Chapter Eighteen
Damien
J ealousy.
It’s the devil. A devil that crawls under my skin. I’m barely holding on.
Theo. Theo. Theo.
That little fucker.
My teeth grind at the memory of him looking at her, speaking to her, breathing her air. Anything my little flower needs, she gets from me. No other man provides for her. No other man teaches her a damn thing. That is my privilege. My right. My goddamn duty. I am her provider. Her protector. Her man. Her stalker. Her everything.
And she needs a lesson in that tonight.
I drag her out of the café the second that little meet-up wraps up. I don’t slow down until we reach my car, parked in a secluded alley.
She yanks her wrist. “You’re hurting me.”
I let go, but only to cup her jaw and force her to meet my gaze. “You’ll survive.”
Fire flickers in those big, defiant eyes. “You’re acting crazy.”
I hum, dragging my thumb over her lower lip, my other hand settling on her hip. “Crazy for you, little flower.”
I spin her, pinning her against the hood of my car, her palms slapping the metal.
“Did you pack a bag?”
“What?”
I nip at her earlobe. “Your bag, Amelia. Did you pack one like I told you?”
“No,” she says slowly, testing the waters.
“That won’t be an issue. I prefer you naked anyway.”
She jolts, twisting under my grip. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
Her lips part. Eyes wide.
“I’m not taking your virginity in some dirty storage room.”
Her face flushes crimson. She stammers, “What makes you think I still want you to take it after everything that happened? After Linda?”
She wants to pretend she doesn’t want this? That she isn’t mine? My palm cracks against her thigh.
She screeches, jerking against the hood. “What are you doing?”
Another slap. Harder. “What. Did. I. Tell. You?” I hiss. “Didn’t I tell you the mere thought of another woman touching me fills me with pure rage?”
She turns her head, icing me out.
Wrong move.
I spread her thighs apart, stepping between them, pressing her down onto the hood.
“Whatever her name was didn’t touch me.”
Her eyes flicker with something like relief.
“She tried,” I continue, pressing kisses along the column of her neck. “But I didn’t let her.”
“Why?”
“Because I belong to you. Body. Heart. Soul.”
A shaky exhale escapes her lips. But it’s not enough. That relief I should feel, it isn’t there. Jealousy still gnaws at me.
“Are you being this difficult because of Theo?” I murmur. “Hmm? You saw him and now you want a taste of something normal? Something sweet?” I drag my lips along her jaw, voice dipping into a sneer. “A man who teaches you how to defend yourself instead of dismantling anyone who hurts you? If that’s what you want, too bad. I’m the only man for you. You’ll never get fucking normal. Only me.”
“I don’t want Theo,” she huffs, but she’s softening.
“I can’t stand it, Amelia,” I growl. “You leaving me. Hiding from me. Thinking I wouldn’t find you. That I’d ever let you go. And for that, you’re due for a punishment.”
“Punishment?”
“Don’t worry, little flower. I’ll make sure you enjoy every second of it.”
I kiss her in a way that leaves me starving. Not for air. Not for reason. For her. Always her. I tear myself away before I forget we’re in public and strip her down right here on the hood, let the whole city watch me remind her who she belongs to.
No. That won’t do. No one sees her like that but me.
I open the door and usher her inside. The ride is thick with something potent. Electric. My hands grip the wheel tighter than necessary, knuckles white as I watch her from the corner of my eye. She’s clutching a shredded tissue, tearing it to pieces.
Nervous.
She shouldn’t be. There’s no need.
She is my priority. My reason. My fucking religion.
The only thing she should feel—
Is worshipped .
The moment we pull up to my building, her mouth parts in awe, head tilting back as she takes in the height of it.
“You like it?” I ask.
She nods, but I don’t linger. She won’t be remembering the building, anyway. She’ll remember what I do to her inside it.
We step in. The elevator is empty, and the moment the doors slide shut, I pin her to the wall. My hands cage her in. My mouth crashes over hers. She gasps against my lips.
We’re in our own little bubble. Just us.
A chime cuts through the haze, and the doors slide open. She’s dazed, and I fucking love it. Love that I can steal her breath. That I can make her forget everything but me.
I lead her inside. The second she crosses the threshold, her breath catches.
The space is dim, candles flicker in nearly every corner, and petals are scattered across the floor. I wanted her first time to be special. So, when I finished up with Linda, I came straight here and set this up.
I hold out my hand. She takes it.
She follows the trail to the bedroom, where more petals blanket the bed. The candlelight casts shadows along the walls, turning the space into something sacred.
I kiss her trembling fingers. Then, I step back.
I unbuckle my belt, letting it fall to the floor. My fingers move to the buttons of my shirt. The fabric slips from my shoulders. She stares, her eyes roaming over every ugly mark.
I catch her tear before it falls.
