Tangled In Vengeance (Sinfully Corrupt Series Book 1) by Leila Matthews

Author:Leila Matthews [Matthews, Leila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

20

CHAPTER 20

Isabella

It's been four weeks since I made the decision to stay with Damien. Four weeks of surprising tenderness and moments so sweet, they scare me. Damien treats me like a queen, with a gentleness I didn't know he possessed. We share breakfast each morning and dinner each night, with easy conversation and frequent laughter. The nights hold steamy encounters mixed with whispered intimacies and have only intensified the connection between us. My cheeks flush with the memory, a mix of pleasure and bashfulness swirling within me.

Yet, the need for my own space remains non-negotiable. I insisted on keeping my own room. Damien's jaw had tensed at that, a shadow of disapproval flickering in his eyes, but he didn't fight me on it. He agreed, albeit reluctantly. It's my sanctuary, a slice of independence that I cling to amongst the rapidly blurring lines of our unconventional relationship. It's proof that inside the fortress that is Damien Blackhart, I am still Isabella. Free, if not entirely unbound.

The presence of Jacob is a constant now, and his vigilant eyes trace my every move. He’s a silent sentinel promised to guard my life. Despite the initial betrayal, the sting of his lies faded in the aftermath of his apology. I forgave him. How could I not when his actions were bound by duty? More convincingly, he had saved me when danger gnarled at my very door. His presence isn't suffocating, though. It's strangely comforting. Jacob shadows me with a respectful distance, and his presence unnoticed until he wants to be.

As I move through the days, he's there, blending into the environment with practiced ease but always there, watching and ensuring my safety. It's an odd partnership, one that treads the line between professional and personal because now he is part of my story, intertwined with the choice I made to stay in Damien's world. Everywhere I go, I feel his protective circle around me like an unspoken promise that I'm not in danger.

I take a deep breath of the aroma of the café's fresh coffee blending with the scent of old books. It's a quirky little place that Seraphina loves, half bookstore, half café. The walls are lined with shelves that climb toward the high ceiling, each one packed with tales and knowledge of every conceivable genre. A collector’s paradise.

Plush armchairs and antique wooden tables are scattered throughout the space, offering cozy nooks for readers to lose themselves in a book or enjoy a warm drink. It’s an eclectic mix of old-world charm and homey comfort. Soft jazz music plays subtly in the background, and the gentle hum of hushed conversations adds to the bookstore's tranquil ambiance.

It feels like a secret hideaway, a place where time slows and the world outside dims to a quiet whisper. My hands wrap tighter around the warm ceramic mug as I finally meet Seraphina's gaze. She's waiting, eyebrows raised in silent question.

My heart pounds as I sit across from her. The distance between us is measured in moments rather than meters.

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