CHAPTER 28DAMIEN'S POVA dull, relentless throb pulsed behind my temples, each beat hammering through my skull. A low groan escaped my lips as I pressed my palms against my face, trying to block out the world.My body felt sluggish, the sheets twisted around me like a trap. Every muscle ached, exhaustion clinging to my limbs as if I had been dragged through hell and back.What the hell happened last night? My mind was blank, a foggy void where my memories should have been. With some effort, I pushed myself up, rubbing a hand over my face, trying to shake off the lingering haze of sleep. Weak sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting streaks of gold across the room. The house was eerily quiet.I turned my head, eyes settling on the empty space beside me, the sheets slightly rumpled but cold. Had someone been there?Frowning, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, hoping for answers, but all I found was an empty screen and a low battery.Damn it. I had work, and judging by the l
CHAPTER 29ROSE'S POVI was finally going out.Like, a real outing. Not a business dinner. Not some press conference where I had to smile and nod like I actually cared. Not a carefully orchestrated event designed to make Damien Sterling look good.Just me, Karen, and Danny—my friends, my coworkers. The people I used to see all the time before my life got tangled up in this mess. Before I became the perfect, obedient fiancée.I sighed, checking the time. 6:30 AM. Damien was still asleep. Saturdays were his slow mornings—coffee, a late breakfast, no rigid schedule for once. Which meant I had the kitchen to myself.Perfect.I pulled on a pair of shorts and a loose tank top before heading downstairs. The house was quiet, the early sunlight barely filtering through the windows. As I stepped into the kitchen, I reached for a mug—only to freeze.Because suddenly, there it was.A presence. A very warm, solid presence pressing against my back.Oh. Oh, no.My breath caught. My skin went hot. An
CHAPTER 30DAMIEN'S POVI placed Rose in the passenger seat, shutting the car door with a firm click. Her head lolled to the side, eyes half-lidded, lips parted in a lazy smile. “Damien,” she mumbled.I sighed, shaking my head. This woman would be the death of me.Slipping into the driver’s seat, I started the engine, the Lamborghini’s low purr filling the air. I had barely pulled out of the club’s parking lot when she mumbled my name again.“Damien…” she sighed dreamily.I glanced at her. “What?”She giggled. “You’re so hot.”I exhaled, already regretting this night. “Rose.”“And strong.”“Go to sleep.”“You smell so good.”My grip tightened on the steering wheel.Then, with zero warning, she tilted her head toward me and murmured, “And you have a big dick too.”I slammed on the brakes. The car jerks slightly before stopping. I turned my head, slowly, and met her sleepy, drunken gaze.She blinked at me, all innocent. “What?”I inhaled deeply, willing myself to stay calm. “Rose—”“I f
CHAPTER 31DAMIEN'S POVMy fingers found the hem of her dress, pushing it up as my hands traced along her thighs. Smooth. Warm. She felt like fire beneath my fingertips, and I wanted to touch every inch of her.She gasped when my hands gripped her waist, and in one swift motion, I flipped her onto her back. She barely had time to catch her breath before I was on her again, capturing her mouth in another heated kiss.Her fingers fumbled at my buttons, her frustration growing as they refused to cooperate.I chuckled, watching her struggle. “Need help?”She glared at me, her lips kiss-swollen, her breathing uneven. “You have too many buttons.”I smirked, then reached up, gripping the fabric at my shoulders—and tore the shirt open with a sharp rip.Her breath hitched. “That… was hot.”Her fingers hesitated for half a second before trailing over my chest, tracing the hard ridges of muscle.A deep exhale left my lips. “You’re pushing it, Rose.”She smiled, slow and knowing, then leaned in,
CHAPTER 32DAMIEN'S POVI let her do it. I let her take what she wanted. She sank down onto me, inch by inch, rolling her hips in a slow, torturous rhythm.Fuck.My hands snapped to her waist, fingers digging in as my head fell back against the pillows.“Shit,” I groaned, my grip tightening, trying and failing, to keep some semblance of control as she moved deliberately slow, torturing me with every motion.And then she started riding me in earnest, her moans breathless, her body moving like she was made for this. For me.Just as she thought she was in control, I sat up suddenly, one hand wrapping around her throat, guiding her gaze to mine.Her breath stuttered, her body tensing as I leaned in, my lips brushing against the shell of her ear, my voice dark and unwavering.“What’s my name?”She trembled beneath me, chest rising and falling unevenly. I tightened my grip—just enough to remind her, just enough to make her shiver.She swallowed hard, her lips parting, hesitation flickering
CHAPTER 33 ROSE'S POV The first thing I felt as I woke up was a dangerously comforting warmth. My body was nestled against something firm, radiating heat like a furnace. My eyes slowly blinked open, trying to adjust to the morning light, confused and unfocused. My entire body went stiff as I realized I wasn’t just lying in my bed. I was sprawled over Damien. A wave of pure, heart-stopping panic crashed into me, sending my pulse into a wild sprint. My breath hitched, my body frozen like a deer caught in headlights. Oh. My. God. What the hell was I doing here? My entire body locked up, every muscle going taut with alarm. What the actual hell was I doing lying on top of him? My pulse hammered against my ribs, a mix of horror and something else I refused to name slamming into me. Then it all came flooding back in a rush—his hands gripping me, the way he had taken control, how he had ruined me in the best and worst ways. My skin flushed hot, my stomach coiling with something dangerou
