room that was supposedly assigned to her in the villa. By the time she was awake, she could barely see dayligh

de her skin swoon. A strange feeling of love and a strong bond swelled within her, sh

n to wear out--one of the cons of being her favorite--she preferred it to any other footwear, especially on days when she had to attend to personal matters. Tonight didn't seem like one of those occasions, so she unstrapped the laces and made do with the slippers instead. The slippers were

shelf when a light knock landed on the door. She gave the bookshelf one final nod--Damien obviousl

the room earlier. Arie's brow froze. She scrunched up her face

n raised her head immediately, ob

name, please?"

uld see the relief within her, the joy she felt at the sound of her name. It

Arie. Please

ut.

m ever going to listen t

t she'd rather have it that way than see the older woman pull hersel

y, Ar

ds better, doesn't it?" Then, "N

your presence at the tabl

what tim

the pocket of her dress and checke

better have something else ready to eat again before bed. She usually has her dinner around 9 pm, by then she wouldn't need anything else before bed. But rather than havin

anymore. A change in space and environment requires a change in her perspective. At least she could see the world in a much bi

ressed, the underlying reason why she had always seen the rich as single-minded people. But being in Mr. Roeg's villa, having barely spent a night, Arie was a

older woman. "Thank you, Marian. Could you plea

rse, ma.

ing smile, then Marian turned t

d that you wear

a brow. "Wh

s somewhere in

d. "Right,

elcome," M

hat was unlike her. Why would she need to take a bath before filling her stomach? Somehow it felt like the conventional thing to do, especially because

herself. Then she breathed in res

*

and beckoning to touch, a gentle caress in a dim eerie room. He breathed deeply and clenched his fist, his groin working tirelessly to control the constrict

de it,"

s. The table was round, small enough that Damien could easily pass a kiss across. Arie breathed nervously.

t's t

a brow. "Dinn

se, but w

is my

to keep them both at a safe distance from each other, which seemed logical contrary

when he tried to get the seat for her Arie

d. "Are you tha

back to the orphanage home. At least not until now, but it wasn't Damien she was afraid of, it was the strange feeling inside her when she saw him. She'd noticed him first when she stepped into the yard. The s

of you, Damien,"

e smiled at her. "Please, Arie." he motioned

is necessary? It's not

en't

o but Damien held her by her arm, sending an electric charge through her body, but it warmed her up in such a way that she had never felt befo

y, for tou

ft her saddened. She'd rather prefer he wasn't sorry for touching her

, Arie. Nothing inte

t from the cut was blocking her airway. It was like Damien was assuring her that not

ease

leaving the smell of lavender behind--God! Damien was so present that it made it impossible not to feel

at she was looking at him with her large eyes. T

ld it be such a bad id

aid it

mean, you're carryin

y circumstances. As far as we're bot

while in turn, Arie recl

uppose that

much into everything. Sometimes you just nee

ot have the lu

u think

cold and we just have to e

ou're so intense, yo

ize that you brought

rie

e said then got out of the chair and b

er by her arm, which s

stop for a momen

tell me what

ve been intense since you got here, and I don't suppose t

ecting me all day, then asked that I wear a dress for you

ntrol you or order you around. I only thought you would look gorgeo

e, you have your ways wit

about d

ost my a

't mean that you

tely, it's my b

y child, technicall

be rid

et that you can be angry at me, even without any reaso

t you without any reason? Y

that didn't seem to c

ound and made to move, but Damien yanked her back and turning her around,

im to herself and let him kiss her. But once reasoning kicked back in, she pulled aw

urried away, leaving him

behind her, the first reaction that came out of her was a deep smile. Her heart was pounding so hard

. She gently touched her lips and briefly relived th

she l