Chapter 79 - CLARA - 63%

Letting out a satisfied breath, I opened my eyes, only to immediately shut them again as the sun hit them. Turning to the darker part of the room, I cautiously opened them. Letting my senses shake off the sleepiness, I tried to turn in the soft bed, only to realize I was trapped in Damon’s arms. We had both fallen asleep like this last night. I was his, and his alone; nothing on earth could take me from him. My heart fluttered. I slowly turned to face him. Nothing would ever surpass this moment. My senses awoke one by one. I felt the warmth of Damon’s arms and the softness of his embrace, despite their thickness and veins. I could smell his skin and hear his breathing. I savored the moment, grateful for the simple pleasure of being close to someone I loved. I couldn’t help but smile; there was nothing better than waking up to the sight of the man I loved. Even asleep, he looked charming. My eyes wandered tirelessly over his closed eyes, his thick lashes forming a dark fringe beneath his eyelids—something I wanted to draw, even in my sleep. He looked relaxed, and it filled me with a deep contentment, a comfort of my own. I nestled closer, enjoying the feel of his body against mine, and ran my slender fingers along his biceps. Damon’s skin was hard, yet against my flesh, it felt like flowing sand. My fingers moved lightly, continuing to touch him… I should probably stop. But I couldn’t; Damon was truly alluring. I was lost in the moment. Like a child, I moved closer to his heartbeat and listened to it, letting its rhythm merge with mine. But I should stop. One last look at peaceful Damon; I let my smile, which I hadn’t realized had taken over my face, widen. I didn’t want to wake him.

Instead, I tried to sneak out of his grip. As I moved his thick arms, I bit my lip and slowly stretched away from the bed and his hold. His grip loosened, and I hurried to be free. But I was careless, moving too far without realizing he’d shifted. Damon’s hand suddenly reached for my waist, catching me as I fell. I would have hit my head if he were a light sleeper.

“Th-Thanks,” I shuddered.

“What were you trying to do?” His voice was thick and commanding, as always.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” I admitted honestly.

He didn’t say much but slowly rose to his feet. His steady movement prevented me from falling.

“Be careful,” he said—commanding, yet full of care despite its authority.

“I will be,” I replied, trying not to smile too much. The day was bright, with the scorching sun—perfect for going out. I hesitated to suggest it, but my heart skipped a beat when Damon spoke, as if he knew my thoughts.

“The day seems nice,” he said. “Would you like to go out today?”

I rose and nodded frantically. “That would be nice,” I beamed.

“Great, then,” he added. “We can go ring hunting, or whatever you want.”

“Ring hunting sounds perfect,” I nodded, hesitantly raising my fingers.

“Okay, then. I’ll wash up first.” He looked at me over his broad shoulders, his eyes lingering on my body before he turned away. I gulped. He didn’t know the effect of his side glances. I wouldn’t change this moment for anything. Who would have thought Damon would make me feel this way? But he should never know.

The jitters my body gets when he’s near… that special arousal… The Damon of before would never have spent a day with me, let alone let me choose what we did. Now, I don’t regret losing my ring at all.

Damon pulled up in his BMW i7 in front of BlingsMaker, a jewelry store large enough to cover a town. Stepping out of the car, I watched as Damon pocketed his key and beckoned me closer. He leaned down. “Stay close to me, little devil,” he murmured. I’d never found him so reassuring. My body shivered at his breath, and I stayed close. We entered the store and were treated with the utmost care, directed to the ring counter. It was charming, filled with beautiful rings. I gasped repeatedly as an attendant greeted us. Pulling out samples, she said, “Take your time.”

I heard Damon grumble; I'd been gasping for a while instead of choosing a ring.

“For someone as lovely as you, the Ancient Marylyn Diamond ring would be perfect, ma’am,” the attendant chirped. I scoffed. I knew she was trying to sell me the most expensive ring.

“I think I’ll go for that one,” I pointed to a different ring. A disappointed look crossed her face as she retrieved a box of similar rings. “You can choose more from these,” she beamed.

“No, I think I’ll—”

An airy whisper halted me. “Gosh, isn’t that Clara?”

“What is she doing here? If I were her, I’d be ashamed to show my face in public,” another whisper followed. A lump formed in my throat. I tried to ignore the voices and focus on choosing my ring.

Damon and I should be enjoying this fine day. I shouldn’t let nosy people get to me.

“Yeah, I’ll get the one I picked,” I said quietly to the attendant. She nodded, clearly unhappy with my choice. An audible snicker followed by a voice: “And I thought my life was pathetic.” More whispers followed, criticizing my relationship with Damon and the loss of my baby.

My heart shattered. Pain radiated from my chest; I gasped for breath. I was falling apart. I struggled to find words, to continue ring shopping. Everything seemed to disappear; my vision blurred. But no! I wouldn’t let them get away with this. I wasn’t some pathetic woman for them to ridicule. Their opinions of my life were none of their business.

I turned, my eyes meeting the women who seemed to be there for matching rings. My presence was more exciting than their shopping. They looked away, clearing their throats. I took a step toward them, startling them.

“My life’s pathetic?” I scoffed. They avoided my eyes; my voice was alarming everyone. “Listen here! My life isn’t pathetic. The only thing pathetic is you two and your thirst for gossip. I will not stand here and listen to you talk about me and my husband.”

My voice was loud and authoritative. The women looked ashamed as people gawked at them.

“Because, as far as I know, yes, I have a sad story. But my resilience is stronger than your words,” I said, letting my words hang in the air before returning to Damon, who looked at me with approval and pride. I knew I’d done good.