Page 25 of Surrender Becomes Power

“Go on. Get outta here. Go be with your man.”

“He isn’t my man anymore.”

He says nothing but waits for me to continue.

“I love you, Damien. I’ve never stopped loving you.”

“Ava—”

“Stop. Let me finish, please?” He nods. “I never stopped loving you. After you pushed me away, I got lost. I thought it would be possible to find a love as strong as ours…”

Tears constantly flow as Damien’s thumb wipes them away.

“Ava. Our love. It’s that once in a lifetime shit and that day when I made you leave… That was the biggest mistake of my life. I wanted nothing more than to keep you in a bubble in my bed, just you and me. Forever. There hasn’t been anyone else since you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? What could you possibly have to be sorry for?”

“I was so quick to run into another guy's arms.” I give Damien a regretful look and he lets out a heavy breath. He reaches his hand to me and I grab it, indulging in the warmth of his skin. He glares at me intensely, but I find no judgment in his chestnut eyes.

“That was my fault. I should have opened my arms to you.”

We both indulge in a full meal and the doctors finally come to retrieve the IV from Damien’s arm. Silence floods the bedroom and I find myself with his arm around me, my head lying on his chest.

“Now what?”

I breathe for a beat, trying to get my thoughts in order. “Can we just take things slow?”

“We have a lifetime. Take as long as you need. But every day I’ll be reminding you why we are together. I’ll never sleep on us, Ava.”

I prop up on my elbows, my eyes searching for Damien’s soft gaze. He smiles, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. His touch on my skin feels so right and I lean into his warmth. “I love you, Damien Alarie,” I whisper. “I am not afraid anymore to surrender myself to you. This love is…”

“Invincible?” Damien says, slightly tilting his head to the side as he scans my face, inch by inch, as if trying to memorize the sight of it.

“Yes. Invincible.” I nod, leaning closer to meet his softly parted lips. “Inevitable and irrevocable,” I whisper, my eyes flickering between Damien’s, our breath meshing. My gaze drops before I close the tiny gap parting our lips.

In a fraction of a second our careful kiss becomes hungry, fiery, and passionate. Damien slides his hand around the back of my head, weaving his fingers in my hair and deepening the kiss as he pulls me closer. He adjusts himself on the bed. His other hand wanders down to my waist. I feel his firm grip as he squeezes my hip. “I love you, Avalyne DeLuca,” Damien hisses as he breaks our kiss. He rests his forehead against mine, breathing heavily. “I so fucking love you.”

I hop into his lap, straddling him as I move my hand through his thick, messy hair and demandingly crash my lips onto his. I slide my hands underneath the black fabric of his T-shirt, grazing my fingertips against his toned torso. “God, I’ve missed this so much.”

Damien chuckles softly, planting hungry kisses down my neck before removing the redundant clothing lingering against my body. “I’ve missed this more.”

I smile, entirely satisfied and fulfilled, savoring every second of this moment.

Damien pulls back, fixing his serious gaze on me, and I frown. He glares at me before growling, “I want you so badly, Ava.”

“I want you, Damien. I crave you.” My chest is moving slowly and heavily as I trace the line of his slightly parted, wet lips with my thumb. “But isn’t it too soon? You’ve endured—”

Damien cuts in, using the pad of his thumb to further jut my pouty lip. “Shhh… I’m perfectly fine, Ava. I’ve been waiting for this for too long.”

Involuntarily, the corner of my lips curls up in a seductive smirk. I open my mouth and playfully lick Damien’s finger and a deep growl escapes his throat. He flips me over so that now he’s hovering over me and I smile, letting him take control. He smiles too as if acknowledging that this one time is exempt but our life together won’t be on his terms or mine. We will be partners, both in charge, both powerful, and both surrendered to this love for each other.

Damien leans down and kisses me tenderly. I teasingly bite his bottom lip as he pulls away. “I like this side of you, Firefly.” He smiles.

Firefly. The nickname I once found funny. The word I’ve missed hearing so fucking badly. I lick my bottom lip, staring at the gorgeous man above me who smirks provocatively as mischievous sparks dance in his sand-brown eyes. A soft moan fills the room as Damien moves his hand between my thighs. Only his touch can make me feel this intoxicated and he knows it. He’s satisfied as he watches what his mere touch does to my body. He slowly takes my lacy thong down the length of my legs, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Every part of you is so fucking stunning, Ava,” Damien hisses before he positions himself between my thighs, which I eagerly spread for him. I am hungry for the pleasure only he can offer me. To my surprise, he starts teasing me, licking my trembling body all the way from my lower abdomen up to my breasts, which he cups in his hands. His warm, wet tongue makes circular motions around my hard nipple, causing shivers to sweep up my spine. Damien continues to squeeze my right breast in his strong hand, sucking on its most sensitive spot as his other hand roams down my body and straight between my legs. I arch my back, letting a soft moan escape my lips as he slides two fingers inside me. “Fuck, Ava… You are so wet.” I hear Damien’s husky voice growling, but it’s a blur. I indulge in the mad pleasure he’s willing to give me.

I feel my body burning with lust, yearning for him and me to become united. I grip his hand, stopping his wicked doing, and Damien glares at me, frowning. “I want you to fuck me, Damien,” I command, and he complies.

He smirks in the most attractive way I’ve ever seen. He says, “With pleasure.” Damien sits in front of me and grabs my thighs with his hands before, with one swift move, he pulls my body closer to his. He lets my foot rest on his shoulders before entering me with his full length. It takes me a moment to accommodate his manhood, and he doesn’t rush, carefully watching my body's reaction and knowing precisely what to do. He slowly starts moving his hips and gradually his thrusts become deeper and harder. Damien’s dark brown eyes wander all over my body as he keeps filling me over and over again. He licks his bottom lip as his gaze locks on my breasts, bouncing in sync with his movements. I want to give him the show he deserves, so I grab my breasts in my hands and I squeeze them, biting my lips as I gaze at him. “Fuck, Ava,” he growls, gripping my thigh in his hands as he shoves deep inside me. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me.”

“Oh, I know,” I purr, smirking sultrily.

Damien shakes his head, raising his brow before he pulls out. Undone, I want to protest, but before I can even open my mouth, he falls on top of me, propping himself up with his elbows. His thumbs rubbing my temples, he leans over me before his deep voice rumbles against my ear. “Marry me, beautiful.”

A smile spreads wide across my face. “Yes!”