Chapter 16: Some answers

I step closer to him, feeling like I’m the one in control. I cross my arms and tilt my chin up to face him.

I’m not short, and I’m wearing my mom’s heels, but he’s tall, so tall. That just makes me want to assert myself even more. I raise my chin higher in defiance.

Damien looks serious, but his air is relaxed and unbothered. He even leans back against the vanity to close the height gap between us.

"Why do you keep following me? And more importantly, how the hell do you always get into my room?" I ask, my voice full of accusation.

He touches my face with his thumb in a soft caress, then trails down to my neck, right over the marks my father left, hidden under a layer of makeup.

"I wanted you from the moment I knew you existed. When I found out my godmother was pregnant, I knew it would be a girl, and I told her I’d marry you one day," he says with total calm.

"Seriously? So you’ve been a sick stalker since childhood?"

"I’m not a sick stalker. I’ve always been decisive, Leonor. I knew I wanted you, and you were always mine. But an eight-year gap takes its toll."

"You’re a pervert. That’s what you are," I say, jabbing a finger into his chest.

Damien grabs my hand and kisses it. I snatch it back immediately and cross my arms again. I turn my face away from his touch, but I stay where I am, chin still high, staring him down.

"No, my love. I always treated you with care. Don’t think what I feel for you is just desire, it’s so much more. I loved when you used to introduce yourself as ‘Nor,’ when you couldn’t even say your full name. I’d ask over and over just to hear you say it. I was just a kid too. I didn’t have perverted thoughts about you, I just wanted to be around my favorite person in the world."

He pulls me closer by the waist. His pupils are dilated as he speaks. Somehow, he keeps me there, the way he looks at me is like a trance I can’t break.

"I already loved you more than anything. Honestly, ‘love’ doesn’t even begin to cover what I’ve always felt for you. And you felt the same way. I know you did. I remember how jealous you got whenever I was around other girls, around anyone, really."

I look away. That’s true. I hated when Damien hit puberty and started dating. He used to say I was his, but then gave his attention to others. I was a possessive little kid when it came to what I thought was mine.

"I told you they were just to meet needs, and you got furious, remember that? You said I was only yours. A sick part of me liked that, sorry. But if it's any consolation, I tried to hide my temporary affairs so you wouldn't get jealous."

I laugh at him. What a joke. I remember all too well the times I burned with jealousy and he told me it was nothing, until he started lying to me.

"You made me think I was crazy. And you still haven’t answered how you always manage to get into whatever room I’m in," I say, facing him again, visibly annoyed.

"You were growing up, my Nor, and you were a runaway. I couldn’t let you go around telling people about your nighttime visitor. I had to convince you I was imaginary. Remember how panicked you got when I said I’d disappear if you told anyone?"

"Oh, I remember very well. I remember you saying I’d be thrown in a psych ward to cure the madness that made me see you. You’re disgusting. You told me you were a figment of my imagination, that you were mine and only mine, so I didn’t need to be jealous," I accuse, and he chuckles softly.

"You use the weapons you’ve got. That was all I had. Now enough with the questions."

Damien pushes off the vanity and walks toward me. I turn my face away and quickly step back, putting distance between us. I cross to the other side of the room.

He raises an eyebrow like he’s thinking, You really think that’ll stop me? Maybe not. But I’m still going to keep away from him and whatever he’s planning.

"You’re nothing but a manipulative bastard. You marked me as yours and kept me like property. But I’m a person, Damien, a human being. I didn’t even know your real name until recently. And then you disappeared, you bastard."

"It was too risky. And it was fun watching you come up with different names for me. I only disappeared because you tried to kiss me, remember that? It was the first time I felt desire for you. But you weren’t ready. I had to step back to control myself."

My mafia stalker tries to get closer again. I keep moving away.

"Stop running away from me. I’m here, and we’re never going to be apart again. Now you can have all of me."

I laugh. I really laugh.

"You think it’s going to be that easy? You had your chance, and you blew it. Now get the hell out of my room. I want you out of my life."

He stops in the middle of the room, clearly pissed. My heart races under his dangerous stare. I must be sick too. My eyes sweep over his whole arrogant stance, those strong arms, that torso I know is defined.

I hate myself for imagining his hands on me. For wanting to feel his body against mine. I hate him most of all, for messing with my head since forever and being the man I’ve wanted most in life. Who am I kidding? The others were just shadows. Damien defined what I want in a man.

It’s not that I like bad boys who reek of danger. I like him, and use him as the mold for all the others.

"What are you waiting for? Go back to wherever you came from and forget I exist. I don’t want you!" I shout with conviction, even if it’s the opposite of what I really feel right now.

"You want me, Leonor. And I’ve waited too long to have you. I’m out of patience."

"What are you going to do? Force me?"

Damien laughs in my face, a rough, dangerous laugh thick with desire. My legs almost give out from how badly I want this man. But I’ll deny it for as long as I have an ounce of self-control left.