Obsession (9 page)

Faith

I spent most of the day yesterday with Cami and we seem to be back on track, she might not like the fact that I’m sleeping with Damien, but there really is nothing she can do about it.

She opened up and gave me a little information on what is going on with her and Malc. She has feelings for him; I can see it written all over her face. She is trying to play it off as a sexual attraction but I could see it was more.

Malc wants her to be with him but she keeps fighting him saying that she won’t ever be in this life. That when all of this is over she is going back to her apartment and getting on with her life but apparently that didn’t go down too well with Malc. I can’t say I blame her. I have the same fear inside of me, but I crave Damien’s touch, he does things to my body I didn’t realise were possible, and the way he makes me feel? Well, I’m addicted. How the hell am I supposed to walk away from something like that?

Thinking back to last night and first thing this morning I have never felt so loved, so cherished. He worships me, my body and soul with every touch and kiss.

Is it wrong to want to keep him in my life? Probably. Even if how we did meet was screwed up, he is proving himself now keeping me safe, keeping Cami safe? Yes, still probably, but he is a protector, my protector. Hell, he’s even having his mother brought here so she is safe. That does not seem like the actions of a mad man with the need to kill.

He told me before he left the bedroom this morning, that his mum Lily and Anton would arrive at around 11am, I am nervous the only parents I have ever met is my own and well look how that turned out, my mother does not even care that I am gone as long as she is kept in the latest fashion with the nicest jewellery, and a different gardener each week she is just fine. That’s why I called Cami at the hospital because if I would have thought for a minute that my mum would have dropped my dad and come to my aid, I would have called her but I know she wouldn’t do that for me.

Don’t get me wrong, in her own way she cares, I was always in the best of everything, even at boarding school I was sent all the latest clothes and shoes, mobile phones.

All a child ever wants is true affection, and to know they are loved, not to be bought. So as the years passed we grew more distant. I can’t even remember the last time I spoke to my mother. I think that’s why I’m so nervous, never having known true affection maybe it’s what I crave now. Will I always seek approval?

I’m sitting in the office with Damien when I hear voices coming from the hall, this is it then. Time to meet his Mum. I’m so nervous. What if she asks how we met or how long I have known him? What do I say? Do I lie or tell the truth? I can feel the panic building so I take a deep breath to try and calm myself. Damien looks up at me sensing my discomfort.

“You ok baby?” he asks me, his voice is soft I can see the concern written all over his face.

“What if she asks how we met?” taking a deep breath I rush out my words, making sure I get them all out. I drop my head, too scared to look in his eyes, worried what I might see in them.

“It’s fine, I will talk to her, she won’t ask” I don’t question him any further. There would not be much point getting into an argument with them right down the hall. So I try to think positive thoughts, it’s going to be fine I repeat to myself over and over.

Damien stands and walks over to me, he takes a hold of my clammy hand. It’s a strange feeling when you have never had it before, his warm fingers clasp around mine and he pulls me along with him.

Standing there in the hallway, I see a beautiful woman who has just released Malc from a hug. Wow! She is stunning. I would say she doesn’t look a day over fifty, even though Damien already said she was sixty, three months ago. Her black coat with the fur trim sits well on her small frame, the brown short hair style fits her heart shape face well and her eyes look kind, the few lines around them are the only thing giving her age away.

She turns and makes her way towards Damien and me. Her arms are stretched out wide to pull him into her embrace; he never drops my hand holding me close.

“My boy” she says as she pulls him tight to her he towers above her, she is about the same size as Cami, he wraps one arm around her returning the embrace;

“Hello Mother” he says releasing her.

“Well, who is this beautiful young lady?” she asks Damien

“Mother, I would like you to meet Faith” he says and I force a smile. Why am I so disappointed that he never said girlfriend? I should be relieved knowing that he doesn’t see me that way. It makes things easier right? But a small part of me wanted more, hell, who am I kidding, a big part of me wanted it.

She turns towards me and I feel Damien’s hand release mine. I instantly miss the heat, putting my hand out to greet Lily, she quickly pushes it away and wraps me in a warm embrace. Momentarily stunned, I bring my arms up to return her hug. After a few seconds we pull apart.

“Hello Mrs. um…” shit realizing I don’t even know their last name I look away embarrassed by my lack of information.

“Call me Lily dear.” She says in the friendliest voice I have ever heard.

Anton is next to come and greet me, he just looks like a smaller less bulkier version of Malc except for his grey hair. He stands tall and you can see he has worked hard all his life, he is regarding me with the same amount of kindness that Lily did, I’m awed by such kindness.

“So Faith, it would seem we have much to discuss. Like how you have managed to hold my sons attention when no others have.” I shrink away as she speaks not really wanting to go down this road and explain it all to with her.

“I don’t know what you mean, I have not captured anything Lily.” I say hoping to stop the conversation.

“Nonsense my dear, he is smitten, anyone can see it.”

Before I can form a reply Damien cuts into the conversation.

“Mother, enough!” he scalds her

She stops her questioning but I can tell by the look in her eyes that she’s not going to drop it. I guess I’m about to have a crash course in how to avoid his mother.

