Chapter 25The Party EruptsClarissa’s POVWhy the hell is everything I’m thinking about not coming to pass?First, I thought it was Damien at the party; my heart had leapt at the idea. I was already imagining him walking up to me, making things right between us, maybe even pulling me onto the dance floor in one of those moments you see in romance movies.But no.Boom.It was Greg. Cute, yes…round, warm eyes, a soft nose, lips that hinted at a smile, but not Damien’s lips. Not the sharp, magnetic pull of Damien’s gaze that could make me feel like the only girl in the world.And now? Another man staring at me. I dared to hope again, thinking it might be Damien, only for my chest to sink like a stone when I saw who it actually was.Clinton.My worst enemy.What the hell is he doing here? And why is he staring at us like that, as if I’ve committed some kind of crime against him?
Chapter 24Eyes in the DarkClarissa’s POVInitially, I was convinced it was Damien. The way Abigail whispered those words, “That older guy is totally looking at you,” sent a rush of heat straight to my cheeks, and my chest felt light, almost giddy. After everything that happened earlier between us, part of me thought maybe… just maybe… he’d decided to come here. Maybe he’d show up to make things right, to party with me, to dance under the flashing lights until the music drowned out every complicated thought in our heads.My mind was still tangled up in the memory of his touch earlier that day, the way my breath caught, and the way his voice dropped low when he promised me things. That pleasure had been addictive, almost dangerous, and I’d been secretly hoping it wouldn’t be the last time.I glanced at Abigail, my safe place, my trusted partner-in-chaos. She wasn’t just my friend now; she was my closest confidante, smart enough to read my
Chapter 23Eyes That Burn Through the CrowdClarissa’s POVThe ropes were still tied, a silent, playful reminder of what we had just shared. We walked together to the sitting room, our steps slow and a little uneven, like neither of us wanted to break the invisible thread binding us in that moment. The air was still charged with the warmth of earlier, a kind of intimacy I had never experienced before.We sank into the couch, the cushions sighing under our weight. Without thinking too hard about it, I lay against him, my cheek resting on his chest. His body was warm, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat strong against my ear. A faint scent of his cologne lingered, earthy, clean, and intoxicating.I felt shy. Not because I regretted anything, but because this closeness was so new to me. The shyness didn’t drown out the happiness, though… It wrapped around it and made the feeling softer and deeper. That feeling was heavenly.He tilted his head down slightly, his lips brushing the top of my
Chapter 22Drowning in DesireClarissa’s POVThe air between us had turned heavy, electric, and almost tangible. My skin prickled with heat, and the sound of his slow, steady breathing only made my own hitch.I could feel it, that tingling sensation rippling through me, curling from the base of my spine all the way down. But the most dangerous heat was between my thighs, where the wetness had already begun to gather.It was maddening.I wanted him. Not in some vague, distant way, I wanted to feel his hands, his lips, and his body pressed against mine until there was nothing left between us. I didn’t know exactly how to make it happen, but I knew one thing: I wasn’t going to let him slip away again.When I reached the doorway to the bathroom, I turned, my towel long gone, my eyes locked on his. The smirk that curved my lips felt almost reckless.“Come and get me,” I said.His jaw tightened, and for a hea
Chapter 21Lines We Shouldn’t CrossClarissa’s POVI didn’t understand him.Not really.I didn’t know why Damien was doing all of this, why he kept pulling me close only to shove me away again. It was driving me insane. Every time I thought I could read him, he shifted, leaving me stranded in this messy middle ground where my feelings were raw and my heart was constantly on edge.And it was making me more uncomfortable than I’d ever been.I felt… small. Not enough.Maybe it wasn’t just a feeling. Maybe it was the truth, that I simply wasn’t enough for him. That was why he was ghosting me, why he barely spoke to me, and why his gaze kept skimming past me as though looking at me for too long would burn him.And now… now it had gotten to the point where he didn’t even want to stand near me.So when he’d told me, “I need you,” my chest had filled with the smallest spark of hope. The words had sounded like an invitation, like maybe he finally wanted me to stay.But then came the next word.
Chapter 20The Edge of RestraintDamien’s POVWhat the hell did I just say?I’d been avoiding Clarissa ever since that night, that night where we almost crossed a line and she told me she was a virgin. It wasn’t because I didn’t want her. God, if anything, it was the opposite. It was because I wanted her too much.And that terrified me.I didn’t want to be the reason she felt pain. I didn’t want to ruin her first time by being careless, or selfish, or too rough. I didn’t want to wake up one day and see regret in her eyes when she looked at me.So, I kept my distance.At school, in class, I ignored her hand when it shot up to answer questions. At home, I shut myself in my room, ate my meals alone, and buried myself in workouts, paperwork…anything that would keep me from lingering in her presence.But it wasn’t easy. Not even close.Every time I closed my eyes, she was there. Her soft breasts pressing into my chest the last time we’d been too close. The shape of her lips, the way they’d