Chapter 161: Cross My Heart
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As soon as I said it, I felt the tension in his shoulders, something I hadn’t even noticed before...ease away at once, like a weight finally being put down. He rested his forehead against mine, eyes closing, and for a moment, neither of us spoke.
The kitchen was quiet except for the soft bubbling of the sauce.
Damien’s trademark smirk returned, faint yet genuine, as he leaned in and captured my lips in a passionate kiss. His mouth moved against mine with a tenderness that quickly deepened, pouring all the raw emotion of the evening into the connection.
I melted into it, wrapping my arms around his neck as the world faded away to just the warmth of his body and the taste of him, feeling how he held me like I was something precious he feared might slip away.
We were interrupted by the smell of the stew beginning to catch on the stove, prompting laughter from both of us as I reached back blindly to turn off the burner without breaking the kiss entirely.
"Thank you," he whispered against my lips between breaths, the words carrying a depth of gratitude that made my chest ache with affection.
His hug earlier had been tighter than usual, a silent echo of fears I could only guess at, maybe worries about losing me to the complications of his world or to others who circled like sharks.
But in that moment, none of it mattered. The promise felt heavy with its implications, a commitment I never imagined making so readily, yet it felt like the only truth anchoring us amid the uncertainties.
I could still feel the lingering promise on my lips when Damien kissed me, the kitchen transforming into a cozy haze of warmth and yearning that enveloped us like the steam rising from the stove.
What began as a gentle reassurance after his vulnerable question quickly grew deeper, ignited by the raw emotion of the moment and my own desire to show him just how sincere I was with my words.
My hands slipped beneath the hem of his shirt, palms pressing against the warm, smooth skin of his torso, tracing the defined lines of his muscles as I pulled him closer.
Damien let out a low sound of approval, his arms wrapping tightly around me as he backed me against the counter, its edge pressing gently into my lower back, grounding me amid the rising heat.
Our mouths moved together with increasing urgency, tongues intertwining in a dance that conveyed both passion and the delicate vulnerability we had just shared.
I could feel the steady beat of his heart under my fingertips, matching the quickening rhythm of my own.
The kitchen, once filled with the simple, homey aroma of stew, was now heavy with our mingled breaths and the faint scent of dinner forgotten on the stove.
Damien’s hands traveled down my back, slipping beneath my shirt to caress my skin, sending shivers racing along my spine.
I instinctively arched into him, deepening the kiss as my fingers roamed over the firm planes of his abdomen, marveling at how responsive he was to even the lightest touch.
It was empowering, this newfound confidence swelling inside me...the promise had unlocked something, a readiness to embrace the attraction that had been simmering between us for so long.
Then, effortlessly, he lifted me and set me on the counter so our bodies fit together perfectly.
My legs parted naturally to accommodate him, and I wrapped them around his waist, pulling him flush against me, which drew a surprised, pleased groan from deep within him.
This new position let me grind against him slowly, feeling the hardening that mirrored my own desire.
The friction sparked waves of pleasure through me, and I gasped into the kiss, my hands fisting in his shirt as I rocked my hips with intent.
Damien broke away just long enough to trail heated kisses along my jaw and down the sensitive column of my neck, his breath warm and ragged against my skin.
"You’re really eager tonight, sunshine," he murmured, the words vibrating against my pulse point and making my cheeks heat up with a mix of embarrassment and delight.
I couldn’t help but smile, tilting my head to give him better access while I continued the slow, deliberate grind, my legs tightening around him to draw him even closer.
The counter creaked softly under our combined weight, and in my haze of desire, I almost knocked over a jar of spices with my elbow, causing a small, funny clatter that had us both laughing breathlessly for a moment.
It lightened the intensity without breaking it, reminding me how our passionate moments could blend so well with the everyday warmth we were creating together.
My hands grew bolder, sliding up his back and pulling his shirt higher so I could feel more of him, skin against skin in that charged space between us. Damien’s fingers dug into my thighs, holding me steady as he rocked against me in return, the rhythm building with a tender urgency that made my breath hitch.
We weren’t rushing into anything tonight; instead, we lingered in this delicious in-between, exploring with our hands, moving our hips in a shared dance of want and reassurance.
I whispered his name against his shoulder, nipping lightly at his skin, and felt him shudder in response.
The way he held me, tight but gentle...reinforced everything the promise had meant. He wanted me, needed me in this moment, and I felt brave enough to show him the same.
We got lost in the heat for what felt like an eternity of slow-burn pleasure, kisses turning messy and necks marked with faint traces of passion, until the practical world intruded again.
The unmistakable smell of dinner starting to overcook wafted through the haze of desire, and I pulled back with a breathless laugh, my forehead resting against his.
"The food... it’s going to get cold if we keep this up," I managed, my voice husky and tinged with amusement.
My legs were still wrapped around him, reluctant to let go, but the domestic reality gently pulled us back.
Damien chuckled softly, his voice warm and affectionate as he pressed one last lingering kiss to my swollen lips before helping me down from the counter.
We were both flushed, our clothes wrinkled, and breathing uneven, but the moment shifted seamlessly into playful domesticity.
I turned to salvage the stew, stirring it with a grin while he set the table, stealing touches and exchanging teasing glances that kept the spark alive without overwhelming the tenderness.
By the time we finally sat down to eat, the meal was a bit crispier around the edges but still satisfying, and a quiet happiness settled over me.