Chapter 167: Vacation Day Two
Clara lay on her bed with a pillow pressed tightly over her ears, but it did little to block out the sounds bleeding through the walls. The low, breathy moans of Damian’s wives rose and fell in waves, slipping through the quiet of the night and settling deep into her thoughts. It wasn’t loud enough to be crude, but it was intimate enough to make her painfully aware of what she was missing.
She turned slightly, burying her face deeper into the pillow.
"I should have just stayed home," she muttered under her breath, her voice muffled and laced with frustration.
"Nah... I’m glad you are here."
Damian’s calm voice came from behind her, so close it sent a sharp jolt through her chest. Her breath hitched before she could even react.
Before she could move, she felt the mattress dip and his arms slide around her, one beneath her and the other settling gently over her waist as he pulled her back into his chest. The movement was slow, deliberate, leaving no room for resistance, yet carrying none of the urgency from earlier.
Clara froze for a brief second, then slowly relaxed as his warmth enveloped her.
His breath brushed lightly against the back of her neck, steady and warm, sending a soft shiver down her spine. His presence alone was enough to stir something deep within her, something she had been trying to suppress all night.
She felt his hand settle more firmly against her, holding her in place, grounding her.
"Can I sleep like this?" Damian whispered, his voice low and close to her ear.
Clara’s lips parted slightly, and after a brief hesitation, she nodded, a small smile forming despite the warmth rising to her cheeks.
Even if she could not fully be with him the way she wanted, this... this was enough. Being held like this, surrounded by his scent, feeling his presence so close, it filled the emptiness just enough to let her breathe.
She shifted slightly in his arms, settling more comfortably against him, her body naturally molding into his.
The night stretched quietly after that.
No more words.
Just warmth, soft breathing, and the steady rhythm of two bodies finding calm in each other’s presence.
---
Morning came gently.
Sunlight spilled through the wide glass panels, soft and golden, stretching across the floor and slowly creeping up the bed. The sound of the ocean followed closely behind, waves rolling in steady rhythm, neither loud nor faint, just constant enough to anchor the moment.
Clara stirred first.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly, her body still heavy with sleep, her mind slow to catch up. For a moment, she didn’t move. She simply listened. The ocean. The faint rustle of curtains moving with the breeze. The quiet, steady breathing behind her.
Then she felt it.
Damian’s arm still wrapped around her.
She blinked once, then smiled faintly.
’He really spent the night with me?’
Clara believed Damain would sneak back to his wives sometime in the night and only said those words to make her feel better and she was totally okay with that. In fact, she was even grateful he went through the trouble because it meant he had her on his mind.
What she didn’t expect was he would actually stay with her till dawn.
’Shouldn’t his arm be hurting now or something?’
Careful not to wake him, she shifted slightly, but the movement was enough. Damian’s grip tightened just a little, pulling her closer again without fully waking.
"Don’t run," he muttered, his voice thick with sleep.
Clara let out a soft laugh. "I wasn’t."
His eyes opened halfway, unfocused at first before settling on her. There was no tension in them this time. No sharpness. Just calm.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he exhaled and loosened his hold, allowing her to turn and face him properly.
"Good morning." He said and Clara’s face flushed red upon receiving his undivided focus.
Outside, the villa had already begun to come alive.
Ruby’s voice carried faintly from the main area, bright and energetic even this early. Hazel’s calmer tone followed, while Racheal’s softer laughter blended in between them.
Clara sat up slowly, stretching slightly as the sunlight brushed against her skin.
"It’s morning already..." she murmured.
Damian pushed himself up as well, running a hand through his hair as he glanced toward the open space beyond the room.
"They’re already up," he said, though not surprised.
He too was having trouble sleeping and he’s not a God yet.
"That’s not surprising," Clara replied, standing and smoothing out her clothes. "Ruby probably hasn’t slept properly out of excitement."
Damian chuckled lightly, then stood as well. He knew Clara was wrong. In fact, it was dumb of her to think she knew anything about his wives. Even he doesn’t know much about them. But he just let her keep talking.
The moment they stepped out into the main area, the atmosphere shifted completely.
Ruby was already seated at the table, leaning forward with a wide smile as she poked at the spread of food laid out before them. Fresh fruits, warm pastries, juices, and dishes.
Hazel stood nearby, pouring a drink, while Racheal leaned casually against the counter, watching Ruby with quiet amusement.
"There you are!" Ruby called out immediately. "You guys are late."
Clara raised a brow. "It’s morning."
"Exactly," Ruby replied, as if that explained everything.
Damian walked over and took a seat, leaning back slightly as he took in the scene.
Hazel placed a glass in front of him, her fingers brushing his lightly. "Sleep well?"
He nodded once. "Better than expected."
Racheal stepped closer, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before she smiled faintly. "Good."
Clara took her seat beside Ruby, who immediately pushed a plate toward her. "Eat. You need energy even if you’re not doing anything."
Clara shot her a look, but there was no real bite behind it.
"That’s our secret."
"We are a family, there is no secret amongst us," Ruby shot back without missing a beat.
A small laugh escaped Hazel, while even Racheal’s lips curved slightly.
Damian watched them all quietly, his gaze softer than it had been in days. Yesterday was so good he nearly concluded it was a dream but now he knows it’s real.
This is the life he wants to live. One with no tension and no conflict pressing down on them. Just light teasing, shared space, and a rare sense of ease.
He reached for a piece of fruit, leaning back slightly as the sound of the ocean filled the background once more.
[If you want a life like this then you should become the demon lord, kill the supreme deity and become a True God...]