WARNINGS
Mild smut & Display of Insecurities
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A/N

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• MAKUA •

A satisfied sigh escaped my lips as I leaned back against Damian's chest. His hands were buried in the throng of my hair, running his long fingers through the lather of the shampoo and massaging my scalp like an expert.

We sat in nestled closely in his bath — an enormous white porcelain tub-shaped circle at the center of the spacious bathroom. It was a marvel to gawk at but I wasn't really a fan of bathtubs no matter how grand and tempting they were – unless It was with someone, that is.

When he'd suggested we get in — after a heated argument, I might add — I took the offer without a fuss. What we were arguing about though, it was hard to dwell on with the way his hands skillfully caressed my head, leaving my mind struggling to put up much of a fight.

He's such a cheat.

And maybe, I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. It wasn't like I was yelling or throwing a fit or anything. It was more or less his adamant attitude in telling me that Tonia was the best thing for me right now — which I strongly disagreed with.

I mean, he'd barely been present mentally or physically at the meeting and when I brought that up, it'd spurred into a fit of apologies and assurances that he knew I was in good hands — I was still so-so on that notion.

Remembering how Tonia had spoken to me... and what she'd mentioned at the end of our meeting...

How was I expected to work efficiently with such a cold-hearted blonde wannabe with as much venom reserved as a snake in the freaking jungle?

She'd singlehandedly set off my anxiety with this Sienna talk. She was back. Fine. But telling me she was going to come after Damian now?

I let out a pent breath just as warm streams of water cascaded down from my hair, down my back and around me. He silently rinsed it off, twiddling with the strands of the big twists they were held in.

"How do you feel now?" He asked, his voice deep as his lips hovered by my ear.

"Okay, I guess?" My lips drew in a small pout, as he placed a soft kiss on my shoulder. "It would have been more effective to get my hair washed in the shower."

He scoffed, "Maybe, but it's different isn't it? Relaxing in the water, getting your hair clean and getting cozy."

"I'm not in a cozy mood."

"And why is that?" His hands encircled my body now, drawing in heat on every part of my skin he touched. He pulled me closer until I was pressed tightly against his chest, his dick slicked between my ass cheeks. "Are you still angry with me?"

Despite wanting to blurt out yes, I found myself saying, "Honestly, no."

I felt his chest rise and fall slowly as he let out a breath, his arms tightening around me. "I see my tactic worked?"

"Perfectly," I muttered ruefully. Fighting back my smile at the soft sound of his laughter filling the space and bouncing off the walls.

This was nice.

No drama, no phone beside me to send me on an internet spiral session or bat-shit-crazed publicists trying to dictate my life — just us.

Just him and I.

"Why were you really upset? You seemed... tense, was it the news article? Tonia? Did she say something to upset you?"

Well, she might have told me your ex was on her way from a successful tour — I know this from searching her up like a damn stalker — and on her way to reclaim her spot by your side. Nothing too upsetting. Not unsettling at all.

"Maybe."

"Maybe is not an answer, dolcezza." His hands traveled up my side, caressing the skin of my tummy and making its way to clasp unto the curves of my breast. He gave them a little squeeze, satisfied with the way I squirmed in his hold.

Like I said, a cheat.

"I'll give a definite answer if we get out of the water."

"Too tempting? You know the bed is not any better."

"Yes it is," I countered, playfully elbowing my way out of his grasp and sashaying to the edge of the tub, slipping out. "This way, we can talk without your seduction."

He scrunched his nose. "It must come naturally cause I haven't even started on that."

"Tell that to someone who hasn't fallen for it before." I retorted good-naturedly, trying to hide a smile as his laughter filled my ears once more.

"Fine, you win on that." He lifted himself up, standing in all his glory – and I mean glory — a sly smirk on his face as I turned and made my way into the bedroom.

Wet footsteps on cold marble echoed behind me as he worked to keep up to my pace. "Hey, why are you running?"

"I'm not," I shot back, picking up my pace now and heading for the bed. Which I should have known better about because he was quicker. Sturdier on his feet. His strong arms encircled my middle before I could make it halfway and it took only a second for him to hurl us across the bed, his body positioned to take the brunt of the collision.

Reasons why I should have been a trackstar while I had a chance in high school. Shame.

I held unto my towel tightly as my body pressed close to his, his arm fastened around my middle. "You cheated."

"No I didn't."

"You did."

"I did not. It wasn't a race." He laughed, resting his head against the plush pillows.

"It became one when I started running."

"Sure, if that's what you call running."

My mouth gapped open and he laughed harder, bringing his lips to mine - though I made a move to leave them wide open. It didn't stop him though from kissing around the sides and my cheeks. It was feathery and light; each peck slowly easing me into a pout, ready to take his soft lips, feel the warmth of his tongue twisting in a subtle tug of war with mine.

My hands moved over his head, fondling the silky curls of his hair and tugging as our kiss deepened. He shifted until he was on top, his hands moving to unravel my well-secured towel knot. I covered his hands in mine, smiling against his lips until he pulled back.

