Do I Love him?

They lay together in the fading afternoon light, Isabella's head on Damien's chest as he ran his fingers through her hair. The intimacy was different from what she had expected. There was a tenderness between them that she hadn't anticipated.

Isabella wanted to ask what he meant, but his expressions warned her not to push. Instead, she settled back against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

They were interrupted by the sound of a door slamming somewhere in the apartment, followed by Nile's voice calling out, "I'm home! And I brought dinner!"

Isabella scrambled to cover herself as Damien chuckled, the tension of the moment broken.

"We should get dressed," she said, reaching for her clothes.

"Should we?" Damien asked, his hands sliding down her sides. "Maybe we should tell him to eat alone tonight."

"Damien." Isabella laughed, swatting his hands away. "He'll wonder what we're doing."