Chapter 123: Chapter 122: Reconciliation
"I’m sorry." The words seemed to cost him, but he said them clearly. "I’m sorry for keeping you in limbo. For testing you endlessly. For using dominance as punishment instead of intimacy. For making you feel like you weren’t enough."
"You don’t have to...."
"Yes, I do. Because you were right. About everything." He pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto hers. "I’ve been torturing us both. And I’m done. I’m done testing you. Done punishing you. Done protecting myself."
"What are you saying?"
"I’m saying I forgive you." His voice was firm, final. "Completely. Fully. For the deception, for the lies, for everything. I forgive you, Aria."
The words hit her like a physical force. She’d been waiting months to hear them, and now that she had....
She broke.
Sobs tore from her throat, and she collapsed against his chest, crying so hard her whole body shook. All the fear, the guilt, the desperate hope she’d been carrying....it all poured out in a flood of tears.
Damien wrapped his arms around her, held her tight against him, his hand stroking her hair.
"I’m so sorry," she gasped between sobs. "I’m so sorry I hurt you. I’m so sorry I lied. I’m so sorry I made you feel what you felt when your mother..."
"Shh. It’s okay. It’s okay now." He kissed the top of her head. "I forgive you. And more than that....I choose you. Not Victoria. Not any ’appropriate match.’ You."
"But your grandfather...."
"Will meet you and see what I see. Will understand that you’re brilliant and strong and brave. Will recognize that you’re exactly who I need." He tilted her chin up, made her look at him. "And if he doesn’t? If he objects or tries to push me toward Victoria? I’ll choose you anyway. Every single time."
"Damien...." Fresh tears spilled over.
"I love you, Aria Chen." The words came out clear, certain, absolute. "I love you with everything I am. And I’m done fighting it. Done protecting myself. Done holding back."
"I love you too." The words burst from her. "I love you so much. I’ve loved you from the moment I met you, even when I was lying, even when I shouldn’t have. I’ve never stopped loving you."
He kissed her then. Soft at first, tender, full of apology and forgiveness and promises.
But then the kiss deepened. Became desperate. Became consuming.
His hands tangled in her hair. Her hands fisted in his shirt. They kissed like they were drowning and each other was air. Like they’d been starving and each other was sustenance.
Months of pain and longing and need poured into that kiss.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Damien rested his forehead against hers.
"I should take you home," he murmured.
"Okay." Her voice was breathless.
"But first..." He pulled her closer, positioned her so she was lying across his chest, her ear pressed against his heart. "Just let me hold you. Let me feel you here, safe, mine."
They lay like that for long minutes, just breathing together, hearts beating in synchrony.
Aria listened to the steady thump-thump of his heart and felt something settle inside her. Something that had been fractured and broken finally clicking back into place.
He’d forgiven her. Chosen her. Loved her.
Everything else...Victoria, his grandfather, the complications....they’d face together.
"It’s getting late," Damien finally murmured, checking his watch. It was nearly 5 PM. "Let me take you home."
They stood, straightened their clothes, tried to make themselves presentable.
As they walked through his office toward the main floor, Damien took her hand. Laced their fingers together.
They rode the elevator down in comfortable silence, walked to his car hand in hand.
The drive to her apartment was quiet, but it was a different kind of quiet than before. Not tense or painful, but peaceful. Content.
When he pulled up in front of her building, Aria turned to him.
"Do you want to come in? My mother would love to see you. And we could...." She blushed. "We could talk more. Or...."
Damien’s smile was slow, wicked, full of dark promise. "If I come in there right now, Aria, you won’t make it to work tomorrow."
Her breath caught as heat flooded through her. "What?"
"I’ve been holding back for over a month. Touching you but not taking you. Making you come but not fucking you." His eyes darkened. "If I come inside your apartment, I’m going to take you to your bed and I’m going to fuck you in every position I’ve been fantasizing about for weeks. I’m going to make you come so many times you lose count. I’m going to make sure that when I’m done, you’re boneless and sore and completely ruined for anyone else."
