Page 47 of Daman

“When you were talking to Bellamy earlier in the ballroom, I sensed jealousy. It didn’t last long, but I definitely felt it. Why? I tried reading Bellamy’s mind but couldn’t.”

Warrin was quiet a moment, as if he was carefully considering his words before speaking them. “I thought you had been intimate with him, and I found it… upsetting.”

For as long as I could remember, I’d hated being able to feel people’s jealousy and hear their bitter thoughts. Knowing Warrin had been jealous of Bellamy hit me differently. I liked that it had affected him that way. I liked that he didn’t want anyone else having me.

“You’re smiling,” he said, brow furrowed. “This pleases you?”

“Yeah. Kind of.” I ran a finger across his collarbone. “Does that make me wicked?”

“No more wicked than me.” Warrin shifted his weight to where he hovered over me, the hints of blue in his silver hair catching the light from the fire. “Because as I lay here with you, I’m overcome with pride and selfishness. Other men might’ve tasted your lips and touched your body, but I’m the one who married you. And that pleases me.”

None of those men captivated me like you do.But the words stuck in my throat. How could I say something like that when I barely understood the reason why?

“Well, I never fucked Bellamy. So you don’t have to be jealous.”

“I’m not.” He wrapped me in his arms and rested his cheek on the side of my head. “We should sleep.”

“Yeah.” I thickly swallowed. “We should.”

Being in his arms did something strange to me. Made me feel… different.

Other men had been a fun way to pass the time. They had also served another purpose. To give me attention, to make me believe that, if for only a moment, I was the best thing that had ever happened to them. None of it had been enough to sate me. Because at the end of the day, I’d still felt unsatisfied. Hollow.

I was constantly searching for something to fill the void in my chest.

As I cuddled against Warrin, breathing in his scent of snow-covered forests and winter berries, feeling the light caress of his fingertips on my spine, I wondered if maybe I’d finally found it.

***

I knew I was alone before I even opened my eyes. The bed was too still. Cold.

I lifted my head from the pillow and squinted against the white light coming through the window. Living in Echo Bay, where overcast, rainy days were the norm, we didn’t see the sun much either.

The yule log sat blackened in the fireplace, the flames long since snuffed out. A low rumbling came from the overhead vent though, sending warm air into the room. Thank the gods for heating units. My blanket weighed heavier than I remembered as I sat up in bed and pushed it off me.

A fur pelt had been draped over me on top of the thick comforter. Warrin must’ve covered me after he’d woken up that morning.

My stomach fluttered.

After taking a quick shower—washing off the dried cum I’d been too tired to clean last night—I dressed and walked downstairs. Noises came from the kitchen, soft voices and the sizzle of meat in a skillet.

Armen stood in front of the stove, cooking, as Warrin leaned against the counter and talked to him. At my approach, Warrin’s blue eyes shifted to me. And the way his entire face lit up gave me butterflies. He looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

Envy hummed in my veins. No one had ever had that kind of effect on my sin before.

“Good morning,”Warrin greeted me, his voice husky. It was pretty fucking hot. He was too. The sleeves of his thin blue sweater were pushed to his elbows, and his jeans hugged his muscled thighs. The way he rested against the counter emphasized the length of his large body.

Okay. I was kind of crushing on my own husband.

“Morning.” I tore my gaze from him and sat at the kitchen island. One night of amazing sex shouldn’t have made me act like a schoolboy with a crush. I needed to pull myself together.

“I brewed a pot of coffee, sir,” Armen said, turning over the sausage cooking in the skillet. “Breakfast will be done shortly.”

“Please don’t call me sir.”

“Oh.” He frowned. “Apologies, si—er, Daman.”

When I looked at Warrin again, he averted his gaze, a blush coloring his cheeks. I could tell he was still getting a feel for our relationship. Hell, I was the same way.