Page 12 of Only You

‘You won’t lose anything,’ he reassured her, placing a calming hand on her shoulder.

He turned around and kissed her forehead.

‘You will never lose me. Just like you won’t lose yourself.

Marriage can enhance your life in ways you do not yet understand.

You must remember that. Do you promise me you will do so? ’

‘I have no choice,’ she answered, resigned.

Her father’s eyes steeled, his shoulders straightening up. It was as if he was looking straight through her, reminding her to remember who she was.

‘You always have a choice. It’s up to you to choose the right one. The one best for you and our legacy. That is your role. I have never guided you wrong and, more than ever, I need you to trust me. Will you, Sabine?’

She bowed her head, unable to look at her father. So much of this moment felt wrong, but she couldn’t dispute the logic nor push away the offer without a better explanation. For all she knew, this might be the best choice for her when it came to marriage.

But Damien … Sabine closed her eyes. No matter how she looked at the situation, she couldn’t find it within herself to be the daughter he wanted. Not now, when he was unknowingly breaking her heart again.

‘You ask me this when we both know there’s only one correct answer,’ she whispered, the anger in her voice reigniting. ‘We both know what would happen if I were to make a different choice.’

Her father tensed. She glared at him, opening her mouth to yell, words that had been buried in her for years ready to fly.

Suddenly, he clamped her mouth shut. She gasped under his hand, but he put a finger to his lips, nodding to the exit.

Shuffling near the door could be heard, a shadow just visible beneath.

He towered over her, his eyes warning her as he moved his hand back to his side.

‘What is your choice, my daughter?’ her father pressed, switching back to French.

Sabine looked, swallowing her resentment. ‘I… accept,’ she said reluctantly. He smiled and she could hear excited chatter behind the door.

‘I knew you wouldn’t let me down,’ he whispered in Fante, wrapping his arms around her so tightly it was as if he never wanted to let go.

Damien watched from the garden as Sabine moved around her room in a daze while preparing for bed, constantly rubbing her eyes.

He could guess the outcome of Sabine’s conversation with her father, and a hollow feeling sat heavy in his chest. He was no fool; he had known that his relationship with Sabine would be a passing affair, but it didn’t make it that much easier for him to accept.

He wanted more time, more conversation. So much more than he could or should ask for.

Still, he tossed pebbles at her window to get her attention. There was one person more devastated than him right now and he had to be there for her.

Sabine froze when she saw him and wiped her face before opening the window.

He climbed up quietly as she returned to her vanity, her eyes vacant.

She brushed her hair, staring at her reflection as if she were searching for something, eyes red-rimmed.

Whatever it was, she didn’t seem to find it, the grip on her brush as tight as the one she usually had on her foil.

He kissed the top of her head, his hand on her shoulder.

She put her hand over his and intertwined their fingers.

‘You’re stronger than this. Whatever it is, you will overcome it with grace,’ he murmured.

‘I’m getting married.’ Damien knew to expect the words but they were still a stab to the heart, like she was making a callous joke. The way she wiped her tears told him she was not. ‘What’s so graceful about being forced to be a stranger’s property?’

‘Sabine…’ Damien was lost for words. What could one say when something so special was all over before it could start?

He met her gaze in the mirror. There was still defeat but there was also a desperation he was familiar with, the feeling of needing to cling to the truth, however small.

The same look was reflected in his eyes.

‘If I asked you to stay with me tonight, what would you say?’ she asked quietly. ‘I would tell you no one would be able to take me from your side.’

She tightened her grip on his hand as she stood and brought his face to hers, kissing him as if it were the last time. ‘Stay… please,’ she murmured against his lips.

He answered by pulling her into an embrace.

Damien was taken by surprise by how eagerly Sabine kissed him.

She didn’t seem nervous, her fingers sure as she loosened his uniform, silently urging him to take it off.

Yet, when he stepped back so he could properly remove his tunic, she turned away.

