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Chapter 1: The Forbidden Encounter

“Mmmnnnn “ Damian groaned softly, the sound vibrating through the large living room.

His head tilted back as the blonde girl in his lap kissed down his neck, her lips hot and eager. Her hand slid over his chest, tracing the tattoos that decorated his muscles.

Another girl straddled his side, her nails digging into his shoulder as she whispered something in his ear that made him smirk.

The third girl knelt between his legs, planting slow, teasing kisses across his abs, their warm breath mixing with the haze of smoke in the room.

The dim, colored lights bathed their bodies in a sultry glow, and the pounding music created a rhythmic beat to their movements.

Damian’s head lolled back lazily as he took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling seductively around him. He exhaled slowly, his eyes half-lidded with pleasure and disinterest, as if none of this was new to him.

The door suddenly creaked open.

"Ugh, what the hell is this?!" a startled female voice pierced through the music.

The sound was like a splash of cold water. Damian’s eyes snapped open, immediately locking onto the intruder. The room froze in place. The girls pulled back, confused and annoyed by the interruption.

Damian’s gaze sharpened as he took in the sight of a girl standing awkwardly in the doorway. She had long, dark hair that fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and large brown eyes that were wide with shock and discomfort.

He blinked slowly, sizing her up. “Who the fuck are you?”

Brielle swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She had walked in expecting maybe a quiet, empty house—certainly not this.

Her eyes darted around the scene: half-naked women, a shirtless man dripping with raw masculinity, and the overwhelming scent of sweat, smoke, and arousal. Her body felt hot, and she hated the fact that she couldn’t tear her gaze away from him.

"I... I’m Brielle," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Mr. Anderson’s stepdaughter."

Damian leaned back on the couch, a slow, amused smile curling at the corners of his mouth. He took another drag from his cigarette before flicking the ash onto the marble floor.

"Stepdaughter, huh?" he echoed, as if he didn’t quite believe her. He gave her a once-over, his eyes lingering just a little too long on her lips and the curve of her hips.

Brielle crossed her arms over her chest self-consciously, suddenly aware of how out of place she looked in her casual jeans and t-shirt.

“Yeah. And you are...?"

“Damian.” His voice was low, almost a purr. He exhaled a stream of smoke, watching her like a predator sizing up prey. “But you can call me your new stepbrother.”

Her stomach twisted at the way he said it, like he found the whole idea amusing.

So this was the infamous Damian Anderson, the bad-boy heir her mom had warned her about….She could see why women threw themselves at him.

He was devastatingly handsome, with chiseled features, smoldering green eyes, and a body built for sin. But the arrogance in his smirk irritated her instantly.

Damian gestured lazily toward the back of the house. “If you’re here to clean or something, the maid’s quarters are that way. I’d recommend starting with the kitchen. I had a party last night—things got a little messy.”

Brielle’s jaw dropped. Did he just call me a maid?

“Excuse me?” she snapped, taking a step forward. “I’m not a maid. I’m staying here for the summer. Your dad gave me the key.”

Damian chuckled darkly, clearly entertained by her defiance.

“Oh, really? Well, isn’t that just precious?” He stood up, and Brielle instinctively took a step back. His presence was overwhelming.

He was tall—easily over six feet—and every inch of him radiated dominance and danger. He stalked toward her slowly, his cigarette dangling loosely between his fingers.

“I don’t think you belong here, princess,” he murmured, his voice dripping with condescension. “But hey, maybe I’ll let you stick around if you promise not to get in the way.”

Brielle clenched her fists, her face burning with both embarrassment and fury. “Get over yourself. I’m not here to impress you or anyone else.”

His smirk widened, as if her anger amused him even more. “Feisty. I like that.”

“Go to hell,” she shot back, pushing past him and heading toward the staircase. She could feel his eyes on her the entire time, and it made her skin tingle in a way she didn’t want to think about.

As she reached the top of the stairs, he called after her. “Hey, Brielle.”

She paused, gripping the banister tightly, but didn’t turn around.

“Welcome to the mansion,” he said softly, his tone suddenly darker, almost sinister. “Try not to get lost. This place has a way of swallowing people whole.”

She shivered, not from fear but from the way his words lingered in the air, heavy and suggestive.

Without responding, she continued down the hall and found what looked like her room according to the pictures her mother sent her. As soon as she closed the door behind her, she leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath.

“What the hell just happened?” she muttered to herself.

Her mind raced, replaying every moment of their encounter. Damian was everything her mom had warned her about—and more.

He was dangerous, arrogant, and far too good-looking for his own good. But there was something else about him, something that had unsettled her

. The way he looked at her, like he could see straight through her... it was both thrilling and terrifying.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Don’t even go there.”

She wasn’t going to let herself get drawn in by him. He was trouble, plain and simple. And besides, he probably wouldn’t even remember her name by tomorrow.