Chapter 4

*AURORA*

I slowly shifted my gaze away from Damon, the man radiating a magnetic allure in front of me, and glanced at the phone vibrating incessantly in my hand. A storm of emotions churned within me.

It was undeniable—anyone who laid eyes on Damon would be captivated by his unique charm. He looked like he had stepped straight out of a Greek myth, a modern-day Eros exuding temptation with every breath.

By comparison, Lucien's image in my mind seemed dull, even laughable. Rationally, I knew I should ignore the call and focus entirely on the man before me, whose very presence made my pulse race.

Hesitating briefly, I found the phone in my hand felt as heavy as lead.

Damon, as though reading my thoughts, shrugged nonchalantly. That casual movement carried an air of carefree indifference. "If you want to answer it, then answer," he said.

His voice cut through the silence like a sharp blade. Though his tone was cold and detached, I caught a flicker of disdain in his gaze.

Was that disdain for Lucien? The thought flashed through my mind, leaving me unsettled. Surely not... or could it be?

Taking a deep breath to summon my courage, I pressed the answer button. My voice, sharp with tension and frustration, broke the quiet: "What do you want?"

On the other end, Lucien seemed startled by my tone. After a brief pause, he cleared his throat awkwardly and asked, cautiously, "Are you... home?"

His question revealed a lot—he wasn't home either.

"If you have something to say, just say it, it's none of your business where I am?" I returned impatiently.

Just then, I felt Damon's firm, bare chest press against my back. The unexpected warmth made me gasp softly, an unbidden wave of emotion surging through me.

Spinning around in panic, I met Damon's penetrating gaze. His strong arms encircled my waist like an unyielding cage.

Before I could react, he leaned in, his warm lips brushing the sensitive skin of my neck with a feathery softness. Each fleeting touch sent an electric jolt through me, leaving my breaths shallow and uneven.

I tried to push him away, gesturing for him to stop, but my resistance only seemed to embolden him. Instead of relenting, he intensified his kisses, his actions laced with reckless abandon.

Damon raised his head slightly, his lips grazing my ear. A sly glint flashed in his eyes as he glanced at the phone still clutched in my hand. Raising a single finger to my lips, he silently urged me to stay quiet.

Moreover, his gaze and the movements of his hands told me that he was doing it on purpose. And he had no intention of stopping while I was on the phone!

In that moment, it felt as though I were caught in a twisted forbidden romance, the weight of guilt and forbidden allure entangling me in its web.

Lucien's voice suddenly crackled through the phone, jolting me back to reality like a thunderclap: "What was that? Are you... are you with another man?"

I let out a disdainful snort, my voice dripping with mockery. "So what if I am? Don't forget—we're in an open marriage. You should respect my choices." I threw his own words back at him, word for word.

"Listen! I don't care what you're doing or who you're with RIGHT NOW!" Lucien's voice rose in anger, his tone sharp enough to sting. "Grandpa wants us to come home together. I'll text you my location. Come pick me up."

With that, he hung up abruptly, leaving the beeping tone to echo in my ears.

Moments later, my phone buzzed again. A new message appeared on the screen—a hotel address.

Mentioning his grandfather left me at a loss for words.

I held a deep respect for the man, who had always been an authoritative yet affectionate figure in my life. The last thing I wanted was to upset him with my defiance.

Besides, I knew my marriage with Lucien had become a tangled mess. It was time to confront the chaos.

That so-called open marriage? It could go straight to hell.

Tonight's adventure, however thrilling, was clearly coming to an end.

I exhaled a sigh of relief, secretly grateful for the excuse to escape.

Damon, however, was visibly angered by my distraction.

His strong hands grasped my shoulders and turned me to face him. His smoldering eyes bore into mine, ablaze with fury.

Without warning, he tightened his grip and effortlessly lifted me off the ground. The move left no room for retreat or negotiation.

"Wait!" I cried out, panic lacing my voice.

My trembling hands pressed against his rock-solid chest in a futile attempt to steady my erratic breathing and pounding heart.

Shaking my head slightly, I mustered the strength to resist. I couldn't let him draw me in again.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself. "Damon, I have something urgent to deal with. Tonight... we have to stop here."

His brows furrowed instantly, his grip on my wrist unrelenting. His piercing gaze narrowed, and he uttered coldly, "You're choosing him AGAIN?"

Again?

That single word sent a chill down my spine.

What did he mean by that? Could there be secrets I didn't yet know—hidden truths or unspoken hints lurking beneath the surface?