"Not so fast." My thumb dragged along his glistening bottom lip, a smile gracing my face at the cloud of lust that hung over his narrowed eyes. Two could play the game of seduction.

"We agreed to come out of the tub, to talk, remember?"

A soft groan made its way past his lips. He leaned down, resting his head on my chest and letting out a dramatic breath. "You did that on purpose."

"Did what?" I asked, raking my fingers through his hair. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He hummed his disbelief and it was my turn to laugh. A comfortable silence settled between us, with me stroking his hair while he ran an idle hand along my arm.

"What's on your mind, amore?" his voice was gentle, coupled with his stroking fingers. "I need to know that you're okay."

"I am." I said, swallowing back the lump lodged in my throat. Dreading the question dying to slip past my lips, gnawing at my insides in need of release; to be set free.

So I did just that.

"Who's Sienna?"

Silence.

A dramatic pause as his fingers still in their movement.

I hesitate as well, my fingers still intertwined in his hair. It's so quiet, so still, that the only sound I could hear was our beating hearts — his beating harder.

It took a moment or two for him to respond. He pulled back, resting on the hunches of his feet and facing me straight on. His face unreadable.

"Why?" His voice is devoid of any emotion or the playfulness from a moment ago. It's cold. Detached. For a minute I wish I could take back the question but he's waiting for my answer.

"I heard about her. In some articles, on the news." And every gossip site within mile radius — a result of my mini manic episode filled with anxiety and uncertainty as I searched her up. It was possible I even knew her now more than she did herself. It's sad, I know. But I couldn't resist it. And seeing how beautiful she was with her silky chestnut brown waves, perfect smile. Perfect music career, perfect freaking everything... wasn't very comforting in the least.

And she was apparently back.

In the same space as him. In the same city. Same company, same building for Christ sake.

Finding out she was signed to Gian Entertainment, was the cherry on the cake. I hated it.

Now, watching his guarded reaction to the mere mention of her name, made the bile rise up from my throat. Was he pissed I knew her? So maybe I'd be alert if he tried to chase after her and make her his new 'crush'?

My God, was I his rebound from her?

"Stop."

My brows furrowed at his command but he drew closer to me, laying beside me, eyes fixed to the ceiling. "I don't want you overthinking when it comes to her. I knew you'd find out eventually about my past relationship with her but I wish I talked to you first." He spared a side glance, "I just need you to know that the chapter with her, that...relationship, is done. There's no going back or leaving you for her. I won't leave you. Especially not for her."

"How are you so sure you wouldn't change your mind when you see her?"

"Because I have you." His eyes zero in on me, soft and gently running over my face, settling on my lips. "I don't need anyone else. Not Sienna. Not anyone."

"Why?" I couldn't stop the questions from tumbling out. My chest was heavy and uncomfortable. I'd thought up a hundred scenarios and ways he could just leave me. Run back into her arms and realize that I'm just... me. Some foreign, 'upcoming' musician with nothing much to bring to the 'table.'

In a sense, I needed his assurance as badly as I wanted air right now. I needed to feel it, to loosen this knot tightening up in my chest.

"Will you trust me to tell you one day? Soon?"

"Only if you can give me something, something real. A memory, a time we met before maybe? Even a place?"

He bit down on his bottom lip and I wanted so bad to be the one pulling at it, but I waited. Keeping my hands tucked to myself.

"November. It was November."

"What was?"

A small smile tugged at his lips, "You said to give you a time. All I can give is November. Let's say, we met then, a few years back. And I just... kind of knew what I wanted at that point. But I didn't have a choice then. I do now."

His hand slithered close to mine, intertwining them and bringing them to his lips. He pressed his lips to the back of my hand in his, laying it down on his chest. "I just want you to give me the chance to show you what you mean to me, what I want to mean to you as well. Getting to know you, little by little...I don't know if my heart can contain the joy I feel when I'm with you."

Stray tears slip out from the side of eyes and I release a pent up breath, wetting my now-chapped lips with my tongue. How does a girl respond to that? I mean, my mind was still on the fence; thinking that he was either a man with a nack for words or a sincere man who actually likes me.

Not my heart though. Butterflies swirled and fluttered in the pit of my tummy, the tightness in my chest now replaced with this bundle of emotions that spilled from my eyes.

He brought his hands to my face, wiping at the streaming tears. His eyes held a similar glimmer but refused to fall — probably trained to hold on longer than usual.

"Shh, don't cry, moi bambina." My Baby.

I sniffed and wiped the back of my cheeks and when he rose his head to meet mine, I didn't hesitate to press my lips to his.

It was a hungry kiss, ferocious and packed with too many emotions. In that moment, all the negatives didn't matter. Sienna, Tonia, the media, the mafia, his family, his line of work.

Nothing.

Just him.

And maybe, just maybe, everything else would turn out okay.

If not, then we'd have each other.

Just like this.

Hopefully always like this.

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