Chapter 23 Ella

Chapter 23 Ella
He was here, but with another girl.

“Hi!” Sophia said cheerfully, holding out her hand. I followed her lead, my own smile feeling slightly tight, stretched thin by nerves.

The girl returned the greeting with a friendly smile, and I couldn’t help sneaking a glance at her. She was pretty, confident… and it made my chest tighten just a bit.

Damien’s eyes flicked toward me, and I felt that same familiar flutter. He gave me a quick, knowing smile, like he noticed my slight hesitation. My cheeks warmed instantly, and I quickly looked down at my hands, pretending to be perfectly calm.

“This is my sister, Camille,” he said. My head shot up, and he was already staring at me, smiling. The girl laughed beside him, and Sophia joined in.

“It was satisfying seeing you jealous, Ella,” she said, chuckling. My cheeks heated up in embarrassment. Damien chuckled quietly beside her.

“My name is Camille,” she said, gesturing for a hug. I moved closer, hugging her.

“Nice to meet you,” I said shyly, the embarrassment knotting in my stomach.

“No, it's nice to see the girl who won my brother's heart,” she countered.

“Camille,” Damien warned with a low growl. I laughed softly. It was clear they had a playful, easy relationship.

“Excuse her, she says the weirdest things at times,” he added, smiling.

“I'll leave you two to it,” she said, slipping away with Sophia.

“So… were you jealous?” he asked, grinning knowingly.

“No,” I denied, smiling faintly. He nodded, not pushing, but the playful curl of his lips said he knew the truth.

“I know you got my number from Maxine,” I said, just to clear the air.

“Guilty,” he said, grinning.

“Alex told me you've never lost a race,” I said, curiosity lacing my tone.

“Yes,” he replied, smirking. I rolled my eyes; he really did take pride in his abilities.

“I can teach you how to ride, if you want to,” he said, his eyes glittering as they met mine. I could tell he wanted to.

“Fine,” I said. I walked over to Camille and Sophia. They seemed engrossed in a conversation, and Alex was nowhere in sight.

“Damien wants to teach me to ride,” I said. They shared a knowing look and chuckled.

“Enjoy the night,” Sophia said, eyes glinting with mischief.

“Don't fall too deeply,” Camille added. I blushed, mortified. What were they thinking?

“I'll just be learning to ride,” I said.

“Yeah, sure,” they teased.

Damien stood beside me, his bike parked neatly on the side. I took a deep breath, gripping the handlebars nervously.

“You sure you’ve never done this before?” he asked, a teasing edge in his voice.

“Positive,” I said, trying to sound confident, though my knees felt like jelly.

He smirked, stepping closer. “Alright, then. We’ll start slow. I’ve got you.” His hand brushed lightly against mine as he steadied the bike, and a small spark ran through me.

I climbed on, wobbling immediately. “Uh… okay, this is harder than it looks.”

He chuckled softly. “Of course it is. But don’t worry, I won’t let you fall.” His tone was calm, patient, but there was a playful glint in his eyes.

We spent the next hour on that quiet street. Every time I faltered, he reached out, steadying me, his fingers brushing mine just long enough to make me blush.

“You’re doing better than I expected,” he said, smiling down at me. “I thought you’d be screaming by now.”

“I’m not screaming!” I protested, though a small laugh escaped me.

“You’re close,” he said, leaning slightly toward me. “Just a bit more balance, and you’ll be riding on your own.”

And then, between my nervous laughter and the feel of his steadying hand, I realized something: learning to ride with Damien wasn’t scary at all. It was… kind of perfect.

After what felt like forever, Damien finally let go. “Okay… now try it on your own,” he said, stepping back just a little.

My heart pounded, but I nodded. “Alright… here goes nothing.”

I pushed off slowly, wobbling at first, but then I felt it — the balance, the rhythm. I was riding! On my own! A laugh burst out of me, a mix of disbelief and exhilaration.

Suddenly, the front wheel wobbled, and my stomach dropped. “Ah! I’m—!”

