章 30: Stay

Beatrix lay in bed that evening, listening to the sound of the music popping on her phone through her airpods.

She couldn't fall asleep. She was tired but all that she saw when she closed her eyes were Damien's glittering amber ones.

Her eyes stared at the words in the book on her lap but her mind was running a thousand miles.

Damien's room was just opposite hers and she wondered what he was doing at the moment. Was he asleep or couldn't sleep like her?

He was a stoic man, that was for certain and they barely knew each other but the way those amber eyes of his sparkled with adoration, flared with wild lust and softened with tenderness-all for her was confusing.

Beatrix didn't know if it was just her imagination or it was exactly like that.

She knew nothing about her betrothed yet she was fascinated by him.

Fascinated by the man whose name alone causes fear and havoc. So far he seemed nice but was he really?

Beatrix didn't know what the future held for her but was she really going to marry a man as dangerous as Damien Niarchos?

In her dreams she was married to the man she loved with them having two kids and a dog but with Damien she didn't think that was going to be possible.

She guessed this was the sacrifice she had to make as her father's daughter. Marrying someone she didn't love and who probably would never love her.

Fortunately she was attracted to him. That was enough. She couldn't imagine spending the rest of her life with someone whom she wasn't attracted to.

Sighing she slipped off her bed and groped for her

eyeglasses on the nightstand.

Beatrix slipped an old, light-knit cardigan long enough to cover past her red cotton night dress and put her flip flops on.

Beatrix headed downstairs to take a bottle of water. After all she couldn't sleep and needed something to distract herself.

Her eyes bulged out when she opened the

refrigerator and saw a variety of mouth-watering

food tucked inside it. When did he stock the fridge?

Shrugging, she took a bottle of water and closed the fridge.

Beatrix was on her way to her room when she heard noise, making her stop in her tracks.

She stood rooted to her spots, wondering if she actually heard something. Her doubts were dispelled when she heard the same noise a second later.

The lights in the living area were off. Her heart

hammered against her heart when she spotted the

figure sitting on the floor.

"Damien?" Beatrix called out softly.

"Yeah…."

"I didn't mean to intrude. I didn't realize you were

here."

Beatrix said but he didn't reply. Standing there awkwardly she bit her lips.

"Well….I will head back to my room to sleeep….it's not like I can sleep but well I will try so see you in the morning, yeah in the morning." Beatrix blabbered.

Just as she turned to leave she heard his voice.

"Stay, please." He sounded desperate, almost lost.