Adrianna Valdez’s POV
“Your house is lovely, Laura,” I said in awe as I entered the Doukas’ mansion. Damien raised an eyebrow as he wrapped an arm around my waist.
“Isn’t your home more extravagant? Your great-grandfather being related to Spanish royalty?” Damien asked.
“You could say that, but it is not as modern as yours,” I replied as I looked around the mansion curiously. This was the house where Damien grew up from a baby to an adult.
Laura beamed at us happily. Ever since she had found out we were dating, she had been on cloud nine. Nothing could ruin her mood. “Thank you. It was Alexander’s home. But I redecorated.”
“Quite lavishly, I might add,” a deep voice added, and I looked up to see an older version of Damien. He must be Damien’s father. Oh wow, if that is how Damien looks like when he is older, I would not have a hard time staying with Damien.
I suddenly blushed at my thoughts. What was I thinking? “Oh shush. Darling, this is Adrianna, Damien’s girlfriend. Adrianna, this is Alexander, my husband.”
I smiled at Alexander. “It is very nice to meet you, Mr. Doukas.”
Alexander grinned at me proudly. “It’s Alexander. It is not a surprise that Damien is so enamored with you. You are very beautiful. I will be proud to call you my daughter.”
My eyes grew round. Was it not a little too early for that? “Wow. Oh, okay, thank you Mr. Dou— Alexander.” I blushed, and Damien groaned.
“Could both of you make it any less obvious that you’re hoping that I would marry Adrianna?”
Laura beamed while Alexander raised his eyebrows and gave a sheepish expression. “Good, I thought we weren’t being clear enough about that.” Laura gave a sunny smile to Damien before tugging on my hand, breaking Damien’s clutch on my waist.
“Come along, Dearie. I’ll show you around the house. You’ll be sleeping with Damien in his room. We’ll be going shopping for your dress for the event tomorrow. And if we have enough time, I’ll show you Damien’s baby pictures.” Laura tugged on my arm, and I stifled a laugh.
Damien choked. “What? Baby pictures?”
Laura nodded eagerly. “Yes, I showed Olivia Drake’s baby pictures. So now, I get to show yours to Adrianna. She will be your future wife and all.”
I blushed again from Laura’s constant referral to me being Damien’s future wife. Honestly, the idea did not seem that bad. Having his children seem—oh, I shouldn’t be thinking that far. What if things didn’t work out between us in the future? Hoping for things that may happen would not crush me.
And besides, with the way Damien kept avoiding me in bed, we might not even get the chance to have children. I thought worriedly. Ever since we became together, Damien had been avoiding to share a bed with me. I chewed on my lip worriedly. Was it because I wasn’t as good as his past mistresses? Or did I do something wrong? Even when we had gone out on our first date, I had given him a hint to sleep with me, but he had taken it literally. What if Damien realized that he didn’t want me anymore?
“—rianna?”
“I am sorry?” I replied, hearing my name.
Laura grinned at me, “Come on. It looks like we ought to have a house tour now before hitting the shops. You can come along Damien but don’t distract Adrianna. She needs to know everything about her future home.”
Before I could respond, Laura looped her arm with mine and started the tour.
***
“What’s wrong with you, dearie? You’ve been awfully pensive this afternoon.”
I looked up, blushed, and stirred my coffee. “Oh, just a lot on my mind.” Laura scrutinized me before gesturing to my cup of coffee. “You’ve been stirring your coffee for ten minutes, and you have not taken a sip. Is everything all right?”
I gave her a bright smile. “Everything is fine, Laura. Really it is,” I reassured. Laura gave me a smile in return.
“Good. Now, we can go shopping.” Laura stood up and gestured for us to go. I frowned in confusion. “We already went shopping for my gown. What else is there to shop for?”
Laura grinned slyly. “Lingerie.”
My eyes grew round, and I flushed and choke. “W-what? Why?”
