Healing Love: A Billionaire Romance (Forever Us Book 2)

by Bianca Borell

  “My poor baby . . . but you chose this.”

  I can’t be mad at him. This is him wanting his way. Nothing new, plus he’s telling the truth.

  I fall asleep, cocooned in his arms, our bodies merging.

  BRIA

  I wake up to drool permeating my pillow. Ugh! Not sexy. To add to my mortification, I find Damien propped on his elbow, with his face resting in his palm, gazing at me. I cover myself with the sheet, and my gesture ignites a round of amused snorts from him. I toss the sheet and put a finger in his face.

  “Don’t you dare say a thing.”

  “I wouldn’t, except you’re the most fascinating person I know.” He dips his head, and his eyes shine with adoration. I bite down on my lip, my heart bursting with love, and he adds, “You are. You’re beautiful, intelligent, strong, and funny.”

  “Possibly, I drool and snore too.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time.” My eyes widen, my mouth drops, and I throw a pillow at his face. “You’re adorable.”

  “Even if I snore and drool?”

  “Yes. I even took a picture.”

  I gasp, “No.”

  “But I already did.”

  “Delete it,” I demand, but he shakes his head.

  “No.”

  “I’ll steal your phone and delete it myself.”

  His fingers caress my cheek, and he softens. “And I hope you won’t.”

  I narrow my eyes at him but lean into his touch. “Your charm won’t get you out of this one.”

  “But maybe this will.”

  He pins me under him, tickles me, and I buckle under him, my eyes watering with laughter.

  “Say it.”

  His devious tactics have always worked, so unfair, and through pants, I say, “I won’t delete it, I promise.”

  “Was it hard for you to be good for a change?”

  “I’m good. You make me out to be a bad woman.”

  His eyebrow arches, as he admits, “Oh, and how I love it.”

  Our moment halts when Alex knocks on the door and grumbles, “We’re next door.”

  “Is he serious?” His head snaps from the door to me and his eyebrow furrows.

  “He is.”

  The color drains out of his face, and he rasps, “Did Sophia spend the night with him?”

  “I hope she did.”

  “Bria.”

  He’s such a hypocrite.

  “What, wanting to keep all the good things only to yourself?”

  He collapses next to me, runs a hand through his bedroom hair, and huffs, “She’s my sister.”

  “I know, but in case you forgot, things would’ve been awkward if my brother had your reaction.”

  “He was a child back then.”

  I caress his stone-hard chest and say, “A teenager, Damien. He wasn’t stupid. It’s not as if he didn’t know what we did.”

  “Why are you so damn logical? You should be on my side.”

  “I’m on no one’s side. I state facts and enjoy being right.”

  “Maddening woman.”

  “Stubborn man.”

  He grabs my hand and interlaces our fingers. “Let’s look for our own home.”

  “Step by step as we agreed.”

  He arches an eyebrow at me and scoffs. “Like we’ve only known each other since yesterday. What are we? Children?”

  “Most of the time, you behave like one, but I still love you.”

  “That’s refreshing.”

  I crawl to him, straddle his lap, and his eyes bore into mine.

  “I’m serious. If I find the perfect home for us, will you say yes?”

  I push his hair back. “You can’t buy a home, Damien. A home is a place you build with the people you love.”

  “Semantics, baby.”

  Compromise, the golden rule, the sanity keeper of a relationship. “Okay, but wait a few weeks, at least.”

  His jaw drops, my spoilt baby.

  “Weeks?” he mumbles under his breath, “It’s imprecise. How can I work with this information?”

  I lean to him and whisper, “Semantics, baby.” I hop off the bed and slip into a light-yellow summer dress.

  “You’re lucky I’m absolutely smitten with you.”

  “I’ll make breakfast. Don’t forget to put some clothes on. We don’t want to scare our roommates.” He groans, and I suppress a smile.

  “Stop reminding me.”

