Chapter 134: Chapter 134 I love you so damn much
Aria’s POV
After we left the courthouse with our marriage certificate in hand, darkness hadn’t fully fallen yet.
Damian had mentioned taking me to some upscale private restaurant he frequented, but I wanted to go shop.
"It’s still early," I said softly, glancing at him. "Why don’t we go to the mall? We could... make it our first official date as husband and wife."
He turned to look at me, and I tried not to squirm under the intensity of his gaze.
"Alright," he said, his lips curving into that rare, devastating smile. "Whatever Luna Queen wants."
Luna Queen.
My face immediately flushed hot. I practically dove into the passenger seat to hide my embarrassment, clutching the marriage certificate tighter in my hands.
This all felt surreal. Like a dream I might wake up from at any moment.
Damian and I had only known each other for a little over a month. And now we were married. Actually, legally married. With his family’s blessing and the state’s official seal on our certificate.
I kept staring at the paper in my lap, reading our names over and over.
Damian Blackwood. Aria Blackwood.
"Aria," his voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Today is September fifteenth. We’re married."
His hand left the steering wheel to find mine, his fingers warm and strong as they intertwined with my own.
I looked up at him, my heart swelling. "Yes. We’re married."
September fifteenth. His birthday. The day he’d never have to feel alone or unwanted again.
I squeezed his hand gently, making a silent promise to myself that I’d spend every year making this day special for him.
---
When we arrived at the mall—one I frequented often—I was practically pulling Damian toward the elevators the moment we got out of the car.
"Where are we going in such a hurry?" he asked, amusement coloring his voice.
"A really beautiful craft shop!" I said, unable to contain my excitement. "You’ll see!"
We stepped onto the escalator, me one step above him. Even with the height difference, we were nearly eye level, and I noticed more than a few people turning to stare at us.
Damian seemed uncomfortable with the attention, his shoulders tensing slightly.
I realized he probably wasn’t used to places like this. He likely had private entrances and exclusive access everywhere he went. Shopping malls weren’t exactly his natural habitat.
"Want to hide in my arms?" I teased quietly. "I can shield your handsome face from all the stares."
That earned him a low chuckle. "I’m not that vain."
When we reached the top floor, I led him to a large cake-decorating studio that took up nearly a third of the level.
I’d called ahead and reserved a private room, and the owner personally escorted us to our space, helping us select which type of cake we’d be making.
Damian looked surprised when he saw the setup. "You want to make me a cake?"
"Yes," I said firmly, meeting his eyes. "Birthdays require a proper birthday cake. It’s the bare minimum for celebrating."
"I don’t celebrate my birthday," he said gently. "I never have. And I don’t usually eat sweets."
"Then we start today," I insisted. "From now on, I’ll be with you every birthday. And the cake isn’t for you to eat—it’s for the person celebrating you to enjoy. Which is me. So I’ll eat it."
I was already reaching for the cake base, measuring and cutting according to the template, completely missing the way Damian was looking at me.
"Aria."
"Hmm?"
I turned, and suddenly his face was right there. His lips brushed the corner of my mouth—not quite a kiss, but close enough to make my breath catch.
"What am I supposed to do?" His voice was low, rough. "I love you so damn much. Deeper than I ever thought possible."
"Damian..." I swallowed, my heart hammering. His presence felt different today—more intense, more consuming. Like he’d dropped some wall I hadn’t even known he’d been holding up.
Before I could respond, the shop owner knocked and entered with more supplies. I jerked away from Damian, trying to look normal as I turned toward her.
She smiled knowingly. "Sorry to interrupt. Just call if you need anything else."
The moment she left, I slid into the chair across from Damian, putting the work table between us like a barrier.
"We should focus on the cake," I said, trying to steady my voice. "I have other plans for our date tonight too."
But my hands were shaking slightly as I picked up the piping bag.
Had he just... confessed to me?
God, he was so direct sometimes. It was going to kill me.
Damian’s lips twitched, like he was trying not to laugh. "Alright. Let’s make this cake."
---
I’d chosen a three-layer heart-shaped design. It wasn’t the most complicated option, but it still required precision—especially for beginners.
Fortunately, I’d done this before. My hands moved confidently as I shaped and smoothed the layers.
Damian tried to help, but his first attempt with the knife nearly destroyed the entire structure.
"Here," I said quickly, handing him a piping bag instead. "Try the borders."
He took it without complaint, focusing intently on the task.
"Good," I said after watching him complete a few swirls. "You’re a fast learner."
His concentration was impressive. No complaints, no impatience. Just steady, careful effort.
It was... kind of adorable, actually.
"You’re a good teacher," he murmured.
Then, after a pause: "Have you ever made a cake for anyone else before?"
I glanced at him, catching the slight tension in his voice.
"Only for myself," I said honestly. "You’re the first person I’ve ever wanted to do this for."
It was true. I’d started making my own birthday cakes in college—something small and personal, just for me.
I’d thought about making one for Ethan once, but he’d shut down the idea before I could even suggest it. He’d said homemade things weren’t "high-quality" enough.
He’d never cared about the sentiment. Only the price tag.
But Damian... he was different. I could tell he valued the thought behind a gift more than its monetary worth.
"Hmm," Damian hummed softly, and I noticed him quickly raising his hand to cover part of his face.
Was he... blushing?
I bit back a smile.
Then I remembered something. Something I needed to ask.
"Damian," I said carefully. "You choosing to marry me today... it wasn’t because of what Vanessa said, was it?"
Comments