Damien adjusted the cufflinks on his crisp black suit for the third time, an unusual flicker of restlessness in his gut. He stood in the foyer by the staircase, waiting for Aria to emerge. Tonight was their official engagement party – an event hastily organized at a luxurious hotel downtown. He'd faced high-stakes board meetings without batting an eye, but the prospect of facing a crowd with Aria on his arm had him inexplicably on edge.
He told himself it was concern for her—Aria had little experience with high society's glare, and he'd vowed to shield her. That had to be why his stomach was in knots. It couldn't possibly be because he couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful she'd looked when he nearly kissed her last night.
A soft sound of footsteps drew his attention. Damien looked up – and his thoughts emptied in an instant.
Aria stood at the top of the staircase, a vision that stole his breath. She wore a midnight-blue satin gown that hugged her figure gracefully, giving her an almost regal poise. Her dark hair was swept into an elegant updo, a few loose curls framing her face. Her eyes were wide with nerves, cheeks softly flushed.
Catching himself staring, Damien cleared his throat. As Aria descended carefully, one hand on the banister, he stepped forward to meet her. "You look beautiful," he said quietly, the words escaping before he could temper them.
"Thank you," Aria replied softly, offering a shy smile. "You look handsome, too."
Damien offered his arm. "The dress is perfect," he assured her.
She placed her hand on his arm. "Alright... let's go."
He felt a slight tremor in her fingers. He gave her hand a brief reassuring squeeze. "Stay with me. I won't let anything happen to you."
Aria took a breath and nodded. "Okay."
---
The Orion Grand Hotel's ballroom sparkled with opulence. Crystal chandeliers illuminated a crowd of guests and a small stage with a podium bearing the Blackwood Enterprises logo.
Press cameras lined the back of the hall, and distinguished guests – board members, business partners, society figures – murmured as Damien led Aria through the throng.
All conversation hushed when they reached the stage. With Aria's hand in his, Damien faced the crowd. Camera flashes blinked; Aria edged closer, and he squeezed her hand in silent reassurance.
He kept his remarks brief and businesslike, confirming that he and Miss Aria Lancaster were engaged. He thanked everyone for coming, voice calm and confident. As he introduced Aria as his fiancée, her polite smile never faltered, though he felt her grip tighten on his arm when the flashes intensified.
When he concluded the announcement, polite applause rose from the guests. Damien guided Aria offstage, relieved the formal spotlight was over. "You did well," he murmured.
"I didn't do anything," she whispered back, attempting a wry smile. "Just tried not to faint."
"You looked poised." He gave her a reassuring hint of a smile as they moved into the crowd.
Almost immediately, they were swarmed by well-wishers. Board members offered measured congratulations, their eyes full of curiosity about Aria. A few society acquaintances greeted them, some warm, others politely cool.
Aria stayed mostly quiet at his side, responding when spoken to but letting Damien lead the conversation. He could sense how overwhelmed she was, though she hid it bravely. He kept an arm lightly at her waist, a steady presence to remind her she wasn't alone in this.
"Darling, introduce us," cooed a syrupy voice. A statuesque woman in a silver gown stepped forward – Veronica Hale, an old acquaintance with a predatory smile. "So this is the mysterious fiancée, is it?"
Aria stiffened slightly. Damien kept his expression neutral. "Veronica, this is Aria Lancaster."
Veronica cast a quick, cutting glance over Aria. "Lancaster... not a name I know," she cooed. "How did you two meet? It all seems rather sudden."
Aria faltered, so Damien answered coolly, "That's a private story. I'm just fortunate I met Aria when I did. Sometimes things are meant to be."
Veronica's smile thinned at his stonewall. She plucked a champagne flute from a passing tray. "To fate, then. Congratulations, Damien. And to you as well, Miss Lancaster," she added with a saccharine edge.
"Thank you," Aria murmured.
Veronica glided away. Aria exhaled, whispering, "She hates me."
Damien guided her toward a quieter corner. "She doesn't even know you."
"She already decided to hate me," Aria said wryly, though her eyes were hurt.
Damien frowned. "Ignore her," he said quietly. "She's not worth it."
Aria gave a small nod, but he could see the encounter had rattled her. Before he could say more, a stream of other guests approached with congratulations. Damien introduced Aria when needed, but as minutes passed he sensed her smile growing strained. Leaning to her ear, he murmured, "Need a break?"
She nodded appreciatively.
He was about to steer her toward the balcony for some air when an acquaintance – a young venture capitalist named Logan – stepped into their path with an easy grin. "Blackwood! Congratulations." Logan extended a friendly hand to Aria. "And you must be the lovely Aria. I'm Logan Parker, an old friend of Damien's."
Aria accepted the handshake with a polite smile. "Nice to meet you."
Logan's gaze lingered on her a beat too long. "Damien, you sly devil, keeping such a gem hidden from us all," he teased. "You two make a striking couple. Aria, you look absolutely stunning this evening."
Aria's cheeks colored at the compliment. "Thank you," she said softly.
Though Logan's behavior was polite, Damien felt a prickle of annoyance – perhaps at the way Logan's eyes frankly appreciated Aria or how close he stood. Without thinking, Damien's arm slid around Aria's waist, drawing her a fraction nearer. "Logan, I didn't know you were in town," he said coolly.
