Chapter 9

From a deep sleep, Samantha groaned when she felt someone caressing her cheek.

Her forehead furrowed and her lips twitched, her eyes still closed. The palm that was caressing her cheek was rough. And from that, she already knew that it wasn't Alfred because Alfred's palm had always been soft, like a lady's. Samantha then felt a finger caressing her lips. The finger traced her lips softly and gently, like the owner of that finger didn't want to wake her up, but it was too late because she was already wide awake.

She slowly opened her eyes. At first, her vision was still a bit blurry, so she wasn't sure what she was seeing. But as her vision gradually cleared, she was surprised to see Damon's face.

Damon was bent over, staring at her intently while his finger continued to caress her lips.

Their eyes met, and just like a movie scene, memories of what happened between them last night came back to her.

She remembered how Damon had fucked her over and over again, how she'd let him do everything he wanted to her body. She could now clearly remember how she'd cried out and moaned loudly as Damon thrust deep inside her.

Her cheeks heated from the sudden flood of memories.

Embarrassed, she pushed Damon vigorously, just enough to make him sit up straight. She would have sat up as well, but she immediately groaned when she felt the soreness in her womanhood.

"Don't move too much yet. Just rest for now," Damon said.

Samantha looked at Damon. Damon's face was so serious. He looked at her intently, as if he was reading her mind.

She gulped. "W-why are you staring at me like that?" she asked, stuttering.

She wanted to slap herself.

How could she be embarrassed after everything they did last night?

Before giving her an answer, Damon's eyes dropped from her face. She followed his gaze and her eyes widened when she saw that her breasts were uncovered. But what shocked her even more were the red marks that covered both of her breasts, marks she was sure had been made by Damon.

"What the?" She quickly lifted the blanket around her waist to cover her breasts.

Damon chuckled a little, so Samantha looked at his face again. She raised an eyebrow at him. "What's so funny?" she asked in a pissed tone, but Damon just smiled, shook his head, and stood up.

Damon was wearing a white body-fit t-shirt and board shorts. It was so plain, yet it still looked good on him.

"I'll bring you food, so just stay here and don't move," he said sternly before turning his back on her and leaving the room.

Samantha sighed.

Now, he's trying to be sweet and caring, she thought.

But just like Damon had said, she stayed in bed and properly covered her body with the blanket.

She stared at the ceiling. She believed that she'd had sex with him countless times. But what she couldn't believe was how weak and fragile she was. She'd given up so easily, and she wanted to punch herself for it. Damon had just kissed her—just played with her tongue—and she had lost her sanity. It had been that easy. She had once again forgotten all about Alfred.

She covered her face with her palms. "What have you done, Samantha?" she whispered in despair, then looked back at the ceiling.

She was still staring at the ceiling when Damon re-entered the room carrying a tray of food. He placed the tray on the bedside table, then turned his attention to her.

"I'll help you sit," he said and was ready to help her sit up, but she stopped him.

"I can do it. I'm not crippled," she said.

She tried to move but winced at the discomfort in her femininity. It was the same way she'd felt after she and Damon had had sex the first time. She felt like she'd lost her virginity all over again.

"I told you I'd help you," Damon said, and then he climbed onto the bed, kneeling to help her sit up.

She didn't refuse anymore.

Damon put a pillow between her and the headboard, and then he made her lean on it.

"There, comfortable?" he asked gently.

She nodded and tiredly closed her eyes. "What have you done to me, Damon?" she asked, fatigue audible in her voice.

When Samantha opened her eyes, she saw Damon smiling, staring at her.

Her forehead furrowed. "What are you laughing at—" But she was not able to continue when Damon suddenly kissed her on the lips, surprising her. "Why did you kiss me?" Annoyance, shock, and confusion could be seen in her face and heard in her voice as she asked the question.

Damon just shrugged before sitting down in front of her, taking the tray of food, and placing it on the bed right beside her.

She just rolled her eyes when he didn't bother to answer.

She was about to pick up the spoon and start eating when Damon stopped her. "I'll feed you," he said in a serious voice and took the spoonful of rice and the dish from her.

Her forehead furrowed, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "What? Do you think I'm a child who doesn't know how to hold a spoon? I can eat on my own. You don't have to feed me," she answered in a bitchy tone.

The seriousness on Damon's face did not change, and the spoon he was holding remained pointed at her. "If you don't shut up, this food won't be the only thing I'll put in your mouth," he said without even smiling.

She gulped again. Damon knew the right words to say to shut her up.

Damon grinned when she didn't answer and slowly opened her mouth. "See? You didn't have to make such a fuss about it," he said and started to feed her.