  I chuckle all the way to the kitchen where Sophia greets me, also wearing a distinct glow. She looks stunning in a blue shirt and white pants. She holds up a coffee cup, and her heart-shaped lips curve into a smile.

  “It’s like back then. I still debate if it frightens me or makes me unbelievably happy.”

  “Both are reasonable,” I answer, and swallow my medicine with some water.

  She rests her cup on the counter, and her shoulders sag. “I’m sorry for everything both of you have gone through, but especially for you. All these years I spent being mad at you for leaving, for becoming a stranger.” Pain crosses her fair skin, her fingers tap on the counter, and guilt strikes me. “I’d have been there for you regardless of what happened to my brother, so why?”

  “I was not right, Soph. I thought it would be best for everyone.”

  Her forehead creases with concern. “Are you well now?”

  “I’m getting there.”

  “I’ll be there for you and my crazy brother. But it won’t be fun when they finally find out that Monica arranged it . . .” She pauses. “Your poor mother. She has been there for her, and she almost destroyed you.”

  “And here I am, a walking miracle.”

  Her perfect white teeth dig into her lower lip. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’m sorry . . . I hope we can find a way back to each other.” She darts her eyes to the window, and her fingers graze the small scars. She catches my eyes, yanks her hand away, and undiluted pain crosses her eyes for one second. What’s your story, my sweet Sophia? What happened to you in my absence?

  She acknowledges my questioning look and forces a smile instead. “They raised us to be a family, Bria. Let’s say we were never separated, but distance kept us apart.”

  She needs time. No problem, when she’s ready, I’ll be here for her.

  “I’m happy for you and Alex.”

  A genuine smile spreads across her lips, and that hopeful look I have no idea what to make of appears. “He’s a great man. Damien will see it too.”

  “It means a lot. We rushed this whole being together. I think Damien believed I’m not interested in men at all. Then I’m with the one who’s been in love with you. He needs time, we all do.” Her lips turn up into a small smile, and I sip from my coffee, the rich Italian aroma rolling down my throat as the steam tickles my nose.

  “Alex and I, we’ve come a long way. We need each other. I can only hope Damien will see how things really are between us. It’s true, one can’t put a stamp on our relationship, but it’s better this way. We’re a family, and we’ll always be there for the other. This is a fact, everything else isn’t relevant.”

  Alex walks in wearing a loose shirt and shorts, interjecting, “It’s not nice talking about someone in their absence.”

  “As if you’re the master of morals. Please,” I reply, and he leans in to kiss her.

  My inner Damien sensor activates, and my skin prickles at his nearness. He wraps his arms around me and leans his chin on my shoulder.

  I’m happy, I really am.

  When Alex and Sophia leave us, we stare at each other smiling and breathing, somehow feeling relieved. As we enjoy our togetherness, I contemplate the possibility of moving in together. We need more than anything else being the two of us, at least most of the time. I should do what makes me happy, and he does. Even after years apart, together again comes at an instinctive level. As if the interlinked love between us pulls us back together and puts us on the path we memorized by heart, hand in hand, building a life together.


  A sense of belonging grounds me as I straddle him. Nothing else matters, just the incredible feeling of his arms around me and his soft lips glued to my lips and forehead. Twirling the ends of his hair, I say, “You always close your eyes briefly whenever I’m so close to you.”

  He cups my face in his hands with awe shining in his eyes. “Nothing escapes you.” I shake my head, press my lips to his forehead, and he goes on, “Because you’re here, all mine and it’s neither a dream nor a figment of my imagination, but a reality.”

  “I am not going anywhere. The first time almost killed me. Why would I want to leave my other half, anyway?” I peck him on his straight, elegant nose, and he presses me to him.

  “You must really love me then.”

  I fist his shirt and place my forehead to his. “I can’t believe you doubt it.”

  He silences my complaint with raining passion-infused kisses which reassure me he would never doubt my love for him.

