Damien woke up with a naked Serenity beside him. He traced her back with his fingers and breathed easier. She was finally home. The sun shining outside his windows no longer bothered him. She was his and he felt centered.
Her eyes opened and she stared at him without moving under the sheet that covered them both. Last night, he'd taken her with all the intensity he'd felt since she’d left, so she had to be tired. Her gaze held clarity. "I'm glad you're home Serenity."
She leaned over, kissed him on his lips and then tugged his arm around her. Neither of them moved and they just listened to the singing birds and the sound of the waves in the distance. She made his life complete, and he'd not lose her again.
It felt like hours later when she tugged herself out of his embrace, stood, and wrapped her robe around her small waist. "Damien, where did you go the other morning? I remember your brother came over and you both went across the street."
Everything seemed trivial now. He stood and saw no reason to lie as he grabbed a pair of sweats. "The night of our wedding Galen slept with Jennifer."
She walked over to him, ran her hand across his chest while she reached for her diamond necklace on the night stand beside him. "Oh well, she's beautiful and famous. But why tell Peter and act like it was a problem?"
She walked into the closet and put the necklace and her earrings in the jewelry safe he'd installed for her. "I don't like to gossip."
She walked out and stared at him funny. "I'm your wife. I'm asking what concerned you."
Fair enough. Damien understood she'd not tell anyone else, but he tugged on his ear as if guilty. "Jennifer also found out that night that Peter and Belle were having issues conceiving, and knew what fertility clinic to go to."
Her eyes were confused. "Why? Does she need infertility treatment too?"
Wow. He’d married the only person alive who didn't know all the Morgan drama that played out on the tabloid newspapers. "Jennifer has been in love with Peter for years. She's not over my brother, despite how happy and in love he is with Belle."
"That's sad for Jennifer, in a way." Serenity walked toward the bathroom.
He followed her, clearly confused. Most people knew more sordid details than he wanted to know about his family. He leaned against the door while she splashed water on her face. "Did you not read anything about the Morgans or anyone else other than Serena?"
She wiped her face and shook her head. "I know Serena didn't like Jennifer, and honestly, no. I skipped all gossip on the Morgans, thinking it wasn't my business." She came toward him and took his hand. "Either way, Jennifer is nice. Maybe your brother Galen has a chance if she heals her heart enough to try again."
Jennifer was safe to talk to because she wasn't a threat to Galen’s heart. Somehow his brother had jumped into a fire that he needed to avoid, but there was no way to share his thoughts without sounding overprotective. At the end of the day, Galen made his own choices, but Damien could hope for the best. He squeezed her hand. "That's not Galen. He's been burned once before and his divorce nearly killed his spirit. Jennifer would not be a good match for him."
She let go and shrugged. "I don't think you get a choice in his life. He doesn't get a say in ours."
True, but his brothers were all he had for years that helped him grow. Mitch was now happy so he wanted all of them to have a shot at happiness too. Serenity walked past him and picked out white slacks and a dark blue top. He watched, fascinated that, somehow, he’d been lucky enough to end up with her. "I hope he finds an angel of his own, like you are to me."
She put the clothes on a hanger for easy access and turned to smile at him. "I don't know them to judge honestly. I'd like to know your family more as they are important to you, but there are a lot of Morgans."
Interest in his family was good because his family wanted to know more about her too. He walked to the nightstand where he plugged in his phone in the middle of the night. "Let's start with my immediate brothers. I grew up with my mom, Mitch, Galen and Axel. And Catherine was kidnapped from us when she was little, but she's in town today and I'd like for you to meet her too. Could we do that later?"
She nodded and sat on the bed. "That's only five people. I can handle it. Invite them over for lunch."
He opened up his group chat to his family and typed Lunch, my place? He looked up and said, "My mother, Galen, Mitch and his wife, Tess, all live close."
Her eyes widened. "Wife. That's six. Anyone else?"
He actually liked Tess a lot. He felt heat in his cheeks for forgetting her a second ago. He sat beside Serenity. "No one else is married. Catherine is still in college."
She let out a deep breath and stared at their bare feet. "Damien?"
"Yes?" His heart slowed. The way she said his name was like how she’d said it on the docks. Something was off.
She continued to stare at the bare floor. Silence clung in the air but he didn't move. Instead he waited and finally she said, "I hope they like me. It's been a long time since I tried to impress family and my sister..."
Oh. He could handle nerves. He patted her back gently and kept his voice low. "She's not you. None of us will judge, I promise." He checked his phone and already saw three yes answers. "They are already agreeing. I'll tell them noon."
He typed on his phone the time and put it back on the bed behind him.
Serenity turned and stared at his lips. "Don't leave the house without telling me. I'm still slightly nervous."
Last night, she’d tasted like berries. His mouth hungered for her again, but he didn't act. He understood her fears, and would prove that he'd do whatever he could to protect her. No one was getting in their mansion, ever again. "Don't be. I had Rafe upgrade our security system so we're aligned in all the Morgan Security features. I should have done that before you moved in."
"Damien?" She spoke in the same tone as before. His face tingled as he wondered what was wrong with her and a slight headache formed.
His wife needed to be honest. He kept his gaze on the floor now to not set her off, but he asked, "Are you scared to talk to me about something, Serenity?"
She gazed up and met his stare. Her face was white. "Terrified actually. How did you know?"
The idea that she hesitated with him made him sad. They needed to build trust, but he was up to the task. He swallowed and kept his tone calm. "I have gathered information for years. Reading people is part of the job, but Serenity, you're my wife." He pressed his hand to her lower back. "Don't be afraid."
Her eyelids fluttered. She studied him with big doe eyes until she finally said, "Damien, how does your heart feel about me?"
"Feel?" No. Feelings were not a way to start their conversation with trust. He hoped his answer was good enough for her. "You're my wife. I hated the idea of us separating when we have a child coming."
Her lips pursed, but she swallowed and lowered her lashes to hide her blue eyes. "I get that, but do you have any special feelings that are just for me?"
This wasn't going well. He'd have to tell her how he felt about love and romance, but he tried to be honest one more time. He pressed his hand to her thigh. "That you're mine and I like having you here."
She shook her head. "We'll talk about it later, after your family comes over. It will be better then, when we're not rushing."
The last thing he'd do was hurt her but they had to be on the same page. He held her thigh, gently massaged it, but said, "Serenity, the idea of romance and love is a stupid childish delusion that doesn't go well in today's world. I swear I will be faithful, a good husband and good father to our child. I'll provide for you and spend my life making you happy, but let's not talk about romantic love. It doesn't exist."
Her face drained of color. She hopped off the bed. "Ohh. Give me five minutes to freshen up and I'll be ready to meet your family."
"Okay, Serenity. I'll be right back to get you." He hoped this was the end of the conversation. While he didn't want to lose her, he didn't want to lie to her either. Love like in the books and fairy tales ended up ruining real relationships and he'd never be like his parents.