CHAPTER 14

Sienna’s eyes fluttered open, the warmth of the bed wrapping around her like a comforting cocoon. Her body, still tangled in the soft sheets, slowly began to process the remnants of the night. She could feel Damian’s absence before even fully opening her eyes—his side of the bed was cold, empty.

Her eyes wandered around the room, searching for him, but there was no sign. The air felt thick, like he had just left.

On the nightstand, a piece of paper caught her attention.

Gone to get something from the store. Be here when I get back. Or I’ll lock you up next time.

Sienna let out a soft chuckle as she read his note. Always so dramatic. She wasn’t surprised.

Stretching lazily, she pushed herself out of bed and made her way to the bathroom to freshen up. The cool water from the shower felt soothing against her skin, washing away the remnants of sleep. As she stood in front of the mirror, she examined the faint bruises scattered on her collarbone—marks from last night, a reminder of their wild, impulsive connection.

After drying off and changing into a fresh set of clothes, she decided to wear one of Damian’s shirts, a loose black button-up that hung down past her thighs. She rolled the sleeves up to her elbows, feeling a little more at ease in his space. The scent of him was still embedded in the fabric—musky and comforting.

She wandered through his apartment, her steps slow and deliberate, as if she were walking through unfamiliar territory. She hadn’t really taken the time to look around before, but now, in the quiet morning light, she was drawn to the details.

The sleek design of the apartment, with its deep gray walls and dark hardwood floors, felt more lived in than she had expected. Minimalistic, yet cozy. Damian’s space was masculine—furniture that spoke of sophistication, a large, well-stocked bar in the corner, and floor-to-ceiling windows that allowed natural light to flood in. It was almost… inviting.

Her fingers grazed over the spines of books on the shelf, and as she pulled one out, something caught her eye. A photo frame, tucked away on a nearby shelf.

Curious, she picked it up.

It was a family picture. The kind of photo people frame to preserve memories. In it, a man and a woman stood together, flanked by two young boys and a little girl. The woman had a soft smile, and the man beside her shared Damian’s strong jawline and intense eyes.

Damian was one of the boys.

She studied the image for a long moment. There was something so peaceful about it—the family looked happy, together, unbroken.

Her fingers hovered over the frame, a mixture of curiosity and something else creeping into her chest. She hadn’t asked Damian about his family, and he never offered. She was starting to realize that there was so much about him that she didn’t know.

She set the photo back down, but the image stayed in her mind. The picture of a perfect family—something Damian never seemed to talk about.

As she turned to leave the shelf, something else caught her attention. A book, slightly ajar, lay on the shelf with a photograph sticking out from it. She opened the book, and as the photo slipped out and landed in her palm, her heart stuttered.

It was a wedding photo.

Damian stood beside a woman, both dressed in formal attire—her in a flowing white dress, him in a sharp suit. The way they were standing, close but not too close, as though they were both aware of the camera capturing them.

Sienna’s stomach clenched, her breath momentarily caught.

Was Damian married?

The thought sent an uncomfortable chill through her. She quickly shoved the photo back into the book and placed it back on the shelf. But the image stayed lodged in her mind.

She couldn’t help but feel an unease spreading in her chest. Was he hiding something from her? She knew better than to assume too much. But the question lingered—Who was that woman?

She didn’t have time to ponder it for long. She could hear the faint sound of the front door opening, followed by the sound of shopping bags crinkling.

Damian had returned.

Quickly, Sienna put the thought of the photo out of her mind. She had no right to interrogate him, especially when they weren’t anything more than what they were. She decided it was best not to bring it up at all.

When Damian entered the room, he flashed her a casual grin, his eyes briefly scanning her before he set the shopping bag down on the counter.

“You’re still here.” His voice was low, teasing.

Sienna smiled back, choosing not to comment on his sudden disappearance. “I had nowhere else to be,” she said lightly.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Smart girl.”

Sienna leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “What’d you get?”

Damian began unloading the contents of the bag—eggs, bread, coffee, a bottle of wine.

“You planning on making breakfast at this hour?” she asked with a smirk, raising a brow.

He chuckled, setting the items on the counter. “Yeah, I figured you might be hungry.”