The whole time that Damon was feeding her, she kept silent and tried to avoid looking at his face. "I'm full," she said as Damon was about to feed her another spoonful.

"This is the last one," he replied as if talking to a toddler.

She didn't answer, just opened her mouth and let Damon feed her. She was done refusing Damon, at least for today, because no matter what she said, Damon would never accept it. He would still insist on getting what he wanted.

"What time is it?" she asked as Damon stacked the dishes back on the tray.

"Eleven," Damon answered calmly. She, on the other hand, was surprised.

"It's already eleven? The morning's almost gone?"

Damon frowned at her. "Can you lower your voice? We're only inches apart," he said before turning his attention back to arranging the items on the tray.

Samantha sighed. "You could have woken me up."

"How could I do that when you were sleeping so soundly? And I knew you were tired. After everything we did last night, I knew you'd want to rest," he answered casually as if it were nothing. Samantha couldn't help but blush. She felt the embarrassment down to her toes.

Wow, Samantha. Now you're embarrassed? After all the moaning you did last night? she silently asked herself.

But her attention quickly returned to Damon when he adjusted himself on the bed so they were both in the same sitting position. They sat beside each other, both leaning their backs against the headboard. Their shoulders and arms were also touching since Damon's arms were crossed. Even if she wanted to get away from him, she couldn't because of the exhaustion in her muscles.

What did this man do to me? she asked herself in silence.

"Samantha," he called her name, which caused her to look at his face.

She raised an eyebrow at him as their eyes met. "What?" she asked without taking her eyes off him.

"I want you to break up with your boyfriend," Damon, strong, serious, and unbridled, said, making her drop her jaw.

It took time for her to fully digest what Damon had said. She asked herself several times if what she'd heard was real.

Did he just ask her to break up with Alfred?

"What are you saying?" she asked in confusion.

This time, it was Damon who frowned. He was giving her an 'are you kidding me?' look.

She raised an eyebrow at him, but his forehead remained furrowed.

"Wait, don't tell me you're not planning to break up with him." Astonishment was evident in Damon's voice as he said those words.

If she could have raised her eyebrow even more, she would have done so.

"Are you nuts? Why would I break up with Alfred?" she said, averting her eyes and shaking her head.

She could still feel him staring at her.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me. What about us? Are you planning to date both of us at the same time?" Damon said, and she could hear the anger in his voice.

She looked back at him and gave him a sarcastic grin. "Us? Date both of you at the same time? Last I checked, Alfred is the only one I'm dating right now."

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me!"

She slapped her hand over Damon's mouth, then pointed her finger at him. "Don't yell at me!" she said angrily.

Damon seemed surprised. He couldn't even speak, but Samantha knew that he was mad.

She stared at his hands, particularly his fingers, which were tightly clenched, making the veins in his wrists visible. The look he gave her was sharp.

"We fucked—"

"So?" she answered quickly. "Come on, Damon! This is the 21st century. Everybody fucks. Lovers or not, couples or not, we fuck whoever and whenever we want. Have you ever heard of fuck buddies? Friends with benefits? Casual sex? And besides, you forced me."

"Forced you?" Damon said, accompanied by sarcastic laughter. "From what I remember, we both liked what happened last night. I gave you ten minutes, and you gave in easily, without putting up a goddamn fight. Yet you're still telling me that I fucking forced you?" Damon stood up, and Samantha followed him with her gaze. "You know what? I honestly don't know what to call you. Should I call you a liar? Or delusional? You keep blaming me. You insist that I forced you. But the truth is you wanted it to happen. You wanted me just as much as I wanted you." His hands were on his waist as he faced her. Anger still twisted his expression. "When will you stop lying, Samantha? When will you stop lying to me? When will you stop lying to yourself? Why don't you just accept the truth: you like what's happening to us."

"I never wanted this to happen—"

"Oh, shut up!" Damon yelled in anger. "If that's still what you want to believe, then I'll find a way to convince you that you want all of this," he said before turning around and walking towards the entrance of the room.

Damon was already at the door when she spoke again. "What the hell are you going to do?" she asked nervously.

Damon turned to look at her and grinned. "What am I going to do? Oh, nothing, sweetheart." The grin that Damon was giving her made her heart beat faster. "I'm just planning to stay here with you."

"What?!" Her eyes widened.

"Yes, sweetheart. We will stay here on this island. And during our stay, I am going to make sure you gradually fall for me. You will fall under my spell, Samantha. You will," Damon answered before finally exiting the room, leaving Samantha bewildered.