Kira’s POV
My bare feet slapped against the tile, then the hallway carpet, until I reached my room and slamd the door behind , leaning against it like I could physically block out what had just happened.
What had almost happened.
I’d remained in this room after Kennedy and the others had left. There was no reason to stay in the double suite Damien had originally booked when everyone knew I was a woman now. No more pretending. No more disguises.
Except I was still pretending, wasn’t I? Pretending I didn’t feel what I felt. Pretending Damien didn’t affect . Pretending I was completely in love with Kennedy and nothing could shake that.
I started pacing, my hands trembling, my entire body still buzzing from Damien’s touch.
What was wrong with ? How could I have let that happen? How could I have wanted it to happen?
Kennedy loved . Kennedy was perfect. Kennedy deserved a better girlfriend who...
A knock on the door made nearly jump out of my skin.
"Who is it?" My voice ca out strangled.
"It’s ." Damien’s voice, muffled through the door. "You forgot your phone and robe at the pool."
Oh God. Of course I had. I’d been too busy fleeing like the guilty coward I was.
"Just leave them outside. I’m sleeping."
"Kira." There was sothing in his voice. Not demanding. Almost... sad. "Please. I just want to return your things. And then I’ll go. I promise."
I stood there, warring with myself. Every logical part of my brain scread to leave the door closed. To let him leave the items and walk away. To maintain the distance I desperately needed.
But another part - the traitorous part that had let things go too far by the pool - wanted to see him. Needed to see him.
I took a deep breath, straightened my bikini top, pulled on another hotel robe and opened the door.
Damien stood there holding my phone and the robe I’d left behind, looking exhausted and sohow vulnerable in a way I’d never seen before.
"Thank you," I said, reaching for my things.
He handed them over, then surprised by walking past into the room. "I need to rest my injured shoulder for a minute. I’m exhausted."
"Damien..."
But he was already settling into the chair by my dresser, wincing slightly as he adjusted his position, his hand going to his bandaged back .
"Just a minute," he said. "Then I’ll leave. I promise."
I stood there, still holding my phone and robe, uncertain. "You should rest in your own room."
"I know." He leaned his head back against the chair, closing his eyes. "But I needed to make sure you were okay. You ran away like sothing was chasing you."
"I’m fine."
"You’re not fine." He opened his eyes, pinning with that intense gaze. "You’re terrified. Of . Of this. Of what happened."
"Nothing happened..."
"Kira." My na was a sigh. "Don’t lie. Not to . Not about this."
I wrapped my arms around myself, still standing by the door, maintaining maximum distance. "What do you want to say?"
"The truth. Whatever it is." He shifted in the chair, his expression sincere. "Do you regret what happened?"
"Yes." The answer ca imdiately. "Kennedy loves . I love him. What we did - what we almost did - it was wrong."
"Was it?" Damien leaned forward slightly. "Because it felt so damn right. You were completely soaked down there, Kira."
"Stop." I held up a hand. "Don’t do this. Don’t make it harder than it already is."
"Make what harder? Admitting that there’s sothing between us? That there has been since we were Eddie and Kira?" His voice was gentle but relentless. "You felt it. I know you did. That wasn’t just random attraction. That was..."
"It doesn’t matter what it was!" My voice rose. "I’m with Kennedy. I choose Kennedy. Whatever this is between us, it needs to end. Now."
Damien was quiet for a long mont, studying with those knowing eyes.
"Okay," he said finally.
I blinked. "Okay?"
"If you want it to end, then it ends." He stood slowly, careful of his injury. "I won’t push. Won’t manipulate. Won’t play gas." He moved toward the door, pausing beside . "But Kira? When you’re lying in bed with Kennedy, and you’re thinking about tonight, about what it felt like when I touched you - don’t lie to yourself about what it ans."
"Get out." My voice was shaking.
He reached up, his hand hovering near my face but not touching. "I’ll let you go. For now. Because you need to figure this out on your own. But when you’re ready to be honest - with yourself, with Kennedy, with - I’ll be here."
"I’m never going to be ready for that."
"We’ll see." He smiled sadly. "Goodnight, Kira."
He left, and I closed the door behind him, sliding down to sit on the floor, my entire body trembling.
What was I going to do?
********
Olivia’s POV
The knock on my door the next morning was firm and controlled.
I knew who it was before I even opened it.
Maxwell stood there, dressed in a dark suit that sohow made him look both powerful and unapproachable. His expression was completely neutral.
"I’m heading back to New York," he said without preamble. "I finished what I ca to Tokyo to do."
My face fell before I could stop it. He was leaving. Already. When we’d barely had ti to...
To what? To play in the rain? Ride a horse together? He was my future employer now and I was his employee who’d lied to him.
"Oh," I managed. "Safe travels."
"Make sure you resu work next week." His tone was all business. "Monday morning, eight AM sharp. There’s a lot of work that needs assisting. The cases piled up while Oliver was... indisposed."
"Of course. I’ll be there."
He nodded once, started to turn away, then paused. "Olivia?"
"Yes?"
"Don’t be late. I have very little patience for tardiness."
The corner of my mouth twitched. "I rember. Oliver was never late."
"No. He wasn’t." Sothing flickered in his eyes. "Let’s hope Olivia maintains the sa standard."
"She will. I promise."
He studied for another mont, then nodded and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the hallway until they faded completely.
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