Sienna couldn’t help but notice how different he seemed this morning. There was something softer about him, but it wasn’t just that. There was an openness, as though he wasn’t trying to hide behind his usual arrogance.

She watched him for a moment longer, then decided to push the thoughts of the photo away.

“You didn’t really need to get all this just for me,” she said, tilting her head as she studied him.

He paused, looking up from the ingredients he had laid out. “I don’t mind. I’m not exactly busy right now.”

Sienna chuckled softly, then sighed. “I was just curious…” She didn’t quite know how to phrase her next question.

“What?” he asked, raising an eyebrow again.

Sienna bit her lip, then asked the question that had been lingering on her mind since she had seen the photo. “Do you have someone?”

The question hung in the air for a moment. Damian didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he set the eggs down and turned toward her, his gaze steady and unreadable.

“Do I strike you as the kind of guy who has someone?” he asked, the slight hint of a challenge in his voice.

Sienna felt her pulse quicken. It wasn’t the answer she had expected, but she wasn’t sure how to respond.

“I’m just asking,” she said softly, her voice betraying none of the doubt that had suddenly crept into her mind.

Damian’s expression softened, though his eyes still held that familiar intensity. “If I had someone, I wouldn’t be here.”

Sienna’s stomach sank, but she held his gaze.

“I wouldn’t have moved here,” he continued, stepping closer. “And I definitely wouldn’t have been spending my time staring at you while you worked at that bar… or fucking you after your shifts.”

Her breath caught in her throat, but his words were clear, direct—no ambiguity. She couldn’t deny that what he said made sense.

Still, the thought of the photo nagged at her.

He looked at her with quiet amusement. “Why’d you ask?”

Sienna hesitated, trying to shrug off the feeling that had begun to settle in her chest. “I was just curious,” she said, hoping the nonchalant tone in her voice would mask the lingering uncertainty.

“Curious?” Damian’s lips curled into a smirk. “About me?”

She nodded, taking a small step back. “You’re a man that every woman wants. I was just wondering if anyone… had already claimed you.”

Damian’s expression softened for a moment before his usual confident smile returned. “No one’s claimed me. Not yet.”

Sienna simply nodded, deciding not to push any further. The truth was—she didn’t need to know.

The photo, the question—it was all part of the puzzle that wasn’t meant for her to solve.

But as she walked away, her mind couldn’t help but circle back to it. Who was that woman in the photo?

The morning light filtered in through the windows, casting soft shadows across the apartment. The kitchen was quiet except for the rhythmic clink of utensils and the occasional sizzle from the stove. Damian moved around the kitchen with ease, preparing breakfast with a skill that suggested this wasn’t his first time. His hands worked quickly, but there was a calmness to his movements that made Sienna watch him for longer than she intended.

She sat at the counter, her legs crossed beneath her, sipping on the coffee he’d made for her. Her eyes followed his every movement, the way he flipped the eggs with a certain care, the way he stirred the coffee without even thinking about it. For a moment, he seemed almost… domestic. As though he belonged here, in this quiet morning routine.

Sienna’s thoughts drifted, still caught up in the wedding photo she had found earlier. If she hadn’t seen that picture, she would’ve believed that Damian was a man who didn’t have anyone holding his attention, a man who was free, just like he seemed to be. But now, after that photo, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to him than he let on.

Damian caught her staring and glanced up with a smile, raising an eyebrow. "You want to help or just watch?"

Sienna blinked, startled out of her thoughts. "I can watch," she said, offering a small grin. She wasn't sure why, but the idea of watching him move around his kitchen seemed oddly comforting.

He laughed softly, turning back to the stove. "You always say that," he teased, though there was something warm in his tone.

Sienna's gaze softened, and she relaxed into her seat, feeling the tension from the night before slowly begin to melt away. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed this feeling of being settled, of being in a place where she didn’t have to think too much.

"Breakfast's almost done," Damian said, setting a plate in front of her. The eggs were perfectly cooked, golden and fluffy. The toast was crisp and warm, and there was a faint aroma of fresh coffee in the air.

Sienna smiled and picked up her fork, digging into the meal he had made. "This is good," she said, genuinely impressed.

Damian gave a mock bow. "I aim to please," he said with a playful grin before returning to his task of cleaning up the counter.

