Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 192 You should try some too

Victoria’s POV

"You should try some too," Damian urged, his amber eyes watching me with desperate hunger.

I slightly lifted my trapped hand. "It’s kind of hard to eat when you’re holding me hostage like this, don’t you think?"

His fingers were tightly intertwined with mine, had been since we left my place. The warmth of his skin made my arm tingle like electricity, and I desperately tried to ignore the sensation.

"Could I switch to your other hand?" he suggested with a mischievous smile that awakened my wolf Nora within me.

"Or you could just let go," I freed my hand from his grip, and he immediately released it, careful not to hurt me. My skin tingled slightly where he’d touched.

Finally able to eat, I tasted his cooking. The first bite brought rich herbs and perfectly cooked steak. I could feel him watching me, his gaze following my every movement.

"Stop staring at me like that," I said between bites. "Aren’t you hungry?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"No." His voice was deep and husky, making my stomach flutter every time I heard it. "I prefer watching you eat."

A flash of primal wildness crossed his eyes—the look of a predator savoring the moment before striking. My wolf nature took interest, making my cheeks flush.

"That’s disgusting, you know," I muttered, pushing the plate toward him. "Eat your own cooking. You went to all this trouble—you should at least taste it."

I served him a full plate, the domestic gesture feeling strangely natural when it should have made me uncomfortable. The food was surprisingly good—not quite five-star restaurant quality, but absolutely flawless nonetheless. I never would have imagined that the mysterious Blood Moon Pack leader Damian Sterling could cook.

He finished everything I’d put on his plate, never taking his eyes off me. Then he began adding more food to my plate.

"You need to eat more," he said with protective undertones. "You’ve lost weight. I know work is busy, but your health is most important."

I rolled my eyes. "Has anyone ever told you that nagging like this makes you sound like a mother hen?"

His mouth curved slightly upward. "No, actually, you’re the first."

I believed him. No one else would dare speak to Damian Sterling this way. The world knew him as cold, ruthless, and extremely dangerous. One phone call from him could destroy a company, one word could make enemies disappear without a trace. Yet here he was, fussing over my eating habits like a worried nursemaid, as if I were some fragile thing that needed protection.

The duality was shocking—yet oddly endearing.

After dinner, he insisted on clearing the table himself. I sat there watching him move gracefully around the kitchen, his elegant movements contrasting sharply with his imposing frame, making me increasingly uncomfortable because it all felt too comfortable.

"It’s getting late," I finally stood and said. "I should go home."

In a blink, he was beside me, gripping my hand again. This time, he pulled me against his chest with unexpected force. My body pressed tightly against his, and I breathed in his intoxicating scent—smoky cedar mixed with hints of midnight roses. My wolf released a low purr, as if recognizing the scent.

"Stay a little longer," he said quietly, his voice low and vulnerable in a way he only used with me. "Just sit with me quietly for a while, okay?"

I knew I shouldn’t. Every moment with Damian brought us closer to something I wasn’t sure I was ready for. Grandfather’s warnings echoed in my mind. The political struggles between our packs. The complicated relationships.

"Damian, we—"

"I know what you’re going to say," he interrupted, his expression growing heavy. "I know all the reasons. But is two more minutes really too much to ask?"

The hurt expression on his face made my chest tighten. Nora whimpered softly within me, urging me to comfort our future mate.

"Victoria," he continued, "are you refusing me because you truly feel nothing for me, or because of your grandfather’s opposition? Or other reasons?"

I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. Lying to Damian felt wrong on a physical level. Of course I had feelings for him—feelings that grew stronger every time we were together. But the complications went far beyond my grandfather’s concerns.

"It’s... complicated," I finally said. "If you keep asking, I’m definitely leaving."

"Then that’s not a problem," he quickly agreed. "So you’re staying?"

I sighed, unable to resist the hopeful look in his eyes. "Fine, two minutes. What do you have in mind?"

"How about watching a movie?" he suggested, childlike excitement appearing on his face, seeming somewhat at odds with his powerful Alpha features.

"You watch movies?" I was amazed. "What kind of movies?"

"That new thriller everyone’s talking about—want to see it?"

I nodded, genuinely interested. "The one that just came out? How can we watch it here?"

The movie was getting rave reviews at the time. Grace had wanted to drag me to see it last week, but I’d been too busy preparing to formally take over as heir to the Crescent Dawn Pack.

"I bought the rights," Damian said casually, as if purchasing entire movies was routine Tuesday business. "Actually, I’m the main investor. They sent me the complete version even before it hit theaters."

I stared at him. "Main investor? How much money did you make from this?"

"A few hundred million," he shrugged. "Pocket change, really."

"Pocket change?" I laughed. "If you said that in public, you’d have angry mobs chasing you with pitchforks."

His mouth curved into a smile. "What if I shared some with you? Would that help?"

"Maybe you should try finding out," I suggested.

"I’ll have Mona arrange it," he said seriously.

"Arrange what?"

"An employee bonus program. Half the movie’s profits will be distributed to my employees, the other half donated to various public charities."

My eyes widened. "Do I get a cut?" I was joking, of course—money was the last thing I needed.

"Victoria, if you want it, everything I have is yours," he said with utmost seriousness. "Just say the word."

My heart skipped a beat. This wasn’t flirtation—it was a declaration. An offer that went far beyond money.

"Let’s just watch the movie," I said quickly, steering the conversation to safer ground.

Damian turned on the large flat-screen TV that dominated one wall of the living room and started the film. He dimmed the lights, creating the perfect atmosphere for a thriller.

The movie really was excellent—a perfect blend of comedy and suspense, with a charismatic male lead who unknowingly gets caught up in a massive conspiracy. I was completely absorbed by the plot, gasping at every twist and laughing at the perfectly timed humor.

My "two minutes" of viewing turned into two hours as I forgot everything else, focusing solely on the story unfolding on screen. The plot was full of ups and downs and constant reversals that kept me guessing until the end, explaining its box office success.

"Damian, did you guess that final twist? I mean, you’re so smart, you probably knew that character was the villain all along, right?" I turned to him excitedly, wanting to discuss the film.

He didn’t respond, so I called his name again. "Damian?"

Only then did I realize his head was resting on my shoulder, breathing deep and even. During our movie night together, Damian had fallen asleep beside me.

I studied his face carefully in the dim light from the TV screen. With his usual wariness and vigilance dropped, he looked younger and more peaceful. Sleep had softened his typically sharp features, and I noticed the dark circles under his eyes—marks of exhaustion.