Chapter 104: Chapter 104- Kiss

He wasn't trying to cover his tracks or convince her otherwise; instead, he was revealing everything as if it were a game, a test of sorts. There was more to him than what met the eye.

Before she could pull away entirely, Damien's hand reached out, firmly but gently catching her by the waist, stopping her from stumbling backward. Natasha's eyes flicked to his hand, then back to his face. What was he doing? And why was he helping her?

"What's the meaning of this?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, still trying to gauge what game Damien was playing.

Damien's grin widened as he released his hold on her waist, taking his time. "Nothing, really," he said casually, leaning in slightly closer. His hand moved up, brushing a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering just a moment too long. His dark eyes bore into hers with an intensity that made her feel trapped yet oddly mesmerized. "But how about I make a new deal with you?"

Natasha blinked, confusion evident on her face. "What deal?" she asked, her voice shakier than she intended.

With his gaze fixed firmly on hers, Damien's smirk deepened. "Aren't you stuck in your cultivation?" His tone was teasing, as if he knew a secret no one else did. "I can help you with that. Maybe then, you wouldn't feel so… inferior to your cousin."

Natasha's heart skipped a beat. Her entire body tensed, and she recoiled slightly at his words. "Who said I feel inferior to Ye Fan?" she shot back defensively. "I don't—there's no way I'd ever feel that way about him. He's an idiot!"

Her protest was sharp, but even she could hear the resignation creeping into her voice. It stung to realize that, somewhere deep down, she had been comparing herself to Ye Fan, constantly measuring her own worth against his.

And now, this stranger had just laid her insecurities bare, as if he'd been reading her thoughts all along.

Damien chuckled, the sound low and amused, clearly unfazed by her outburst. "You don't need to hide anything," he said, his voice taking on a gentler tone. "I can help you… if you want. Trust me."

Natasha's gaze locked onto his again, trying to read his intentions through those dark, unreadable eyes. She couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him; something about the way he spoke, the way he carried himself, made her feel like he knew things—dangerous, forbidden things.

Her instincts told her to back away, but the lure of power, of surpassing Ye Fan and proving herself, was stronger than her caution.

Still, she wasn't foolish. She knew the stakes. "No," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "What if you scam me too?"

Damien's lips curved into another grin, clearly amused by her wariness. "Stuck at the early foundation of the Golden Core realm, are we?" he asked, his voice dripping with playful mockery. "Unable to fully manifest your core yet?"

Her world came crashing down at that moment. Natasha's eyes widened in shock, her hand shooting up to grab Damien by the collar, pulling him closer in an impulsive reaction. "How do you know that?"

she hissed, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Who told you?"

Her mind raced. She had never shared that particular weakness with anyone—not her family, not her closest confidants. It was a deeply personal struggle, one she had worked tirelessly to keep hidden. Yet, here this man was, standing in front of her, casually revealing her most guarded secret as if it were common knowledge.

Damien didn't resist, his gaze never leaving hers. The smug expression on his face didn't waver. "I just know," he said, his voice smooth, unbothered by the tension in the air. His calmness only made her grip on his collar tighten, frustration and confusion roiling inside her.

"You… you damn well knew?" Natasha could barely contain her disbelief. Her pulse quickened as a thousand questions filled her mind. Who was he, really? And what did he want with her?

She released his collar, her hand trembling slightly as she stepped back, her gaze still locked onto his. Damien stood there, not moving, still as calm as ever, his eyes glinting with something she couldn't quite place. Amusement? Interest? Or was it something darker?

"You're in over your head, Natasha," Damien said softly, his voice dropping into a low whisper. "But I can help you out of this. Just think about it."

Natasha clenched her fists, her mind swirling in a storm of emotions. This man was dangerous, no doubt about it.

But damn him, he was also tempting enough for her to inquire how he would be able to help her. "How?"

Damien grinned, looking down on her as he leaned near her ear and whispered, "by having sex with me."

Natasha's body tensed, her mind barely able to process what Damien had just said.

For a moment, she stood frozen, her jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

Then, in a flash, anger surged through her veins.

She pushed him away with all the strength she could muster, her hand swinging for a punch, pure rage behind her strike.

"How dare you, you bastard!" she snarled, her voice a blend of disbelief and fury.

But Damien was quicker, sidestepping her punch with ease.

Before she could react, he reached out and pulled her into an unexpected, forceful kiss. Enjoy new adventures from m-v l'e|-NovelFire.net

"Mmmph?!"

Her first instinct was to retaliate, to shove him off with every ounce of strength she had, but his lips pressed against hers with an intensity that both confused and enraged her.

The kiss was brief, too brief for her to truly fight back.

And then, just as suddenly, she managed to push him off, her hand flying up for another punch. Sёarᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

This time, Damien dodged with a smirk, his body moving in a blur as he suddenly vanished, reappearing near the entrance of a nearby taxi.

He raised a hand in a mock salute, his grin infuriatingly smug.

"Bye, Nat. We'll meet again."

His tone was teasing, playful even, as if the entire encounter had been nothing more than a game.

Natasha, her chest heaving with anger, watched as the taxi drove off.

Her heart still pounded in her chest, but the rage slowly started to simmer, giving way to the cold reality of what had just happened.

He knew too much.

And worse, he wasn't just dangerous.

He was playing with her, toying with her in ways she couldn't yet comprehend.

Her lips still tingled from the kiss, a stark reminder of how close he had gotten.

She wiped them harshly, anger rekindling as she swore under her breath.

She wasn't done with him, not by a long shot.