It was one thing to get lingerie, not that I mind, but it was totally another thing to get them with your boyfriend’s mother. “Laura, I do not need any—”
“Nonsense!” Laura insisted and gave me a huge grin. “Come along, then. We shouldn’t waste any time. I still have to show you Damien’s baby photos.”
“Hurry along, dearie. It is almost half past four, and we have to be back by six for dinner.”
I sighed and followed Laura reluctantly as she stepped into a lingerie store.
***
“I can’t believe she showed you the pictures.” Damien groaned into the pillow.
I laughed. “She did. And I have to say, you have the cutest cheeks ever.”
Damien glowered at me. “Cheeks on the face!” I added and laughed again. Damien rolled his eyes, and a small smirk appeared on his face.
“So… what dress did you get for tomorrow’s event?” Damien asked slyly, and I rolled my eyes.
“You can’t see it until tomorrow,” I said cheekily and caught sight of the numerous lingerie bags peeking out from under the bed.
I hurriedly glanced at Damien, still grumbling about the baby photos and the fact that he couldn’t see my dress, and shoved the bags further under the bed to prevent Damien from finding them.
“Fine. I’ll take a quick shower, and we can go to bed.” Damien kissed my forehead before entering the bathroom.
I frowned at his retreating back. There it was again! The normal Damien would have made some sexual innuendo to join him in the shower. I pursed my lips, and unconsciously, my gaze went towards the bed.
Did I dare do what I was thinking?
Without further thought, I grabbed a black lacy piece, slipped it on and rushed to the mirror to tousle my hair. The lingerie I had taken was a lacy two piece and had a sheer material covering my torso, and it was attached to the top. I applied some clear gloss and waited nervously for Damien to appear.
Luckily, I did not have to wait long before my thoughts made me back out. “You know, agape mou, you should really tell Olivia—” Damien started as he came out of the washroom and stopped as he caught sight of me.
My eyes scanned over him, and I tensed in anticipation. Sweet God, he was hot. His silky dark hair was damp and tousled. His crystal blue eyes were dark with want, and he only had a towel around his waist that was slung low on his hips.
“What are you wearing?” he asked huskily and visibly swallowed as his eyes raked all over my body.
“Something that could let us sleep together,” I said without thinking. Damien groaned, and his fists clenched at his sides. His gaze still fixed on me.
He groaned again as if he was in pain and shut his eyes before running his hand through his hair. “Adrianna love, I-I-I can’t. I—” He cut himself off before his gaze went to my face.
My face fell, and my heart ached with the rejection. “O-oh,” I said softly and turned away from him, not wanting him to see my hurt expression. “I guess you do not want me anymore.”
Arms grabbed me and spun me around, and I was met with Damien staring seriously into mine. “Adrianna, Christ, I want you so bad it hurts.” He took one of my hands and placed it on his member through his towel.
I blushed and looked up at him “Then why don’t you want to—”
“Because, hell, I wanted to prove to you that our relationship is more than sex. That having you with me is enough. I do not want you to feel that sex is a must for our relationship. Kissing you, holding you, talking to you, heck, even walking beside you is good enough for me,” Damien said quietly, his eyes burning into mine.
I blinked at him, still trying to absorb his words. “Oh.”
Damien snorted and gave me a tight grin. “Now, that we established that. Could you please change? I do not think I can hold onto my restraint anymore when you are dressed like… that.” His eyes raked over my body with desire, and I could feel my body shiver with want.
With my mind made up, I leaned against Damien as his body tensed and whispered in his ear. “What if I do not want you to hold onto your restraint?” My hands curled against his broad shoulders as I kissed his neck and inhaled his scent that I was addicted to.
Damien let out a strangled groan before tossing me gently onto the bed and climbed over me.
“Are you sure you do not want me to show any restraint?” Damien asked hoarsely as he slipped the straps of the lacy bra off my shoulders slowly.
“Yes,” I said and moaned as his mouth descended on mine.