Chapter 6 Edge Of Temptation

Damien finished the last sip of water, the cool liquid soothing his parched throat. He placed the empty bottle on the counter and stood up, gathering the plate and utensils from the table. Without a word, he carried them to the small kitchen setup Aria had crafted. The soft clink of dishes echoed in the quiet space.

As he reached the kitchen, he paused, sensing a presence behind him. Turning slightly, he found Aria following him, her steps light and purposeful. Her piercing eyes bore into his, her expression unreadable. Damien furrowed his brows, curious about her intent.

"Why bother setting up all this if you're leaving in two days?" Damien asked, breaking the silence. He gestured around the kitchen space with a sweep of his hand. "The shower, the kitchen… even the traps you rigged. You've put a lot of effort into this place."

Aria stood by the doorway, her figure partially illuminated by the dim light overhead. Her long hair cascaded over one shoulder as she tilted her head, an almost pained look flashing across her face. She let out a soft, humorless chuckle before lifting a hand to fling her hair back.

"I lied," she admitted, her voice low but firm. "I'm not leaving in two days. I'll be staying here a little longer."

Damien's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her. Something about her seemed… off. There was a weight to her words, a tension in her posture that didn't match the confident, teasing woman he had come to know. Shaking his head, he turned back to the sink, unsure of what to make of her sudden shift.

"You're a mystery, you know that?" he muttered as he began washing the plates. The sound of running water filled the space, accompanied by the faint scrape of his hands against the dish. Aria didn't reply. She remained silent, standing motionless in the doorway, her eyes fixed on him like a predator observing its prey. The air between them grew heavy, charged with an unspoken tension.

Finally, Aria broke the silence. "It's late," she said simply, her tone reverting to its usual nonchalance. "We have work to do tomorrow."

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked toward the small bedroom space she had prepared. Damien glanced over his shoulder, watching her retreating figure. The sway of her hips as she moved was almost hypnotic, her confident stride leaving an indelible impression.

The "bedroom" wasn't much—a modest area sectioned off from the rest of the space, furnished with a single bed that was neither large nor luxurious. It could barely accommodate two people, and even then, close contact would be unavoidable. Aria climbed onto the bed without hesitation, making herself comfortable. She propped herself up on one elbow, her long legs stretching out lazily as she leaned to the side.

Damien finished cleaning the last plate and dried his hands, walking toward the sleeping area. "Where am I supposed to sleep?" he asked, his tone neutral but slightly curious.

Aria, already lying on her side, turned her head to face him. Her eyes gleamed with mischief as a slow, seductive smile spread across her lips. She patted the empty space beside her, her fingers brushing against the mattress.

"Come sleep here with me," she said, her voice soft and inviting.

Damien froze for a moment, his gaze drawn to her like a moth to a flame. She rested her head on her hand, her elbow propped up to support her pose. The position accentuated the curve of her waist, the soft swell of her hips, and the tantalizing line of her neckline. Her shirt, loose and slightly unbuttoned, revealed just enough skin to ignite the imagination. Her chest rose and fell with each slow breath, her ample curves emphasized by the dim light casting shadows over her figure.

The way she looked at him was almost predatory, her eyes gleaming with a strange mixture of playfulness and desire. Her lips, slightly parted, curled into a smirk as she noticed the flicker of something primal in Damien's dark eyes.

"If you want to sleep on the floor," she added with a snort, "be my guest."

Her challenge hung in the air, daring him to make a decision. Damien's lips twitched into a faint smile as he shook his head. He wasn't a fool. Only an idiot would choose the cold, hard floor over the warmth of a bed—especially one shared with a woman as stunning as Aria. Without a word, he moved to the bed, lowering himself onto the mattress beside her.

As soon as he settled, Aria grinned, her eyes lighting up with amusement. Before he could react, she moved with surprising speed, straddling him in one fluid motion. Damien's breath hitched as he found himself pinned beneath her, her weight pressing against him in a way that sent his heart racing.

"You took the bait," she whispered, her grin widening. Her tone was playful, but there was an unmistakable edge to her voice—something dark, something dangerous.

Damien stared up at her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, time seemed to freeze, the air between them thick with tension. Aria's hair fell around her face like a curtain, framing her features as she gazed down at him. Her lips hovered just inches above his, her breath warm against his skin

Damien stared up at her, his dark eyes locked with hers. The air was electric, every breath he took mingling with the faint, intoxicating scent of Aria's skin. Her hair fell around him like a silken veil, shutting out the rest of the world. In this moment, it was just the two of them—caught in a strange, dangerous dance neither could predict nor control.

