Corrupted by Alicia Taylor, Natalie Townson Page B

can see Damon trying to do the same thing, I turn my head to look at him and he looks in pain.
    “Hey, are you ok?” He nods his head while clutching his manhood. That’s when it hits me. What I have done.
    “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. Did I kick you in your...” he nods his head and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. Damon looks up at me and a smile breaks out on his face. A giggle erupts from me.
    “You know what, beauty? That’s the first time I’ve seen you genuinely smile since you’ve been here.”
    I look up at him in surprise, “What do you mean? I smile all the time.” He takes my hand in his, entwining our fingers, my breath catches as I look into his eyes.
    “No Ella, you have the smile you want the world to see, and then you have the one that was just on your face, the one that reaches your eyes. I have only seen it one other time and that was when you were looking at Tom. I vowed I would try and do anything I could to get you to smile at me like that. Who knew all it took was a kick in the balls?”
    The shock I feel at his words surprises me. I haven’t realised he was paying as much attention to me as he was. I need to take a moment to get my thoughts together so I stand up and jump back into the water, diving in as gracefully as I can.
    After a moment Damon climbs back in and we start to mess about, playing water polo. He is so good he gets the ball off me nearly every time I try to shoot. It doesn’t surprise me seeing as he is so good at everything else.
    I love how carefree he can be. It makes me feel at ease, like we can just be around each other and nothing else matters. I like being around him. When we just hang out it’s nice, comforting.
    Swimming back over to the edge, I climb out and sit on the side, watching as Damon starts to swim. After a few lengths he stops and swims towards me. I prepare myself for him to pull me in this time but he doesn’t. Instead he pushes my legs apart, pulling me closer to the edge so he can stand between them. He wraps his arms around my hips and rests his head against my stomach.
    I feel confused having him here like this. He seems vulnerable. I should be happy, but I’m not. I feel like for a second he just needs this... contact. He holds onto me like I’m keeping him afloat, like I’m his lifeline. I’m not. The water is doing all the work. I like this. I shouldn’t, and I know I shouldn’t, but I do.
    Damon lets go of my waist and asks if I want a drink. I nod my head, still unsure if I can stand yet,  my legs feel like jelly at the intimate moment we just shared. I can see it in his eyes, it meant something to him. Fuck, it meant something to me. But what?
    Damon heads over to the lounger to lie down, the drinks he made us placed down on the side table. He doesn’t take his eyes off me so I slowly stand up and walk over. I go to sit down then I feel his hand in mine. He pulls me gently, letting me know he wants me on the lounger bed with him.
    I lay down on top of him, and my cheek is pressed against his strong chest. I can hear his heartbeat, it’s strong and fast. I know me being this close is affecting him.  His arms come around me and his hand rests on the top of my head.
    His fingers slowly stroke my hair. He is so gentle with me, caressing me like I’m made of glass. Like I’m fragile and he wants to protect me. Doesn’t he realise I’m not the one that needs protecting?
    My thought jars me. It doesn’t sit well with the part of me that has these feelings for him. Those parts war inside of me, and I don't know which will win at this moment in time. All I know is, laying here with him like this, for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel so alone.
    I can feel myself slowly drifting off to sleep in Damon's arms. I can hear him whispering soothing words but my mind that has switched off in a dreamy state so I don’t hear what he’s saying. I feel Damon moving me. I’m now in his arms, my head resting on his