First Taste

Chapter 8: First Taste

I woke up in Damien’s penthouse feeling like I had stepped into someone else’s life.

Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow across the massive bed. The emerald dress I’d worn yesterday was neatly folded on a chair, replaced by a silk robe the color of midnight. My body still hummed from last night’s kiss — the way Damien had pulled me close, claimed my mouth, then stopped himself with iron control.

I touched my lips, remembering.

A soft knock sounded on the door before it opened. Damien stepped in carrying a tray. He was dressed in a black button-down and slacks, looking every bit the powerful CEO even in his own home. His stormy gray eyes softened slightly when they landed on me.

“Morning, little one.”

The nickname sent warmth spreading through my chest. I sat up, pulling the robe tighter around myself. “You made breakfast?”

“I had it prepared.” He set the tray on the bedside table — fresh fruit, avocado toast, eggs, and coffee made exactly how I liked it. “Eat. You’ll need your strength today.”

I raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

He sat on the edge of the bed, his large hand resting on my covered thigh. “For learning what it means to be mine.”

Heat flooded my face. I picked up the fork, but my appetite was nowhere to be found. Every nerve ending was focused on the weight of his hand and the quiet command in his voice.

After breakfast, he led me to the living room. The city stretched out below us like a kingdom he ruled. Damien pulled me onto his lap on the wide leather couch, my back against his chest.

“Today we start slow,” he murmured against my ear. “I want you to get used to my rules.”

“Rules?” My voice came out breathier than I intended.

His hand slid under the robe, resting possessively on my bare stomach. “When we’re alone, you call me Daddy. You ask permission before you touch yourself. And you don’t hide how you feel from me.”

I shivered. The word “Daddy” felt dirty and perfect on my tongue. I hadn’t said it out loud yet, but the way my body reacted told him everything.

“Yes… Daddy,” I whispered.

His grip tightened in approval. “Good girl.”

Those two words hit me like a drug. I melted back against him as his hands began exploring — slow, deliberate touches that teased more than satisfied. He brought me to the edge again and again with his fingers, never letting me tip over, teaching me patience and obedience.

By the time he finally let me come, I was shaking and crying his name.

Later, while I was curled against his chest recovering, my phone buzzed on the table. I reached for it instinctively.

Damien’s voice turned sharp. “Did I say you could check that?”

I froze. “No, Daddy.”

He took the phone and read the message. His expression darkened. “Bianca.”

He showed me the screen.

**Bianca:** You think you’re special? You’re just the latest whore he’ll throw away when he gets bored.

The words stung. Damien felt me tense and pulled me closer.

“She’s scared,” he said calmly. “She knows she’s losing.”

I nodded, but the seed of doubt was planted.

That evening, he took me to his private playroom — a beautifully designed space with dim lighting, silk ropes, and furniture that made my stomach flutter with both fear and excitement. He didn’t use everything. He simply introduced me to sensation — blindfolds, light bondage, his voice guiding me through every breath.

When I finally called him “Daddy” while coming undone on his tongue, something inside me shifted permanently.

Later that night, as we lay in bed, Damien stroked my hair.

“You’re doing so well, little one.”

I smiled sleepily against his chest. For the first time in forever, I felt safe. Wanted. Owned.

My phone buzzed again on the nightstand. Damien reached over and checked it.

His body went still.

“What is it?” I asked.

He turned the screen toward me. It was a video from an unknown number — footage of Damien and me in his office yesterday, my legs wrapped around him.

Someone had been watching.

Damien’s voice was ice cold. “They want war.”

He looked down at me, eyes burning with possession.

“Tonight, you’re going to learn what it really means to be mine.”