Chapter 62 – Behind Closed Doors (Damian’s POV)

Chapter 62 – Behind Closed Doors (Damian’s POV)
I paced the length of my study as night slowly closed in from the windows. The events of the day churned in my gut, especially the look in Ivy’s eyes when she stormed off earlier. Gosh, whatever emotion I had seen on her face, the Moon Goddess knew well that I never wanted to see it appear again. I’d promised to fix this mess with Bianca, and every minute without a solution felt like another crack in Ivy’s trust.
If there was trust at all…
What was that? That was my head and conscience messing with me again. For some reason, Ivy was no longer the frightened grumpy woman I had kidnapped against her will not so long ago. She had evolved to have a liking for me. I just knew it. I could feel it. And yes, I wanted things to stay that way.
For one, I wasn’t exactly safe right now so I called Sierra in and renewed my orders to keep the mansion on step down. The door hadn’t even shut when I braced my palms on my desk, exhaling sharply. Tension knotted my shoulders. I’d hesitated when Ivy asked me to choose her over Bianca. That single heartbeat of doubt had wrecked something between us. I had to get it back; I had to prove to Ivy she was first.
A soft knock at the door jerked me from my thoughts. I straightened. “What is it?”
The door opened and Bianca stepped inside. I caught a waft of her jasmine perfume before I saw her fully thanks to my werewolf senses that kept me ahead of track and cut short unnecessary surprises. She closed the door behind her, then stood there in a slinky black silk dress that left little to imagination.
I clenched my jaw. “It’s late, Bianca. What do you need?”
She moved closer, hands clasped in front of her like a penitent. “I wanted to apologize, Damian.” Her tone was demure, but her eyes gleamed as she neared my desk. “I never meant to cause a rift between you and Ivy. I feel just awful about it.”
I wanted to laugh. “If you were truly sorry, you’d give us space,” I said flatly. “Go back to your room, Bianca.”
She didn’t budge. Instead, she rounded the desk with slow, deliberate steps. My muscles tensed. “Please,” she implored, the familiarity of that pleading as I stroke her folds that night on the yatch. “You must know I had nowhere else to go. I was scared and alone. If not for my son, I wouldn’t impose…”
Her eyes brimmed with tears that I suspected were purely theatrical. I scrubbed a hand over my face. “We’ll sort it out. I told you—I’ll do right by the boy if he’s mine. Now is not the time for this conversation.”
“I’m not here to talk about legalities and tests,” she whispered. Suddenly her hand was on my forearm. I flinched at the contact, not at this gall of this woman. At this point, I felt… nothing…
“Don’t,” I warned.
Bianca stepped closer, ignoring me. Her warmth pressed up against my side. “You’re so tense,” she murmured, fingers gliding up my arm. “Let me help, just like I used to. You remember, don’t you? I know how to ease your stress.”
My blood heated with anger. I grabbed her wandering hand in an iron grip. “Bianca, stop.” A growl laced my voice. She should have been afraid, but instead she gave a little smile and leaned up, her lips a whisper away from my jaw.
“I don’t mind,” she breathed. “I can give you what you need, Damian. No one ever has to know.”
I stiffened. For a split second, the temptation of oblivion flickered; anything to drown out the heartbreak twisting inside me. Ivy’s hurt eyes flashed in my mind. The taste of failure was bitter on my tongue. What does it matter? a dark voice hissed. You’ve already lost her.
Bianca closed the gap and pressed her mouth to mine. Her kiss was soft, persuasive and utterly hollow. My body responded on base instinct to the sweet female form against me. For one shameful heartbeat, I kissed her back, desperate for relief from the ache inside.
The door to the study creaked open. I jerked away from Bianca, heat and guilt flooding me as I instantly straightened up. Shit! Shit! Shit! Ivy stood at the threshold and stared right at us with eyes that had zero emotions in them.
Time froze. I saw what she saw: Bianca’s hands on me, our bodies far too close. My stomach plummeted. I was done for. Gosh, what the hell just took place?
“Ivy,” I croaked, stepping forward. “This isn’t what it looks—”
She scoffed and said nothing else. There was no other word for it. She took one staggered step back, pain etched starkly across her features. Or was it pain? I couldn’t fucking tell. In a split second, she was out of sight.
“Shit!” I snarled. I shoved Bianca aside and bolted after Ivy.
By the time I hit the corridor, Ivy was already disappearing around the corner. “Ivy!” I shouted, voice echoing off the walls. She didn’t stop. Of course, she wouldn’t.
Agony and panic crashed over me. I’d never seen her look like that. Damn, there would be no redeeming this. What had tempted me so to have been this dumb?
Behind me, Bianca hovered in the study doorway, looking smug and unruffled. Something in me snapped. I rounded on her as my fangs bared. “What the fuck,” I snarled. “I told you to leave. You just couldn’t resist, could you?”
She had the audacity to lift her chin. “I only wanted to comfort you—”
“Comfort?” A red haze edged into my vision. “Get out of my sight, before I do something we’ll both regret.” My voice was deathly calm, razor-sharp.
For a moment, Bianca’s confident mask flickered at the edges. Without another word, she slipped away through the same door where Ivy stood just now.
I stood there trembling with adrenaline and self-loathing. My fist collided with the doorframe and the wood splintered under the impact. I could feel the agony from the depths of my being, down into my wolf. Pain shot up my arm, but I barely felt it.
How the hell was I going to fix this? I had promised Ivy I’d never let anything come between us and now I had become the very thing that would drive her away. Hell, it’s not even been up to twenty-four straight hours. Was I so fucking gullible? Didn’t I love her well enough.
Love?
With my jaw clenched, I sprinted down the hall, following her scent. I had to find her. Had to beg her forgiveness, if she’d even hear me.
Please, Ivy. My heart pounded as I tore through the darkened corridors. Please don’t let this be the end.