“Come on let's go and have some lunch.” Damien suggests

We make our way into the kitchen to sit at the oak table and I see that all the place settings have been laid. I do love this room with its bi-folding doors that lead out to the garden at the back, so peaceful and tranquil.

As we all approach the table I feel his hand on my back guiding me to the seat beside him, this is twice now he has had me sit at his side. There he goes again. Doing things that give me hope that he wants more than just his body on mine and what a fine looking body it is. Shit I’m losing track again but just one thought about that body, it’s enough to send me weak at the knees.

Pulling myself from my thoughts as we all take our seats, the staff place the meat cuts, salad and bread all down on the table for us to help ourselves. Conversation flows smoothly between everyone and I find my self-relaxing a little. I take a relaxing breath and fix myself a plate.

Lunch passes by without any issue, Lily and Anton are taken to their rooms, Damien, Malc and Jake all leave to go to do whatever it is they are doing which just leaves Cami and me.

We did have a great chat yesterday and it has eased the strain we were both feeling. The worry about what is going on has not eased but at least we know we are safe, protected between the three men, no one can hurt us.

“So, they seem really nice… Way nicer than I expected!” Cami says in disbelief.

“Why? Were you expecting something different?” I reply not wanting to cause another row between us.

“Don’t take it the wrong way Faith, I am not saying anything bad, they’re just… sweeter than I expected is all.” She says and I can see there’s no malice in her words.

“Sorry" I say, "you're the one who is always telling me not to judge a book by its cover.” I say to her.

I know that if I were to judge Damien from his appearance I would be running for the hills. His ruthless persona is just a front for his business. I understand that, I can rationalize it in my head. Work and home - there has to be a balance.

To think, if I had not seen the nicer side of him all those months ago, the caring, the protecting, I probably would have run out of that apartment and not even glanced back.

It was who he was when no one else was around that enchanted me, he made me feel safe.

“Faith!” I hear Cami shouting my name pulling me from my distracting thoughts.

“Shit sorry Cami I was miles away.” My every bloody thought is being consumed by him, I need to snap out of this shit, it’s not going to work out, I chastise myself.

“So what do you fancy doing? There’s the library or the sauna we can try if you want, we don’t have costumes with us for a dip but we can just wrap a towel around us in the sauna.” I ask, wanting to spend a little more time with her. I have missed her so much, so any way I can prolong the time that she is out of that room dwelling on her thoughts the better. It’s what she did for me. I may not have left the house, but she always talked to me or we watched a movie, drank wine, she made me feel normal, that is exactly what she needs right now, she needs her friend.

“OH I fancy the sauna, you think it would be ok to go and use it?” she asks me with so much hope in her voice.

“I can’t see it being a problem, Damien said to make ourselves at home, come on lets go.” I grab hold of her hand pulling her up from the table heading towards the hall.

We go down the hall on the opposite side of the huge table in the middle, I have never been down this way before now, they must go through some flowers in this house every day they have had a new arrangement on top of that table, we are not talking small bunch from a petrol station, we are talking ‘Flowers R Us’ had a party in here. Don’t get me wrong they’re stunning, they just seem too extravagant.

We wander along the hall and that’s when we see it, and the whole place just opens up. The Olympic size pool has loungers and a table around it, there is a Jacuzzi in the corner as you look along the wall. You can see the home gym through a glass wall. I think my mouth must be on the floor as I wander around the room, tucked away in the corner is the sauna door.

We spot the changing rooms for the pool and wonder in, quickly divesting ourselves of clothes we wrap towels around us from the heated towel rail.

Wow this place is amazing. It’s like visiting a luxury hotel with spa.

Opening the door the wooden room is at the perfect temperature, just waiting for us just to sit in and enjoy which is exactly what we intend to do.

“I could get used to this” I sigh when we have been sat in there a few minutes.

With my eyes closed and my body relaxing, I hear Cami’s quiet reply

“Me to” she whispers, and I know when we get through this there will be light at the end of the tunnel, for both of us life has a way of working that shit out.

Later on I am sat on the couch in the living room after not seeing Damien since lunch, it’s crazy how much I miss him being with me. How pathetic am I? It's been days since we were reunited, and whilst I have known him longer the feelings that have developed these past few days have really affirmed to me what I already knew. I'm totally in love with Damien…. Shit! I still don’t know his surname. I am going to put that at the top of my list of things to find out about him.

“Can we talk?” I look up and see Lily standing beside the couch, nodding at her she takes a seat beside me.

“I know you love him, he loves you too you know.” I’m shocked by her comment, she can’t be serious. Damien most definitely does not love me.

“Damien does not love me.” I say a little too quickly. It’s only after I realise I didn’t deny how I feel, I guess there’s no point.

“Look sweetie it’s ok. I know, I can see it but I just want to make sure you are not deluded by all of this exterior and that you know who and what he is.”

Her tone is soft but there is warning in it I’m not sure if she thinks I am a gold digger or just blind.

“Oh I know who he is.” She looks shocked at my answer.

“Well, do tell me who you think Damien Volkov really is.” Lily asks me.

So that’s his last name, it is lovely how it just rolls off the tongue, it really does suit him, and before I get lost in my thoughts again I need to answer Lily.