The elevator ride to Damien's penthouse felt endless.
Aria watched the numbers climb—thirty, forty, fifty—until they reached the top floor. The doors opened directly into his apartment.
She stepped out and her breath caught.
Floor-to-ceiling windows dominated one entire wall, showcasing Manhattan like a living painting. The city lights glittered endlessly below. The apartment itself was all clean lines and expensive simplicity. There were dark leather furnitures and ultra-modern arts.. Everything was perfect and untouched...
"This is incredible," she breathed.
"It's just a place to sleep," Damien said quietly. "I bought it for location and security. It's never felt like home."
"How could this not feel like home?"She asked..
"Because home isn't a building. It's a feeling. And I haven't had that in nine years." He moved past her toward the kitchen. "Can I get you something? Water? Juice? Wine?"
"Water's good."She said..
He poured two glasses and brought them back.. Their fingers brushed as she took hers, and electricity shot up her arm from the contact..
They stood by the windows, looking out at the city..
"Tell me something real," he said. "Something you don't usually share."
Aria considered. "I'm really good at making myself invisible. At being small. Victoria taught me that being noticed meant being criticized, so I learned to just... disappear."
"You're not invisible to me."He said..
"I know, and that's what scares me."She responded..
He turned to face her. "Why?"
"Because what if you really see me and realize I'm not worth looking at?"she said softly..
"That's impossible."He replied..
"You don't know that."She said sharply..
"Then let me know you." His hand came up to cup her face. "Let me see all of you. Not just the parts you think are acceptable."
Her heart hammered. "Why do you care so much? We just met."
"I don't know. I can't explain it. But from the moment I saw you last night, something just... clicked. Like my brain said 'that's her.' Just her."
"That's crazy."She said, almost bursting out in laughter..
"Probably." He smiled. "But I've spent nine years being logical and careful. I'm tired of it. I want something real."
"What if I let you down?"She asked quietly, staring straight into his eyes..
"You won't."He responded without blinking..
"You can't know that."She said, glancing down at her feets..
"Ask me anything," he said suddenly. "Anything you want to know. I'll tell you the truth."
She searched his face. "Are you always like this? So... intense?"
"No. Only when something matters. And you matter, Aria."
"We met yesterday."She said, almost as a reminder..
"I know. But it doesn't change anything."He said defiantly..
At this moment, she knew she should pull back. And at least, put some distance between them. She felt this was too fast, and too much.
But at the same time, she didn't want distance.
She wanted this. She wanted him. She wanted this feeling of being seen and wanted and maybe even cherished...
"What are you thinking?" he asked softly.
"That this is insane. That I should leave before I do something stupid."She responded..
"What would be stupid?"he asked while squinting his eyes..
"Staying here. Believing this is real and letting myself want something I can't have."She said honestly..
"Why can't you have it?"He asked again..
"Because people like you don't date people like me. You're a billionaire CEO. I'm a broke college student. This doesn't make sense."She responded matter of factly..
"Nothing about my life has made sense since I met you," he said. "And I don't care. Logic doesn't apply here."
He was standing so close now. Close enough that she could see the darker flecks in his gray eyes. Close enough to feel the heat coming off him.
"I should go," she whispered, not meaning it at all.
"Do you want to go?"He asked her, seeing through her body language..
"No."She responded softly..
"Then stay."He requested honestly..
He then cupped her cheeks, and kissed her...
When he kissed her, it was nothing like Ryan's kisses had been. Those had been practiced, smooth, and ultimately empty..
This was different. This… was real..
His hands framed her face like she was something precious. His lips were gentle but demanding, asking a question her body answered without hesitation...
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathing hard..
"Stay," he said again. "Please. Not in the guest room. Stay here. With me. Just for tonight."
Every rational thought screamed that this was too fast, and too risky.
But she was tired of being rational. She was tired of being careful. And she was tired of protecting a heart that had already been broken..
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"I've never been more sure of anything."He responded..
She searched his face one more time, for any trace of deception, doubt or deceit. But, she found only honesty and want and something that looked like hope...
"Then yes," she breathed. "I'll stay."...
He led her through the apartment to his bedroom..
It was simpler than she expected. A large bed with dark sheets layed inthemiddle-end of the room. There were minimal furniture, and windows overlooking the city...
"If you change your mind," he said, turning to face her, "at any point, we stop. No questions. No pressure. Okay?"
"Okay."She responded..
"I need to hear you say it, Aria. I need to know you want this. That you're choosing this."
She looked at him. This man who'd shown her more care in two days than Ryan had in eight months. Who'd actually listened. Who'd made her feel valued in so many ways, and in all conversations..
"I want this," she said clearly. "I'm choosing you. I'm choosing us, and I'm choosing this moment. Right now."
His smile was brilliant and tender. "Thank you."
He kissed her again, deeper this time. His hands moved to the zipper of her dress, but he paused.
"Can I?"he asked gently..
"Yes."she responded softly..
Slowly, and carefully, he undressed her. While feeling every curve of her body. He guided her hands across his firm chest, As both of them took their time, learning each other..
When they finally came together, it was with a tenderness that made her throat tight. He was gentle, patient, checking in with her constantly..
"You okay?"he asked gently..
"Yes."she responded in a hushed voice..
"Tell me if anything hurts, okay."He said softly
"I will."She replied with nervous anticipation...
It was nothing like she'd imagined. It was not awkward or painful or rushed..
It was intimate and real and somehow perfect in its imperfection...
Afterward, they lay tangled together, her head was on his chest, and his arms was around her petite waist..
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly..
"I'm more than okay."She responded shyly..
"No regrets?"he asked, studying her facial expressions..
"None whatsoever. Do you have any?"she threw the question back at him..
"God, no." He kissed her hair. "That was... you're incredible."
She smiled against his chest. "So are you."
They lay in comfortable silence, listening to the city hum beyond the windows.
"Aria?"he called..
"Mmm?"She responded softly..
"Thank you. For trusting me. For choosing this. And for being brave enough to let yourself want something."
"Thank you for making me feel like I was worth wanting."She responded in a serious, grateful tone..
He pulled her closer. "You are worth everything."...
She drifted off soon after in his arms, feeling safe and wanted and maybe even loved..
For the first time in her life, she'd chosen something purely for herself.
And it had been perfect...