Click
The sound of a cara shutter going off reached my ear and I pulled the shades off my face to show more of it. The lens of the cara flashed in the glass in front of and I angled my face to get more of it on cara.
If they wanted a show, we would give them one-dangerously close to real.
Damian followed my lead as he posed for the cara as well without making it seem natural. He didn’t even have to try. Just standing next to him made it look like I belonged there.
Click click
A few more cara clicks went off in rapid succession at our actions and I realized that our act was working.
The small coffee shop we had chosen was a small walk away from Damian’s place. It had a cozy atmosphere and was high-class enough that no one would question why soone as famous as Damian was here.
At the sa ti, it was also private enough to justify it being a dating place for so people and no one would find out.
Private... but not private enough to stop from noticing every brush of his breath, every shift of his body.
So how had the reporters found this place? It was simply because of a small ’tip’ I had left them.
"They are still clicking photos. Make sure you face them and let them capture you clearly."
I reminded Damian and he turned around as I had asked him to. He had a talent for acting that he might not have even realized as he turned around and leaned close to . Too close. Close enough that my pulse forgot what pretending ant.
His lips rested inches away from my ears and he made sure he was away from the side where those reporters with caras were.
"Is this better?"
Damian asked and his breath brushed against my ear. I felt a shiver go down my spine that I tried to control. I also resisted the urge to reach my hand toward my ear and rub my ear to get rid of the shiver I felt.
I hated how quickly my body reacted to him... and how much a part of wanted him to notice.
From our reflection in the glass, it looked like we were kissing. But in reality, all Damian was doing was whispering in my ear... which was not any less intimate than kissing.
Maybe it was even worse-because whispers can’t be explained away.
Still, we had no physical contact and all our actions were done in order to fool the people into believing what we wanted. At least that’s what we kept telling ourselves.
"You are doing good. Perhaps, you should pull back-"
"Wait a second. We need to make your reaction a little more genuine."
Damian told before he blew air on my ear. The sudden action caused to shiver and I imdiately put my hand on my ear to block the air.
My cheeks gained so red to them and when Damian pulled back, he looked a little startled but his eyes contained amusent and he let out a chuckle.
He looked at like he’d just discovered a weakness-one he liked far too much.
"You... what do you think you are doing?"
I hissed these words out. I tried to keep my reaction as neutral as I could, but I was not able to control myself perfectly.
Damian noticed my reactions and seed to... be enjoying my fury? He even chuckled as he looked at .
A man far too used to control suddenly thrilled by soone he couldn’t control at all. It reminded of who he used to be.
"Ah, please forgive . I just... found your reactions amusing and refreshing. As you know, people around don’t tend to... be as free as you have been with . It is nice to be with you like this."
Damian told and his voice sounded genuine. Too genuine. Like he ant more than he should.
Even if our date and relationship was fake, the re fact that we were together seed to make Damian joyous.
And that, more than anything, made feel sorry for him. Sorry-because he deserved sothing real, and I was everything but.
"I understand. Your line of work is... not the most stable. You should look for soone who understands you and keeps up with you once it is all over."
Sohow, these words left a bitter taste in my mouth. Even if I knew that they were the right thing to say in my mind, my heart did not agree.
The words hurt, like I had punched myself in the ribs instead of him.
It kept wanting to tell that I should hold on to Damian for as long as I can.
’Is it my loneliness talking, or my heart... whatever it is, I need to tone it down. This man is not mine to have and he has made it more than clear to as well.’
Damian’s face smiled when he looked at , but I could tell that sothing had unsettled him at my words as well. His smile did not reach his eyes as he looked at .
"Perhaps, you are right. Once it’s all over, I should look forward to settling down... right? But for so reason, the very thought is..."
Damian trailed off, not wanting to continue. I just sipped my coffee as I watched him get lost in his own thoughts. He looked haunted-by sothing he didn’t want, or sothing he wanted too much.
Snap
The sudden sound of a cara snapped out of my daze and made realize where we were and what we were doing.
So I not-so-subtly reached for Damian’s hand, causing him to look at . I told myself it was for the caras. My heart knew better.
"I’m sure it’ll be fine. You do not have to worry about much. Now, shall we leave?"
I asked, my eyes looking subtly at the reflection of the cara in the glass. Damian caught my aning and he tightened his hold around my hand.
His grip made my wrist feel like they were burning. Everywhere he touched, I could feel my body shudder as I tried to control myself. If this was pretending, I didn’t want to know what real would do to .
Whether Damian noticed my reaction or not was not sothing I got to think about because he tugged out behind him.
His pace was slow enough for to be able to keep up with him and he was calm enough for his expression to co off as serene and not annoyed.
And yet, sothing about the way he moved made feel like he was frustrated... not at but at himself.
As if he was fighting the sa battle I was-and losing.
I felt too aware of him but I felt even more aware of the caras following us.
Those caras were sothing I had invited and they were here to help out. But sohow, all I wanted was for these caras to go away.
Because without them, I wouldn’t have a single excuse left for wanting him this close.
My feelings felt conflicted, not allowing to know what exactly I wanted.
But every step with his hand around mine made it clearer-I wanted him. And I wasn’t supposed to.
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