I sat on the bench outside the little ice cream shop, the sun warm on my shoulders as I stared down at the cone in my hand. Chocolate fudge swirled with vanilla, topped with sprinkles—it looked too perfect to eat.
damien leaned against the railing next to me, smirking as he watched me take my first bite.
"What?" I asked, shrugging, licking a bit of chocolate from my fingers.
"Nothing," he said, amusement glinting in his eyes. "You just… you look cute when you eat."
I rolled my eyes but felt a little flutter in my chest. Cute? From Damien? My stomach did a little somersault.
"Glad you like it," I said, taking another bite and ignoring the butterflies in my stomach.
"You're not holding back, huh?" Damien teased, holding his cone in one hand, casually taking a lick of his own mint-chocolate chip.
"I like ice cream," I said simply. "And you picked the place."
"True," he said, grinning. "But watching you enjoy it… that's almost as satisfying."
I couldn't help but laugh, heat rising to my cheeks. Why did he always have this effect on me? I tried to focus on the creamy ice cream, but it wasn't working. Damien had a way of making every moment feel… more.
After a few bites, we fell into an easy silence. I finally dared to ask, "So… when does your internship start?"
"In three months," he said. "For now, I'm prepping my project so it's ready ahead of time. Gotta impress them before it even officially starts."
"Of course you will," I said, shaking my head with a laugh. "You always excel at everything—school, sports, careers…"
He tilted his head at me, smirk deepening. "And you? You're not too shabby yourself."
I froze, caught off-guard by the warmth in his tone. "I… just want to make my parents proud," I murmured.
"And you should," he said softly. "I can tell you work hard. It shows."
There was a pause, and my thoughts wandered again. Damien was… incredible. Talented, driven, charming, dangerous in a way that made my heart pound—but not reckless. He was the kind of bad boy you could trust, the kind who wins in the real world.
Heat crept up my neck as I scolded myself silently. Get it together, Amelia.
" Lia you really should come to the football game on Friday," Damien said suddenly.
"When?" I asked. I remembered Jake's team had a big match coming up.
"This Friday," he said, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. "It's the least you can do for your favorite captain."
"Of course I'll come," I said, smiling.
He leaned back, taking a bite of his cone. "Jake won't be around, so I'm filling in for him. Temporary captain duties, you know."
I nodded, understanding completely. Damien wasn't just talented; he was trustworthy, loyal. And maybe a little… perfect.
I glanced around and noticed a few girls staring at us from a nearby bench. Their looks weren't friendly admiration—they were sharp, judgmental, maybe even jealous.
"Who are they?" I whispered.
Damien followed my gaze, jaw tightening. "Just some girls from the dance club," he muttered, irritation flickering across his face.
---
Later that night, I was walking home from campus, humming softly to myself, enjoying the cool breeze. My car was still broken, so I had to take the bus.
Suddenly, a firm hand grabbed my arm, yanking me into a shadowed alley.
I struggled, screaming, but another hand covered my mouth. Fear gripped me as adrenaline surged.
The man was strong—too strong—and I couldn't break free despite kicking and punching. He shoved me against the brick wall, cornering me in the darkness.
"My name…" he hissed, and my blood ran cold. " Amelia…"
Tears welled up. He knew me. He had been… watching me.
"You're mine now," he growled, lowering his head toward my neck.
"No! Stop!" I shouted, panic overtaking me.
Before he could get closer, a voice thundered through the alley.
"Leave her!"
My heart skipped. Relief and hope surged as Damien stepped into view, fury radiating off him like fire. His eyes were deadly, his stance unyielding. Whoever this was, they were about to regret ever touching me.
.
.
.
tbc 🌹✨