"Don't tell me you are with him Claire. Of all the men I showed you... why him?" her cousin had sent a message.
"It's not like it means anything Erin. I won't be back tonight so don't worry about me I'm good." She replied.
Claire lingered in the mansion, moving slowly through the vast, silent halls. The morning sunlight fell across the polished floors, highlighting the pristine elegance of Damien Ashford's home. She had dressed herself quickly, but the nervous flutter in her stomach hadn't gone away.
She found a quiet corner in the sitting room, curling up in one of the oversized armchairs. The thought of leaving crossed her mind—again—but her curiosity anchored her in place. She didn't know why she felt so drawn to him, to the aura of control and confidence that radiated from him, even when he wasn't in the room.
Hours passed. She busied herself with reading a magazine Damien had left lying around, but her attention kept drifting to the clock. Each tick brought her closer to the moment when he would return from work.
Finally, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway made her heart jump. Footsteps approached, deliberate and confident, and then the soft click of the front door.
"Claire," Damien's deep voice called as he entered, shedding his coat. He looked sharp, as always, but there was something more relaxed in his posture now that he was home.
"Hi," she said softly, standing.
He studied her, his gaze sweeping over her carefully, as if he was measuring her against some unspoken standard. "You're still here," he remarked, a note of surprise threading his words. "I thought you'd have left by now."
"I'm not from your… usual sources," Claire said, her voice steady. "I'm… me. And I want to stay." Her green eyes didn't waver from his.
Damien's eyebrows rose slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're not from the roster," he said calmly. "I didn't expect that. Most of the girls I meet… they follow the rules. They take what I offer, ask little, and disappear when I grow tired."
Claire tilted her head. "I'm not most girls." She stepped closer, her voice dropping. "And I'm curious, Damien… curious about… everything. About intimacy. About us." She dared a small smile, testing the waters.
His smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "You're bold," he said quietly, stepping closer. The air between them seemed charged, electric. "You want a relationship… a real connection, not just a fleeting thing."
"Yes," she whispered, her pulse quickening. "I don't care about the usual rules. I want to explore… with you. And I want it to be honest. I don't need anything else—money, gifts, control—I just want this."
Damien's eyes softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. "You want a lot from someone like me, Claire. I can give you… experiences, intimacy, pleasure, power… but I don't give it lightly. I want to make sure you're ready for it."
"I'm ready," she said, her voice unwavering. "And I don't care about your other arrangements. I just want you. I want us."
He studied her, his gaze intense, piercing. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Alright. You'll have my offer… one that you won't regret. You'll be paid well, everything above board. And in return, I expect honesty, trust, and… curiosity. You want to explore, I'll guide you. And in the meantime… we learn about each other. About limits, desires, and boundaries."
Claire's lips curved into a genuine smile. "I can do that."
She knew his money wouldn't satisfy her but him would. in ways she didn't want to admit yet. It would satisfy her enough to forget about Evan.
Damien's smirk returned, faint but confident. "Good. Because this isn't about just one night anymore. I want this… to be our thing. But don't mistake my generosity for weakness, Claire. You'll have to prove yourself, just as much as I will."
She took a deep breath, letting the tension melt slightly. "I think… I can handle that."
He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "I think you can too," he murmured. "But the first lesson… is patience. You'll stay here tonight, and we'll see how the rest unfolds."
Claire's heart skipped a beat, excitement and curiosity flooding through her. One night had turned into something far more complicated, far more thrilling—and for the first time, she wasn't afraid.
As Damien retreated to his office to check a few things, Claire sank back into the armchair, a smile tugging at her lips. She had no idea what the next few days—or nights—would bring, but one thing was certain: this was only the beginning.