That night, Damon was restless.
Merry didn't mind and slept off so she wouldn't be bothered by the noise he was making.
It was 11:00pm. when Damon walked in and snapped for her to wake up.
"Follow me."
"No."
"Fucking get up."
"What's wrong with you, Damon?" Merry snapped. "Can't you ask nicely?"
"We're going to the waterside."
"To do what?"
"Anything."
He went to have a shower and Merry sluggishly wore a pair of denim shorts and a shirt.
Damon came in and saw that it was his shirt she'd put on.
"You'll wrinkle it."
He frowned and turned away. Seconds later, she followed.
"Damon, I think I have the right to know why we're going to the waterside tonight."
"We need to talk.""
Merry's forehead creased, but she still followed him.
🎶🌳🎄♥️
♥️🌳🎄🎶
At the waterside, there was no word from him. Merry sat on a stone and stared at the water while Damon paced to and fro behind her.
Then, Merry became frustrated.
"Is this it?" She asked.
No reply.
She took slow, deep breaths.
Silence.
Long moments of silence.
"You have a great family, Damon." She said. "I never knew."
Silence again.
"Do you love them?"
He finally spoke, snapping.
"Is there anyone amongst them who's like me?"
"Yeah. You. Thomas. Your dad. Your faces...."
"Then, let it remain like that."
A short pause.
"Uhm.... You don't like step-family....?"
"Don't say any more words."
Merry smiled and looked back at him. His fists were in his pockets.
"Stop smiling." Damon growled, and Merry slightly turned sideways so she could look at him more closely.
"You're so toxic. Quick-tempered, too. Show me what you got. Come push me in the water. Drown me."
Damon's eyes slitted as they stared each other down.
Merry turned back to look at the water, still smiling.
Then, she heard his footsteps as he walked towards her.
He grabbed her shoulders from behind.
Merry surprisingly didn't scream or stiffen under his hold. She only whispered.
"Stop hiding behind a monster you're not."
"You don't know me. I won't hesitate to drown you." He growled dangerously.
"I dare you."
He gently reached a hand around her neck and tilted her face upwards. Merry couldn't hold her gasp within. He leaned close and gently took her lips in his.
It was slow, and it was longing.
Merry was hesitant at first. Surprised even. But there was something about how nothing had changed in the soft firmness of Damon's lips. About how she vividly remembered.
About the memory that made her carelessly lunge up to get more of him.
When his hand slipped down to caress her tummy from under her shirt, she found herself relaxing till her head messaged a warning.
"This feels too good, and it's not even real. This is wrong."
She stopped. Damon moved away just short of their lips touching.
"Let go of me." She whispered, and he did.
Silence.
"Did you take my pill case?" He suddenly asked from behind her.
Merry felt insulted for a moment but raised her chin, correcting herself internally.
"I didn't."
Silence. They only listened to water lap softly against the shore.
Merry stared up at nothing and spoke again.
"I don't know what you meant by that, though. I lost my earrings the same day, and I let it slide."
Damon looked away from her, something like guilt and stoicism crossing his countenance.
"I didn't want to ask...." He began.
"But you just did. So I'd feel angry like you." Merry said calmly. "I'm not. Just sad for you."
"Don't you say that to me."
"You're sick, aren't you? Bad sickness?"
Merry paused, licked her lips and shook her head.
"Uh.... I forgot it's none of my concern."
"I no longer need those pills, yes. But I don't lose things just like that. I just had to ask."
"Hm. Well, you ask badly."
Another moment of silence before Merry broke it.
"Let's go to Paris with your billions. I'll love to talk to your father about your working schedules."
"Don't. You can't disrupt my work."
"You mean your 'hiding place'."
"It's none of your business."
"Remember I talked about showing you what a good time feels like. You have what it takes to have fun, but you just need someone to guide you."
Merry smiled and turned so that they were sitting on the floor, opposite each other. Then, she smiled at him and gave him a wink, biting her lower lip.
Damon stared, trying to breathe. Trying to regulate his heartbeat and not swallow his spittle too loudly. Trying to jot look down at her soft pink lips or he'd end up taking her on the floor.
"She's beautiful." He thought and looked away icily, jaw clenching.
"Damon, why are you looking like that? I'm trying to be playful in this awkward situation. You need a little vacation. Both of us. Together."
"I don't want you talking to Naomi." Damon suddenly said, and Merry lifted her chin.
"Really?"
Pause.
"Cas' I'm some antisocial mannequin who can only sit around and listen to some little sister yap about my privacy?"
Damon's forehead creased with dismay, but he wiped the look off fast and spoke.
"It won't happen again. But that doesn't count for your mingling with that bitch of a woman...."
"Damon!"
"I mean it. Her, her kids. They're empty." He spat. "You have a job. Focus on it."
"This is getting crazy, Damon. It's your family, I'll keep that in mind. So, vacation or no?"
Damon sulked and looked away.
"I'll think about it."
"You have to deal with your thinking before morning."
She got to her feet while he stared elsewhere, jaw clenched.
"Whew! Some fake relationship is about to pull off in full swing."
She began to walk towards the car.
"Take me back to the house, Damon."
Damon quietly got to his feet, dusted his pants and drove them back to the private estate.
Then, that night when Damon slipped into the bed behind her, he said in a low voice.
"Where do you want to visit, Merry Steele?"
"What do you say for France?"
"Deal."
He watched her sleep for a moment longer than he should have then turned away, jaw tight, as if angry at himself.
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❤️🎵🎄🌳
When Merry told her father, Nicki, and Samantha that she really was going to fly to France with Damon, they were so happy for her.
"Damn, girl, we're not regretting these decisions." Samantha cried.
"You have to find a way and get me hot stuff from France, Merry. I'm so excited. Take pictures, too." Nicki said, jiggling with excitement.
"I'm so proud of you, Merry. I'll pray for both of you. Journey mercies." Her father, George, said.
When she got to Damon's yard in his private estate, she was overwhelmed by the sophisticated space as he took her on a short drive to his automated hangar.
And his crew was already standby and nodding in respect.
A private jet waited with its door open, lights on, like it already knew there was no turning back.