Wearing only pants, he stepped behind her, rubbing her arms. She leaned back into the embrace, her pulse fluttering against her neck.

‘There’s no need to be afraid,’ Damien whispered into her hair, kissing her ear before leaning down to kiss her neck. She shivered, grabbing his wrist, and pulling it across her waist.

‘Says the soldier,’ she replied, her voice slightly wavering. ‘I’m sure you’ve had plenty in your bed.’

‘You say that as if I were only ever supposed to bed you.’

Sabine turned, staring at him defiantly, a true force in the making. ‘Of course, you were.’

He smirked. ‘Quite the request from someone engaged.’ She flinched, but he pushed through, not seeing a reason to deny it. ‘Isn’t that a bit selfish?’

She pulled him closer. ‘Maybe I want to be selfish,’ she whispered. She hesitated before placing her hand on his bare chest. He wondered if she could feel his heartbeat quickening from the way her eyes roamed over him with hunger. ‘You make me want all the things I shouldn’t.’

Not knowing what to say, he kissed her, substituting words for action.

Sabine followed his lead, their kisses fast and desperate.

He reminded himself to slow down, not wanting to overwhelm her.

He pulled back and her cinnamon eyes fluttered open in confusion.

Smiling to reassure her, he reached for the fabric of her nightgown.

He watched her swallow nervously as he tugged it higher inch by painful inch until he could gently pull it over her head.

He took a moment to admire her laid bare before him.

He had dreamed too many times of this moment, and his imagination didn’t do her any justice.

She was beautiful and glorious, even though her nerves were palpable.

Her eyes started to dart around the room, but he touched her chin, tilting it until she could only focus on him.

She took a staggering breath when their eyes met.

He took her hands and placed them around his neck, drawing her closer.

He felt sparks skittering across his skin when they were chest to chest and he coaxed her closer to kiss him.

She moaned quietly when his tongue touched her lips, persuading her mouth to open.

Her gasp tasted sweet as he moved them towards the bed.

Sabine let him, seeming calmer as he laid her down, her curls spread across her pillows like a halo.

Her lidded gaze urged him to continue, and he didn’t dare turn away as he rid himself of his clothes.

Usually, Sabine’s widened eyes would stroke his ego, but he didn’t feel the same sense of pride.

Instead, something delicate replaced it.

He traced her face, memorising the softness of her skin.

The world shrank down to them and the candlelit room.

‘I want to take you so badly,’ he whispered. He leaned down to briefly press their lips together. ‘Tell me I can.’

‘You can,’ she said even quieter. ‘I need you to.’

He crashed their lips together, his desire raging as he kissed down to her breast, taking her nipple in his mouth. Sabine arched into the touch with a gasp. A quiet moan escaped her mouth a moment later as he lapped at the bud while running his fingers up her thigh, parting her legs.

He watched her closely as he stroked her core, noticing how tightly her eyes closed as her face pressed against her pillow.

Her breaths were shallow as she ran her fingers through his hair.

She grabbed the short strands tightly as he continued to tease her, his lips unrelenting on her skin and fingers eager inside her.

‘D–Damien,’ she said, the name caressing his skin as her hands gripped his shoulders and her legs shook at the sensation. She trembled, a blush high on her cheeks. He bit at her bottom lip, the only moment of roughness he allowed himself. ‘I want— I—’

‘Shhh…’ he told her, not wanting to possibly be overheard.

This moment was between them, and he wanted it to stay like that.

He pulled his fingers out and spread her thighs farther apart.

He heard her breaths turn shaky once again and looked up.

She was staring at the ceiling, her fear returning.

He couldn’t have that. He brought her chin down until she was staring at him.

‘Da–mhmm…’ she trailed off as he caressed the sides of her body, making her relax.

He kissed her neck as he nudged his cock inside her.

Sabine whimpered and he stroked her hair as he pushed further inside, sinking in inch by inch.

