Chapter 176 176
She thanked Charlotte softly before the woman left the room.
The moment the door closed behind her, Jacqueline slipped out of her dress and released a long, exhausted sigh. Her shoulders sagged as tension slowly drained from her body.
She made her way into the en-suite bathroom and shut the door firmly behind her.
After removing the rest of her undergarments, she adjusted the shower until the temperature felt just right. When the water warmed to her liking, she stepped beneath the stream and exhaled as it poured over her body. The steady cascade loosened the tightness in her muscles, washing away the strain of the long evening.
Her thoughts drifted immediately to Damien.
She had no idea what he would think about them staying here tonight. Aunt Sofia had arranged everything without giving her a chance to speak to him about it first.
Truthfully, Jacqueline didn’t want to face him at all.
The man was exhausting.
His heart was surrounded by walls so thick they might as well have been carved from stone. No matter what she said or did, Damien always retreated back into that cold, brooding distance of his.
She was tired of it.
All she wanted now was to return to her old life to the normal world she had before all this chaos and forget the infuriating man who made her heart spin completely out of control.
Eventually, she finished her shower and reached for a towel, drying herself before wrapping it securely around her body and tucking the edge in place at the top.
Her fingers combed through the damp tangles of her hair as she pushed the bathroom door open. Steam followed her out into the room, curling through the air.
She had barely taken three steps when she stopped dead.
An intense gaze burned into her skin.
Her head snapped toward the doorway.
Her eyes widened.
Damien was leaning against the frame of the door, his large, muscular form filling the entrance completely. His arms were crossed over his chest, his presence imposing enough to steal the breath straight from her lungs.
And apparently, it did.
She stood there, frozen.
His dark eyes moved slowly over her body, traveling down her small frame with an intensity that made her feel like she was the most tempting dessert he had ever laid eyes on.
Jacqueline simply blinked at him, too startled to speak.
He must be here to discuss this sudden overnight arrangement.
—
Earlier, Damien had been wandering down the hallway, drawn by a scent he knew far too well.
Her scent.
He followed it instinctively, breathing it in deeply as his heart pounded faster with every step. His mind was restless, overwhelmed by the storm of emotions raging inside him.
He needed to see her.
Now.
If he didn’t, he was certain he would lose his mind.
When he reached her door, he paused, knowing she was inside. He knocked once.
No answer.
After a moment, he turned the knob and stepped inside.
The soft sound of running water reached him from the bathroom.
So he waited.
Patiently.
And the wait proved worthwhile.
Moments later, Jacqueline stepped out.
His breath caught sharply.
She stood there wearing nothing but a soft, fluffy towel wrapped around her body, looking like pure temptation wrapped in steam and moonlight something dangerous enough to make a man abandon every ounce of restraint.
She noticed him instantly.
Her breath faltered.
Damien said nothing.
His eyes traveled slowly over her figure, drinking in every detail.
Then he stepped fully inside and kicked the door shut behind him.
Jacqueline stared at him, barely breathing. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as she clutched the towel tighter around herself.
He still hadn’t spoken.
He only watched her.
Like a predator studying its prey.
She should have been furious at him for barging into her room like this, for invading her privacy without warning.
But strangely… anger wasn’t what she felt.
Instead, she was acutely aware of the fact that she stood before him wrapped in nothing but a towel.
“Damien?” she finally managed.
The moment his name left her lips, his eyes snapped up to meet hers.
Her throat tightened as he began walking toward her.
Instinctively, she took a step back.
Then another.
He kept coming.
By the time her back touched the wall, he had closed the distance between them in three long strides. He towered over her now, his breathing heavy as he stepped into her space.
The look in his eyes was predatory dark, hungry.
Dangerous enough to unravel her completely.
Jacqueline blinked rapidly, her gaze dropping to his chest as confusion swirled in her mind.
What was happening?
“You asked me what I want from you,” he said, his voice thick and gravelly.
She swallowed.
Too stunned to speak, she gave the faintest nod.
Damien tilted his head slightly, studying her face.
The flutter of her lashes.
The way her lips parted slightly in shock.
“I want you,” he said roughly.
“Huh?” she breathed, blinking as her gaze snapped up to meet his.
Her mind struggled to catch up with what he had just said.
He reached out and gripped her jaw, his fingers pressing firmly into her cheeks as he tilted her face upward. The hold forced her lips into a small pout.
“I want you,” he repeated in a husky whisper.
For a moment her heart seemed to stop completely.
Then it began pounding wildly against her ribs.
“Oh,” was all she managed to say.
Her lips formed a small “O.”
Damien let out a low growl.
And then his mouth crashed against hers.
Jacqueline gasped as his lips claimed hers fiercely.
There was nothing gentle about the kiss.
It was intense hungry and consuming.
His tongue brushed against the seam of her lips before pressing insistently until she parted them. The moment she did, he deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding inside to tangle with hers.
His free hand moved upward, gripping the back of her neck and holding her firmly in place.
One of Jacqueline’s hands remained clutching the towel to keep it secure. Her other hand lifted slowly, resting against his jaw in a soft, tentative touch.
Her fingertips were featherlight against his skin.
Damien responded by deepening the kiss even more.
A quiet moan slipped from her lips, and he swallowed the sound greedily.
Then she surprised him.
Her teeth caught his bottom lip.
And she bit him hard.
Damien hissed as he pulled back slightly, his eyes flashing with warning.
His dark, desire-filled gaze lingered on her.
“You want it rough?” he growled lowly.
A shiver ran down Jacqueline’s spine, sending warmth rushing through her.
But she didn’t answer.
She simply blinked at him, wide-eyed and silent like an innocent doll.
She was still trying to process the fact that this cold, guarded man had finally admitted what he felt.
“You… want me?” she asked softly.
What if she had misunderstood?
For a moment, Damien’s expression softened.
“Every damn inch of you,” he said, his voice thick with certainty. “Your body… your heart… your soul.”
The determination burning in his eyes left no room for doubt.