Sienna ate quietly, the quiet hum of the apartment wrapping around her. Her thoughts, however, were anything but peaceful. The wedding photo kept resurfacing in her mind, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of something uncomfortable. But she pushed the thought away.

They spent the next several hours in a haze of intimacy, drifting from one thing to another. After breakfast, they moved to the couch, where they watched movies. Or at least, they tried to. Each movie seemed to be interrupted by the other, their focus on each other intensifying with every passing minute. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other, their kisses growing more heated, their touch more urgent. And eventually having sex every chance they got, barely taking breaks.

As the day dragged on, the hours seemed to slip away unnoticed. They lay on the couch, tangled in blankets, laughing at the absurdity of the movie, only to be distracted by the way they felt against each other. There was an ease to their time together—something that felt right.

When the time came for Sienna’s shift, she reluctantly pulled herself out of bed, her body aching from the lingering soreness between her legs. It was a reminder of the too much sex they had like wild animals.

Damian took her back to her apartment, his presence lingering in the air like a comforting weight. She bathed quickly, washing away the scent of him, though she could still feel the imprint of his touch on her skin. When she emerged, dressed in her usual work clothes, she felt the familiar unease of returning to her normal life.

The night at Velvet Noir awaited her. As she stepped out of her apartment, Damian was waiting for her, a slight grin on his face.

“Ready?” he asked, his voice low, almost playful.

Sienna nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

---

The club was already buzzing with energy when Sienna arrived. The heavy bass of the music pulsed in her chest, and the colorful lights flickered across the room. It was just like any other night at Velvet Noir, but Sienna couldn’t shake the strange feeling she had about Damian’s absence from her thoughts. The wedding photo still nagged at her, though she did her best to ignore it.

Marco was already behind the bar, talking to a group of women as usual. He saw her walk in and gave her a broad grin, though it faltered slightly when he noticed the subtle marks on her neck—hickeys that hadn’t been there that morning. He whistled under his breath.

“Damn, someone’s been having a wild night,” he teased, his voice laced with amusement.

Sienna rolled her eyes, though a faint blush crept up her neck. “Shut up, Marco.”

He laughed but didn’t push the issue. He was used to teasing her by now, but there was something different in the way he looked at her that night. Maybe it was the hickeys, maybe it was the subtle tension she carried in her posture. Either way, he seemed to sense something was off.

Sienna tried her best to ignore the soreness between her legs and focused on her work. The bar was busy, as usual, and she had no choice but to throw herself into it. She greeted the customers, took their orders, and refilled drinks, her mind distracted but professional.

But then, in the middle of serving a customer, she couldn’t help but wonder—what was Damian’s deal?

She couldn’t stop thinking about the wedding photo, about the woman in it, about the idea that maybe Damian wasn’t quite the carefree, unattached man he let on. She decided she had to know more, even if it was uncomfortable.

As she made her way to the back of the bar, she caught Marco’s eye again. This time, she didn’t hesitate. She pulled him aside, away from the chatter of the crowd.

“Marco,” she began, her voice low. “You’ve worked here longer than I have. Has Damian ever had a woman here? Like, seriously?”

Marco furrowed his brow, clearly surprised by the question. “Damian? Honestly, I don’t know. He doesn’t exactly talk about his personal life.” He paused, glancing at the crowd. “But I barely saw him here until you started working here, so I wouldn’t know what he’s been up to before that.”

Sienna bit her lip, feeling the awkwardness settle between them. “I’m just curious,” she muttered, though she wasn’t sure if she was lying to him or herself. “He seems like a guy who would have someone, you know?”

Marco shot her a sideways glance. “Why are you asking? Did he moan someone else’s name while you were fucking?”

Sienna rolled her eyes. “Fuck off, Marco. I’m just being curious.” Her voice was a bit sharper than she intended, but she didn’t want to reveal too much. It wasn’t his business. It wasn’t hers either, but the thought wouldn’t leave her alone.

Marco raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. You’ve got your answer.”

She didn’t respond right away, just nodded and walked away, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty. She didn’t know why it bothered her so much. After all, they weren’t anything more than what they were.

But still, something about the whole situation made her uncomfortable.

