章 32: Nose bleed

Beatrix didn't know why but she had trouble sleeping.

Whenever she shut her eyes, her moment with Damien in the plane and at the living room replayed in her head in scorching, vivid detail.

It was almost sunrise when she managed to drift off. When she woke up the next day, the sunlight filtering through the shutters was already glaringly bright and hot on the skin.

Beatrix groaned when she checked the clock on the wall and saw it was well past noon.

She dragged herself out of bed and went for a quick shower.

She stood in front of the vanity in her underwear drying her hair and she couldn't help staring at her body, trying to identify what was wrong with her. She subconsciously touched her lips in a daze.

When did she start developing these weird emotions?

Her cheeks turned red at the memories, a warm ache started between her legs and she briskly turned to shake the sensation away.

"Damien." Her voice quivered at his name and she wondered if he'd stayed up the night thinking about what had happened.

A part of her hoped he did, seeing how strained he was last night, but a voice in her head made a quick, harsh reminder that he must've touched and kissed a ton of women before-that's why he didn't kiss her.

He must probably think that she didn't know how to kiss and that she was an awful kisser. He would be right though. It's been so long since her last kiss with Rhys. She didn't think she would remember how to move her mouth against his.

But she was sure all these past few months that she had learn about relationships with the opposite sex on the internet and her books would pay off when the time comes. Even though reading something and actually doing it was a completely different thing.

Beatrix couldn't help a short, dry laugh as she walked to the wardrobe and dressed in denim cutoffs and a tank top.

Three weeks ago, she had absolutely resented the idea of being married off to a mafia boss . She had swore that she would ignore him and be as distant from him as possible.

Now all she wanted was to know what his lips tasted like. It was like her secret obsession now.

Twenty-two years of innocence and restraint came to an end the moment Rhys claimed her soul with a mind-blowing kiss. Now she wanted to know if Damien could set her soul on fire too and if all kisses gave butterflies.

Beatrix went downstairs to the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the naked back of Damien in the kitchen.

He was turning whatever he was cooking in the frying pan. He was only wearing low rise sweatpants without any top.

Beatrix had seen her brothers without wearing tops before but this—this was different.

This was the first time she was seeing another man apart from her brothers naked.

He turned around when he felt her presence. His lips curled into a grin but Beatrix was too busy ogling at him to notice.

He was bronze and chiselled like a Greek god, with dark tattoos snaking over the bicep of his right arm.

Beatrix was mesmerized by the view of his broad shoulders, his veins lightly straining beneath his skin above every lean, carved muscle and she swallowed hard.

"Don't mind me, darlin'." His voice came, amused. "Any time you're done looking."

Beatrix snapped out of her reverie when she felt a hot liquid trickling down her nose.

Beatrix touched her nose and her eyes bulged out with fright when she saw the red liquid staining her fingers.

Was she having a nose bleed right now because she was seeing a man's naked chest?! God that was so embarrassing.

"Are you alright?"

Beatrix pinched her nose and nodded.

"It's fine, it's fine."

She attempted to bolt out to her room but Damien grabbed her hand stopping her.

"Let me see what's wrong with you."

Beatrix flushed with embarrassment and removed her hands from her nose.

"Just-just a nose bleed. I will be fine."

Damien took her hand and led her to sit on stool.

"Breathe through your mouth and pinch the soft part of your nose. I will be right back okay?"

Without waiting for her reply, he walked towards the kitchen cabinets.

Beatrix watched carefully as he began to rummage through cardboard boxes, the hollows of his ribs instigated inappropriate thoughts inside of her head until he pulled out an assortment of first aid items and made his way over to her again.

"Has the bleeding stopped?"

Beatrix nodded.

He made his way inside his bedroom and came back with a small basin.

Damien kneeled before her and gently grabbed her hand.

Beatrix eyes widened in surprise when she saw the bowl of water and towel inside it.

He gently cleaned her fingers stained with the blood. He was so careful as if he was afraid he would hurt her.

They remained silent and all the while she peered up at his face and she felt an unbelievable urge to reach for his squared jaw. His thin lips were pressed into a tight line as he finally cleaned her nose.

"There all done." He said as he stood up.

"T-thank you." Beatrix flushed and fiddled with her fingers.

"Welcome darling" He said, flashing her a lopsided grin.