His Little Trouble
Lila had been hearing their laughter echo through the house for the past ten minutes; deep, rough voices overlapping, the kind of sound that filled every hallway. It made her smile. She didn't think the mansion had ever felt so alive like this since she got here.
When she came downstairs, she stopped at the edge of the living room. The sight of Damien caught her off guard, him of all people was lounging on the couch with his men and a drink in hand with his shirt sleeves rolled up. He looked… normal. Like a complete ordinary man. There was warmth in the way he leaned back as Thorne cracked a joke, a glint of amusement everyone rarely got to see.
But the second he noticed her standing there, everything shifted. The grin that broke across his face was instant and genuine and somehow, it was only for her.
He crooked a finger at her, the gesture lazy but impossible to ignore. “Come here.”
Lila laughed softly and walked closer, feeling the eyes of his men flick toward her with a mix of interest and fondness. When she stopped near the arm of the couch, Graves shifted as if to make room, but Damien was faster.
“Move,” he said, his tone carrying that quiet authority that never needed to be raised.
Graves smirked and slid to the other side without protest. Damien reached out, catching Lila’s wrist and tugging her down beside him.
His hand lingered at her waist for a moment before he leaned back again, his arm stretching casually along the back of the couch.
The game resumed as Thorne turned toward Rex with a grin. “Truth or dare?”
Rex groaned. “Dare, because I’m not confessing anything else tonight.”
Lila giggled. “Can I play too?”
The men laughed, Graves and Thorne cheering her on. But Damien didn’t even glance at her when he said, “No.”
She turned to him, brows raised. “Why not?”
“Because it’s a mature-minded game, little one,” he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
A few of the men snorted into their drinks.
Lila raised her eyebrows higher. “Now you think I’m not mature? After everything you’ve done with me?”
Damien’s eyes widened slightly before he quickly covered her mouth with his hand, heat creeping up his neck as his men broke into muffled laughter.
“Jesus, Lila,” he muttered under his breath.
She smiled against his palm and gently pulled his hand away. “Trust me, I’m a good drinker. I won’t mess up.”
He stared at her for another long second, jaw tight, the muscle ticking there like he was fighting back a grin. Then he finally sighed and gestured toward the half-empty bottle on the coffee table.
“Fine,” he said quietly. “But you don’t drink much.”
“Deal,” she said quickly, grin bright and triumphant.
The men cheered again, laughter filling the room as she tucked her legs beneath her and joined the circle. But Damien didn’t join in.
He just sat back, watching her through half-lidded eyes. A quiet, dangerous kind of fondness softening his features as the firelight danced across her face.
The game went on and on until the bottle finally stopped spinning and pointed straight at Lila.
A cheer went up around the room. The men looked far too delighted, like they had been waiting for this moment.
Blade cleared his throat, pretending to sound formal. “Truth or dare, your highness?”
Lila laughed softly. “Uhmm… truth.”
The men exchanged smirks, a dangerous glint of amusement passing between them.
Rex leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his brows lifting with interest. “So, what are the things the boss has done with you?”
The corners of his mouth curled into a smirk, mirrored by the others who were already trying not to laugh.
Damien sat up straight, his easy demeanor vanishing in an instant. “Are you out of your mind? How dare you ask her that kind of question?”
Meanwhile, Lila’s face had flushed terribly as she covered her face with her hands.
“It’s a mature-minded game, boss. We can ask anything,” Rex replied, grinning like he’d just started a war.
“Not a personal question like that. Are you—” Damien began, his tone sharp, but Lila cut him off.
“Do you want me to start from the very first time? How it began in the car?” she asked, lowering her hands just enough to peek at them.
The men froze for a second, then all nodded eagerly, grinning like a pack of Cheshire cats.
Damien’s jaw slackened. His lips parted as he stared at her, utterly stunned.
“So,” Lila began dramatically, “it was the night we went to that party together. I was a bit tipsy but trust me, I was in my right senses.
So on our way home, I slid on top of him in the driver’s seat and I—”
Before she could finish, Damien reached for the nearest glass, pressed it to her lips, and tilted it just enough to make her drink.
Lila sputtered, laughing between gulps as the men burst into roaring laughter.
“Enough storytelling,” Damien growled, getting to his feet in one swift motion. Lila squealed as he lifted her over his shoulder, laughter spilling from her lips while he headed for the stairs.
The men erupted into another round of laughter, and without glancing back, Damien’s voice cut through it, low and intense. “Enjoy it while you can. You’re all dead.”
The bus came to a slow stop at the edge of the forest, tires crunching over pebbles. Excited chatter filled the air as everyone pressed toward the windows, eyes wide at the sight ahead; a stretch of pine trees that seemed to go on forever and a cluster of wooden cabins nestled at their base.
Asher stepped down from the bus and felt the crisp air rush against his face. It smelled of earth and pine sap, fresh and wild, nothing like the city. Around him, students laughed, dragged duffel bags, and snapped pictures. He just stood there for a moment, letting it all sink in.
“Come on, Tessa!” he heard the guy who’d been beside her throughout the journey call.
Tessa turned, smiled faintly at Asher, then followed the guy, her sneakers crunching over leaves.
Asher could swear his heart ached. He couldn’t believe Tessa would just walk off with someone they’d barely met, without even glancing back.
He scoffed under his breath and ran a hand through his hair, irritation simmering beneath his calm expression.
“Hi, Asher,” a girl greeted, stepping up beside him with a hopeful smile.
He barely looked at her, his scowl deepening. Adjusting his bag on his shoulder, he brushed past and started after Tessa and the others, the sound of his footsteps swallowed by the rustle of leaves.
He told himself he didn’t care, but his heart had already proved otherwise.