Back to work, back to the customers. She forced herself to focus on the orders, ignoring the ache between her legs. The night wore on, and she continued to serve drinks, to chat with customers, to laugh off Marco’s teasing.

But deep down, the question lingered. Who was that woman in the photo? And why did it matter?

The car ride back to Damian’s apartment was quiet, the usual tension that accompanied their moments together noticeably absent. Sienna’s mind wasn’t on the road, but on the wedding photo she had found earlier. She had been trying to push it out of her thoughts, telling herself that it wasn’t her business. After all, they were not dating—just fucking, as she had reminded herself countless times. But the image of the smiling couple in that photo lingered in her mind, and she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in her chest.

When they entered the apartment, Damian didn’t seem to notice her distracted state. They slipped into their usual routine, hands immediately seeking each other, lips meeting in a kiss that was as urgent as it was familiar. It was nothing new. Their chemistry was undeniable, and she had come to expect these moments of physical closeness, where their bodies spoke more than words ever could. But today, something felt different.

As Damian pulled her closer, his hands moving over her body, she stiffened slightly. He didn’t seem to notice, his touch gentle yet possessive, as though this was the way it was meant to be. But Sienna’s mind wasn’t with him in the present. It was still replaying the image of the wedding photo—the woman in the photo, the wedding band, the connection. What did it mean? Was she just another one of his conquests?

She tried to focus, to get back into the moment with him, but she couldn’t stop the thoughts. It’s none of your business, she reminded herself. You’re not his girlfriend. But the nagging question of the photo continued to pull at her.

They made their way to his bed, the heat between them undeniable. But as Damian began undressing her, his hands paused on the buttons of her shirt. He looked at her with a furrowed brow, noticing the slight change in her demeanor.

“What’s wrong?” Damian asked, his voice soft but serious.

Sienna quickly pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on him instead. She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m fine. Just... a little off,” she said, hoping he would drop it. She didn’t want to tell him the truth, not when she was already lying to herself.

Damian didn’t seem entirely convinced. His eyes narrowed just slightly, as though he could sense there was more to the story than she was letting on. “Off?” He repeated, studying her face. “How?”

Sienna hesitated for a moment. She could feel his gaze on her, probing for something deeper, but she pushed it down. This wasn’t the time, she told herself. They weren’t in a relationship, and whatever his past might have been was none of her concern. She had no right to question him, not really.

“I’m okay,” she said, offering him a small smile. “It’s just that time of the month. My period is coming, and I’m probably just a little more sensitive than usual.” She shrugged, dismissing it as if it were nothing. “I’m fine, really.”

Damian’s eyes lingered on her, searching her face for any sign of dishonesty. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, just stared at her as if weighing her words. Finally, he exhaled slowly and nodded, as though making up his mind.

“Alright,” he said softly, his hand moving from her waist to her back, where he gently rubbed a soothing circle. “We don’t have to do anything tonight, then.”

Sienna felt a rush of relief flood her body, though she tried to mask it with a light laugh. “It’s fine. We can just sleep. I’ll be fine.”

He didn’t press her further, just gave her a small smile and kissed the top of her head before getting up. “Okay. You rest. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Sienna watched him walk into the bathroom, her heart still beating a little faster than usual. The silence in the room was deafening, and her thoughts began to spiral again. That damn photo.

It wasn’t like she had never questioned his past before. She knew Damian was a man who didn’t seem to care much for commitment, and he made it clear early on that he wasn’t interested in anything serious. But that photo? It made her wonder. Was he lying to her? Was there more to his story than he had let on? She didn’t know, but the nagging feeling in her stomach wouldn’t go away.

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to push it all aside. It wasn’t her place to ask. She wasn’t his girlfriend. She didn’t have any claim on him. They had an arrangement, and that was all.

When Damian returned from the bathroom, towel around his waist, his usual confident aura was back. He didn’t mention the awkward moment from earlier. Instead, he climbed into bed beside her, his body warm and familiar. He pulled the covers over them both and wrapped an arm around her, drawing her close.

“Goodnight, Sienna,” he whispered.

Sienna let out a breath, her mind still racing but her body relaxing against his warmth. “Goodnight,” she whispered back, though she wasn’t sure if she meant it. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the sound of his breathing, trying to ignore the storm of thoughts that still raged inside her.

