ARIA’S POV
Aria stood in her mother’s small apartnt, surrounded by boxes and mories and the overwhelming reality of the change she was about to make.
Moving in with Damien. Officially. Permanently.
"You’re sure about this?" i Chen asked Aria, her hands carefully folding Aria’s clothes into a suitcase. "It’s very fast. You’ve only been back together a short ti."
"I’m sure, Mama. "I love him. And he loves . And I want to build a life with him."
"But moving into his ho....the estate....it’s so big. So different from here." i gestured around the cramped apartnt that had been their ho for twenty years. "You’ll be living in a different world."
"I know. But it’s not just his world anymore. It’s ours. He wants there. Wants to make it ho."
i was quiet for a mont, her hands stilling on the clothes. "He’s good to you? Treats you well?"
"He’s everything, Mama. He’s demanding and intense and sotis overwhelming. But he’s also kind and protective and he sees . Really sees . All of . Even the parts I tried to hide."
"The parts where you lied to him? Stole from him?"
"Yes Mama. And he forgave . Chose anyway."
"Then i smiled. "When do I et him properly? Not at so formal event, but here. In our ho. So I can see with my own eyes how he looks at you."
"I’ll arrange it Mama. He also wants to et you. To understand our family."
"Good. Because if he’s going to marry you...."
"Mama, we’re not....we haven’t talked about marriage...."
"Please. A man doesn’t ask a woman to move into his ho, give her a job in his company, and introduce her to his grandfather unless he’s thinking about marriage. He’s going to ask. Probably soon."
Aria’s heart skipped. "You think so?"
"I know so. I may not know rich n, but I know when a man is serious about a woman. And Damien Blackwood is very serious about you."
They packed in comfortable silence for a while, Aria’s entire life fitting into surprisingly few boxes. Most of her clothes would be replaced....Damien had already told her he wanted to take her shopping, to fill his closet with things that were hers. Her books would go to his library. Her art supplies to the studio he’d set up for her.
Everything was changing. Everything was new.
And for the first ti in her life, Aria wasn’t scared of change. She was excited for it.
Her phone buzzed. A text from Damien: How’s the packing going?
She smiled, typed back: Almost done. Mama wants to et you.
His response was imdiate: Na the day. I’ll be there.
Sunday dinner? She makes the best dumplings in New York.
Perfect. I’ll bring wine. And flowers. And whatever else is appropriate when eting your girlfriend’s mother.
Just bring yourself. That’s all she cares about.
See you tonight.
"He’s a good man," i said, watching her smile at her phone. "I can tell just from the way you look when he ssages you."
"He is. He really is."
"Then let’s finish packing. Let’s send you to your new life. And Aria?" i pulled her into a tight embrace. "I’m so proud of you. Of everything you’ve beco. Of the strength it took to save . Of the courage it takes to love soone completely. You deserve this happiness."
Aria held her mother, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you, Mama. For everything. For raising . For believing in . For being my strength when I had none of my own."
"That’s what mothers do. Now go. Go build your future. And bring that man to Sunday dinner so I can interrogate him properly."
*******
The car pulled up to the estate just as the sun was setting, casting everything in golden light. Aria had been here countless tis over the past three weeks, but tonight felt different. Tonight, this wasn’t just Damien’s ho.
This was theirs.
Marcus was waiting by the entrance, professional as always, opening her door before the driver could.
"Miss Chen," he said with a slight smile. "Welco back. Don’t worry about your luggage....I’ll have everything brought to the master suite."
"Thank you, Marcus." She still wasn’t entirely used to having staff handle everything, but she was learning.
Inside, the estate was warm and welcoming in a way it hadn’t been when she’d first infiltrated as a maid. Back then, it had been a fortress to breach, a mission to complete. Now it was filled with life, with the sll of sothing delicious coming from the kitchen, with the sound of Lucy’s laughter.
"Aria!" Lucy appeared from the kitchen, flour on her hands, her face lighting up. "You’re officially moving in! This is so exciting!"
"It is," Aria agreed, hugging her friend carefully to avoid the flour. "Is he in his study?"
"Yeah, just finished a Zoom call with the Singapore office. He’s been checking his watch every five minutes waiting for you." Lucy grinned. "Go. I’ll catch up with you later. We need to have a proper girl talk later."
Aria made her way through the familiar halls toward Damien’s study, her heart beating faster with each step. Three weeks of living here part-ti, and she still got butterflies knowing she was about to see him.
She knocked on the heavy oak door.
"Co in."
His voice sent heat through her imdiately. Deep, commanding, with that edge that promised things she shouldn’t want as much as she did.
Damien was behind his desk, suit jacket discarded, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms, his tie loosened. He looked like every fantasy she’d ever had.....powerful, dangerous, and completely focused on her the mont she walked through the door.
"Aria." He didn’t stand, just watched her with those intense dark eyes. "Co here."
It wasn’t a request. It never was with him.
She crossed to the desk, and he turned his chair to face her, spreading his thighs in a way that was absolutely deliberate.
"Sit."
She settled onto his lap, and his arms ca around her imdiately, one hand at her waist, the other already moving to the back of her neck, fingers threading through her hair.
"How was your mother? She’s okay with you moving in permanently?"
"She’s happy for . Excited, actually. Though she did demand you co to Sunday dinner so she can properly interrogate you."
His lips curved. "I look forward to it. And you? Are you happy with how things have been lately? With us?"
"I’m....." Her breath caught as his hand moved from her neck to the front of her shirt, fingers already working the buttons. "Damien, what are you...."
"Answer my question," he murmured, his eyes never leaving hers as he slipped the first button free. Then the second. "Are you happy, Aria?"
"Yes," she managed, watching his fingers work thodically down her shirt. "I’m happy."
"Good." The last button ca free, and he pushed the fabric off her shoulders, letting it pool at her elbows. His hand moved behind her, finding her bra clasp with practiced ease. "Because I plan to keep you that way. Happy. Satisfied. So thoroughly fucked that you can’t imagine being anywhere else."
The bra ca undone, and he pulled it away, leaving her topless on his lap in his study where anyone could walk in.
"Damien...." Her protest died as his hand cupped her breast, thumb brushing over her nipple in a way that made her arch into his touch.
"What, baby? Do you want to stop?" His other hand was already sliding up her thigh, under her skirt, fingers trailing over the sensitive skin. "Because your body is telling sothing very different."
He pressed his fingers against her panties, and they both felt how wet she already was. Soaked through the thin fabric, her body betraying how much she wanted this.
"Look at you," he said, his voice rough with desire. "Already so wet, and I’ve barely touched you. Naughty girl. What have you been thinking about?"
"You," she admitted breathlessly. "Always you."
"Good answer." He pushed her panties aside, and she gasped as his fingers slid through her wetness. "And co to think of it, we have all the ti in the world now. You’re living here. With . Which ans I have every opportunity, every hour, to fuck you the way I’ve been dreaming of."
His fingers circled her clit, and Aria’s hips bucked involuntarily.
"Waking up to fuck you," he continued, his voice a dark promise. "Fucking you before work. Coming ho to fuck you. Waking up in the middle of the night to fuck you. Every ti. Anyti I want you." His fingers pressed harder against her clit, making her moan. "How does that sound, Aria? Do you think you can survive that? Do you want that?"
"Yes," she sobbed, already so close. "Yes, I want that...."
"Tell what you want right now. Be specific."
"Your fingers...." She could barely form words. "Inside . Please."
"As your lordship pleases," he said with a wicked smile, and slid two fingers inside her.
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