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 36ROSE'S POVMonday morning came too fast.I woke up to the sound of Damien’s deep voice murmuring something on a phone call, his body half-draped over mine. His warmth was still surrounding me, making it hard to get up, even though he was already moving. I groaned, burying my face in the pillow.“Five more minutes,” I mumbled.A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. “You said that ten minutes ago.”I felt him shift, and then the unmistakable press of his lips landed on my bare shoulder. A slow kiss that sent a shiver down my spine.“Time to wake up, Sinclair,” he murmured against my skin.I sighed and forced my eyes open. Damien was already dressed—well, mostly. His shirt was unbuttoned, showing off the sculpted perfection of his chest.He sat on the edge of the bed, slipping on his watch, but then turned back to me, reaching into his pocket. “Here.”I blinked down at the black credit card he placed on the nightstand beside me.“Do whatever,” he said casually, standing up. “Go
CHAPTER 37 ROSE'S POV By the time we finished the massages, facials, and hair treatments, we looked and felt completely transformed. Karen ran her fingers through her hair, admiring the silky shine. "I swear, this is the best my hair has ever felt." Danny smirked. "Let's see how long that lasts before you run back into a newsroom." I glanced at my reflection. The tension I had been carrying was gone. My skin looked refreshed, my hair softer, and for the first time in weeks, I felt at ease. As we left the spa, the receptionist approached once more. "Miss Sinclair, we've placed everything on Mr. Sterling's tab. Please let us know if you need anything else." Karen turned to me with an arched brow. "He paid for all of this?" I shrugged. "Apparently." Danny sighed. "I hate to say it, but... if he keeps this up, even I might start liking the guy." I laughed. "Don't get ahead of yourself." After the spa, we stepped out into the crisp afternoon air, completely refreshed. My body fel
CHAPTER 38 DAMEN'S POV I leaned back in my chair, signing off on yet another high-stakes merger proposal, my eyes skimming the papers in front of me while Madison's voice droned on, listing update after update in her usual efficient tone. "-the deal with Vanguard Holdings is set to be finalized by the end of the week. Their lawyers are still pushing for adjustments on the liquidation clause, but our legal team says it's nothing they can't handle." I nodded, barely looking up as I flipped to the next document. "Good. Let them know-if they stall past Friday, we're pulling out." Madison adjusted her glasses. "Understood. Also, the Shanghai project-" My phone vibrated on the desk, cutting her off mid-sentence. I let it ring, uninterested. Madison, used to these interruptions, carried on without missing a beat. "-the contractors need a final green light on the architectural plans. I've scheduled a video call with the lead developer at three-" The phone vibrated again, more insistent th
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
CHAPTER 53 DAMIEN’S POV Life, for once, felt good. For the first time in what felt like forever, I actually felt… content. Rose and I had spent the evening at the amusement park, laughing, teasing each other, and eating nothing but junk food. It was honestly ridiculous how much fun I ended up having. She made me try everything, dragged me into the haunted house just to laugh at my reaction, forced me onto the Ferris wheel even after all my valid protests, and somehow, I didn’t hate a single second of it. I liked her. I liked her a lot more than I should have. As we walked into the penthouse, I could still see the amusement in her eyes and the leftover excitement from the night. She was smiling, and damn, I loved that smile. We made our way upstairs, and by the time we reached my room, she suddenly stopped, frowning slightly. "Why did I even follow you here?" she asked, crossing her arms. I smirked. "Instinct." She narrowed her eyes. "Instinct?" I shrugged. “You’ve been sl
CHAPTER 52 ROSE'S POV The car rolled up in front of the amusement park, and as soon as the lights came into view—the bright glowing signs, the massive Ferris wheel turning against the night sky, and the roller coasters twisting through the air. I couldn’t help but lean closer to the window, my face nearly pressing against the glass like a kid seeing magic for the first time. “Wow,” I whispered, wide-eyed. Beside me, Damien watched me with an amused expression. “You’re acting like you’ve never seen an amusement park before.” I turned to him, still grinning. “That’s because I’ve only been here twice.” His eyebrows lifted. “Only twice? Ever?” I nodded. “Yeah. My family was super strict. We never did stuff like this. They didn’t believe in wasting time on anything remotely fun.” He blinked at me like he was trying to make sense of how that was even possible. Then he shook his head. “That’s insane. You missed out.” “Trust me, I know,” I said with a laugh. The second the car came t