"Oh, just flew in for this," Logan replied, amused. His eyes flicked to Aria again. "Everyone is curious about the woman who tamed our notorious bachelor."
Aria tensed slightly beside Damien. "There's not much to tell, really," she demurred. "I'm sure the gossip pages will come up with whatever story they want."
Logan chuckled. "If you ever need pointers on surviving the sharks, I'd be happy to help."
"That's thoughtful of you," Damien interjected before Aria could respond. He bared a polite, insincere smile. "But Aria will be fine. She has me, after all."
Logan raised his hands in surrender, catching the territorial hint. "Of course. Just being friendly." He winked at Aria. "Congrats again, you two." With that, he slipped away.
Aria let out a breath and shot Damien a sidelong look. "Was that necessary?" she whispered.
Damien kept his arm around her, scanning the room for other unwanted interferences. "Was what necessary?"
"The little caveman act," she clarified, a mix of tease and genuine exasperation in her eyes. "Practically yanking me by the waist the moment someone talks to me."
"I didn't yank you," he protested, though he didn't remove his hand from her waist. Her warmth under his palm was something he wasn't ready to relinquish. "And he was a little too familiar."
"He was just being nice. I can handle polite conversation, Damien. You don't have to hover like I'll break."
He scowled, at a loss for words. "I just..."
Aria stepped out of his hold. "This whole thing is overwhelming, but I'm not helpless. You can't scare off everyone who talks to me." She hesitated, then added in a quieter tone, "This is all just for show, remember?"
For show. Her words lit a fuse in him. Without a word, Damien grasped her hand and excused them abruptly from the nearby guests. He guided Aria swiftly toward a side door leading out to a small, shadowed terrace.
Cool night air embraced them outside. Aria pulled her hand free. "Damien, what are you doing? People might notice."
"Let them talk," Damien said, trying and failing to keep his voice even. "I needed a moment away from prying eyes, and I think you did too."
She crossed her arms, eyes flashing. "Or did you just want to scold me in private?"
Damien stepped closer, frustration boiling over now that they were alone. "I'm trying to protect you, Aria."
"By acting like an over-possessive brute? Pulling me away and glaring at anyone who looks at me? I felt like a prop tonight – a pretty prop you had to keep in line."
Her words hit hard. "You're not a prop," he growled.
Aria's stance wavered, hurt creeping through her anger. "It is overwhelming. But you... you don't get to decide who can talk to me. That wasn't protection, Damien. That was control."
He flinched. "Maybe it was," he muttered. "I didn't like seeing you with him. It... bothered me."
Aria looked up, confusion in her eyes. "Why? It was just talk."
Damien struggled for an answer. The truth – because you're mine – felt too raw to voice. He grasped at something safer. "This pretending... having a fiancée... It's harder than I expected to keep things just pretend."
"Just pretend," Aria echoed bitterly, dropping her gaze. "We have to make it convincing, after all."
He heard the hurt under her sarcasm and realized she thought his behavior was only an act. Did she not see that it wasn't an act at all – not for him?
"Aria..." He hesitated. How could he put into words the tumult she caused in him? The terrace door suddenly opened a crack, spilling light. A server poked his head out, clearly looking for someone. Damien immediately positioned himself in front of Aria, blocking her from view until the server retreated and the door swung shut again.
Aria let out a shaky laugh. "Always quick to shield me, aren't you?"
He turned back to her, chest tight. "I told you I would keep you safe, and I meant it."
She met his gaze, eyes searching his. In the faint light, they looked impossibly big and vulnerable. "Why are you acting like this?" she whispered. "You're so convincing sometimes I... I forget this is all for show."
That fractured vulnerability in her voice undid him. She truly didn't see it – didn't see that, for him, none of this was an act anymore.
"To hell with the contract," Damien growled roughly. In one stride he closed the distance, his hands cupping her face as he claimed her mouth in a fierce kiss.
Aria inhaled sharply in surprise. For a moment she froze – then her fingers curled into his lapels, and she began to kiss him back.
A raw wave of heat crashed through Damien. Her lips were warm and soft, tasting faintly of champagne. Aria whimpered softly against his mouth, a sound of surrender that sent a thrill through him. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him, his other hand tangling gently in her hair.
She trembled in his embrace, then melted into him, her lips answering his with growing fervor. When he deepened the kiss with a low groan, she sighed and slid her arms around his neck, clinging to him.
They lost themselves in the kiss, the rest of the world forgotten. Damien poured all his pent-up frustration and longing into it, and Aria responded in kind, fingers weaving into his hair. He felt her heartbeat pounding against him, matching the wild rhythm of his own.
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathing hard. Damien rested his forehead against hers, his hands still gently holding her face. Aria's eyes stayed closed, her lashes damp. She slowly opened them, and in her gaze he saw the same dazed longing he felt.
"I..." Aria whispered, lifting trembling fingers to her swollen lips. "Damien... what are we—?"
Damien had no answer; he saw the same question in her eyes that thundered in his own heart.
They had just crossed a line, and nothing would ever be the same.