Pustaka
Cari
Beranda / Romance / Claimed By The Billionaire / Chapter 107 - Cracks

Share

Chapter 107 - Cracks

Penulis: Stephanie Benedict
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-13 12:25:16

Aria

I don’t know what’s worse—the fact that Damon just asked me if I’m horny, or the fact that, for a split second, I forgot how to speak.

I’m frozen. With my hand still hanging in the air, where I was about to slap him. My brain stutters, struggling to compute the words that just came out of his mouth.

Only Damon Stone could twist an argument about control and contracts into a conversation about sex.

He lowers my wrist slowly, but the heat of his fingers lingers longer than it should. Like he’s daring me to push back. Like this is some kind of game, and he’s holding all the cards.

“Answer me,” he says, voice soft, too soft, but it slices through the tension like a blade. “If that’s what’s eating at you, say it. We can handle that right now.”

I yank my hand back, needing the distance, needing to feel like I still have some control over this conversation. “You’re unbelievable,” I spit, but it sounds thin even to me.

He smirks. Like, I just validated his whole existence. “Maybe. But I’
Lanjutkan membaca buku ini secara gratis
Pindai kode untuk mengunduh Aplikasi
Bab Terkunci
Bab sebelumnya Bab selanjutnya

Bab terbaru

  • Claimed By The Billionaire   Chapter 118 - One Box At A Time

    Aria I lie on my side of the bed, staring at the wall like it’s supposed to give me answers.It doesn’t.Figures.The sheets feel heavier tonight. Not cold. Just heavy. Like they’re pressing me into the mattress, daring me to move. To get up. To shake this off.But I don’t. Because this isn’t new.The weight of being stuck here with him isn’t new. Neither is the war inside my own head.And tonight? Tonight, it’s loud.Louder than it’s been in weeks.My brain keeps replaying his words from earlier.No—scratch that.Not words. Because Damon barely gives words when it matters."Nothing eventful happened with that." That’s what he said when I asked about Gina.Yeah right.What kind of half-assed, meaningless response is that?No acceptance. There is no denial, either. Just nothing.But that’s what Damon does, right? Gives you just enough to stay pissed. But never enough to stay satisfied.And yet, even with that empty response, the truth rings louder than anything he could’ve said.I’m n

  • Claimed By The Billionaire   Chapter 117 - Cheap At Five Million

    Damon She's asleep. Finally.Curled up into herself like she’s trying to make her body smaller, tucked so deep into the duvet you’d think the thing might swallow her whole if she let it.Her face is soft now, the lines that usually crease her forehead when she's awake smoothed out, lips slightly parted, strands of hair fanned across the pillow like they’ve been there forever.I watch her.I know I shouldn’t.But I do anyway.Because when she’s asleep? She’s quiet. There’s no eye-rolling. No smart comebacks. No running mouth.Just... peace.It’s a dangerous thing, the way she looks when she’s not fighting me. It makes me forget. Makes me almost reach for something that doesn’t exist between us.Something that never should.I rake a hand down my face, sinking deeper into my side of the bed, keeping my distance because it’s the only thing I know how to do.Still, my eyes keep drifting to her.Following the subtle rise and fall of her chest. The delicate way her hand tucks under her chin

  • Claimed By The Billionaire   Chapter 116 - Almost, But Never Enough

    DamonI rest my head on the cool marble of the kitchen counter, eyes shut, ears tuned to the soft sounds coming from the bathroom.The hiss of the shower. The occasional splash as she moves around.I’m not asleep.I’m just pretending to be.Pretending I’m not waiting.Because what the hell else would I be doing?‘Work?’ That voice in my head taunts me, but I push it aside.My arms are folded, my head angled just right, like if I can’t see her, maybe I can’t feel her either. Like if I shut everything down, I can block out the pull she’s become.But my body’s a traitor.Every cell is waiting for the second she steps out of that bathroom.And when I hear the door click open, the soft pad of her feet on the carpet, I still myself even more, faking a deeper stillness, pretending I’m dead to the world.‘What kinda gone boy shit are you doing, Stone?’ The voice in my head doesn’t let up, but I ignore it. The soft thud of her footsteps fills my ears next, and in no time, I feel her looming o

  • Claimed By The Billionaire   Chapter 115 - Under My Skin

    AriaI settle into the far corner of the restaurant, my back against the cool leather seat and arms folded tightly around my body like that alone can keep me from unravelling.The noise in here is just enough to drown out my thoughts if I let it. Clinking glasses, low laughter, the occasional hiss of the coffee machine. It’s comfortingly impersonal. Nobody here knows me. Nobody here stares at me like they’re waiting for me to crack.A waiter approaches. Young, polite, the kind of guy who probably rehearsed his opening line in the mirror."Good evening, miss. Can I get you started with something? Or would you like to see the menu?"I blink up at him, pulling myself back into the moment. "Menu, please."He hands it to me with a practised smile. "Let me know when you’re ready."I scan the menu, eyes glazing over the words until I finally land on something light. Something I can pick at while pretending to be fine."Uh, I’ll have the grilled chicken salad. Light dressing, please.""Of cou