CHAPTER 51 ROSE'S POV The next morning came with silence stretching through the house, a kind of stillness I hadn’t felt in days. Now that Damien’s mother was gone, I could finally exhale. The tension she brought into every room had disappeared with her. I shook off the lingering stress and turned my attention back to my laptop, where my research still waited for me. I’d been at it all morning—scrolling through articles on undercover journalism, jotting down notes, and piecing things together. I couldn’t just sit here pretending to play house. My work, my passion—it still lived inside me, whether or not I was tied to Damien in this bizarre arrangement. Sometime around midday, my phone buzzed beside me. Seraphina’s name lit up the screen. Can we talk? I let out a sharp breath and gripped my phone a little tighter than necessary. No need. If it’s important, just text it. I didn’t wait for her to reply. I just flipped the phone over and focused back on the screen, refusing to let
CHAPTER 50 ROSE'S POV I froze. My pulse quickened, but I wasn’t surprised. I had already known. Damien had told me, that Lily had been trafficked. I let out a slow breath, my fingers hovering over the keyboard before I forced myself to type: Me: I know. The response came almost immediately, my screen lighting up again before I could even set the phone down. Seraphina: Oh? Getting some balls now? What happened? That man finally letting himself fuck you? I inhaled sharply, my chest tightening as my eyes stayed locked on the screen. Seraphina: Tsk. You must feel so special. Like you’re different. But you’re not. He’ll discard you when he’s done. Just like he does with everyone else. My grip on the phone tightened, my fingers pressing hard against the edges as a slow, uncomfortable heat spread through my chest. I didn’t respond, knowing that anything I said would only give her what she wanted. It wasn’t that I lacked a response. I had plenty. I just refused to give her the satis
CHAPTER 49 ROSE'S POV I barely took two steps into the sitting room before Damien’s mother lifted her eyes from her tea, her stare landing on me with an intensity that made my stomach tighten. "I hated whatever it was you two were doing last night," she said, her voice calm, but the underlying irritation was impossible to miss. She raised her cup, took a slow sip, then added, "Could’ve kept it down, don’t you think?” My body went rigid. Heat crept up my neck, burning my skin as mortification settled deep in my chest. Oh. My. God. The heat spread, traveling down my neck, pooling in my chest, then sinking all the way to my toes, making it impossible to stand still. I opened my mouth, closed it again, then finally stammered, "I—I’m sorry. I didn’t think—” She waved a hand, brushing it off. "Not my concern. Just saying." Another slow sip. "Walls aren’t as thick as you think.” I wanted the ground to swallow me. Muttering another apology, I spun around and hurried straight to the ki
CHAPTER 48 DAMIEN'S POV “I don’t give a damn about Lily,” I said, my voice firm. “I want you, Rose.” She shook her head, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. “This wasn’t the plan, Damien.” “Screw the plan.” Her lips parted slightly, her breathing unsteady. I closed the distance between us, trailing my fingers along her jaw. “You’re pushing me away because you’re scared,” I murmured, my voice dropping lower. “But it’s too late for that, Rose.” She didn’t say a word. Not a single breath of protest, just stood there frozen, locked in place. And I sure as hell wasn’t letting her go. She was trying to run again. I could see it in the tension of her shoulders, in the way her hands curled into fists. She refused to meet my eyes, her whole body rigid, every muscle coiled tight, ready to flee. But not this time. “Don’t complicate things,” she whispered softly, her voice almost pleading. “Complicating things?” I scoffed, tightening my grip on her wrist. “The only thing complicated is
CHAPTER 47 DAMIEN'S POV I 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 forwa
CHAPTER 46 ROSE'S POV I 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…”
CHAPTER 45 ROSE'S POV I 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