Aria's lips hovered tantalizingly close to his, her breath brushing against his mouth. Her green eyes gleamed with an intensity that seemed to pierce straight through him, stirring something primal deep within his chest. For a moment, Damien felt like prey—trapped beneath a predator who had every intention of devouring him whole. And yet, despite the danger, he didn't flinch. Instead, he waited, his body tense but his gaze steady, as if daring her to take the next step.

Aria smiled, a slow, wicked curve of her lips that sent a shiver down Damien's spine. "You're not afraid of me, are you?" she murmured, her voice soft and teasing.

"Should I be?" Damien replied, his tone calm but laced with challenge.

Her smile widened, and without warning, she leaned down and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was soft at first, almost hesitant, as if testing his resolve. But as the seconds passed, it deepened, her mouth moving against his with a hunger that made his pulse quicken. Damien stiffened for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden intimacy, but then instinct took over. His hands, which had been resting at his sides, lifted to her waist, pulling her closer.

Aria responded eagerly, her hands tangling in his hair as she shifted her weight, pressing her body more firmly against his. Damien felt the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her shirt, every curve of her devilish figure molding perfectly against him. Her movements were fluid, almost hypnotic, as if she knew exactly how to stir him, how to drive him to the edge of reason.

His mind raced, struggling to process the sensations that flooded his senses. The softness of her lips, the subtle taste of her—like something sweet and forbidden. The way her body fit against his, every curve and dip pressing into him, igniting a fire that burned hotter with every passing second. He could feel her heartbeat, fast and erratic, mirroring his own.

Their kisses grew more fervent, more desperate, as if they were trying to consume each other. Damien rolled them over, his larger frame pinning her beneath him as he took control of the moment. Aria let out a soft laugh, her hands sliding down his back as she arched into him, her breath hitching when their bodies aligned perfectly.

"Not bad," she whispered against his lips, her voice husky with desire. "But can you keep up?"

Damien didn't answer with words. Instead, he captured her mouth again, his kisses deep and demanding, drawing a low moan from her throat. The sound sent a thrill through him, fueling the growing fire in his veins. He felt her hands roaming over his back, her nails grazing his skin through his shirt, leaving trails of heat in their wake.

As they rolled together on the small bed, the world outside ceased to exist. The creak of the mattress, the rustle of fabric, and the soft sounds of their breaths filled the room, creating a symphony of passion that drowned out everything else. Damien was acutely aware of every detail—the way her hair spread out like a dark halo against the pillow, the way her chest rose and fell with each shallow breath, the way her body seemed to radiate heat, wrapping him in a cocoon of warmth and desire.

Aria's movements were fluid, almost feline, as she shifted beneath him, her hands exploring his body with a confidence that made his pulse race. She hooked one leg around his, pulling him closer, and Damien felt his resolve begin to waver. It was intoxicating, the way she moved, the way she looked at him with those piercing green eyes that seemed to hold a thousand secrets.

For a brief moment, his mind flashed to the danger of the situation. This wasn't just a simple moment of passion. Aria was a force of nature, unpredictable and dangerous, and giving in to her might lead to consequences he couldn't foresee. But as her hands trailed down his chest, her nails lightly scraping against his skin, all coherent thought fled.

Aria's lips trailed down his jawline, her breath hot against his neck as she whispered, "You're full of surprises, Damien."

Damien smirked, his voice low and steady despite the storm raging within him. "You haven't seen anything yet."

She chuckled softly, the sound vibrating against his skin as she leaned back to meet his gaze. Her hair was disheveled, her cheeks flushed, and her lips swollen from their kisses. She looked utterly breathtaking, and Damien felt a pang of something he couldn't quite name—desire, yes, but also something deeper, something dangerous.

As he gazed down at her, he couldn't help but admire every detail of her devilish beauty. Her shirt had slipped off one shoulder, revealing the smooth curve of her collarbone. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with mischief, her expression a perfect blend of innocence and seduction. She was a puzzle, a contradiction, and Damien found himself wanting to unravel every piece of her.

Aria smirked up at him, her fingers trailing lazily along his jawline. "You're holding back," she teased, her voice low and sultry. "Don't think I haven't noticed."

Damien raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a faint smile. "Maybe I'm just pacing myself."

Her laughter was soft and melodic, a sound that sent a shiver down his spine. "Pacing yourself?" she echoed, her tone mocking but playful. "We'll see how long that lasts."

Before he could respond, she shifted beneath him, her movements deliberate and teasing. Damien sucked in a breath, his hands tightening on her waist as he fought to maintain control. It was a losing battle, and he knew it. Aria had a way of getting under his skin, of breaking down the walls he'd built around himself.

But for now, he didn't care. For now, he was content to lose himself in her, to let the fire between them burn brighter and hotter, consuming them both in its relentless flames.