LOGINThe orgasm hit her like a tidal wave, crashing over her with such intensity that she screamed, her body convulsing, her inner walls clenching rhythmically around his fingers.Damien worked her through it, his fingers relentless, prolonging the pleasure until she was sobbing, until she was begging him to stop, until she was completely wrecked.When it finally ended, she collapsed against his chest, boneless and trembling."That's one," he said, his voice dark with satisfaction. "But I'm not done with you yet."******DAMIEN'S POVDamien slowly withdrew his fingers, making Aria whimper at the loss. He brought them to his mouth, tasting her, groaning at the flavor he'd been craving for over a month."Delicious. Even better than I remembered."She watched him through heavy-lidded eyes, her face flushed, her lips swollen from his kisses. She looked thoroughly debauched. Completely his."I want you to ride my hand," he said, positioning his fingers at her entrance again. "I want you to show
DAMIEN'S POVThe moment Damien's lips touched hers, the last thread of his control snapped.He'd been holding back for days. Weeks, if he counted the month they'd been apart. Maintaining distance, keeping walls up, protecting himself from the woman who'd destroyed him.But she was here. In his car. Drunk and vulnerable and telling him she loved him. And he was only human.Only a man who'd been starving for her touch.The kiss started soft....a brush of lips, a test, a question. But the moment she whimpered against his mouth, the moment her hand came up to clutch his shirt, the moment she kissed him back with desperate, aching need....Soft became consuming.His hand fisted in her hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss. His other hand cupped her jaw, holding her in place as he claimed her mouth with a hunger that bordered on violent.She tasted like vodka and tears and her.....that unique flavor he'd been craving like a drug."Damien," she gasped against his mouth when he finally le
"Am I?" She pushed off the wall, swaying slightly but managing to stay upright. "Because you've spent four days treating me like I'm nothing. Like I don't matter. Like that moment yesterday in the conference room meant nothing.""That's not.....""So maybe I should let Mark flirt with me. Maybe I should let him buy me drinks and make me laugh and treat me like I'm worth something instead of like I'm...."She didn't get to finish.Damien closed the distance between them in two strides, his hand gripping her upper arm....not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to stop her words."Don't," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't threaten me with other men. Don't pretend you'd ever let anyone else touch you. We both know that's a lie.""Then what am I supposed to do?" Tears filled her eyes.....the alcohol stripping away her defenses. "How am I supposed to work beside you every day, feeling what I feel, wanting what I want, and getting nothing in return? How am I supposed to endure th
ARIA'S POV The next day, Damien was exactly as he'd warned....cold, distant, harsher than usual.Every interaction was clipped and professional. Every glance was brief and impersonal. He didn't acknowledge the coffee she brought at 8 AM beyond a curt nod. Didn't thank her when she prepared briefing materials perfectly. Didn't look at her during the morning meeting except when absolutely necessary.It was like yesterday's moment in the conference room had never happened. Like that confession....I've been trying not to think about it all day.....had been imagined.By lunch, Aria's chest ached with the effort of pretending it didn't hurt.By 3 PM, she wanted to scream.By 5 PM, she was exhausted from the emotional whiplash of hope yesterday and ice today.She was packing up her desk at 6 PM, ready to escape to the sanctuary of her mother's apartment, when Emma from marketing appeared at her desk."Hey, Aria. We're doing happy hour at Morrison's Bar tonight. You should come."Aria shook
The rest of the day passed in a blur of tasks and phone calls and the constant hum of office activity.Lunch with the investor went well.....Damien took the potential client to an exclusive restaurant while Aria stayed behind, managing calls and coordinating with other departments.The Tokyo video conference at 3 PM was flawless. Aria had tested all the technology beforehand, prepared translation documents, and had relevant files ready for immediate reference. Damien gave her an approving nod when it concluded without a single technical glitch.The legal call at 4:30 PM was more complex. Contract negotiations for a major acquisition. Aria took detailed notes, flagged important clauses, and pulled up reference documents the moment Damien needed them.By 6 PM, when most of the staff started packing up for the evening, Aria was exhausted but satisfied. She'd handled everything smoothly. Anticipated needs. Made herself indispensable.Proven herself. Again.She was organizing her desk, pre
ARIA'S POVAria followed Damien down the corridor to the large conference room, her tablet tucked under her arm, her heart still heavy from Julian's words.Destroyed. Absolutely destroyed.She'd known she'd hurt him. But hearing the full extent of it....the sleepless nights, the rage, the drinking alone in his study at 3 AM.....made the guilt almost unbearable.But she didn't have time to dwell on it now. The board meeting was about to start, and she needed to be professional. Competent. Perfect.The conference room was already filling up when they arrived. Fifteen board members, all powerful, all intimidating in their expensive suits and calculating gazes. She recognized most of them from the disastrous meeting on her first day.....including the silver-haired man who'd questioned her competence.Aria took her seat beside Damien at the head of the table, opened her tablet, and prepared to take notes.The board members settled into their chairs, casual conversation dying down as Damien
Aria didn't sleep much that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt Damien's hands on her body. Heard his voice in her ear. Felt that overwhelming rush of pleasure as she'd fallen apart.At 5 AM, she gave up and got out of bed, catching sight of herself in the small mirror.The necklace gli
The clasp released with a soft click, and he slowly slid the straps down her arms until the bra fell away completely.For a moment, Aria stood there completely exposed from the waist up, fighting every instinct to cover herself."Don't," Damien said quietly, reading her intention. "Don't hide from
Aria made it to the staff hallway before she had to stop and lean against the wall, her legs shaking.He knows something. does he? The way he'd looked at her. That warning about using her "considerable talents" appropriately. The subtle threat wrapped in professional courtesy.But how much did he
Aria fled back to the bedroom, her heart racing. What the hell was he doing? Why was he involving her in his clothing choices? Why did every interaction with him feel charged with something she couldn't name?She finished making the bed with mechanical precision, then moved to dust the furniture. S