CHAPTER 34 ROSE'S POV As soon as Damien started, I heard footsteps approaching. The kitchen doors swung open, and the maids strolled in like nothing was happening under the table. "Oh! Good morning, Miss Rose!" one of the maids chirped, completely oblivious to the absolute chaos happening beneath the counter. My breath hitched in my throat, my entire body locking up as I fought to stay still. "Miss Rose, are you alright?" the head chef asked, his head tilting slightly as if sensing something was off. I parted my lips to respond, to say something—anything—but the only sound that escaped was a choked, broken gasp. And of course, Damien chose that exact moment to go even harder, his tongue ruthless against me. A sharp cry caught in my throat, my fingers digging into the counter as I fought to keep my sanity. "Miss Rose?" The chef’s voice sounded distant, muffled by the roaring blood in my ears. "I—I’m—" I tried to say, but my words failed me, drowning under the intensity of what was
CHAPTER 35 ROSE'S POV I had just stepped into the house when my phone started buzzing, the vibration rattling against my palm before I could even shut the door behind me. Mom. Of course. I let it ring, refusing to deal with whatever crisis she had decided to throw at me today. Then it buzzed again, and again, each time more insistent than the last. With a frustrated groan, I threw my bag onto the couch and snatched up my phone, finally giving in. "Mom: Your father is sick. Start saving money.” "Mom: Also, we saw the news." “Mom: Engaged to Damien Sterling? What the hell is this nonsense, Rose? I had no time to even process those words before my phone rang again, the shrill sound grating against my already frayed nerves. I let out a sharp breath before answering, my voice flat and cold. "What now?" "What do you mean, what?" My father’s voice boomed through the speaker. "You have the guts to get engaged to Damien Sterling?" My entire body locked up, fingers tightening around the
CHAPTER 47DAMIEN'S POVI woke up feeling… off. A dull, persistent ache throbbed at the back of my head, the kind you get after one too many drinks—or a restless night.I dragged a hand down my face, exhaling heavily before forcing myself to get out of bed. The sheets still carried Rose’s scent, a soft, lingering reminder that she had been there.Once dressed, I made my way downstairs, rolling my shoulders in an attempt to shake off the heavy tension weighing me down.I found Rose in the kitchen, her back turned to me. A soft smile crept onto my lips as I stepped inside. "Morning, sweetheart.”She didn’t answer. Not once did she look at me.Instead, she stared at the plate in front of her, fingers tightening around its edges like she needed something solid to hold onto.My brows knitted together. "Rose?”Still, she said nothing. Then, finally, she turned around, and her eyes were red-rimmed and weary. The sight of her like that was a gut punch."What’s wrong?" I stepped forward, but s
CHAPTER 46ROSE'S POVI froze. His breathing slowed, turning deep and steady. Seconds stretched into minutes, and eventually, I realized—he’d fallen asleep.I sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Damien…" No response.I lay there for what felt like hours, trapped beneath the warmth of his body, my mind too restless to shut down.Then, sometime in the middle of the night, I felt it. A slow, steady pressure against my thigh.At first, I thought it was an accident—just movement in his sleep. But then his hips rolled. Pressing against me.A low hum escaped his throat.I stiffened. "Damien…?" He didn’t answer.His grip on me tightened, and then, slowly, deliberately, his hips moved again. My breath hitched. "Damien, wake up—""Mmh…" His lips ghosted over my neck, his breath warm and uneven against my skin. His movements grew more desperate, his body pressing into mine like he couldn’t help himself.Heat bloomed in my chest. "Damien—"A sleepy, broken hum. "Mmh… don’t go…”My heart cle
CHAPTER 45ROSE'S POVI sat on the couch, staring blankly ahead, my fingers idly running along the rim of my glass. My thoughts had been circling the same problem all day, relentless and inescapable.Lily. Damien. And me—falling for the man my sister loved first.This was wrong… wasn’t it? It had to be.No matter how much I tried to ignore it, to push it away, but reality wouldn’t let me. Lately, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. We’d been fucking too much. Every touch, every kiss, and every moment with him had me slipping further, it was like I was losing myself in him. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to stop.I sighed, rubbing my temples. The sharp chime of the doorbell cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.I frowned, glancing at the clock. Who the hell would be here at this hour? Smoothing down my dress, I pushed myself off the couch and made my way toward the door.Damien’s mother. Again.She stood on the doorstep, wrapped in an expensive coat, her lips pressed into a
