Chapter 21 A night with the billionaire
THIRD PERSON’S POV.
And then…without thinking, without breathing…Serena’s lips crashed onto his.
Hot.
Consuming.
Needy.
Shock flickered through Damian, then instincts took over. His hands flew to her hair, fingers threading through the soft strands as he pulled her closer, kissing her back with a hunger he’d buried for years.
He tasted warmth and sweetness and something he had never dared to name.
She kissed him like he was oxygen, pulling him in closer.
He held her, arms wrapped around her waist as she straddled him.
The world faded away, no bedroom, no fever, no past.
Just the quiet thud of his heart against hers. Just the soft gasp she released when he deepened the kiss, slow and passionate , like he was branding his name in her mouth.
Time blurred.
Breaths tangled.
Every inch of him leaned into her.
When Serena finally tore her lips away, her chest heaved, her forehead pressed to his.
In a breathless whisper, soft and trembling, she said,
“I’m here because I need you, Damian.”
That was all the permission he needed.
In one swift move, Damian had her on her back, hovering over her, eyes wide with something raw and electric. His mouth found hers again, hungry and claiming.
His hands cupped her breasts through the thick shirt, she wasn’t wearing a bra,a low growl escaped from his throat.
His thumb traced slow, deliberate circles over her nipples, and his tongue flicked deep into her mouth, tasting her, teasing her.
Serena moaned into the kiss, her arms sliding around his neck, pulling him closer.
He couldn’t take it anymore. One hand found the hem of her shirt,he slipped under it, fingers gliding up her torso, desperate to feel skin, real skin.
He needed the confirmation that this was happening. That she actually wanted him.
Serena squeezed her legs together as warmth pulsed between her thighs. She was hyperaware of every place he touched, as if his hands were lighting matches along her skin.
She arched up, breath hitching in anticipation as Damian’s hand neared her breasts. One more inch….
But a hurried knock crashed through the room bringing them to a halting stop.
Annoyance shot through both of them, sharp and violent. They looked at the door wishing the person on the other side away.
Another knock. Faster.
Damian exhaled a frustrated curse, jumped off the bed, and yanked a shirt over his head as he strode to the door.
“Jake,what is it?”
“Mr Damian…” he spoke in a hushed, hurried tone.
Damian scratched the back of his head in frustration. “Let me get dressed. I’ll be down in a minute”
He shut the door. Jaws clenched.
“Serena” he said softly, looking almost pained, “I hate to do this but..”
“You have to go” she finished for him.
“Yeah, my informant just told me about the secret meeting my board of directors are holding tonigh..”
“And that’s a problem because…?”
“They’ve been trying to impeach me as CEO” he said sharply “if they are meeting at this hour, it means they think they finally have the upper hand.”
“That’s horrible”
“It is,” he tugged on a pair of black dress pants and a fitted turtle neck,“I’ve worked too damn hard to let a bunch of flies steal what I built.” He adjusted the black leather jacket.
Within seconds he was fully dressed,black on black, effortless and commanding. If she hadn’t watched it happen, she’d never believe he did it in a rush. He looked devastatingly handsome.
“I hope I make it back before you leave.” He said quietly.
She only nodded.
He lingered for a moment, his eyes sweeping over her lustfully, then he finally slipped out, closing the door gently behind him.
Serena exhaled shakily. She had almost made love to Damian. The thought alone made her stomach flutter.
She went to bed that night with a small, helpless smile.
Serena woke up to something warm and solid pressed against her back.
She blinked awake, confused for a moment then stilled.
Damian was in bed beside her.
He was asleep, breath slow and even, one arm draped lazily around her waist,not tight, not possessive, just… there. As if he was afraid that holding her too firmly might break the spell of her presence.
Her heart stumbled.
She wondered what time he had come in. How exhausted he must’ve been. Whether he had climbed into bed on autopilot or… because it felt natural.
The memories of last night slammed into her all at once,her body beneath his, her mouth on his, her moans, her need.
Heat rushed to her cheeks. God. She had practically melted into him. Why had she done that?
Careful not to wake him, she gently eased herself out from under his arm. She moved quietly, gathering her clothes and dressing fast. She couldn’t face him, not after the way she had responded to him, not after how close they’d come to making love.
Before leaving, she placed his medication on the bedside table with a glass of water. It felt like the natural thing to do.
Then she slipped out of the room.
On the stairs, she nearly bumped into Edith.
“Ma’am, are you okay? You look a bit shaken up.”
“I’m fine, Edith. Good morning.” Serena forced a small smile. “Please tell Damian I had an early appointment and had to leave.”
“Of course, Miss Serena. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yes,” she said gently. “I’m good.”
But when she stepped out into the morning air, her heart was anything but still.
As Serena drove out of Damian’s compound, she kept her eyes fixed on the road, willing her thoughts to settle. She never noticed the black sedan parked further down the street tucked neatly behind a row of overgrown hedges, just far enough to stay out of sight from Damian’s armed guards.
It didn’t move.
Didn’t make a sound.
Just waited.
Serena’s car passed without slowing, her taillights fading into the morning light.
The street fell silent again.
A minute passed.
Then another.
And a third.
Only then did the hidden car start up, quietly, like someone who didn’t want to be noticed.
It pulled away from the curb, unrushed, steady. Not chasing her. Not closing the gap. Just slipping into the road the same way a shadow falls behind a person when the sun rises,quiet, natural, almost familiar.
Serena kept driving,unaware.
Behind her, the car stayed on her trail.
Silent.
But unmistakably there.