Her core clenched at his words, wetness flooding between her thighs.
"So unless you want to call in sick tomorrow...." His hand cupped her face. "I suggest I say goodnight here. Give us both one more night to prepare. And tomorrow...." His thumb traced her lower lip. "Tomorrow night, I’m going to claim you properly. Completely. The way I’ve been dying to since the moment I forgave you."
She could barely breathe. "Tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow night." He leaned in, kissed her slow and deep, a promise of what was coming. "Go inside, Aria. Get some rest. Because tomorrow, after work, I’m taking you to my home. And I’m not letting you leave until I’ve had you every way I’ve been dreaming about."
"Yes, sir," she whispered against his lips.
He groaned. "Fuck. Don’t call me that right now or I will follow you inside."
She smiled, kissed him once more, then slipped out of the car.
At her building’s entrance, she turned back. He was still there, watching her with eyes that promised sin and pleasure and dark delights.
She waved. He nodded.
Then she was inside, leaning against the wall, her heart racing, her body already aching for tomorrow.
*****
MEI’S POV - 6:15 PM
Mei looked up from her book as Aria entered the apartment, and immediately knew something had changed.
Her daughter’s face was different. Softer. Lighter. Like a weight she’d been carrying had finally been lifted.
"He chose you," Mei said. Not a question.
Aria’s smile was radiant. "He chose me. He forgave me. He loves me."
"Oh, baby girl." Mei stood, pulled her into a hug. "I’m so happy for you."
"He told me about his mother. About why forgiveness was so hard." Aria’s voice was muffled against her mother’s shoulder. "And he apologized. Actually apologized for keeping me in limbo."
"Good. He should apologize. But more importantly...." Mei pulled back, studied her daughter’s face. "Are you happy? Really happy? Not just relieved, but happy?"
"Yes." No hesitation. "Yes, Mama. I’m happy. He’s everything I want. And tomorrow..." Her face flushed. tomorrow...."
"I don’t need details!" Mei laughed. "But I’m glad. You deserve happiness, Aria. Deserve a man who sees your worth. Who fights for you the way you fought for him."
They ate dinner together, Aria talking non-stop about the conversation, the forgiveness, the way he’d held her.
When Aria finally went to bed, she lay in the darkness, her phone lighting up with a text.
Sleep well. Aria.
She smiled, typed back.
I don’t think I’ll sleep at all.
Try. You’ll need your strength. I meant what I said about not letting you leave until I’ve had you every way imaginable.
Heat flooded through her.
Promises, promises.
Not promises. Guarantees. Now sleep, Aria. That’s an order.
Yes, sir.
Fuck. I’m going to make you pay for that tomorrow.
I’m counting on it.
She set down her phone, smiling in the darkness.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow everything would change.
Tomorrow, he’d claim her completely.
And she couldn’t wait.
*****
DAMIEN’S POV - 11:47 PM
Damien sat in his study, a glass of scotch untouched beside him, staring at nothing.
He’d done it. Actually done it.
Forgiven her. Chosen her. Told her he loved her.
And instead of the terror he’d expected...instead of the panic at being vulnerable....
He felt free.
Like chains he’d been carrying for years had finally fallen away.
His mother’s death. The betrayal of her lies. The fear of being hurt again.
All of it....gone. Or at least, no longer controlling him.
Because Aria had given him an ultimatum. Had forced him to choose. Had refused to accept limbo.
And in doing so, had freed him from his own prison.
His phone buzzed. A text from Julian.
So? Did you make a decision?
Damien smiled, typed back.
I Forgave her.
FINALLY. Jesus Christ, it’s about time.
You’re welcome, by the way. For all my excellent advice that you ignored for weeks.
Your advice was mediocre at best.
My advice was brilliant and you know it.
Damien laughed, set down his phone.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow he’d bring back Aria to his home. To this estate where everything started.
His cock hardened at the thought, and he adjusted himself with a grimace.
One more night. He could last one more night.
And then....
Then Aria Chen would be his in every possible way.
Forever.