  • Claimed By The Billionaire   Chapter 114 - Stick It Out

    DamonI walk back to the car, legs heavy, head heavier.My legs move on autopilot, but my head’s stuck back there. On her. On the way her skin felt warm under my lips, even in this goddamn freezing weather.I climb in, slam the door shut harder than I need to, my hands gripping the wheel tighter than necessary. The engine hums low beneath me, but I just sit there.The streetlights cast long shadows on the pavement, slicing her silhouette out of my head, but the imprint she left? Still there. On me. Under my skin. Probably in my fucking bloodstream at this point.My forehead presses against the steering wheel. My breath clouds the glass in front of me.What the fuck was that?I tell myself it was instinct.Reflex.I thought I saw Daniel standing behind her. That smug, friendly face that’s been creeping into my space, my life, and A’s.And yes, maybe it triggered something I didn’t even know I had inside me.Something primal. Possessive.So I did the only thing that came to mind, right

  • Claimed By The Billionaire   Chapter 113 - Static

    Aria“What do you mean we’re leaving?”I stare at him, still gripping the door handle, like I need it to anchor me.He doesn’t even blink. "You heard me. We’re leaving," Damon says, voice flat and business-like, like we’re back to being nothing more than lines on a contract. "Soon."I blink harder, trying to push back the lump forming in my throat. "When is soon?"He shrugs, the way he always does when he wants to keep me guessing. "I don’t know yet. But it should be this week."I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. This week?I step back into the room, pacing now, arms crossed over my chest like they can hold me together.“What changed, Damon? Why now? Why now that I’m just settling in?” The words come out sharper than I intend, but I don’t care. "Why now?"He doesn’t hesitate. "It’s long overdue, A."That’s it. That’s his whole explanation.Long overdue.Like it’s that simple.Like my life can be uprooted again without a second thought.I don’t respond right away beca

  • Claimed By The Billionaire   Chapter 112 - Undecided

    DamonThe doors hiss shut behind me as I walk back into the hotel. My hands dig into my pockets as I head for the elevator. I punch the button harder than necessary. The cold from outside still clings to me, but it’s nothing compared to the shit storm inside my head.At least Gina’s out of the equation. Good. One less distraction.Except I’m the distraction, aren’t I?I’m the problem.I'm my own problem.The doors managed to cut off the cold, but not the knot in my chest. It follows me in, heavier now, like I dragged it all the way from the cabin.I move through the lobby, past the clean marble floors, and the fake smiles from the staff. They all know who I am, but none of them really know me. That suits me fine.The elevator's already waiting. I step inside, shove my hands into my pockets. The doors slide shut, swallowing me whole.Inside, it’s quiet.Too quiet.I see my reflection in the polished steel walls—creased shirt, hair a mess from the wind, jaw clenched so hard it feels w

  • Claimed By The Billionaire   Chapter 111 - Can't Unfeel This

    DamonI walk to the window and pull the curtain back just enough to see.Yeah. That’s Kingsley. I’d recognise that ugly dent on the side mirror of that car anywhere."It’s Kingsley," I call over my shoulder. My voice sounds rougher than intended. Probably from the silence. Probably from...whatever the hell this morning was.I hear her shift behind me with the rustle of the blanket. But she doesn’t say anything. I can feel her watching me. Like always. Always watching.I take a step back from the window, and my jaw tightens as I drag a hand down my face. I’m still not sure what last night was. Or this morning. Or...any of it.I step back from the window, still staring at the glass like it’ll give me answers. It doesn’t. It just shows me my reflection. Tired eyes, clenched jaw, and the same old mask.Behind me, I hear the rustle of the blanket.I turn, and she’s standing now, unwrapping herself from the duvet like she’s peeling off a second skin. She tosses it onto the bed and bends do

  • Claimed By The Billionaire   Chapter 110 - The Favourite Son

    AriaI wake up to the sound of his breathing just by my side.That’s the first thing that hits me. Slow, steady, like it’s been pacing itself all night. The second thing is his arm. Still heavy around my body like he thinks if he lets go, I’ll disappear.And the third?Our legs are a damn puzzle. Well-on tangled, twisted, and locked together like we don’t know where one ends and the other starts.I don’t even bother opening my eyes at first. I know exactly where I am. Who I’m pressed against. I can feel the slow throb of his heartbeat against my cheek, warm under my palm where it rests against his chest.How we managed to remain in this position all night beats me.Then, to top it off, the reel of yesterday starts playing without permission.How the hell did we get here? How does one man swing from cold dictator to...this?The replay starts jamming through my head. Him barging up to me on the balcony and ruining my morning, chatting about Daniel. It's now almost like his favourite hob

Anda juga akan menyukai

Jelajahi dan baca novel bagus secara gratis
Akses gratis ke berbagai novel bagus di aplikasi GoodNovel. Unduh buku yang kamu suka dan baca di mana saja & kapan saja.
Baca buku gratis di Aplikasi
Pindai kode untuk membaca di Aplikasi
DMCA.com Protection Status