Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
T here was a soft creak as Thorn got out of her chair. The way Damian was looking at her—with heat, etched with worry and a little bit of apprehension—it softened him. It made the growly beast less intimidating, more human.
She wanted to wipe the worry from his eyes, reassure him that she was still there. That she still had feelings for him. That it did mean something.
Coming here had knocked her off course, and for a moment, she feared she’d made a humongous mistake. That her feelings for Damian were nothing more than a fling, a distraction. Something to be fought and squashed and ignored.
But she’d been wrong.
Even with her thoughts full of Jaden, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Damian. It all made sense now. That’s why it had hurt so badly. She hadn’t just lost her husband; she’d moved on. That’s why she’d been an emotional wreck—because she knew she was letting go. She couldn’t hold on to the memories any longer. It was time to make new ones.
That’s what hurt the most.
One thing she knew for sure was that Jaden would have wanted her to be happy. He’d tried to make her happy, and he had, for that short time. Now it was someone else’s turn.
Thorn’s heartbeat quickened as she closed the distance between them. Damian’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as if he was bracing for something. Maybe he thought she was going to walk away again, leave him hanging like she had before. But that wasn’t going to happen—not this time.
She didn’t break eye contact, her breath catching as she took in the rugged lines of his face, the tension coiled in his broad shoulders. There was something raw about him, something that always made her pulse race. It was like looking at a storm about to break, and for once, she wanted to be right in the middle of it.
Without a word, she slid onto his lap, her thighs pressing against his hips as she straddled him. She felt the sharp intake of his breath, saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes before they darkened further, the heat between them sparking to life.
Her hands found their way to his shoulders, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as she leaned in, her lips hovering just above his.
For a split second, she hesitated. Maybe this was crazy, maybe she was moving too fast, but the way he was looking at her, with that mix of desire and caution, told her he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
She didn’t need words to show him what she felt—words had never been their strong suit anyway.
So she kissed him.
It wasn’t soft or tentative. This was all fire and need, the turmoil of the last two days erupting inside her. She poured everything into that kiss—every fear, every doubt, every longing she’d tried to suppress.
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.