Chapter 5: The Morning After
Aria’s POV:
The elevator doors slid shut, sealing us in. I pressed my back against the mirrored wall, desperate for distance, but Damian prowled closer like a predator closing in.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I hissed.
“Like what?” His voice was low, dangerous. “Like I want to ruin you?”
“You already are.”
He caged me in, his palms slamming against the glass on either side of my head. The elevator hummed beneath us, but it was his nearness that rattled me.
“I should hate you,” I spat.
“You do,” he said darkly, “but your body doesn’t.”
Heat surged up my throat. “You’re wrong.”
His smirk cut sharp through the tension. “Then why are you trembling?”
“I’m not”
“You are.” He leaned in, his breath scalding my ear. “Every time I get close, you shiver like I own you.”
I shoved at his chest. “I’ll never belong to you.”
His laugh was a growl, vibrating through me. “You already do.”
The elevator dinged. The doors opened, but he didn’t move. His eyes burned gold, wolf bleeding through.
“Say my name.”
“No.”
His fingers traced my jaw, tilting my head back. “Say it, Aria.”
“Damian…” It slipped out before I could stop it.
A guttural sound ripped from his throat. “Mate.”
I froze. “What did you just—”
He silenced me with his mouth, his kiss violent, desperate, consuming. I gasped against him, but his tongue claimed mine, his teeth nipping, demanding.
“Stop” I broke the kiss, panting. “This is wrong.”
“Nothing about this is wrong.” His forehead pressed to mine, his breath ragged. “You feel it too. Don’t you dare lie to me.”
“I hate you.”
“Then hate me while I take what’s mine.” His mouth crushed mine again, fiercer, harder.
My fists curled in his shirt. “You’ll destroy me.”
“I’ll burn with you.” He dragged me into his penthouse, slamming the door with his foot.
I stumbled back, but he followed, relentless. His lips trailed fire down my throat. “You smell like sin.”
“Damian…” My protest broke into a moan when his teeth grazed my collarbone.
“You want this,” he growled, voice thick with hunger. “Say it.”
“I can’t.”
“You already have.” His hand slid down my spine, pulling me against the rigid heat of him.
“Damian—please.”
His grip tightened. “Gods, the way you say my name…” He kissed me again, savage, his wolf snarling in his chest.
“You’re insane,” I whispered against his lips.
“I’m starving,” he corrected. His mouth crashed to mine, swallowing my gasp.
We tumbled toward his bed, lips never breaking. Clothes tore, fell, forgotten. His skin seared against mine, every touch sparking like wildfire under my skin.
“I should mark you,” he growled at my throat. “Bite you. Claim you.”
Terror and need warred inside me. “Don’t you dare.”
“I want to.” His teeth scraped, and my knees buckled. “God, I want to.”
“Then don’t.” My voice shook. “I’m not yours.”
His laugh was ragged, broken. “You are. You just don’t know it yet.”
The bond throbbed, wild, undeniable. His wolf howled in his chest,no, not mine, I didn’t have one, but something inside me answered.
“Damian…” My plea dissolved into a moan as he pressed me down, heat overwhelming.
His lips ghosted over mine, softer this time, trembling with restraint. “Tell me to stop, and I will.”
I stared into his burning eyes. “I can’t.”
That was all it took. He crushed his mouth to mine again, the kiss exploding—violent, desperate, endless.
The night blurred into fire and shadows. His growls, my moans, the sound of our names breaking against each other’s lips. The bond pulling, snapping, binding.
The morning sun was out and I woke up, stretching my lazy body. The ache between my thighs reminded me of the pleasure from last night.
The thought sent shivers down my spine. I still couldn't believe I’d stooped so low—sleeping with a man I knew nothing about.
“Oh, Aria, why did you let his kiss deceive you?” I scolded myself, hating the thought.
I turned and saw Damian’s bare chest; he looked as hot as ever—too sexy to be human.
“Oh damn it, Aria. Please don’t fall for this seducer. This is not you,” I told myself, and quietly slid off the bed. My eyes searched for my clothes. Among the clutter they found my gown, half-buried near Damian’s shirt. I bent to pick it up, and my gaze landed on my heels.
I was about to grab them when Damian twitched.
I froze, praying a silent prayer in my head: “Oh Lord, please don’t let him wake up.” It seemed my prayer was answered—he only twitched and did not open his eyes.
I took my heels. I didn’t dare think of a shower. I quietly stepped into my dress, which still smelled like sex. I shook my head in disbelief as the memory of how shamelessly I’d moaned burned in me. I slipped the gown on and tried, with all my care, to tiptoe out without waking him.
I reached the door and opened it as gently as I could. Once I was outside, I didn’t waste a second. I bolted, no clear reason, but my instincts screamed at me to run.
I ran until I saw a taxi. I waved; it stopped. I climbed in and gave the driver my destination.
“Where to, miss?” he asked.
“Home,” I said.
He started the car, and in no time I was home.
Damian POV:
I woke up smiling, reaching to hug the fragile human who had made the night feel sweet and worth it,but my arms met only cool bedsheets.
“She ran?” I muttered, incredulous. Maybe she’d gone to make breakfast, I thought, but t
he kitchen was empty.
“How dare she run away from me,” I said, anger hot in my throat
No one did that. No girl who had tasted me had ever run; they always came back, running, begging for more. And yet this human had left me in my bed. Unbelievable.
I tried to find her by scent, but it was like something was blanketing the trail, blocking my view. That wasn’t normal for a human. I didn’t dwell on it long; maybe my anger was dulling my senses. When I’m that furious, my power sometimes falters.
I pulled out my phone and called my secretary. He picked instantly.
“Get me the security camera footage from the bar I was at last night,” I ordered, then hung up without waiting for confirmation. A smile curved my lips.
“You want to run from me, little human?” I said to the empty room. “That is not possible. Nobody runs from me. You are mine from now on
