Chapter 9 The Consequences of Desire

Selena stared at herself in the mirror, her reflection somehow stranger than ever. Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders, the soft curls framing a face she hardly recognized. The woman in the mirror had the same sharp eyes, the same stoic expression-but there was something different. Something raw that hadn't been there before.

That kiss.

The thought hit her again, the heat of it flooding her body, despite the fact that she was standing there in the cool quiet of the penthouse. The way Damien's lips had pressed against hers, fierce and demanding, sending waves of electricity through her entire being, had unsettled her in ways she couldn't even begin to explain.

Why had she kissed him back?

She could still feel the heat of his touch, the way his hand had held her neck as if she were something precious, something worth claiming. It had been a simple touch, but it had held the weight of a thousand unspoken things.

The sound of the door opening behind her snapped her from her thoughts, and she quickly turned, half-expecting to find Damien standing there again. But it wasn't him. It was one of the staff members, bringing her a freshly pressed dress.

"Miss Selena," the woman said softly. "Mr. Blackthorn asked that you wear this for tonight."

Selena took the dress, nodding absentmindedly, not bothering to hide the confusion in her eyes. Another event, another obligation. That's all this marriage seemed to be about now-public appearances, events, the constant need to be seen as the perfect power couple. But what was it all for? Did it even mean anything?

"Tell Mr. Blackthorn I'll be down in a few minutes," Selena said, her voice cool, distant, betraying none of the turmoil inside her.

The woman nodded and left, but Selena stood there for a long time, staring at the dress in her hands. It was a deep shade of emerald, the kind of color that made her feel like she was about to step into something much more dangerous than she could handle. Her fingers traced the fine fabric, but her thoughts were still tangled in that one moment.

The kiss.

It had been a mistake. That was the only explanation. She couldn't afford to lose herself in the mess of emotions Damien stirred up inside her. She had a life outside of this contract-outside of whatever this was between them.

But as much as she tried to convince herself that it didn't matter, she knew it did. She had kissed him back. She had felt the pull.

And it terrified her.

Later that Night – The Gala

The evening came fast, like a freight train crashing toward her. Selena stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the dress Damien had chosen for her, her pulse racing in time with the anticipation building inside her. The last thing she wanted to do was face him again-face the awkwardness, the silence, the unspoken tension that crackled between them like an electric current.

She didn't feel like herself. The elegant gown clung to her curves in a way that made her feel exposed, as if every eye in the room would be on her. Every time she glanced at the dress in the mirror, she was reminded of the strange sense of being trapped-of how her life felt like it was spinning out of control.

She was no longer just Selena Marchand, the independent businesswoman. She was Mrs. Blackthorn now, a title that felt both foreign and suffocating. She had to be perfect, to play her part, to be the ideal wife for the perfect billionaire.

But she didn't want this. Not anymore.

The sound of the door opening behind her startled her, and before she could turn, Damien's voice broke through the heavy silence.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his tone smooth, unreadable.

She barely glanced at him, but she could feel the weight of his presence filling the room. He was standing there, tall, handsome, dressed in a tailored black tuxedo that seemed to mold perfectly to his frame. His dark hair was neatly styled, his eyes sharp and calculating, as always.

But tonight, there was something else in his gaze. Something predatory. Hungry.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly swallowed the sensation down.

"Are you?" she replied coldly, turning to face him. She knew it was a sharp response, but she couldn't help herself. The night felt like a continuation of the farce they had been playing for weeks-two people bound together by a contract, pretending to be something they weren't.

Damien raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a half-smirk. "I'm ready when you are."

Without another word, he extended his arm toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. Despite the tension between them, the chemistry that buzzed like electricity in the air, he remained calm, collected, the epitome of control.

Selena hesitated for a moment before taking his arm. The moment their skin touched, her breath caught in her throat. The connection was instant, like fire meeting gasoline. Her hand fit against his arm like it was meant to be there, but she quickly pulled her thoughts away from it. She couldn't let herself feel this-this craving, this want. Not when everything was at stake.

The Gala – Tension Building

The event was one of the most exclusive in the city, a gathering of the elite, the powerful, and the influential. The ballroom shimmered with golden chandeliers, the floor gleaming beneath the polished shoes of the guests who floated from one conversation to the next like butterflies.

Damien's grip on her arm remained firm, possessive, as they moved through the crowd. His every movement exuded confidence, his presence commanding attention. But as they passed through the sea of people, Selena couldn't shake the feeling that she was under a magnifying glass, that every eye in the room was trained on her, waiting for her to slip, to falter, to reveal some crack in the perfect façade she had built.

And when Damien pulled her into the spotlight, she knew the world was watching.

"The Blackthorns," a voice called from across the room, and the crowd parted to make way for them.

Selena's pulse raced. She hated the way the room seemed to shift, how everyone's attention seemed to fall on them like a spotlight. They were the center of attention now, whether they wanted to be or not.

Damien placed a hand on her back, guiding her forward with a calm confidence that made her feel small in comparison. He had this way of commanding respect, of making everyone around him believe they were in the presence of greatness.

But she wasn't fooled. She knew the truth.

They were nothing more than a show-his carefully constructed display of power. And she was his willing participant.

For now.

As they reached the center of the room, Damien turned to her, his lips just inches from her ear. "Smile," he whispered. "The cameras are waiting."

She gave him a tight-lipped smile, trying to appear as composed as he was, but all she could think about was the way he had kissed her-how close they had been, how much she wanted to feel him again, to feel that connection, the one that had been building since the day they first met.

But she couldn't let herself go there-not here, not now.

Her heart pounded in her chest, the realization that she was tangled in something far deeper than she had intended sinking in with every passing second. The kiss had changed everything. And now, there was no going back.

Later – The Aftermath

The night dragged on, an endless parade of handshakes, small talk, and forced smiles. Selena found herself lost in the crowd, her mind swirling with a million thoughts. Her body was physically present, but her mind kept drifting back to the same place-the kiss.

She didn't know how long she had been standing there when Damien appeared at her side again. His presence was like a heavy weight on her chest, pulling her back into reality.

"Come with me," he said, his voice low and commanding.

Without waiting for her response, he took her hand and led her toward the exit, pushing through the crowd with the same forceful grace that he used to navigate everything else in his life. Selena didn't resist. She couldn't.

As they stepped into the cool night air, Damien turned toward her, his eyes dark with intent.

"Are you still pretending like nothing's changed?" he asked, his voice thick with something dangerous.

Her heart raced. "I'm not pretending," she said, though she wasn't sure if that was the truth.

"You know you're not in control of this anymore, don't you?" he murmured, stepping closer, his breath warm against her ear.

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She felt her knees weaken, but she didn't back away.

"I never was," she whispered back.