“Don’t cry for me, little flower.”
Her small hands trail over my skin, mapping each scar. That man spared nothing to teach me to be “perfect.” Cigarettes, knives, belts—he marked me every time I said no or missed a hit. I want to hide.
But it’s her.
My Amelia.
And she doesn’t look away.
She whispers, “I’m glad you killed him.”
Something dark coils in my gut. The words shouldn’t affect me like this. But they do. They make my cock throb, sending heat pulsing through me.
Because she understands. Because she could crook her finger and I’d fall to my fucking knees. Because this woman, pure as snow, is glad I killed a man. Just because he hurt me.
She’s innocence. I’m rot. And somehow, we fit.
I reach for the side zipper of her dress. She hesitates, arms wrapping around herself as if I haven’t already claimed every part of her.
“No more hiding,” I rasp. “You were made for me to see. For me to worship. Let me see all of you.”
Always obedient when it matters, her arms drop. The dress pools at her feet. And for a moment, I forget how to fucking breathe.
She is absolute perfection.
My eyes drag over her perfect skin, the curve of her hips, her long legs. She’s something celestial, and I’m the ravenous sinner lucky enough to touch her.
“You’re so perfect,” I sigh. “You unravel me.” A kiss to her nose. “You make me weak.” A kiss to her lips.
Then I trace a path down her throat. My teeth graze her collarbone. I nip at her flesh, soothe it with my tongue, kiss lower. I reach the valley between her breasts, and my hands slide behind her to unhook her bra. She stiffens, but I hush her with another kiss.
“You’re mine to adore,” I say. “Mine to cherish.”
I claim her breasts—mouth, tongue, hands. She arches into me, breathless.
I press kisses along her ribs, then lower, down to her stomach. My teeth scrape lightly against her soft flesh. Her fingers tangle in my hair.
I continue downward, stopping at the panties still shielding her from me. I blow warm air over the damp fabric, savoring her shiver.
“Shy like last time?”
She shakes her head.
Good girl.
I peel the lace from her body and just look.
“Beautiful,” I groan. “Too beautiful for this world.”
Her chest rises in shallow breaths. I brush my lips against the inside of her thigh, then the other, inhaling the delicious scent of her pussy.
"Take what you want, little flower," I say.
Her hips rock shyly, but she’s whimpering, frustrated that she’s not getting what she needs.
"More," I urge.
I stick out my tongue, teasing her with its heat, its promise.
"No god, no culture, no voice in your head will ever make you feel dirty for this," I rasp. "You are a goddess. My goddess. My queen. I kneel at your altar, Amelia, and I will worship you until you beg me to stop."
Her body shudders, nails digging into my scalp.
"Yes, little flower. Just like that. Take what you want. Because tonight, and every night after, I’m yours."
She grinds against my mouth, finding her rhythm. Watching her gain confidence is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I eat her like a man starved, like I’ll die if I don’t taste every drop of her pleasure.
“Damien... it feels so good.”
The sound of her voice makes my cock ache, but this isn’t about me. Not yet.
She breaks apart, her back arching. Only then do I rise, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, my eyes locked on her dazed expression.
I throw her onto the bed.
She barely has time to process before I’m over her, pinning her down. I line my cock up with her soaked entrance, pausing to take her in, wide-eyed, trusting, willing.
"Tell me you want it."
She swallows, cheeks flushed. "I want it."
"Say it like you mean it."
"I want you."
"I’ll be gentle," I promise.
I push in slowly, giving her time to adjust. Her nails dig into my back and I hiss, the mix of pain and pleasure perfect. She’s crying softly at the stretch.
"It hurts... it burns, Damien."
"I’ve got you, little flower. Just breathe. Let me in."
She nods, body gradually relaxing. I don’t move until she melts around me.
I try to be slow, to be gentle, but it’s her. It’s Amelia. And I lose control fast.
I take her hard. I worship her with every thrust, every moan, every bite I leave behind. This is devotion. This is what we were made for. When she finally shatters beneath me, body convulsing, voice hoarse from screaming my name, I follow. Deep. So deep I swear I become a part of her.
I pull out slowly, fingers trailing down her stomach, slipping between her legs. She jerks in overstimulation.
"Oh, little flower," I croon, sliding two fingers inside her.
"You disobeyed me," I remind her as she squirms. "Did you think I’d let that slide?"
I curl them inside her, dragging against her sweet spot. She wails.
"Please... no. No more."
"No, no. You don’t get to beg yet."
I lower my mouth to her, tongue finding her swollen, overstimulated cunt. She pleads, says she can’t take anymore, and begs for a break.
I don’t budge.
Not until she breaks again. And again. And again.
She’s crying now. "Please," she sobs, "n-no more. I can’t."
"Oh, little flower," I murmur, “You’ll take whatever I give you... and you’ll love every second of it."