The silence between them was louder than the city's thunderous pulse outside.
Jade stood by the towering glass wall of Damian's penthouse, his oversized shirt clinging to her skin, still damp from the heat of their earlier collision. Her hair tumbled over her shoulder, disheveled and wild, much like the storm unraveling inside her.
Behind her, Damian remained still, shirtless, shadows playing across his sculpted chest as lightning danced through the sky. He hadn't said a word since he stepped away from hersince his mouth left a searing trail down her spine and she whispered his name like a curse and a prayer.
"I shouldn't have done that," she finally said, voice brittle.
He didn't respond. The air between them vibrated full of unsaid things, unhealed wounds, and a hunger that refused to die.
"You didn't stop me," he said after a beat, his tone low, dangerous.
She turned, eyes wide with disbelief. "That's not an excuse, Damian."
"I didn't say it was. I'm saying you wanted it just as badly as I did."
Her lip trembled, but she didn't deny it.
"This isn't about want," she said. "This is about trust. And I don't trust you."
Damian's eyes darkened. "I never asked you to."
"No," she snapped, "you just keep pulling me into your orbit like gravity, and I keep forgetting who you are. What you've done."
His jaw ticked, hands clenching at his sides.
"You used Liam," she said. "You knew what he meant to me. You knew who he was and still still you manipulated everything. Was any of this real to you?"
He stepped closer, slow, deliberate.
"Every fucking second," he growled. "Don't you dare reduce what's happening between us to strategy. I didn't plan you."
"But you did plan to lie," she shot back. "You knew the truth about my father. You hid it."
He exhaled, the air sharp between his teeth. "Yes. I knew. And I was going to tell you"
"When?" she barked. "After you finished breaking me?"
"I never meant to hurt you."
She laughed, hollow and bitter. "But you did. And now I don't know if I hate you or want you more."
His eyes dropped to her lips. "You can do both."He stepped forward. She stepped back.
"Don't."But she didn't stop him when his hand reached her cheek, thumb brushing against the corner of her mouth. Her breath caught.
"You make me feel," he murmured, "like I'm not made of stone."
Jade's resolve wavered. Her heart thudded like war drums in her chest. Her body betrayed her—leaning into him, seeking the very danger she promised herself she'd run from.
He tilted her chin. "Tell me you don't want this."
Her lips parted. No words came.
So he kissed her and she let him.
This time, it wasn't rushed. It wasn't desperate. It was slow like he was savoring her. Like he was memorizing every curve, every tremble. His hands slid beneath the shirt, caressing the sides of her waist, fingers tracing heat into her skin.
She moaned against his lips, back arching, mouth opening, surrendering.
He lifted her onto the glass ledge, the city lights below making her feel like she was floating. His kisses trailed down her neck, slow, reverent, claiming. "Damian…" she whispered, half warning, half plea. "I know," he murmured, "this is madness. But I'd burn for you His hands wandered. Her legs wrapped around his hips.
They were fire and ice clashing, melting, reigniting. And then Her phone rang,they both froze. Jade glanced over to the kitchen counter where the screen lit up.
LIAM. Damian's entire body stiffened.
"Answer it," he said, stepping back.
Jade jumped down, wrapping the shirt tighter around her. She picked up the phone with trembling fingers.
"Hello?" "Jade," Liam's voice was tight. "We need to talk. I remembered something about your father. About Damian." Her blood ran cold. Damian turned his back to her, facing the window. "What about him?" she asked quietly.
"He was there, Jade. The night your father died. Damian Cain was there. He's not who he says he is." Her stomach flipped she ended the call. Damian turned slowly, eyes heavy with something between guilt and defiance.
"So now you know," he said Jade couldn't breathe,he took a step forward "Don't," she choked.
But he did. He cupped her face, eyes pleading.
"I didn't kill him, Jade. But I was there."
Her knees buckled "I was the last person to see your father alive She slapped him.
The sound cracked through the silence like thunder then she turned and ran.
Jade's heels struck the marble like a war drum, every step an echo of her fury. She could barely see through the blur of tears as she pushed the elevator button again, again anything to get away from him, from the fire licking her skin, from the confusion that clouded every thought. Damian Cain. Her father's friend. Her father's enemy. Her
"Jade." She didn't turn. "Don't," she hissed. "If you come any closer, I swear I'll scream."
"Then scream." The elevator dinged. She stepped in, hit the button for the lobby, praying it would fly her to safety. But of course, he followed. Hand between the doors. Body between her and reason."You had no right," she said, still not looking at him.
"I know.""You lied. You touched me with that truth in your mouth."
He flinched."I wanted to tell you.""Save it."
The silence grew, heavy with everything they couldn't undo. Then he spoke."I didn't kill him."
"But you were there."He nodded. "And I've paid for it every damn day."
The elevator landed. She walked out. He followed."Stop following me," she snapped, spinning on him.Damian didn't flinch. "I can't. Not now. Not after What? After tasting me? After breaking me open?" He closed the space between them in a single step. "Because I fucking love you."The words slapped her harder than any truth ever could.
She backed away. "You don't get to say that. Not after this."I didn't plan this. I didn't plan you." "You used me." "No," he growled, "I tried to stay away. God knows I did. But you you lit every part of me I thought was dead.""Stop it."
"No. You deserve the truth." She crossed her arms, body trembling. "Then talk."
Damian exhaled. "The night your father died, I was there. Not as his enemy but because I tried to stop what was happening. There were others. Men your father trusted. I was too late."Jade's lips parted. "Others?" "Powerful men. They didn't just ruin him they wanted to silence everyone connected to him. Including you."Her knees gave slightly. Damian reached for her, but she recoiled. "Don't touch me."
He nodded. "They'll come for you, Jade. Now that you're asking questions." A long silence.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" "Because I didn't want you to look at me the way you are now."
Her heart cracked. He took one slow step forward. "Let me protect you." She wanted to scream. To fall into him. To run. To forget. Instead, she whispered, "Why do I still want you?" "Because some fires never go out." Their lips crashed. It wasn't gentle. It was violent. Desperate. His mouth tasted like regret and ruin. Her body ached for every lie he ever told. He pressed her against the lobby wall, hands beneath her thighs, lifting her like she weighed nothing. Her breath hitched as he dragged his lips down her neck, tongue tracing fire across her collarbone. "Jade," he murmured, voice thick, "tell me to stop."
She didn't.He slipped one hand between her legs, her body arching into him."Damian She was soaked. For him. Despite everything.
Their bodies moved like they'd done this in another life. Like their pain had always been foreplay.But then Glass shattered.A bullet. Into the marble.Jade screamed. Damian spun, shielding her.Security flooded the lobby.
Gunman gone. Jade trembled in his arms. "They're watching me."He nodded. "It's started."