Chapter 185: Chapter 186: Reclaiming Paradise
ARIA’S POV
They walked through the back entrance of the estate, their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet hallway. Aria had forgotten about this entrance,,,,the one that led directly to the private areas Damien rarely showed anyone. The one that connected to the lower levels where his mother’s sanctuary waited.
Damien’s hand was warm in hers as he led her down the familiar corridor, past closed doors and down a staircase she remembered from that first night. The air grew warmer as they descended, humidity increasing with each step.
"I had Mrs Chen maintain it," Damien said quietly as they reached the bottom. "She’s the only one I allow access to this space. The only one I trust to keep it exactly as it should be."
He opened the door, and Aria’s breath caught.
It looked exactly the same. Exactly as she remembered from that first date when she’d been terrified and exhilarated and falling for him despite knowing she shouldn’t.
The natural stone walls created an intimate cavern, lit by the same soft, warm lighting that cast dancing shadows across the surfaces. The lush plants still thrived in the humid environment, their green leaves glistening with moisture. And in the center, steam rose from the natural pool of water, the hot spring that had given this place its magic.
It was beautiful. Perfect. Like stepping back in time to a moment when everything had been simpler....or at least, when her lies had been simpler.
"It’s exactly the same," she breathed, moving further into the space. Her eyes traced over every detail....the smooth rocks surrounding the pool, the artful arrangement of ferns and orchids, the way the lighting made everything feel warm and intimate and separate from the rest of the world.
"Aria."
She turned at the sound of his voice and found that Damien had moved to the edge of the spring. He stood there watching her with that intense gaze that always made her feel like she was the only thing in the universe that mattered to him.
"Come here," he said softly.
She walked to where he stood, her heart beginning to race as she saw the intent in his eyes.
"Let’s get in." His hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, and she watched, mesmerized, as he undid them one by one with deliberate slowness.
The shirt fell away, revealing the lean, muscled torso she knew so well. Every line and plane of muscle, the smooth skin, the masculine beauty that still took her breath away even after seeing it countless times.
His hands moved to his belt, and she heard the clink of metal, the rasp of leather. Then his trousers were sliding down his legs, and he was stepping out of them, standing before her in nothing but tight black boxer briefs that did absolutely nothing to hide his arousal.
"Damien," she breathed, her eyes dropping to where his erection strained against the fabric.
She couldn’t look away. Couldn’t stop staring at the thick outline clearly visible through the thin material, at the way the fabric stretched to contain him.
Damien saw where she was looking, saw the hunger in her eyes, and smiled—that wicked, predatory smile that promised pleasure and possession in equal measure.
"Like what you see?" His voice was rough with arousal.
Instead of answering, Aria just continued to stare, her breathing quickening, heat pooling between her thighs.
Damien decided to give her a show.
His hands moved to the waistband of his boxers, fingers hooking into the elastic. But instead of pulling them down quickly, he did it slowly. So slowly. Dragging the fabric down inch by torturous inch while her eyes tracked every movement.
When his cock finally sprang free....thick and hard and already glistening at the tip....Aria actually made a sound. A small, desperate whimper that made Damien’s eyes flash with heat.
He stepped out of the boxers completely and moved to the edge of the pool, giving her one last look at his fully naked body before stepping into the water.
The water rose up around him, covering him from the waist down, and he settled onto one of the submerged stone seats. Then he looked at her and smiled....knowing, teasing, full of dark promise.
"Well, Aria, you’re looking very overdressed now. Come in. Join me."
Aria moved toward the pool, her body operating on autopilot, her mind still fogged with desire from watching him strip.
Damien laughed...a low, rich sound that made her stomach flip. "Are you thinking of getting in with your clothes on, Aria?"
"I wasn’t..."
"Yes, you were. You were going to wade in fully dressed like that would somehow be less intimate." He crooked a finger at her in a gesture that was pure command. "Strip, Aria. I want to see everything."
Her hands shook slightly as she reached for the zipper of her dress. "You’ve seen me naked several times, Damien."
"And I plan to see you naked several thousand more times. Now stop stalling and take off that dress."
She pulled the zipper down slowly, hyperaware of his eyes tracking every single movement. The dress loosened around her body, and she had to hold it up with one hand to keep it from falling.
"Keep going," Damien encouraged, his voice rough with desire. "Don’t stop now."
Aria let the dress fall. It pooled around her feet in a puddle of fabric, leaving her standing in just the delicate lace lingerie she’d chosen this morning....matching burgundy bra and panties that left very little to the imagination.
"Beautiful," Damien murmured, his eyes devouring every inch of exposed skin. "But not done yet. All of it, Aria. I want you completely bare."
Her hands moved to the clasp of her bra. She fumbled with it for a moment....her fingers weren’t cooperating properly....but finally got it undone. The bra fell away, and she heard Damien’s sharp intake of breath as her breasts were revealed.
"Fuck," he breathed. "You’re so perfect. Now the panties."
She hooked her fingers into the waistband and pushed them down, stepping out of them carefully. Now she was completely naked, standing at the edge of the hot spring while he watched from the water with eyes that looked almost black with desire.
"Come here," Damien said, his voice thick with need. "Get in."