  “You literally consume me, Damien, but you’re also the one who assembles me piece by piece back together. I love both. While the first ignites me, the latter breathes life back into me.”

  “I can’t seem to stop. I crave all of you, yet all will never be enough.”

  His husky voice sends a shiver to my core. I know there’s no length he wouldn’t go for me, but in exchange he wants me, all of me. “And yours I am, since the beginning of me.”

  BRIA

  We snuggle on the couch, our legs knit together, while soft music echoes around us. His fingers caress my hair, and I moan.

  Starting tomorrow, we’ll have to adapt. Our responsibilities weigh on us, and I’m glad we love what we do. It would’ve been torture otherwise. When Alex bolts through the door hours later, we’re halfway to my bedroom. Damien closes the door behind him to give me time alone with Alex, and my heart melts at his gesture.

  Alex leans on the wall across from me. “Back to work tomorrow. Are you ready?”

  I tap my lower lip and shrug. “Ready as I can be.”

  “It’s life, sweetheart. We can only take a break occasionally from it. But then it’s right back to it.”

  “How was your day?”

  He scratches his chin, and his eyes shine with amusement. “Let’s say I’ve seen every square inch of this city. My legs are killing me.”

  “How’s Sophia?”

  At the sound of her name, his eyes light up. “I took her home.”

  “Aren’t you the gentleman?”

  He cocks his head at me. “I’m the definition of one.”

  My hand flies to my chest in a faux reverie. “I don’t know a more modest person than you. It must be hard to be so utterly perfect.”

  He puffs and struts to me. We smile and I rise and kiss him on the cheek.

  I peer through the door to find Damien resting on the bed and cuddle myself to him. He puts his arms around me and says, his voice heavy with sleep, “Tomorrow, we’ll leave together, and we’ll come back together.”

  “Isn’t it at least a bit awkward, possibly too soon?”

  He presses me to him and crosses his legs around me, and I smile at his possessiveness.

  “No. We’re in this together. I don’t care what others have to say about it. It’s about our life. Too soon? We lost years. I would say it’s long overdue.” Anger shimmers in his eyes, and I place a kiss on the vein throbbing in his neck. It’s a sensitive matter to him, and I let it be.

  I fall asleep in his arms and shove every annoying thought that might disturb my peacefulness out of my mind.

  ***

  The next morning nervousness churns at my insides. It’s been almost four months since I was in the office. I wake up to the night still reigning over the sky, the moon halfway dipping below the horizon.

  I dress in a dark blue suit and a white V-neck top from where my necklace peeks out, and dark pumps.

  I sip on my coffee when Damien appears freshly showered. He sizes me up, and his eyes sparkle with appreciation. I fidget with my top when he embraces me, dipping his head to kiss me. Some of my nervousness fades away.

  As the engine of his Porsche roars to life, he presses one hand on my knee.

  “Bria, baby, your emotions are tangible. There are few professionals like you. Your work is admirable.”

  I rest my elbow on the window and sigh. “This anxiety drives me crazy.”

  “You’ll see the moment you’re back to work that you can manage everything.”

  “I hope you’re right because right now, I’m everything but confident.”

  He tilts my head to him with his fore and middle finger. “I’m here for you. Only two floors separate us.”

  I shake my head at this incredible situation and burst into nervous laughter. “Emma and Luisa will be dumbfounded when they realize we’re talking to each other, and they don’t have to deliver messages for us anymore.”

  “Eventually, everyone will find out. We don’t have to hide or justify us.”

  I burrow my back in the black Alcantara leather, and the rich smell combined with the cold fabric ground me. “But first, I have to get past this day.”

  He lifts my hand to his mouth, kissing the inside of my palm. His gentle kisses warm me from within.

  “I’m proud you fought your way back. We’ll achieve everything we want, and most importantly, do it together.”

