♥ Chapter 15♥

Yara Blake.

Monday.

After Mrs. Thompson's instructions, I grab the cleaning kits and decide to start with the bedrooms. According to what she told me, Mr. Darkmore should already be at the dining table, waiting for his coffee. She shows me where their rooms are, so I go upstairs with my things in my hands. I turn left and see the nameplate. The first room I find is Mr. Damien's. I take a deep breath, trying to get that kiss out of my head.

I enter the room and am struck by how beautiful it is. Furthermore, I put my things down, and, as I take a step towards the bed, the bathroom door opens. Mr. Damien comes out with a towel wrapped around his waist. My heart races, and I'm paralyzed by the sight. When Damien sees me, he smiles.

''It's good to see you again, Miss Yara.

I can't reply immediately. My eyes are fixed on his well-defined chest, and I feel a chill in my stomach. He notices my reaction and takes a step towards me, his gaze filled with a mixture of curiosity and interest.

''Looks like someone's a bit distracted,'' he comments, his voice soft and enveloping. ''I hope you're not tired, Miss Yara.

Mr. Damien takes a step towards me, and I feel my whole body contract. His presence is overwhelming, and the air seems to get heavier. He approaches slowly, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that makes me feel as if I'm being stripped inside.

''I hope you're not finding the room too boring, Miss Yara. '' he says, with a smile that oozes charm and self-confidence. ''After all, it is your first day, isn't it?

I swallow, trying to find the words to reply, but my throat seems too dry. The sensation of being so close to him, with his masculine scent and the warmth of his body almost within my reach, is disconcerting.

''N-No, Mr. Damien,'' I manage to say, my voice coming out a little lower than I intended. ''The room is… fine.

He laughs softly, a sound that seems to echo in my chest. His smile widens, and he leans in a little closer, making my heart beat even faster. The closeness is almost too much to bear, and I can feel his breath mixing with mine.

''I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it,'' he murmurs, his voice low and seductive. ''If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable.

As he speaks, his gaze never leaves my face. I can see the softness in his dark eyes, as if he's trying to find out something about me. The tension between us is palpable, I feel completely attracted to him, despite all my efforts not to get involved. The memory of the intense and unexpected kiss from the dream overwhelms me, and this only increases my nervousness.

He raises his hand and, with a gentle gesture, touches my arm. The touch is light, almost imperceptible, but enough to make me shiver. The contact is electrifying, I feel like I'm on a fine line between desire and fear.

''Please feel free,'' he says, his voice a whisper that seems to infiltrate my mind. ''I don't want you to feel embarrassed.

He pulls back a little, but his gaze remains fixed on me. I have to struggle to keep my composure, but the feeling of his presence still hangs in the air. I try to pull myself together, but the charged atmosphere between us makes it almost impossible to ignore the tension.

Suddenly, the memory of Ronan overwhelms me. His threat resonates in my mind: if he finds out I'm close to another man, he'll hurt me. Fear hits me like a cold wave, and the desire I feel for Damien is quickly replaced by desperate panic.

I recover my posture a little and try to hide the whirlwind of emotions.

''I'm going to leave you alone so you can change, sir.'' My voice is shaky, and I leave the room before he says anything, my heart racing and my face red.

I go downstairs, trying to clear my head and find a focus for my work. I decide to start with the library, hoping that the work will help me dispel the disturbing thoughts and tension I still feel.

As I walk towards the library, my thoughts are a whirlwind of emotions.

I can't get involved, I can't let myself be drawn into them. Why is this so difficult? I don't want to get hurt if Ronan finds out that I've seen a man without a shirt on and that I've been staring at another man's muscles. If he finds out, he'll hurt me, and he may well stop me working here. I don't want to be stuck in that house forever. This job could help me get out of that place. I could earn enough money to hire someone to get rid of Ronan and the life he's forced on me.

I know that this attraction is something I can't help. Why is this happening? Why am I so vulnerable to this desire, even though I know how dangerous it can be?