Chapter 12 Chapter 12
Hailey’s POV
I hesitated at the car door, every logical part of my brain screaming at me to walk away, but the street was dark and empty, and the thought of going home alone, drenched in wine and humiliation, made something in my chest tighten painfully.
So I climbed in.
The door shut behind me with a soft click, sealing me inside with him.
Damien didn’t say anything at first. He just sat there, his presence filling the space between us like static electricity.
The driver pulled away from the curb, and I pressed myself against the opposite door, trying to put as much distance between us as possible in the confined space.
“Where are we going?” I asked quietly, my voice barely audible over the hum of the engine.
“Somewhere you can clean up,” he replied, his tone unreadable.
I didn’t ask anything else. I just stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past.
Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up in front of a towering building that screamed wealth and exclusivity. A five-star hotel.
My stomach flipped nervously.
“Come on,” Damien said, already stepping out.
I followed reluctantly, my heels clicking against the marble as we walked through the gleaming lobby. People glanced our way, their eyes lingering on Damien with recognition and respect.
He led me to a private elevator, and we rode up in silence. The tension between us was suffocating, pressing down on my chest until I could barely breathe.
When the doors opened, we stepped into a penthouse that made my dorm room look like a closet.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, the lights twinkling like stars. The furniture was sleek and expensive, everything perfectly placed like a photo from a magazine.
“Bathroom’s through there,” Damien said, nodding toward a hallway. “There are clothes in the closet. Take whatever you need.”
I nodded mutely and hurried toward the bathroom, desperate to escape his gaze.
Inside, I peeled off my wine-soaked dress and stood under the hot spray of the shower, letting the water wash away the sticky residue and the shame clinging to my skin.
When I finally stepped out, wrapped in a plush towel, I found a selection of designer clothes laid out on the bed. Everything still had tags on it, like they’d been bought recently and never worn.
I chose a simple white shirt and black pants, both far too expensive for someone like me to be wearing.
When I emerged from the bedroom, Damien was standing by the window, his back to me. He had a phone pressed to his ear, speaking in low, clipped tones.
I pretended to be busy scrolling through my phone, trying not to look at him.
But then he ended the call and set the phone down.
And pulled his shirt off.
My breath caught in my throat, a flutter of something dangerous stirring low in my stomach.
His back was all muscle and clean lines, his skin smooth except for a few faint scars that only made him look more dangerous. When he turned slightly, I caught a glimpse of his chest, the hard planes of his abdomen flexing as he reached for another shirt.
I looked away quickly, heat flooding my cheeks, but my eyes betrayed me.
They kept drifting back, stealing glances like I couldn’t help myself.
My mouth felt dry, my pulse quickening.
What was wrong with me?
“I need some air,” I blurted suddenly, standing up so fast I nearly tripped.
Damien glanced at me, one eyebrow raised, but he didn’t stop me.
I hurried toward the glass doors leading to the pool area and stepped outside, gulping in the cool night air like I’d been drowning.
The pool glowed blue in the darkness, the water perfectly still.
I walked to the edge, trying to steady my racing heart.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Benita was calling again.
I pulled it out, fumbling with it in my distracted state, and that’s when my heel caught on the edge of the tile.
I lurched forward, my arms flailing as I lost my balance.
I was going to fall straight into the pool.
But then strong hands caught me, pulling me back against a solid chest.
Damien.
His arms wrapped around my waist, steadying me, and suddenly I couldn’t breathe for an entirely different reason.
I could feel the heat of his body through the thin fabric of the shirt I wore, could feel the rise and fall of his chest against my back. A shiver ran down my spine despite the warmth pooling in my core.
“Careful,” he murmured, his voice low and far too close to my ear.
I turned in his arms, meaning to step back, to put distance between us.
But when I looked up and met his eyes, something shifted.
Before I could think, before I could stop myself, I kissed him.
It was impulsive and reckless, and the moment our lips touched, heat exploded through me like wildfire.
I pulled back almost immediately, my eyes wide. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to….”
But Damien didn’t let me finish.
His hand slid to the back of my neck, and he kissed me back.
This time, his kiss turned romantic, slow and deep, his tongue exploring my mouth like he was savoring every second.
“Hailey,” he murmured against my lips, his voice low and husky.
He kissed me again, softer this time, his hands sliding down my sides. With gentle pulls, he slipped the straps of my dress off my shoulders, peeling the fabric away inch by inch.
