.

After she was done taking a warm shower, she stepped out of the tub. Taking the towel and wiping herself off with it. Picking every drop of water she could from her skin, she walked towards the sink where the oval mirror was placed. Staring at her reflection, her cheeks already having the color in them as her green eyes stared back at her. Little hair of hers near the sides of her temple came out loose than the rest of the hair which she had tied up to avoid them getting wet earlier. 

Penny's eyes moved to the right side of the counter where she had placed the pale pink colored nightgown. Her mind was already feeling dizzy but at the same time, there was the excitement that she didn't bring forth on her face as it only looked anxious thinking what was going to happen once she would step out. Taking the dress in her hand, she let the towel drop and she wore the dress which she had brought in here. 

She finally stepped out of the bathroom, wondering if an hour had pa.s.sed since she had stepped in to take a bath. Her eyebrows furrowed when she noticed his absence in the room. Looking around she caught sight of him standing outside on the patio. The white curtains flew due to the cold wind. 

He turned to look to his side but not completely turning to look at her. The floor felt cold as she padded towards him. The wind made the nightgown that she wore fly back, sticking to her legs as she made the way through the curtains and to him to see him finally turn to see her, his expression unchanged. He raised his hand when she stepped closer, her heart thudding in her chest where he only tucked the piece of hair which came to hinder her eyes.

"I thought you wouldn't be wearing it," said Damien as his fingers trailed from the back of her ear to the side of her neck before settling it there. 

How could she not when she remembered the last time they had spent time together in the tub. He had ignited something deep within her, a fire that had been sparked which was only waiting to set her skin to the very bones aflame. 

"It's a pretty nightgown," Penny responded back to ease her nerve-wracking nerves that had started to spiral out by looking at him right now. 

"Indeed it is. It looks even more beautiful when you wear it," he complimented her, his hands falling on her shoulder which trailed down to the tips of her fingers. He linked his fingers with hers, holding them in his. 

Not sure how to take the simple compliment at a time like this where she felt starstruck by looking at him, she turned to look at the night scenery, to say, "It hasn't snowed here since we came," internally she wondered if it was the effect of the night outside or if Damien was really this handsome as he looked right now.

His midnight hair moved with the wind, pus.h.i.+ng his hair behind he caught sight of her errant nerves, running his thumb on the tips of her fingers when he released her hand. Penelope was beautiful, the woman who could match his thoughts and the way he lived. Right now she looked evidently anxious, not able to keep up with his smouldering eyes.

The more he stared at her, the more embarra.s.sed she turned out to be. He took his time to appreciate what she wore, his eyes raked her. Looking at how her neck was bare with no hindrance, her pale skin continuing to show until deep to her neckline which showed the swell of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and the curve where it covered the rest of it. Her waist was neither too small but it was enough to define her hips which he noticed because of the wind that stuck to her clothes, showing her the outline of her body on one side. 

"What's gotten you shy?" he asked her, "What happened to my feisty mouse?" he chuckled when she gave him an awkward smile, "Don't be nervous. I won't do anything you don't like and only things that you will like and want which both of us can enjoy," came his direct words. 

Penny turned to look away from the scenery, facing Damien as she turned and looked straight at him, his deep red eyes staring back at her. She surprised him when she took one step closer, raising herself by slowly standing on her toes, leaning closer she kissed his lips. Pressing her cold lips on his cold lips.

"I know," he noticed the trust she held in those. Gone were the days where she was wary of his every move and word. He could see how she had accepted him, slowly and surely her heart was now given to him which he could hold and protect. 

When her eyes lowered down, her gaze fell on his chest with the s.h.i.+rt of his b.u.t.tons open that he hadn't bothered to b.u.t.ton. Not caring about the cold weather, "I haven't done anything like this before," she said.

Damien didn't respond to her words, instead, he only squeezed her fingers in his hand, pulling her back inside the room. Closing the doors of the patio to prevent the cold air from coming in, he tugged her close to the bed, making her sit on the bed and he sat next to her. 

"Tell me, Penny. What did you think when I said I was going to hand down your punishment tonight?" asked Damien, letting her hand go and watch her eyes widen when he said it, "Tell me," he repeated the words.

"I did not think anything," she turned red over his words. 

"Now now, Penny. Your punishment isn't hard," he said, his words sweet like honey. Her punishment was to tell him the dirty thoughts that had conjured up in her mind, that hadn't happened in reality? "I am sure it must have sparked some curiosity because you and I both know that you weren't thinking about me asking you to pull out weeds. What crossed your mind? I want to hear it in detail."