Before I could finish, Damien was right there, steadying the bike with a firm hand on my shoulder. “Got you! Easy there,” he said, his voice calm but his eyes sparkling with amusement.

I blushed furiously, gripping the handlebars tighter. “I… I almost fell!”

“You did great,” he said, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “And you stayed upright. That’s what matters.”

I couldn’t help laughing nervously, heart racing, partly from the near-fall, partly from the way he had been so close. His hands lingered on mine, and time seemed to slow. His eyes softened, full of something I couldn’t name — yearning, maybe. I found my gaze drifting to his lips. They looked… so kissable.

I saw him swallow slightly, and a small laugh escaped me. That tiny motion confirmed I wasn’t the only one feeling the pull.

Without thinking, I leaned in. My heart raced. He leaned closer too, close enough to feel the warmth of his body and the faint scent of him. But then, at the last second, he pulled away.

I blinked, caught off guard. He offered a small, almost apologetic smile , teasing yet restrained. My chest fluttered uncontrollably, a mix of heat and embarrassment. I couldn’t stop replaying the closeness, the tension, and then him pulling away.

“Did I… do something wrong?” I asked, voice small, edged with impatience and a sting of hurt.

He hesitated, gaze dropping for just a second before meeting mine again. There was softness there, but also something conflicted, like he was holding back. Silence stretched, making my heart pound with every second.

Finally, he spoke, low and careful. “No… you didn’t do anything wrong.”

I blinked, unsure whether to relax or remain guarded. His eyes searched mine, earnest and unreadable, and I could feel the tension crackling like static between us.

“I’m afraid if we kiss, I won't be able to hold back… I’ll be intoxicated wanting more than that,” he admitted. I blushed, caught off guard by his honesty.

“I am madly in love with you, but it’s complicated. I’m not ready for a relationship yet… I have so many things going on in my life…”

I didn’t let him finish. Without thinking, I kissed him , slowly at first, then with burning passion as he lifted me off the bike, holding me close. Breathless, we pulled away briefly, laughing against each other’s lips. My heart was pounding, cheeks flaming and I realized I had initiated the kiss.

“Now you’ve done it, Ella,” he said in a low growl. He pulled me closer, and we kissed again — slower, deliberate, intoxicating.

“You taste… amazing,” I whispered.

He chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “So do you… just like strawberries,” he said, smiling.

After the kiss, Damien rode me home, wind whipping past us as my heart raced from more than just speed. The world felt sharper, brighter, colored by the memory of his lips.

When we reached my door, he parked and leaned down, brushing his hand lightly against my cheek. One last quick kiss, sweet and teasing, lingered in the air.

I collapsed against the door, hands pressed to my lips, heart fluttering wildly. Fire burned across my cheeks, my chest felt too full, fluttering in dizzying waves.

Why did he look at me like that? Why did his lips taste so… intoxicating? Every second of that kiss replayed in my mind: the softness, the teasing pressure, the pull-back leaving me wanting more.

I pressed my hands tighter to my face, but it was useless. Every thought, every heartbeat, revolved around him. As I sank to the floor behind the door, I realized: I didn’t just want to remember that kiss. I wanted more.

I was glad Sophia wasn’t home, I needed privacy to let my thoughts settle. After a quick shower, I slipped into bed, the warmth of the covers a comforting contrast to the lingering excitement.

Just as I was about to close my eyes, my phone buzzed. I picked it up, heart skipping a beat.

It was Damien.

“Goodnight, Princess. Try not to think too much about me… or that kiss.”

I stared at the message, cheeks flushing hot. A small laugh escaped me, half disbelief, half giddiness. He was teasing me and being sweet at the same time. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure how to match his playful tone.

Finally, I typed back: “Goodnight, Damien. I’ll try… no promises.”

I set my phone aside, still smiling, and sank into my pillow. My heart fluttered like crazy, light
and dizzy with excitement. That teasing little message made it impossible to sleep without replaying the day and that kiss over and over.