Sienna didn't sleep that night.
How could she?
Every time she closed her eyes, she felt Damien's lips on hers, the heat of his hands, the way he had pressed into her like he couldn't get enough.
And then… the way he had pulled away.
Like it had been a mistake.
Like she had been a mistake.
She hated that it stung.
This wasn't real.
She had known that from the beginning.
But knowing didn't stop the ache in her chest when she stepped into the kitchen the next morning and found Damien standing by the coffee machine—acting like nothing had happened.
His crisp suit was already in place, his tie perfectly knotted, his expression unreadable as he scrolled through his phone.
Sienna hesitated in the doorway.
Should she say something?
Should she pretend too?
Before she could decide, Damien glanced up, his face completely blank.
"Morning," he said, his tone clipped, distant.
Not the same man who had kissed her breathless against the wall.
Sienna forced a smile. "Morning."
He turned back to his phone.
Silence stretched between them.
She hated it.
She hated that he could act like last night meant nothing, while she was still trying to catch her breath from it.
Sienna grabbed a mug and poured herself some coffee, the heat doing nothing to ease the tension in her body.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
"Are we going to talk about it?" she asked.
Damien didn't look up. "Talk about what?"
Sienna's fingers clenched around the mug.
Seriously?
He was really going to act like this?
She set her coffee down with a little more force than necessary.
"About the fact that you kissed me last night," she said, voice firm. "And don't you dare say it didn't happen."
That got his attention.
Damien exhaled sharply, finally meeting her gaze.
"It was a mistake," he said.
Sienna flinched.
A mistake.
She knew it shouldn't hurt, but damn it, it did.
She crossed her arms. "Funny. Didn't feel like a mistake last night."
His jaw tightened. "I wasn't thinking clearly."
"Right," she scoffed. "Because kissing me is obviously the worst thing that's ever happened to you."
Damien's eyes flashed. "That's not what I—"
"Then what, Damien?" she snapped. "Because one second, you're kissing me like you can't get enough, and the next, you're acting like I don't exist."
His silence said everything.
Sienna let out a bitter laugh. "Wow. Unbelievable."
Damien exhaled, dragging a hand down his face. "Sienna—"
"Forget it," she cut him off. "You want to pretend nothing happened? Fine. I can play that game too."
Before he could respond, she grabbed her coffee and strode out of the kitchen, heart hammering.
If Damien wanted distance, she would give it to him.
But he was going to hate it.
Later That Day
Sienna was done waiting for Damien to come to his senses.
If he wanted to act cold? She could match him.
So when they arrived at the company gala that night—one of the biggest events of the year—Sienna turned on the charm.
The moment they stepped inside, she let her hand slip from Damien's arm and drifted toward the crowd, leaving him standing there.
Two could play this game.
It didn't take long before she was surrounded by people—executives, investors, men who actually paid attention to her.
And Damien?
He hated it.
She could feel his stare burning into her from across the room, but she ignored him, laughing at a joke one of the executives made.
Damien clenched his jaw so hard she thought it might crack.
But he stayed silent.
So she pushed further.
She reached for her drink, taking a slow sip as she smiled up at the man beside her—she thought his name was Ethan.
She didn't even have to try. The man was eating up every word she said.
And Damien?
Well, he finally snapped.
One second, she was making polite conversation. The next, a strong hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her away.
She barely had time to react before Damien spun her around, his grip firm but careful.
His voice was low, dangerous.
"Are you done?"
Sienna blinked innocently. "Done with what?"
Damien's eyes darkened.
"You know exactly what."
She tilted her head. "I thought we were playing the 'let's pretend nothing happened' game?"
His grip tightened for a fraction of a second—then he exhaled sharply, stepping closer.
Sienna's breath caught.
"You think I don't want you?" he murmured.
Her pulse skipped.
Damien leaned in, his breath warm against her ear.
"You have no idea how badly I want you, Sienna," he said.
Her stomach dropped.
Then why was he acting like this?
She didn't have time to ask.
Because Damien was suddenly pulling her closer, his body pressed against hers as his lips brushed the shell of her ear.
"But this isn't just about us," he murmured.
Sienna frowned. "What do you mean?"
Damien hesitated.
Then, finally, he sighed. "There are things you don't know. Things I can't tell you—not yet."
Sienna swallowed hard.
So there was something more.
Something holding him back.
She wasn't sure if that made her feel better or worse.
But before she could press him further, Damien's phone buzzed.
He pulled back, his expression instantly shuttered as he checked the screen.
"I have to take this," he said, his voice unreadable.
Sienna nodded stiffly. "Of course. Wouldn't want another 'mistake,' right?"
Damien exhaled sharply, hesitating for half a second—then he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Sienna watched him go, her stomach twisting.
She had wanted answers.
Now, she had more questions than ever.