Chapter 17

"You're back," Damien said with a warm smile. He was sitting on the sofa with his injured leg resting on the coffee table. He had a controller in his hand and his headset on. This was the first time I caught him doing something besides work, and it was a surprisingly refreshing sight to behold.

I put down my things, catching Damien staring from my peripheral. He was gaping at me, committing the way my new dress hugged me to memory.

"You look... different," he said softly. I couldn't help but notice his breath caught in his throat as he said those words. His gaze was burning me up.

I felt a familiar guilt gnawing at me when I remembered what I did to get this dress. How can I possibly explain that I spent his money on such a frivolous purchase as if owing him thousands of dollars already wasn't enough? I walked over shyly, preparing myself to tell him the truth.

An item on the coffee table distracted me from my mission. Next to Damien's leg was a small cactus about the size of my hand