Chapter 11 – Afterglow & Confession
Aria woke slowly, her body sore in places she had never known before, her skin still tingling from the fire of the night before. The silk sheets felt cool against her bare skin, but what really stirred her was the steady warmth pressed against her back.
Damien.
His arm was wrapped around her waist, his breath brushing her shoulder, steady and calm — so unlike the storm he had been hours ago.
She shifted slightly, and his hold tightened, pulling her closer.
"You're awake," he murmured, voice husky with sleep.
"Mm…" she whispered, not daring to turn yet. Her mind was still replaying the way his lips had claimed hers, the way her body had given in to every demand. What did this mean now?
Damien nuzzled the back of her neck, lips grazing her skin. "Regretting it already?" he teased softly.
Aria finally turned to face him. His eyes were softer now, stripped of the arrogance she usually saw. Vulnerable, almost.
"No," she whispered. "That's the problem. I don't regret it at all."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then he leaned down and kissed her again — slow, lingering, tasting her like he had all the time in the world.
This wasn't like last night's desperate, fiery collision. This kiss was tender, unhurried, a confession without words.
His hand slid up her side, cupping her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. When she sighed against his lips, he deepened the kiss, pulling her on top of him.
Aria felt the shift in the air. Desire was still there — always there — but now it was laced with something sweeter. She let her fingers trace his chest, the steady thump of his heart.
Damien caught her hand, pressing her palm flat against him. "You drive me insane, Aria," he murmured against her lips. "And I don't think I want to stop."
Her breath hitched. Before she could reply, his mouth was on hers again, kissing her until she melted.
Their second time was slower. Less frantic, more exploratory. His lips brushed over her collarbone, her stomach, lingering in places that made her shiver. She sighed when his hands tangled in her hair, when his kisses worshiped her instead of consuming her.
When he finally moved inside her, it wasn't about urgency — it was about closeness. Each movement was deliberate, deep, pulling soft moans from her lips as their eyes stayed locked.
When they reached the edge together, it felt less like fire and more like falling into something dangerously deep.
And when he held her afterward, Aria realized with a start — she wasn't just in lust with Damien. She was falling into something else entirely.