Chapter 96

Chapter 96

A kiss like a thief.

Dominique’s POV

I watched her from the hallway before I entered. Her shoulders were trembling slightly, her fingers clenched into fists at her sides.

Aurora was a storm contained in a fragile frame, beautiful, dangerous, unraveling, yet so innocent

Despite all the fire spewing out of her, I could still see that innocent little girl craving for closure from all the demons of her past.

I didn’t need to ask to know what was tormenting her. Her confrontation with Peterson had shattered something deeper in her than words could reach, it had brought out her inner demon that lied deep rooted in her.

I stepped into the room, quietly. She didn’t turn to look at me. Her body was rigid, her breathing sharp, like she was holding back tears or rage, or both.

“Aurora,” I said softly.

“Don’t,” she snapped, her voice hoarse. “Don’t you dare say my name like you care.”

I didn’t flinch, even though her words were knives. I deserved that. Hell, I deserved worse. But I couldn't walk away. Not this time.

“Talk to me,” I said. “Don’t keep it in. If you let it consume you, it wins.”

She finally turned to face me, eyes bloodshot and wild. “I don’t care anymore. Let it consume me. Let it burn everything. That man, that bastard Victor Peterson, he took everything from me. My mother. My childhood. My truth. He made me this… this thing, this weapon born out of revenge.”

She was shaking, barely able to hold herself upright. I stepped closer, but she backed away.

“No,” she hissed. “Don’t come near me. You’re just like him. All of you are the same.”

I held my hands up. “You think I don’t see what he did to you? You think I don’t hate myself for what I was part of?”

Her laugh was hollow, bitter. “What you were part of? You were the centerpiece, Dominic. You were the one who held the strings, who pulled me into the darkness, who made me believe I was nothing. Don’t come in here pretending you care about my pain.”

I said nothing. Because I couldn’t defend myself. Not from the truth. She was right. I had hurt her. I had treated her like a pawn, a means to an end. Because that was what I was taught to do.

But somewhere along the line, I had seen her, truly seen her. And it ruined me in all the best and worst ways.

She wiped at her eyes furiously. “What do you want from me now, Dominic? Pity? Forgiveness?”

“No,” I said, voice rough. “I just want to be here for you. I want to stop pretending that I don’t feel anything.”

She stared at me, disbelieving. “After all this time?”

I stepped closer, slow and deliberate, until we were face to face. My hands hovered by her arms, but I didn’t touch her.

“I messed up. I let power, fear, and loyalty blind me. But not anymore. I see you, Aurora. I see the fire, the pain, the strength. And I hate what I’ve done to you. But I swear, if you let me, I will spend every day trying to undo it.”

Tears slipped down her cheeks now, but she didn’t pull away. Her breathing hitched.

“Why now?” she whispered. “Why tell me now?”

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I leaned in, brushing my lips against hers, tender and slow. She froze, but didn’t stop me. The kiss deepened, became something raw and desperate.

Two years of pain, guilt, and suppressed longing poured into that single moment. When we finally pulled apart, she was breathing heavily, and so was I.

“I’m sorry, Aurora. For everything. I can’t take back what I did… I have struggled with this reality, but I know this now.”

I stepped closer again, resting my forehead on hers.

“I love you.”

Aurora Pov

Immediately he kissed me, everything went black, I let myself immense in the warmth of his lips.

Despite the fire brewing in me, his kiss was like the ice that melted those flames away.

For a moment, I felt calm, despite the storm sorrounding me.

I felt his breath on my neck as he leaned in, his voice a whisper.

“I love you”

A shiver ran down my spine.

He said it, he really siad it.

They say the devil doesn't love, but once in a while the devil feels even what himself despises.

His blue eyes stared deep into me, profusely begging me to be calm, and let him take my fight.

I know I can't just let him take my battle, I have to fight it myself.

But for now, I want him, I need him, I want to feel him, every part of him.

Then, before I could think, before I could stop myself, I leaned in.

Our lips brushed.

A spark.

Then an inferno burning brightly with desire.

He didn’t hesitate. His mouth claimed mine, deep, hungry, possessive. My knees buckled, but his arm tightened around my waist, holding me against him.

The kiss was unlike anything I’d ever known, raw, consuming, dangerous, passionate,

It wasn't like the first time, instead it was filled with love, the love he kept away from me, was now pouring freely without any intention of stopping.

His fingers tangled in my hair, his other hand gripping my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us, his fragrance swept into my nose, something cold, dangerous and still felt safe.

Heat flooded through me, an unfamiliar but exhilarating sensation.

Pure silence reverberated around us, but I could only see..

Only him.

Only us.

I should have pulled away. I should have walked away, I should have pushed him away like I always did.

But I didn’t.

Because for the first time in a long time, I wanted to burn, I wanted the fires of my desires to burn me.

And God help me, I didn’t care if it consumed me whole.

“why don't we take this to the next level”,

My cheeks went red, because that what I wanted

“Yes”, his lips captured mine again, as he carried me into his room…..