Chapter 265: Morning after II
Damian stepped into the sitting room and glanced back toward the bedroom before picking up the telephone.
He could still hear the faint rustle of the sheets.
For some reason, that made him smile.
Yesterday, he had been determined to stay away from her.
He had actually meant it.
He had spent the better part of the previous day telling himself that pursuing Vivienne was pointless. Whatever strange attraction had taken hold of him three weeks ago, he needed to get it under control.
After the pool party, he had been angry enough to convince himself that perhaps she had only been using him.
And yesterday, he had finally decided he was done.
He would work with her.
He would be polite.
He would stop looking for excuses to be around her.
That had been the plan.
Then last night had happened.
Damian shook his head.
He still couldn’t quite believe it.
He picked up the receiver and called room service.
"Good morning. I’d like to order breakfast."
He glanced toward the bedroom again.
"What would you like?" the attendant asked.
Damian thought about Vivienne.
"Something light to start. Eggs, toast, fruit..."
He paused.
"And a chocolate croissant."
A moment later, he added,
"An éclair as well."
He could already imagine her pleased expression.
Then he ordered coffee and something warm to drink.
"That should be everything."
He hung up.
For a moment, Damian remained standing there.
His gaze wandered around the suite.
It wasn’t the finest hotel suite he’d ever stayed in. In fact, it was only barely passable.
Yet he suspected that he would remember this room for the rest of his life.
Because Vivienne was here.
This was where everything had happened.
Where she had kissed him.
Where she had wanted him.
Where, for one night, he had been the only man in her thoughts.
That thought alone made warmth spread through his chest.
She might not love him.
He knew that.
At least, he knew he couldn’t assume she did.
But she had wanted him.
That mattered.
A lot.
And she had trusted him with her first time.
Damian’s face warmed.
He knew that didn’t automatically mean anything about her feelings.
Still...
He couldn’t help feeling ridiculously happy about it.
Perhaps everything with Anthony had simply become familiar to her.
Perhaps she had mistaken familiarity for certainty.
And then there was him.
He was new.
Whatever she felt with him was new.
There had been Christopher too, of course. Damian hadn’t forgotten that she was interested in him and that he’d once seen her exchanging messages with him. But that had been two weeks ago, and after everything that had happened at the pool party, Christopher had barely crossed Damian’s mind.
Anthony was different.
Anthony was the one Vivienne had been engaged to.
Anthony was the one she had clearly cared about.
If anything was holding her back, Damian was certain it was him.
Maybe that was why she was confused.
Maybe she simply needed time.
Damian smiled.
He could give her time.
He wasn’t going anywhere.
Not now.
He had spent three weeks wondering why he was so inexplicably drawn to her.
Two weeks ago, he’d been angry enough to convince himself she might be using him.
Yesterday, he’d decided he was finally going to stop pursuing her.
And now?
Now he couldn’t imagine willingly putting distance between them again.
He loved her.
The thought came with startling simplicity.
He loved her.
Perhaps it was too soon.
Perhaps it was ridiculous.
He didn’t care.
He wanted to take care of her.
He wanted to make her happy.
He wanted to spoil her.
He wanted to be there whenever she needed him.
If she needed time to understand her own feelings, he would give her time.
He could wait.
Besides...
She had wanted him.
That was enough for now.
A knock sounded at the door.
Damian straightened.
"Breakfast."
He opened the door and accepted the trays, thanking the hotel attendant before closing it.
He carefully carried everything toward the bedroom.
Then he stopped.
Vivienne was still beneath the sheets.
She looked at him expectantly.
"Breakfast?"
"It’s here."
Damian set everything down.
Then he noticed the way she was moving carefully.
His expression immediately became concerned.
"Are you all right?"
Vivienne looked at him.
"I told you. I’m sore."
"Does it still hurt?"
"A little."
Damian frowned.
"Then don’t move."
"I need to sit up."
"I’ll help you."
Before she could protest, he slipped an arm behind her back and helped her upright, arranging the pillows behind her.
Vivienne looked at him.
"I can sit up myself."
"I know."
He adjusted another pillow.
"I just want to help."
She smiled.
"You’re fussing again."
"Yes."
He didn’t even try to deny it.
Vivienne looked far too pleased with herself.
Damian noticed.
"You’re enjoying this."
"Maybe."
He smiled.
"Good."
He brought the breakfast closer.
Vivienne immediately spotted the chocolate croissant.
"You remembered."
"Of course."
"And the éclair."
"I remembered that too."
She reached toward the food.
Damian gently moved the plate aside.
"Proper food first."
Vivienne gave him a look.
"Just a little."
She sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
Damian picked up the bowl of soup.
He tested the temperature.
Then he blew gently across the surface before bringing the spoon toward her.
Vivienne stared at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She opened her mouth.
He fed her.
"Too hot?"
She shook her head.
"Good."
Another spoonful.
Damian was completely focused on making sure she was comfortable.
He blew on every spoonful before giving it to her.
He adjusted the pillows when she shifted.
He made sure her drink was within reach.
And when a tiny spot of soup landed near the corner of her mouth, he immediately reached for a napkin and gently wiped it away.
Vivienne laughed.
"Damian."
"Hm?"
"You’re really doing everything."
"I told you I’d take care of you."
Something about the words made her smile.
She didn’t complain again.
𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Instead, she simply let him continue.
He had fed her at the pool party before.
But that had been different.
This time, he was taking the initiative and he genuinely seemed happy to take care of her.
And Vivienne was enjoying it far too much.
Eventually, she pushed the bowl slightly away.
"That’s enough."
"Are you full?"
"A little."
"Good."
Damian finally handed her the chocolate croissant.
Her expression immediately brightened.
"There."
She took a bite.
Damian watched her.
"Good?"
She nodded.
"Very."
He smiled.
Seeing her happy over something so simple made him strangely happy too.
She finished another bite before suddenly looking down at herself.
"I feel sticky."
"Do you want to wash up?"
"Yes."
"I’ll carry you."
Vivienne looked at him.
Then she laughed.
"I can walk."
Damian blinked.
"You can?"
"Yes."
She pushed the blanket aside and placed her feet on the floor.
Damian immediately reached toward her.
"Careful."
Vivienne stood.
Straight.
Perfectly fine.
She took one step.
Then another.
Damian stared.
She turned around.
"What?"
"You can walk."
Vivienne tried to keep a straight face.
"I told you I could."
"You said you didn’t think you could."
"I didn’t think I could."
He stared at her.
She stared back.
Then her lips twitched.
Damian narrowed his eyes.
"You were teasing me."
Vivienne finally laughed.
"Maybe."
He shook his head.
"You..."
She smiled innocently.
"I was enjoying being taken care of."
Damian’s expression softened immediately.
"Well, you could have just told me."
"Where would be the fun in that?"
He laughed.
All right.
So she had been playing with him.
And, strangely enough, he didn’t mind at all.
In fact, he rather liked knowing that she had enjoyed having him fuss over her.
Vivienne walked toward the bathroom.
Damian followed.
She glanced over her shoulder.
"Why are you following me?"
"To help."
"I can manage."
"I know."
"Then why?"
He hesitated.
"I just want to."
Vivienne gave him an exasperated look.
"Damian."
"What?"
"You’re impossible."
He smiled.
"Probably."
She turned toward the bathroom again.
Damian followed her another step.
And as she disappeared through the doorway, an entirely different thought slipped into his mind.
She could walk.
She was fine.
She wasn’t nearly as sore as she’d made him believe.
Which meant...
Damian’s ears warmed.
Maybe he really would get lucky again.
He looked toward the bathroom door.
Then immediately followed her inside.
--
Tbc