His Forbidden Obsession

Damien Blackwood removed his glasses.

The gold frames felt cool against his skin.

He set them on the marble counter. In the steam-filled tub, the aggression in his eyes was finally clear. The lenses no longer hid it.

"Are you truly sure about this?" he asked. His voice was a low rumble. It filled the air on the terrace of the Celestial Suite.

Sera looked up at him. Her eyes were hazy from the wine. A pink flush started at the corners of her eyes and spread. She met his gaze. She felt no fear. The man was tall. He stood over six feet. His suit was perfectly made and gave off a cold feeling. Steam made his white shirt wet. It stuck to the lines of his body.

No one could resist that.

It was impossible.

The more he held back, the more you wanted to see him break.

Was this a bad idea? It probably was. But what did she have left to lose anyway?

"If you change your mind," he said. His fingertips moved over the wet lace on her shoulder. "You will not be the one to stop this."

Sera felt her heart stop for a second.

This was Damien Blackwood. He was known in the elite world as a living Buddha. He was thirty-two. He was known for being cold. He was known for his control. He had wide shoulders and a trim waist. His face had perfect bones. The most exciting part was his connection to Ethan Hayes. He was Ethan's adoptive father. She felt a wave of revenge. She thought about Ethan finding out she was in his father's tub right now.

Yes, this was a crazy thing to do. She knew that. But she had nothing more to lose.

She moved her foot on purpose. Her toes caught the material of his pants. "Sir, your clothes are wet." Her voice sounded sweet. It sounded clear. It held a hint of innocent invitation that went right to his ears.

Damien's eyebrow moved just a little. He bent down toward her. His breath touched her earlobe. "So?"

His lips brushed her skin. The touch was almost not there. Sera felt her ear burn with heat. It burned hot.

"Can you teach me what to do?" The alcohol made her brave. The bold words just came out of her mouth. "I need a very detailed lesson."

Amusement showed in Damien's eyes for a moment. His throat moved up and then down. "Teach you?" He suddenly took her ankle in his hand. It had been moving around in the water. The rough skin on his palm made her own skin itch. "My lessons are not very gentle."

One of his hands moved to the back of her head. His fingers went into her wet hair. Then his cool lips were on hers. He pressed down hard.

"Wait..."

A powerful kiss swallowed her words. The kiss was like a hunter. It stole her breath. She had to hold his shoulders to stay steady.

People said a man who denies himself becomes wild.

They were very right.

"Breathe," Damien said. His forehead touched hers. His voice was rough. A drop of water fell down his sharp nose. "You can't even learn to do that?" His voice had a power you could not argue with.

Then a phone started ringing. The sound was wrong for the moment.

He let go of her just a little. His eyes moved to the table nearby. The screen of the phone was bright.

"Answer the phone." He made her turn. She pressed the button to answer the call. His hand moved down her waist as she did it. It moved slowly.

"But do not lose focus."

His hot breath was still on her ear. Sera's mind felt empty. Ethan Hayes's voice came from the phone. It sounded annoyed. "I sent you to buy a dress. Are you going to take all night?"

"Olivia had a reaction. Alcohol on her skin. She needs a new dress to change into."

"You have ten minutes. Do not make me think you are useless for even this one thing."

Sera made a small laugh. She leaned back. Her hair got caught on the dark wood beads on Damien's wrist. "Olivia has a reaction?" she asked. Her voice was slow and lazy. "I think she should just cut off her arm then."

"I am not buying the dress. I met a teacher. He is teaching me a class that all adults must take."

Ethan's voice got tight. "A teacher? Who is it?"

"That is not your business..."

Sera did not finish her sentence. Damien's fingers suddenly gripped her harder. He bit her earlobe at the same time.

"Ow, that hurts. Be gentle..."

"Bang!"

A loud sound came from the phone. It sounded like a glass breaking. Ethan yelled through the speaker. "Seraphina Rossi!"

Damien heard the name. He stopped moving completely. His eyes became cold again. They became very cold.

"Seraphina... Rossi?"

Sera's heart fell. It was all over. That stupid Ethan always ruined things. He always ruined them at the worst time. Her hand slipped. The phone made a splash and fell into the tub.

Damien looked down. He saw the name "Ethan Hayes" twisting on the screen in the water. The phone went to the bottom. Bubbles came up. They carried the last of Ethan's angry shout.

The heat was gone from his hand. It was completely gone.

Seraphina Rossi. Of course he knew that name. His useless adopted son Ethan was chased by this girl. He had been chased since high school. He never thought the trouble Ethan ran from would be here. He never thought she would be wrapped around him.

"You are asking for my name now?" Sera's wet hair stuck to her face. She looked at him with a bold look. "Don't teachers check their lessons before class starts?"

Damien's hand held her chin. He forced her head up. "You are playing games with me? You are very brave."

Sera took in a sharp breath from the pain. But she still spoke back. "Sir, you chose to take the bait."

Damien let her go. The want in his eyes was gone. He was cold again like he usually was. "Did anyone teach you what happens when you play with fire? You get burned."

He stood up. The muscles on his back showed under his wet shirt. They were sharp. They were clear. They said "do not come near."

"I am sorry," he said. His voice was cold. "I prefer things that are clean."

"I do not eat from another person's bowl."

Especially not his son's.

"Someone else's bowl?"

Sera leaned against the edge of the tub like a water nymph. She watched Damien turn his back and pull off his drenched shirt.

The sharp grooves of his back muscles tensed. Drops of water slid down his spine and disappeared into the waistband of his trousers. The sight seemed to raise the temperature in the room.

"You seemed to enjoy the taste just now, sir," she said, her tone both innocent and wicked.

Damien tossed the wet shirt into the laundry basket. He turned to the side, giving her a cold glance.

"I had to taste it to know it was spoiled."

Sera's gaze swept over the damp marks on his chest muscles. A small smile played on her lips. The man was thirty-two, yet his body was still perfect. He was truly the kind of man one could not resist. The more ascetic he appeared, the more she wanted to see him lose control.

Was this really just for revenge? She asked herself. Maybe not entirely.

"Your tongue is quite dis