Chapter 14

Vivi stood frozen in place, her heart aching at the sight of Damien's broken form sprawled across the couch. She wanted to reach out, to comfort him, but his words held her back. With a heavy sigh, she turned and retreated to the kitchen, her mind racing with conflicting emotions.

As she busied herself making a strong pot of coffee, Vivi couldn't help but reflect on the whirlwind of events that had led to this moment. The passionate encounters, the stolen glances, the forbidden desire - it all seemed like a distant dream now. Yet the memory of Damien's touch still lingered on her skin, a constant reminder of what could never be.

In the living room, Damien's alcohol-addled mind swirled with images of Vivi. Her smile, her laugh, the way her body fit perfectly against his. He gritted his teeth, trying to push the thoughts away. She was his father's wife now, off-limits, untouchable. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't erase the connection they'd shared.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, drawing Damien's attention. Despite his earlier harsh words, he found himself craving Vivi's presence. He struggled to sit up, his head pounding with each movement.

Vivi returned to the living room, carefully balancing two mugs of steaming coffee. She approached Damien cautiously, unsure of how he would react. To her surprise, he accepted the offered mug with a mumbled thanks.

They sat in silence, sipping their coffee and stealing furtive glances at one another. The tension between them was palpable, charged with unspoken words and suppressed desires.

Finally, Vivi broke the silence. "Damien, I-"

"Don't," he interrupted, his voice hoarse. "We can't keep doing this, Vivi. It's tearing me apart."

Vivi nodded, blinking back tears. "I know. I feel it too. But what are we supposed to do?"

Damien's eyes locked with Vivi's, the intensity of his gaze making her breath catch. For a moment, neither spoke, the weight of their shared history hanging heavy between them.

Vivi was the first to look away, her fingers tightening around her mug. "We can't," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "This has to stop, Damien. For everyone's sake."

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Is that really what you want, Vivi? To pretend there's nothing between us?"

She stood abruptly, pacing the room. "What I want doesn't matter. We have responsibilities, obligations. Your father-"

"Don't bring him into this," Damien growled, his jaw clenching.

Vivi whirled to face him, her eyes flashing. "How can I not? He's your father, my husband. We made vows, Damien. I can't just throw that away for... for whatever this is."

Damien rose unsteadily, closing the distance between them. "Tell me you don't feel it, Vivi. Tell me I'm alone in this."

Her resolve wavered as he drew near, his familiar scent enveloping her. But Vivi steeled herself, taking a step back. "It doesn't matter what I feel. We have to end this, here and now."

"Vivi, please-"

She held up a hand, cutting him off. "No, Damien. I'm serious. This ends now. We go back to being stepmother and stepson. Nothing more."

The hurt in Damien's eyes was almost her undoing, but Vivi forced herself to remain strong. She had made her choice, for better or worse. Her family's future depended on her marriage to Reginald. She couldn't risk throwing it all away for a passionate fling, no matter how tempting.

Vivi turned away from Damien, her heart pounding. She knew she had to be strong, but his presence in the mansion made it nearly impossible. Every corner held memories of their stolen moments together.

"I should go," she murmured, moving towards the door.

Damien's hand shot out, gently grasping her wrist. "Vivi, wait."

She froze, electricity crackling between them at the simple touch. Slowly, she turned to face him.

"I know you're trying to do the right thing," he said, his voice low and husky. "But I can't just turn off my feelings for you."

Vivi's resolve wavered. "Damien, please. Don't make this harder than it already is."

He stepped closer, his dark eyes searching hers. "Tell me you don't think about us. About what we could be."

She bit her lip, fighting the urge to give in. "It doesn't matter what I think. We have obligations."

"To hell with obligations," Damien growled. "I've never felt this way about anyone before, Vivi. And I know you feel it too."

His words sent a shiver down her spine. She did feel it - the magnetic pull between them, the way her body came alive at his touch. But she couldn't let herself get swept away.

"We can't," she whispered, even as her body betrayed her, leaning into his warmth.

Damien's hand cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing her lower lip. "Tell me to stop," he murmured, his face inches from hers. "Tell me you don't want this, and I'll walk away."

Vivi's breath caught in her throat. She knew she should push him away, should reaffirm the boundaries she'd tried to set. But as she looked into Damien's eyes, she found herself unable to form the words.

Vivi's heart raced as she stood frozen, caught between desire and duty. Damien's intense gaze held her captive, his thumb still tracing her lower lip. The air crackled with tension, thick and heavy around them.

"I..." Vivi started, her voice barely above a whisper. She swallowed hard, trying to find the strength to push him away. But her body betrayed her, leaning into his touch.

Damien's hand slid to the nape of her neck, pulling her closer. "Tell me you don't want this," he murmured, his breath hot against her skin.

Vivi's eyes fluttered closed, overwhelmed by his proximity. She knew she should resist, should walk away. But the heat of his body, the intoxicating scent of his cologne, made rational thought impossible.

"Damien," she breathed, her hands coming to rest on his chest. Whether to push him away or pull him closer, she wasn't sure.

He took her hesitation as invitation, closing the distance between them. His lips brushed hers, soft and questioning at first, then more insistent. Vivi's resolve crumbled as she melted into the kiss, her arms winding around his neck.

Damien groaned, deepening the kiss as he backed her against the wall. His hands roamed her body, reigniting the passion they'd tried so hard to extinguish.

Suddenly, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway shattered the moment. Vivi gasped, pushing Damien away with trembling hands.

"We can't," she said, her voice shaky. "Your father..."

Damien's jaw clenched, frustration and desire warring in his eyes. "This isn't over, Vivi," he said, his voice low and intense. "We can't keep denying what's between us."

Vivi smoothed her hair and straightened her clothes, trying to compose herself. "We have to," she insisted, though her body screamed otherwise. "For everyone's sake."