SWNOVELS Chapter 11
I couldn’t find the right words to say. Because even if I tried to brush it off, or laugh it away, I did feel something. I got tired of being set aside and having my feelings always undermined that, I shut out my emotions after my traumatic experience.
“I…” I started but got overwhelmed. I couldn’t look away from him, from the way he was staring at me like I was the only person in the world.
“Damon, I don’t know what to say,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. His eyes darkened, the spark of hope in them dimming. For a moment, he seemed disheartened, and I could feel his grip on my hands loosening.
Panic shot through me. Without thinking, I grabbed onto his hands, maybe a little too hard, because the next thing I knew, I found myself pinned beneath him on the bed. His face hovered inches above mine, his breath was warm against my skin. I opened my mouth to apologize, but the words came out as a jumble of random excuses that didn’t make any sense.
“Uh… I didn’t mean to–well, I mean, I did, but not like that–it was an accident…” My cheeks flushed red, and I trailed off, mortified.
Damon blinked at me in surprise. Then suddenly, a dazzling smile spread across his face, and I felt butterflies.
“I guess you actually felt something after all,” he said softly, his eyes dancing with amusement.
Before I could even process his words, Damon leaned down, capturing my lips in a kiss so deep and passionate it left me breathless. His lips. moved against mine with such urgency, such hunger, that it was like he was pouring everything he felt into that one kiss, and I couldn’t ignore what my senses were screaming at me anymore.
A rush of warmth spread through my chest, radiating out to every part of me. The longer we kissed, the more my mind cleared as if each touch was unraveling the confusion that had clouded my heart for so long. Every brush of his lips, every slight press of his body against mine, brought with it a wave of clarity I hadn’t expected.
It hit me all at once–those random moments when he made me laugh, when he pushed me just enough to make me stronger, when he simply looked at me and my heart would race. I have a name for it now.
When Damon finally pulled away, his breath heavy, he looked down at me, searching my face. “Who am I to you, Daphne?”
My heart pounded in my chest, and the words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. “My mate.”
The instant the words were out, Damon’s eyes softened. He pressed his forehead against mine, and we both started laughing, the sound filling the space between us. It wasn t the kind of laughter that came from a joke or something funny–it was more like the kind of laughter that happens when you realize something you ve been missing for so
you’ve long, was finally in front of you.
We lay there on the bed, tangled in each other’s arms. Nothing happened beyond that burning kiss–just warmth, comfort, and the feeling of finally being where I was meant to be. I rested my head against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat soothing my racing thoughts. His arms tightened around me, and I melted into the embrace. Jasper never had this effect on me when we found out we were mates.
“I didn’t think this was going to happen,” Damon murmured, his voice low as he gently traced circles on my back. “I’ve always wanted to find my mate. I was excited when I came of age. Thought I’d find her right away. But year after year, I didn’t. Eventually, I got used to being on my own. I didn’t even think about it much anymore. And then the dreams started.”
I glanced up at him. “Dreams?”
“Yeah, of pansy flowers,” he said, his smile faint. “At first, I didn’t think anything of it. Just thought it was a weird dream. But one day, I was heading to Moonlake when I saw that field. The same one from my dream. And there you were, lying right in the middle of it, curled up and peaceful.”