Page 60 of Forbidden Access

Damian’s response was immediate, his hands gripping her hips, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. She felt his fingers digging into her butt, anchoring her against his hard, erect cock.

She gasped, her mind going blank. Her world narrowed down to the feel of his mouth on hers, the way his stubble scraped against her skin, grounding her in the moment.

She kissed him harder, deeper, wanting to erase any doubts he might still have. This wasn’t just about making a point—this was her way of telling him that she was here, that she wanted him, that she wasn’t going anywhere.

She needn’t have worried. Damian got the message, loud and clear.

Her mind raced, thoughts colliding in a blur of emotions. This was real—more real than anything she’d felt in a long time. The fear of moving on, of betraying Jaden’s memory, had kept her locked in a cage of grief for too long. But now, here with Damian, she realized that moving forward didn’t mean forgetting. It meant living, feeling, and allowing herself to love again. The realization was both terrifying and exhilarating.

What if this was just another mistake? What if she was wrong? But deep down, she knew she wasn’t.

Not this time.

Thorn didn’t give him time to think—didn’t give herself time to second-guess. She reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head, tossing it aside without a second thought. Damian’s eyes darkened, his breath catching as he took in the sight of her, his hands instinctively tightening on her hips.

She slid her fingers under the collar of his shirt, tugging it off him in one swift motion. Their breaths mingled as she leaned in, pressing her bare chest against his, the heat of their skin searing together. Damian’s hands roamed up her back, rough palms skimming over her curves as she straddled him, her thighs tightening around his waist.

The chair creaked under their combined weight, but neither of them cared. Thorn could feel the tension coiling in her stomach, an electric charge that surged through her veins as she ground her hips against him. The thin fabric of his jeans did little to mask the hardness beneath, and she reveled in the way he responded to her, a low growl rumbling deep in his chest.

Damian’s hands moved to the waistband of her pants, his fingers deftly undoing the button and sliding the zipper down. Thorn lifted her hips just enough for him to slide them off, leaving her in nothing but her underwear. His gaze was hungry, almost predatory, as he took her in—every inch of her exposed skin, every curve and dip of her body.

She could feel the air between them thicken, the tension growing unbearable. Thorn reached down, her fingers trailing over the front of his jeans, feeling the hard outline of him beneath the denim. She undid his belt, her movements slow and deliberate, savoring the way his breath hitched with every touch.

When she finally freed him from the confines of his jeans, Damian let out a groan that was half relief, half anticipation. Thorn didn’t waste any time—she positioned herself over him, her body trembling with anticipation as she guided him to her entrance.

For a moment, they just hovered there, on the edge of something explosive. Thorn locked eyes with him, her breath catching as she slowly lowered herself onto him, taking him inch by inch. The sensation was overwhelming, a heady mix of pleasure and pain as her body stretched to accommodate him. Damian’s hands gripped her hips, his fingers digging into her skin as he fought to keep control.

Thorn began to move, her pace slow and deliberate, teasing him with every roll of her hips. The friction was exquisite, every movement sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her. Damian’s breathing grew ragged, his control slipping as he thrust up to meet her, matching her rhythm with a desperate intensity.

She leaned in, capturing his mouth in a fierce kiss, their tongues tangling as they moved together in a raw, primal dance. The chair creaked beneath them, the sound mixing with their heavy breathing, their groans of pleasure filling the room. Thorn could feel the tension building in her core, a tight coil of heat that threatened to snap at any moment.

Damian’s hands roamed up her back, one sliding into her hair to pull her closer, deepening the kiss. The other moved to her breast, his thumb brushing over her nipple in a way that made her gasp against his mouth. He swallowed the sound, his own groan vibrating against her lips as he thrust deeper, harder, driving her closer to the edge.

Thorn’s movements grew frantic, her hips grinding against him as she chased the release that was just out of reach. The pleasure was almost too much, too intense, but she didn’t want it to end. She wanted to stay in this moment forever, lost in the heat of Damian’s touch, the feel of him inside her, the connection that went beyond anything she’d ever felt before.

When the climax finally hit, it was like a wave crashing over her, pulling her under. Thorn threw her head back, a cry tearing from her throat as the pleasure consumed her, leaving her trembling and breathless in its wake. Damian followed her over the edge, his grip on her tightening as he found his own release, his head falling back against the chair with a guttural groan.

For a moment, they just stayed there, bodies entwined, breathing hard as the aftershocks of their climax rippled through them. Thorn’s forehead rested against Damian’s, their breaths mingling in the space between them. The tension that had been there earlier was gone, replaced by a deep, unspoken understanding—a bond that went beyond words.

Thorn knew, in that moment, that everything had changed. And for the first time, she was okay with that.

CHAPTER 26

Damian didn’t want to leave the farmhouse, and he sensed the same hesitation in Thorn. The last two days had been magical—the best of his life—and he couldn’t bear the thought of that ending. The idea of not being able to hold her in his arms, make love to her whenever they felt like it, hear her scream out his name as she exploded beneath him, was almost unbearable.

But there was no choice.

CryptoCon was two days away, and Thorn had just gotten off the burner phone with Pat. “We’re to make our way to an abandoned airstrip on the outskirts of the city,” she told him, a wry grin on her face. “It was once used by drug dealers, apparently.”

He pulled her down onto his lap. “I wish we didn’t have to go.”

“I know. Me too. But this is your chance to put all this behind you,” she said. “To end it once and for all. After this, you’ll be free.”

Free of the criminal charges. Free from the bad guys chasing him. Free from Alek.

Would Alek stop? That was the question he couldn’t answer. It gnawed at him like an angry mosquito bite. Would Alek’s desperation to prevent the upgrade turn to anger? Revenge?

Were his days numbered anyway?

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