CHAPTER 44DAMIEN'S POVRose adjusted her dress, smoothing out the fabric before reaching for her purse. Her lips were still slightly swollen, her cheeks faintly flushed, but she looked composed—like she hadn’t just let me wreck her right here in my office.I leaned against the desk, watching her, half-amused. “You’re just gonna leave like that?”She shot me a dry look. “I did bring you lunch. I think I’ve done enough.”I smirked. “Oh? You sure about that?”Her ears turned red, but she ignored me, picking up her bag. “I’ll see you at home.”Home. I didn’t know why that word settled so strangely in my chest.She turned to leave, but before she reached the door, I caught her wrist. She blinked up at me, surprised. "Rose."She tilted her head. "What?"I hesitated for a fraction of a second before sighing, loosening my grip. “Nothing. Get home safe.”She smiled, small but genuine. "You too."And just like that, she was gone. The warmth she left behind lingered for a moment. Then my phone
CHAPTER 43DAMIEN'S POVSeraphina, of course, took full advantage. She turned her head just slightly, eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction. "Oh. Hello, Rose."I looked at Rose just in time to see her expression flicker. A flash of something—annoyance? Hurt?—before she schooled her face into something unreadable."Am I interrupting?" she asked, voice careful.Seraphina smiled, brushing past her with a deliberate bump of her shoulder. "Excuse me."Rose didn’t move for a second. Then, slowly, she turned to me, arching a brow. "So… should I come back later?"I exhaled sharply. "No. You’re exactly who I want here."Her gaze lingered on the door Seraphina had just walked out of before she shook her head, stepping forward. She placed the bag on my desk. "I brought your lunch."I sat back in my chair, opening the bag. The smell hit me instantly. "This looks…" I took a bite and groaned in approval. "Okay. This is amazing." Rose smirked, crossing her arms."Are you the same person who fumbled m
CHAPTER 42DAMIEN'S POVThe bed was empty when I woke up.I blinked against the soft morning light streaming through the curtains, my body still heavy with sleep. My hand instinctively reached for the warmth that should have been there. But the space beside me was empty, the sheets cold beneath my fingertips. A small frown formed as I tried to piece it together. She was here last night. I remembered that much.I sat up, raking a hand through my hair before stretching and making my way toward the bathroom. The shower was quick, the warm water washing away the last traces of sleep. But it was the scent drifting through the apartment that truly pulled me awake.A faint aroma of something warm and buttery lingered in the air, teasing my senses. A slow smirk tugged at my lips. That could only mean one thing.Drawn by the scent, I followed it toward the kitchen. I stepped into the kitchen and stopped, my gaze lingering longer than necessary.Rose stood at the stove, her back to me, the soft
CHAPTER 41ROSE'S POVHe pulls back just long enough for me to gasp for air before thrusting in again, pushing me to take him even deeper. My lips stretch wide, spit slipping down my chin in a way that is messy, obscene, and completely shameless, but I don’t stop. I don’t want to stop. I can’t stop.I let him fuck my mouth, let him push past any point of comfort, because this is exactly what I crave. The weight of him on my tongue, the taste overwhelming my senses, the deep groan he lets out every time my throat tightens around him, all of it is addictive.His fingers tighten in my hair, his whole body is trembling. He is trying to hold himself back, trying to keep control, but that is the last thing I want from him.I moan again, taking him deeper, sucking harder, my tongue swirling around him, my throat flexing tight, and that is all it takes to push him over the edge. “Fuck.” The word is sharp, ragged, as he jerks my head back, his cock slipping free, wet and flushed, throbbing wit
CHAPTER 40 ROSE'S POV It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t gentle. It was angry. Possessive. I gasped, and in that split second, he took the opportunity to slide his tongue against mine, deep and punishing. His fingers tightened at the nape of my neck, tilting my head back as he took exactly what he wanted. And then, suddenly—I was in the air. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he carried me, lips never leaving mine, heading straight for the bedroom. He kicked the door open, moving with purpose. Before I could catch my breath, I was on the bed, his body pressing me down. His fingers traced a slow path down my arm, the heat of his touch searing into my skin. Then, he leaned down, his breath ghosting my lips. “This,” he murmured, voice like smoke, “is me proving that I’m not doing this out of obligation.” His hands moved to my dress, fingers gripping the fabric before slowly peeling it down, inch by inch. The silk pooled around my waist, baring my lace-covered breasts to hi
CHAPTER 39 ROSE'S POV Even by the time I got home, Damien’s text was still running through my mind. They’d look best wrapped around my throat. I should have ignored it. I really tried. But those words played on repeat, burning into my mind, making my skin heat up in a way I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. I kicked off my shoes and ran a hand through my damp hair, exhaling slowly. Maybe a cold shower would help. Then, just as I turned, my eyes landed on something unexpected. A black box sitting neatly on my bed. My brows furrowed as I stepped closer. The box was sleek, its edges crisp, tied with an expensive satin ribbon that practically gleamed under the light. I hesitated for a moment before finally pulling at the ribbon, watching as the bow unraveled beneath my fingers. With a deep breath, I lifted the lid. Inside lay a dress—deep red silk, flowing and luxurious, the kind designed to make men forget how to think. And sitting atop the fabric was a small card. Wear this tonight. We