Page 99 of Wild Tangled Hearts

"Thank you," I say softly.

Sebastian chuckles, his dark eyes holding a glint of mischief, and I wonder if he enjoys making Damien jealous. "We should stop meeting like this," he adds with a faint, strained smile, referring to the near miss with his car earlier.

Damien's jaw clenches as he watches Sebastian exit, and his anger simmers just beneath the surface. I can tell he wants to confront me, but the ordeal I've just been through weighs heavily on us.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I tell him. And it’s the truth.

His eyes soften with concern as he takes in my shaken state. Without a word, he pulls me into another tight hug, his arms a reassuring fortress around me.

"I'm so sorry, Bella," he whispers, his voice filled with remorse. "This is all my fault."

The police officers finally finish their work. They've gathered evidence and taken my statement, but there's nothing else they can do now.

Damien is a relentless force as he helps me clean up the chaos that has befallen my home, but I'm utterly exhausted, my body weighed down by the night’s events.

He notices the weariness in my eyes and gently urges me, "You should go have a shower and lie down. I'll finish up here." His concern is evident, and I nod gratefully.

Upstairs, I step into the welcoming warmth of the shower, allowing the hot water to cascade over me. The sensation is soothing, a brief respite from the fear and tension gripping me. But despite the steam and the comforting flow of water, my fears linger, stubbornly refusing to be washed away entirely.

As I stand there, my body aches from the ordeal, and my mind races with the unsettling events of the night. The intrusion, the threat, and the knowledge that danger now looms over my life. It's a weight that clings to my skin no matter how hard I try to scrub it away.

I close my eyes and let the water flow over me, hoping it will somehow cleanse not just my body but also my soul. Yet, as the minutes tick by, I can't shake the feeling that the shadows of fear and uncertainty still linger in the corners of my mind, refusing to be washed away by even the steamiest of showers.

I hear the sound of the bathroom door opening, and Damien's strong presence fills the room. He steps into the shower with me, his powerful arms wrapping around me, pulling me close. His embrace is a lifeline, a source of comfort and strength I desperately need.

I lean into him, my body relaxing against his, as if his presence can chase away the shadows that haunt me. His hands move soothingly over my back, his touch a balm to my weary soul. With each gentle caress, I feel the fear and tension slowly ebbing away, replaced by a sense of security and warmth.

“I already called my guys, and they’ll be here first thing in the morning to install a security system.” He brushes his thumb gently over my cheek, his touch tender. There’s something in his expression that guts me. Something that tells me that he’s made a decision I won’t like.

I cup his face, forcing him to meet my eyes. "Listen to me," I say with determination, "what happened tonight, it doesn't change anything—"

"It changes everything, Bella." His expression is darker than I've ever seen. "I fucked up, being so careless—"

"Damien," I stop him with a kiss. "No more talking right now. I just need you."

He kisses me back, and it quickly changes from something tender to something desperate. Our mouths move with need and urgency, and the passion between us 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. In one swift, powerful motion, he enters me, 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.

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