Page 102 of Wild Tangled Hearts

He kisses me back, and it quickly changes from something tender to something desperate. Our mouths move with need and urgency, and our passion ignites. The ache in my chest is replaced by an even stronger ache between my thighs.

Our bodies press together, seeking solace and desire in each other's arms. The steam from the shower swirls around us as the world outside fades away, leaving only the fierce connection we share.

“God, Bella,” he groans. His hands roam across my body, each touch conveying his raw desire and need for me. They move with an urgency that matches the intensity of our passion, leaving a trail of fiery sensations in their wake. "You're destroying me," Damien whispers, his voice heavy with emotion.

I feel the overwhelming intensity of what we are to each other. It's a sensation that threatens to consume us, yet I want more, craving every part of him. But he's right; something has shifted. I sense it in how he kisses me now, with a fervor that speaks of urgency, as if this moment may be our last.

“Don’t stop,” I beg. Every touch, every kiss, every breath we share is filled with a hunger that's both rough and needy. Our bodies crave each other, and there's an urgency to our lovemaking as if we're trying to bridge the gap created by the events of the night with the intensity of our desire.

Damien lifts me effortlessly. I wrap my legs around his waist, our bodies pressed close, the hot water spraying down on us. He enters me in one swift, powerful motion, the sensation intense and electrifying as our connection deepens.

My back is pressed firmly against the shower wall, and Damien steadies himself with one hand beside my head. His other hand tightens its grip on my hip, his fingers digging into my flesh as his teeth rake across the delicate skin of my neck. The sensation sends pleasure coursing through me, and I cling to him as he thrusts into me hard.

"Yes," I gasp, my body clenching around his hardness, each contraction a spasm of pleasure that seems unending. The ecstasy courses through me, leaving me breathless and lost in the overwhelming sensation.

"Bella," he groans, his release pulsing inside me, and then he's left panting against my neck. We cling to each other, the aftershocks of our passion still coursing through us as we catch our breath.

It's minutes before we can muster the energy to move again, and if I thought I was tired before, I now know what true exhaustion feels like.

Turning the water off, Damien grabs a towel and tenderly helps dry me off. He then carries me to the bed, laying me down gently and tucking me in beneath the heavy comforter. His lips brush my forehead for a moment before disappearing into the bathroom.

The sound of clothes rustling tells me he's getting dressed, and I lay there, still catching my breath, feeling the finality of the moment lingering in the air.

When he comes back into the room, that heaviness is even thicker.

"You're leaving," I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. It's not a question. Even as we stood together in the shower, I sensed his decision, our bodies intertwined. This is the end, and it feels like a chasm has opened between us.

He stands at the door, his silhouette outlined by the dim light filtering through the room. I can't see his features clearly, and part of me is grateful for that because I don't know if I can bear to look into those icy-blue eyes right now, knowing that he's about to shatter my heart.

"I need to make some phone calls," his voice is rough and thick with emotions that threaten to overwhelm him. "One of my guys will watch the house for the next few days."

"I don't need—"

"I won't let anything happen to you again, Bella." He cuts me off, his tone filled with anguish. "I should never have put you in this position in the first place. My life is too dangerous—"

"So that's it," I say, sitting up and drawing my legs to my chest. "You're giving up on us."

"I'm protecting you, Bella. It's what I should have done from the start."

"You're protecting yourself, Damien." I refuse to beg him to stay. My trepidation and fears weigh heavily on me, and I don't have the strength to carry his doubts as well. If he's unwilling to fight for us, maybe he isn't the man I thought he was.

"Take care of yourself, Bella." With those words, he turns and leaves, disappearing into the darkness. With him, a piece of my heart goes, leaving an emptiness I never thought I'd have to face.

Reader’s Choice:

What should Bella do next?

Go to work and try not to think about her heartbreak. Turn to this page.

Feel all the feels, skip work, and spend the day eating chocolate and ice cream. Turn to this page.

Chapter45

Alex

LAVENDER DREAMS OR NIGHTMARES

The sun streams through the open windows, casting a warm, golden glow across Jess's cozy apartment. I stand in front of the mirror, my reflection framed by the delicate lavender silk dress that Jess insisted would complement my eyes.

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