my swollen lips as I remember the moments we spent together just seconds ago.
Who would have imagined that with the way the night started this was how it was going to end.
God, I was in for constant surprises with this woman. I was certain of it.