He returned to her lips, letting her bite and scratch him all she needed.

Soon the kisses turned soft, and her body relaxed.

He didn’t hesitate to pull back and thrust into her.

Her eyes shot open, and she yelped against his lips before pulling away.

‘Damien,’ she moaned as he continued to plunge into her, moving her legs around his waist so he could go deeper.

She practically shook out of her skin, her grip on the sheets so tight he wondered for a moment if they would rip.

Surely, she was close to the wave of pleasure like him, he reached between their bodies to coax her to her peak.

Her head fell back, and he covered her mouth right as she let out a long moan mixed with his name.

He snapped his hips faster and faster, moving his fingers desperately.

He cussed under his breath as she became impossibly tight around him, coming with an arch and muffled scream.

Her nails dug into his skin in a way that made his eyes roll back as he slowed down but didn’t stop.

He continued until he seized up, groaning into her neck as he spilled into her.

Stars twinkled innocently outside the window as silence fell over them like a comforting blanket.

Damien kissed her neck and fell into bed beside her.

They both took a moment to catch their breath, Sabine eventually shifting closer to him as her eyes started to close.

He laughed softly before kissing the back of her hand, biting one of her fingers playfully.

‘I’m doomed.’

He looked to see her eye was cracked open. ‘How so?’

Sabine sat up and pushed him down onto his back. She straddled him, her sudden energy throwing him off balance. ‘How am I supposed to give myself to another man now after knowing you this way?’ she asked before kissing him.

Damien gave into the feeling, wanting to be as close to her as possible.

He rolled them over, so they were resting on their sides, and Sabine tangled their legs together as she continued to kiss him.

Damien chuckled against her lips as she trailed kisses over his chest, stirring his arousal again.

He pulled her close and pinned her to his chest. She wriggled in his arms, but he kissed her again to calm her.

She eventually settled down before biting his lip.

‘I’m trying to be nice,’ he warned her in between kisses.

‘Who says I want you to be?’ she teased.

He rolled her on her back and pinned her wrists. ‘Those are very dangerous words, princess.’

The playful light immediately vanished from her eyes.

‘Don’t call me that,’ she told him. ‘When we’re alone, I want you to call me by my name. I don’t want to hear you call me by a title or nickname.’

Damien softened at the request. ‘All right,’ he agreed. ‘From now on, I shall only ever call you Sabine. With reverence to rival a priest and his god.’

Sabine grinned as she shook her head. ‘Ah, are you a devoted follower now?’

‘My prayers shall adorn you like silk from China.’ He leaned down to kiss her wrist.

Sabine giggled as he continued to kiss every inch of skin he could reach. His lips dragged across her cheekbones as he asked, ‘Will you accept my devotion, Sabine?’ Her breath hitched, and he pulled back, watching her pupils dilate.

‘With every breath I take.’ She sat up to run her fingers through his hair. ‘I’ll talk to my father.’

‘I’m sure he won’t object to you having a long engagement.’

‘No,’ she said.

A certainty entered her expression, and he was taken back to their first practice, showing the determination that drove him mad in the best way. It was a moment that had changed everything and now, here was the look again, ready to take more.

‘I mean… I’ll change his mind.’

‘You… do you think that’s possible?’

Sabine nodded. ‘You’re the beloved soldier of his closest ally with a steady income.

That’s not without its merit. Not to mention, you can protect me.

There’s no reason why I couldn’t have you.

And even if there were reasons…’ She tightened her grip on his hair for a moment, her eyes darkening.

‘He already made me leave my home. He cannot make me leave you.’

‘Even if he tried, I would find you,’ Damien told her. ‘No one’s going to take me away from you. Not even if you wish me to be gone. I vow to be yours.’

Her eyes lit up at the words, and their lips met once then twice before Sabine hugged him, his head resting on her chest. He let her soft breathing lull him to sleep. Before he drifted to sleep, he heard her whisper, ‘And I yours.’