Chapter 129: Chapter 128: I love you
Finally, he pulled out carefully and rolled to his side, pulling her against his chest.
"Good morning," he murmured with a smile in his voice.
She laughed weakly. "Is that how you always wake up? Ready to go?"
"Only with you Aria. Only when you wake me up by running your hands all over me like you can’t help yourself." He kissed the top of her head. "How do you feel? Really?"
"I feel sore, Exhausted. Thoroughly used." She paused. "But i feel Perfect."
"Good. Because we’re spending the entire weekend in this bed. I’m not letting you leave until Monday morning."
"Damien....."
"Non-negotiable. You’re mine for the entire weekend. No work. No obligations. Just us." His arms tightened around her. "I’m going to feed you, bathe you, take care of you. And yes, probably fuck you a few more times because I apparently can’t keep my hands off you."
She should protest. Should insist she needed rest. Should point out that her body couldn’t possibly handle more.
Instead, she heard herself say, "Okay."
"Good girl." He kissed her shoulder. "Now rest. We have all day. All weekend. I can be patient. For a few hours at least."
She smiled against his chest, her eyes already drifting closed.
This was her life now. Waking up in Damien Blackwood’s arms. Being claimed and cherished and absolutely consumed by his love.
She’d never been happier.
TWO HOURS LATER - 11:23 AM
Aria woke the second time to the smell of coffee and something sweet.
She opened her eyes to find Damien sitting beside the bed, fully dressed in casual slacks and a white t-shirt, holding a tray.
"Breakfast," he announced. "Since I wore you out so thoroughly yesterday that you’ve been asleep for fourteen hours."
She sat up, wincing at the soreness, and accepted the coffee gratefully. "Fourteen hours?" You mean i slept for fourteen hours?
"Thirteen and a half if we’re being precise. You passed out around 9 PM last night and it’s almost 11:30 now." He set the tray across her lap....fresh fruit, pastries, yogurt, orange juice. "Eat Aria. You need your strength."
"For what?" She took a sip of perfectly prepared coffee.
"For the rest of the weekend. I told you....I’m keeping you here. And that means keeping you fed and hydrated and ready for whatever I decide to do to you."
Heat pooled in her belly despite her exhaustion. "What are you planning?"
"That’s for me to know and you to find out." He leaned in, kissed her softly. "But first, eat. Then we’re taking a real bath...one where I actually wash you instead of fucking you like i always want to. Then maybe a walk around the estate grounds if you feel up to it. I want to show you the gardens."
"That sounds nice."
"It will be. Normal. Domestic. All the things we never got to have before." His expression softened. "I want to court you properly, Aria. Take you on dates. Show you off. Build a life with you that’s about more than just sex and intensity."
Tears pricked her eyes. "I’d like that."
"Good. Because you’re stuck with me now. For better or worse. In sickness and health. All of it."
"We’re not married yet," she pointed out with a smile.
"Yet." His eyes gleamed. "Give me a few months. I’m going to put a ring on your finger the moment I think you’re ready."
Her heart stuttered. "Damien...."
"Eat your breakfast, Aria. Before I decide to have you for breakfast instead."
She laughed and obeyed, warmth spreading through her chest.
This was real. This was happening. This was her future.
And she couldn’t wait to see what came next.
*****
AFTERNOON - 2:47 PM
After breakfast and a long, relaxing bath where Damien actually kept his word and just washed her gently, they dressed in comfortable clothes and walked through the estate grounds.
Aria wore one of his oversized sweaters and her jeans from yesterday, her hair pulled into a messy bun. Damien was casual in dark jeans and a gray henley, his hand firmly clasped in hers.
They walked the gardens she’d only glimpsed before....late-season roses still blooming, ornamental grasses swaying in the breeze, stone paths winding between perfectly manicured beds.
"My mother designed these," Damien said quietly as they walked. "Spent years perfecting them. After she died, I almost let them all die too. Couldn’t stand to look at them. But Mrs. Chen and the gardening staff maintained them. Said my mother would haunt them if they let her work go to waste."
Aria squeezed his hand. "They’re beautiful."
"She was beautiful. Kind. Brilliant. Everything I’m not." He stopped walking, turned to face her. "She would have loved you. Would have seen immediately what I was too scared to admit.....that you’re exactly what I need. That you make me better."
"Damien...."
"I’m serious." He cupped her face. "Before you, I was just existing. Going through the motions. Building an empire but not really living. And then you showed up....lying and desperate and absolutely beautiful....and you made me feel again. Made me want again. Made me human again."
"You were always human. You were always more than your empire."
"Maybe. But I’d forgotten that. You reminded me." He kissed her softly. "Thank you for that. Thank you for not giving up on me even when I was being an ass. Thank you for fighting for us."
"I love you. Of course I fought for us."
"I love you too. More than I thought I was capable of loving anyone." He pulled her close, held her against his chest. "You’re mine, Aria Chen. Forever. No matter what comes. You’re mine and I’m yours and nothing is going to change that."
She held him tight, feeling his heart beat against hers, and thought that maybe....finally....everything really was going to be okay.
They’d survived the worst. Now they got to build the best.
Together.
Always together.