  His eyes peel me bare. I battle with my emotions and blurt, “Don’t go back to London.” He cups my face in his and kisses the spot between my nose and my cheek.

  “I’ll never be more than a few feet away from you. There’s nowhere I want, hell, need to be more than by your side.” His reassurance dissolves my fears.

  We stroll through the headquarters side by side, and heads snap in our direction, some eyes widen, and several mouths drop. We greet everyone as they stammer in the same friendly manner. Before the elevator pings open to my floor, he puts his arms around me and whispers, kissing my ear, “I’m right here. I’ll miss you. Don’t forget for even one second you’re my life.”

  Before the elevator doors shut behind me, I mouth, “I love you.”

  I gather myself as my eyes take in the open floor and offices on every side. Phones ring and people buzz around the department. It feels right but also strange to be here again. I’m in charge, and it’s what I’ve been raised to do, so I nudge myself further. I halt at my section, and Emma rushes to me, and I detect her relief. A huge smile appears on her round face, and her greenish eyes light up.

  “You’re back,” she sing-songs, and my lips curl into a smile. “It hasn’t been the same without you.”

  “It’s good to be back, but what I had to do was important.”

  “I’m sure. You’re the definition of an overachiever.” I smile, it’s good to hear this and my confidence stays steady.

  “Let me assure you that aspect hasn’t changed.”

  She squints her eyes at me and says, “I don’t want to overstep, but you look different, in a good way, though. You’re radiant. I’m glad the time away did you good. Then it was worth it.”

  “Oh, it was.”

  I greet and shake hands with every member of my staff as we hang in the open space for a ten-minute chat. Among them, I’m at ease, with every minute I gain more of my confidence back.

  Stepping inside my office everything lays in its place. The familiarity of my surroundings comforts me. I call Emma, and for the next few hours I peruse every report done in my absence. When my phone chimes, I smile guessing it has to be Damien. Emma’s painted pink lips part as she eyes me.

  “I miss you like crazy.”

  “It’s only been a few hours.” Three hours and forty-three minutes, but who’s counting as my insides grow with the impatience of seeing him again.

  “Exactly what I said, too long.”

  “I miss you, too, but I’ll be working late.”

  He grunts, and replies, “Me, too. I’ll come get you when I finish, and then we can go home together.”

 
; “I love the sound of that.”

  “Did you eat?”

  “I don’t have time to eat.”

  He huffs with annoyance. “Bria, the schedule, remember? Please me and show some respect for your well-being.”

  “But I am. I promised you I will. Show a little faith in me.”

  “I prefer that you prove it instead. For starters, let that poor guy inside. Eat, baby, promise.”

  “I promise.”

  I hang up and find Emma’s mouth hanging. She stares at me questioning who I am and where is the old Bria.

  “Would you get that, please?” My question jolts her out of her trance, and she rushes to the door to greet the delivery person.

  She signs for it and stumbles back in with an enormous bouquet of crimson red roses. The contrast of the roses to my sterile white office infuses life around me. I pick the flowers up while Emma places the food delivery in my office. I put the flowers in the vase in the corner of my office table, lift Damien’s handwritten note, and my heart leaps in my chest.

  For you, love,

  I can’t seem to concentrate. Thoughts of you run through my head and chase any concentration away. Thank you for making me the happiest and luckiest man alive.

  Yours, Damien

  Tears of joy prickle my eyes and I text him right away.

  Bria: You are who I’ve always loved. Thank you for making my heart sing right now.

  I place my phone back on my desk, and Emma stares at the note from Damien lying on my office table. She freezes when my eyes lock on hers. She read it. I say nothing, stick my fork into my chicken salad and shake my head in amusement. He has pretended so well not to be interested in me for so long, but he knows exactly what I prefer to eat, even from where. Her silence disturbs my good mood. “You should eat something too,” I say.

  Her hand flies to her chest, and she stammers, “Yes, right, my sandwich is in my bag.”