LILY'S POV
The drive to Damien's penthouse stretched endlessly, each passing moment heightening the tension coiling in my stomach. The rhythmic hum of the car engine was the only sound, a stark contrast to the chaos of my thoughts. Through the tinted windows, the city lights blurred into streaks of gold and silver, but they barely registered. My focus was on the man waiting for me at the top of the city.
Damien.
His voice still echoed in my head, deep and commanding, carrying the promise of something forbidden. Come to me, Lily. The words had left no room for argument, as if he knew I would obey, that I couldn't resist. And he was right.
When the car pulled up in front of his building, a chill ran down my spine. The doorman greeted me with a polite nod, his face devoid of curiosity. This wasn't the first time someone had been summoned to Damien's lair under mysterious circumstances.
The elevator ride up felt both too quick and agonizingly slow. My reflection in the mirrored walls revealed flushed cheeks and wide eyes, my chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. I smoothed my hands over my black dress, the fabric clinging to my curves in a way that felt both empowering and vulnerable.
The elevator doors slid open silently, revealing Damien's penthouse. The space was bathed in a soft, ambient glow, the city skyline sprawling behind floor-to-ceiling windows like a glittering sea. And there he was, standing in the center of it all.
Damien.
He was dressed casually but deliberately—his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, the sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms. He looked like a man who owned the world and was prepared to claim more.
"You came," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine.
"I'm here," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt.
He didn't move right away, simply watching me with those intense, dark eyes that seemed to strip away every layer of my defenses. Finally, he stepped forward, each step deliberate, predatory.
The door clicked shut behind me, and suddenly, the air between us felt charged. He stopped mere inches away, his presence overwhelming. His hand reached up, fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. The touch was so gentle, yet it sent a bolt of electricity through me.
"Do you know how long I've waited for this?" he murmured, his eyes locking onto mine. "For you to be here, willingly?"
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Damien, I—"
He silenced me with a look, his thumb grazing over my bottom lip. "No more talking," he said softly. "I want to show you how I feel."
Before I could respond, his lips were onto mine. The kiss was everything I'd feared and craved—possessive, consuming, a battle of wills that I was destined to lose. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body.
I melted into him, my arms winding around his neck as the kiss deepened. His tongue brushed against mine, and I couldn't suppress the soft moan that escaped me. Damien growled in response, his hands sliding down to my hips, gripping them firmly.
Without breaking the kiss, he guided me backward until my thighs hit the edge of the dining table. In one swift motion, he lifted me onto the cool surface, stepping between my legs. His hands roamed over my thighs, pushing the hem of my dress higher, exposing more of my skin to his touch.
"You're perfect," he whispered against my lips, his voice filled with a reverence that made my heart ache. "Every inch of you."
His lips trailed from my mouth to my jaw, then down to the sensitive spot below my ear. I tilted my head back, granting him access as he peppered kisses along my neck, each one leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
Damien's hands slid under my dress, his fingers hooking around the delicate lace of my panties. He pulled them down slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. The intensity in his gaze made me feel exposed, vulnerable, but I couldn't bring myself to look away.
"You're trembling," he noted, his voice laced with both concern and satisfaction. "Are you afraid of me, Lily?"
"No," I breathed, though my heart was racing. "I'm not afraid."
He smirked, a dark, knowing smile. "Good."
Damien dropped to his knees before me, his hands gripping my thighs as he spread them apart. His gaze was unwavering, drinking in the sight of me with a hunger that made my pulse quicken.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "To taste you, to make you mine in every way."
His words sent a jolt of anticipation through me, and I barely had time to prepare before his lips descended. The first brush of his tongue against my most sensitive spot sent a gasp tumbling from my lips. His touch was deliberate, exploring every inch of me with a precision that left me breathless.
Damien worked me slowly at first, his tongue moving in languid strokes that built a steady, torturous heat. He alternated between soft, teasing flicks and firm, focused pressure, his hands holding me in place as my body writhed under his ministrations.
"Oh, God," I moaned, my hands gripping the edge of the table for support.
He growled against me, the vibration sending a new wave of pleasure coursing through my body. His hands slid up, one gripping my waist while the other splayed across my stomach, holding me steady as he increased his pace.
"Damien, I—" My words dissolved into a breathless cry as he pushed me closer to the edge.
"Let go, Lily," he commanded, his voice dark and commanding even in the midst of his pleasure. "Let me feel you."
His words were my undoing. The tension that had been building in my core snapped, and I tumbled into the abyss, my body convulsing as waves of ecstasy crashed over me. I cried out his name, my fingers digging into the polished wood of the table as he guided me through the storm.
When I finally came down, my body was trembling, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Damien rose to his feet, his eyes dark and satisfied as he watched me. He looked every bit the predator who had just claimed his prey.
"You're incredible," he said, his voice filled with a mix of awe and possessiveness.
He leaned down, capturing my lips in a kiss that was both tender and claiming. I could taste myself on his lips, and the intimacy of it sent a new wave of warmth through me.
As he pulled back, his hands cupped my face, his thumbs brushing over my flushed cheeks. "You're mine now, Lily," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "No more lies. No more pretending."
I nodded, my heart pounding in agreement. "I'm yours," I whispered, the weight of my confession sinking in under the illusion of my desire.
But as the euphoria of the moment began to fade, reality crept back in. Caleb. The lies we'd been living. The inevitable fallout.
"What about Caleb?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
Damien's expression darkened, his jaw clenching. "Caleb doesn't matter," he said, his voice cold and final. "He's had his chances, and he's lost them. I won't make the same mistake."
His words should have scared me, but instead, they brought a strange sense of comfort. For the first since Caleb, I felt seen. Wanted.
Damien kissed me again, his hands tangling in my hair. "Stay with me tonight," he said, his voice softer now. "Let's forget about the rest of the world for a little while."
I hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Okay."
He lifted me off the table, carrying me effortlessly toward his bedroom. The night stretched out before us, filled with promises of both pleasure and pain, and I knew that nothing would ever be the same again.