The cool air hit my bare skin as the dress pooled at my waist, exposing my breasts.
He broke the kiss to look at me, eyes hungry. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, then leaned in to kiss my neck, trailing down to my collarbone.
His hands cupped my breasts, squeezing them firmly, thumbs brushing over my nipples until they hardened.
I arched into his touch, a soft moan escaping me. “Mmm, Damien... that feels good.” He smiled against my skin, pinching lightly, making me gasp. “Ahh!”
He tugged the dress lower, over my hips, until it was gone, leaving me naked under the stars. His fingers traced my thighs, spreading them slowly.
“I want to taste you,” he said, voice thick with desire. He dipped his head, kissing my inner thigh, then higher, until his mouth hovered over my pussy.
One finger slid inside me first, slow and teasing, curling just right. I bucked my hips, wetness coating him.
“Oh god, yes... finger me deeper.”
He added a second finger, pumping gently, his thumb circling my clit. My moans grew louder, body trembling.
“Damien... ahh, don’t stop!” He watched my face, his eyes locked on mine as he fingered me, building the heat. Then he pulled his fingers out, bringing them to his lips to taste me.
“So sweet,” he growled.
Before I could catch my breath, his mouth was on me, tongue lapping at my folds. He ate my pussy like he was starving, sucking my clit, then plunging his tongue inside.
“Fuck, Hailey, you taste amazing,” he mumbled against me, vibrations sending shocks through my core. I gripped his hair, grinding against his face.
“Yes! Oh, Damien... eat me up, mmm!” Waves of pleasure built fast, my legs shaking as he devoured me, tongue flicking relentlessly.
I came hard on his mouth, crying out. “Ahh! I’m cumming... yes!”
He licked me through it, not stopping until I was panting and sensitive.
He rose up, shedding his swim trunks, his cock hard and ready. “I need to be inside you,” he said, positioning himself between my legs. He pushed in slowly, inch by inch, filling me completely.
It was gentle at first, his thrusts deep but soft, our bodies rocking together. “You feel so tight around me,” he groaned, kissing me tenderly.
“Mmm, Damien... more,” I whispered, wrapping my legs around him. “I want it harder.” He picked up the pace, thrusting faster, our skin slapping lightly. Pleasure sparked with every stroke, my moans filling the air. “Yes! Harder, oh god!”
He gripped my hips, pounding into me now, the lounger creaking under us. Sweat slicked our bodies, the pool water lapping nearby like background music to our rhythm.
I clawed at his back, lost in the intensity. “Fuck me, Damien... ahh, yes!”
As the edge approached, I felt overwhelmed, the sensations too much. “Stop... please, slow down!” I begged, but when he eased up, thrusting gently again, I shook my head. “No, faster! Don’t listen to me... fuck me hard!” He grinned, slamming back in with force, not holding back.
“Like this, Hailey? Take my cock deep.”
“Yes! Oh fuck, don’t stop... I’m so close!” My pussy clenched around him, the mix of pain and pleasure pushing me higher.
He drove into me relentlessly, grunting with each thrust. “Cum for me, baby... squeeze my dick.”
I shattered, screaming his name. “Damien! Ahh, I’m cumming... yes!” My walls pulsed, milking him as waves crashed over me. He followed seconds later, burying deep and spilling inside me.
“Fuck, Hailey... take it all!” Hot spurts filled me, his body shuddering against mine.
———
The next morning, I woke to soft sunlight streaming through the glass doors.
For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind slowly piecing together what had happened.
Oh God.
Shame crashed over me like a wave, hot and suffocating.
I’d done it again. I’d slept with him again.
What was wrong with me?
I sat up carefully, glancing over at Damien. He was still asleep, one arm draped across his face, his chest rising and falling steadily.
I had to get out of here.
Moving as quietly as possible, I slipped out of bed and gathered my things. My dress was still ruined, so I kept wearing the borrowed clothes.
I grabbed my handbag from the table near the door, but as I reached for it, my eyes caught on Damien’s phone lying face-up beside it.
A notification glowed on the screen.
Sophia’s suspension has been successfully reduced to two weeks. She’ll be back on campus Monday.
My blood ran cold, a sick feeling twisting in my gut.
Of course. Of course he’d helped her.
She was his daughter. Why wouldn’t he use his power to protect her?
But knowing that didn’t make it hurt any less.
I stared at the message for a long moment, something bitter and painful settling in my chest.