As she lay there in his arms, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just brushed something important aside. But it was too late to question it now. She wasn’t going to confront him about the photo. It wasn’t her business. So why did it feel like her mind was trapped in a web of questions that she couldn’t escape?

She shifted slightly, trying to settle into a more comfortable position, but sleep eluded her. The image of the wedding photo still haunted her, and her own feelings—confusing and tangled as they were—felt impossible to ignore. But Sienna told herself that she had made her choice. This was just sex. Nothing more. Whatever he had in his past was irrelevant. And that was the story she was going to stick with. It’s none of your business.

But even as she told herself that, the words didn’t sound as convincing as they once had.

Sienna sighed as her eyes fluttered open. The dim glow of the digital clock read 4:00 AM. Too early to be awake, but sleep had long abandoned her.

Damian’s arm was wrapped securely around her waist, his body warm against her back. Normally, she would melt into the comfort of his hold, but not tonight.

Not after what she had seen.

The wedding photo was burned into her mind. Every time she closed her eyes, it surfaced—his face next to another woman’s, bound in an intimate moment that made her stomach twist.

She kept telling herself it wasn’t her business. They weren’t together. They were just having sex. No strings. No expectations. That was what they had agreed upon.

And yet, she felt like she was drowning in something she couldn’t name.

Carefully, she peeled Damian’s arm off her waist, holding her breath as he stirred. When he settled again, she exhaled softly and slipped out of bed.

The apartment was eerily quiet as she walked toward the bookshelf where she had found the photo earlier. Her fingers hovered over the spine of the book, hesitation creeping in. What are you even looking for? Proof? A reason to leave?

But she couldn’t stop herself.

She pulled the book from the shelf and flipped through it, her hands shaking.

Nothing.

Her heart pounded as she grabbed another book, then another, rummaging through the shelves in desperation. Where did he put it?

“Sienna?”

Her entire body went rigid.

The deep, sleep-roughened voice sent a chill down her spine.

She slowly turned around, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Damian stood in the doorway, his messy, sleep-tousled hair making him look unfairly attractive despite the darkness in his expression. His sharp blue eyes pinned her in place.

“What are you doing?”

Sienna swallowed hard. She had to think fast. “I—I couldn’t sleep, so I wanted to see if I could find a book to read.”

Damian didn’t move. His gaze flickered to the books she had pulled off the shelf. The silence between them stretched, heavy and suffocating.

“You couldn’t sleep,” he repeated. His voice was unreadable.

She nodded.

“And you thought the best way to fix that was to go through my things?”

Her pulse spiked. He knew.

“I wasn’t going through your things,” she lied. “I told you—I was looking for a book.”

Damian’s lips pressed into a thin line. He took slow, deliberate steps toward her. “Is that so?”

She forced herself to hold his gaze.

His hand came up, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. His touch was light, but there was something in the way he studied her, like he was peeling back her layers, searching for the truth.

“So tell me, Sienna,” he murmured, “what were you really looking for?”

Her breath hitched.

The weight of his stare was unbearable. He knew she was lying, and the thought of him pressing further made panic coil in her stomach. She didn’t want to talk, she didn’t want him to question her further, she didn’t want him to figure out she had seen that wedding photo.

She just wanted to forget.

And before she could second-guess herself, she did the only thing she could think of—

She kissed him.

She threw herself at him, crashing her lips against his, desperate to erase the tension in the air, to push away the thoughts clawing at her mind.

To her surprise, he didn’t stop her.

A low growl rumbled in his chest as his hands gripped her waist, pulling her flush against him. His mouth moved against hers, deep and consuming, like he was pulling her into him piece by piece.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, nails scraping against his scalp as she tried to lose herself in him. She needed this—needed him—to drown out everything else.

Damian’s grip tightened. In one swift motion, he lifted her off the ground, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he carried her toward the bedroom.

She barely registered the moment they crossed the threshold before he pinned her against the mattress, his body hovering over hers.

Their breathing was heavy, mingling in the darkened room.

Sienna’s heart pounded wildly, her mind screaming at her to stop—to pull away before she lost herself completely. But she couldn’t.

Not when he was looking at her like that.

Not when his touch was the only thing keeping her grounded.

And so, she let herself fall.