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“Damian!” I scream, my vision going white around the edges as the ecstasy threatens to consume me whole.
His movements don’t slow; instead, he continues to drive into me, prolonging my climax until I’m shaking with the intensity of it all. And then, without warning, he flips me around, pressing my chest against the side of the hot tub as he enters me from behind for one final, intense round of lovemaking.
The water laps around us, a stark contrast to the intensity of our passion just moments ago. Damian’s grip on me loosens, and I feel his chest rise and fall with heavy breaths against my back. My own heart hammers in my chest, exhaustion seeping into my limbs as the aftermath of our explosive encounter sets in.
“Annalise,” he murmurs, his voice a low growl that sends shivers down my spine despite the warmth of the hot tub.
“Damian,” I reply, breathless and spent, wondering what lies beneath his untamed exterior. Is there gentleness hidden there, or only darkness?
Without another word, he releases me, and I watch him step out of the hot tub, water streaming down his muscular body like rivulets of molten silver. The air grows colder around me, and I can’t help but feel used and regretful as he starts to walk away without so much as a glance back.
“Wait!” I call out, my voice wavering with uncertainty. “What are you doing?”
“Sometimes, we do foolish things when we’re afraid of losing control.”
“Control?” I scoff, unwilling to allow him the upper hand in this conversation. “You think you can control me, Damian?”
He steps closer, his eyes dark and intense. “No, Annalise. It’s not about controlling you. It’s about protecting myself from losing control over my own emotions.” He reaches out, gently touching my cheek and causing shivers to race down my spine. “Thanks for tonight. I needed it.”
“You used me?”
With that, Damian turns and walks away, leaving me alone in the dim light, warmth from the hot tub contrasting against the cold reality that has settled over my heart.
32
CASSIUS
The dim office light casts shadows across the hallway, intensifying the weight of anticipation that hangs in the air. I know Annalise has been avoiding me, and my patience has worn thin. She’s mine. But she doesn’t seem to understand that yet.
“Annalise!” I call out as I spot her retreating figure. She freezes for a moment before trying to slip away, but I’m too quick for her. My hand seizes her arm, the heat of her skin sending a jolt through me. “Why have you been avoiding me?”
“Let go of me, Cassius,” she demands, her green eyes blazing with defiance. Yet, beneath her anger, I can see the vulnerability that lingers just under the surface.
“Come with me,” I command, my grip firm but not painful. I pull her into my office, closing the door behind us. The sound echoes through the room like an omen, sealing our fates together. “You don’t need to hide from me, Annalise.”
“Who says I was hiding?” she retorts, attempting to pull away from me. But I don’t let her go, my fingers digging into her delicate flesh just enough to remind her who’s in control.
“Your actions speak louder than your words, Lily,” I say, using her nickname as a way to assert my dominance further. “Now, tell me what’s really going on.”
I can feel her pulse quicken beneath my fingertips, her breath hitching as she searches for the right words. That sense of vulnerability she tries so hard to conceal is now exposed, and I can’t help but feel a twisted sense of satisfaction. She’s finally letting me in, even if it takes force to do so.
My hand is still wrapped around her arm, I can feel the tension radiating from her body. Annalise bites her lip and averts her eyes, unwilling to meet my gaze.
“Look, I’ve just been busy,” she says, feigning nonchalance. “I haven’t had much time for…whatever this is.”
“Busy?” I raise an eyebrow, unimpressed by her excuse. “You think I don’t see how you’ve been avoiding me, Annalise? You’re not fooling anyone.”
“Fine,” she sighs, relenting. “Maybe I have been avoiding you a little bit. But it’s complicated, Cassius. You know that.”
“Complicated?” I scoff, my grip on her arm tightening slightly. “I’m tired of playing games, Annalise. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Can’t you just leave it alone?” she pleads, her voice cracking with vulnerability. “It’s not that simple.”
“Nothing ever is with you,” I murmur, my frustration mounting. In that moment, an idea forms in my mind—one that could potentially solve our problems, or drive us further apart. “Is this about what happened between you and Nikhil? Because, I don’t care. I don’t mind sharing you.”
“Sharing me?” she repeats, confusion etched across her face.
“With Nikhil,” I state firmly, watching as her eyes widen in shock. “I’m not blind, Annalise. I know there’s something between you two. And if sharing you means keeping you in my life, then so be it.”
