The air between them was thick—heavy with unspoken words and growing tension.
Sienna's back pressed against the bedroom door, her chest rising and falling with each breath as Damien stood inches away. His hand was still on her waist from when he'd pulled her close—when she hadn't stopped him. When she didn't want to.
They'd kissed.
Not like before.
Not teasing.
Not hesitant.
This time, it was deep—messy with want, with confusion, with something that felt like desperation. Like they both knew they were crossing into dangerous territory, but neither of them had the strength to pull away.
Damien's forehead touched hers, his breath warm. "Tell me to stop," he murmured.
She didn't.
His lips brushed hers again—gentler now, like he was searching for something in her silence.
"Damien…" Her voice was a whisper, trembling with everything she wasn't ready to say.
His thumb stroked her cheek. "I don't want to hurt you, Sienna."
"You haven't."
"I might," he said, voice lower now, more pained. "Because I don't know what this is yet. I just know it's more than we planned."
She nodded slowly. "It is."
His fingers slid up her spine, tracing the edge of her shoulder blade, sending a shiver down her back. Her body leaned into him, hungry for warmth, for closeness—but her mind was a storm.
Because this wasn't just about heat. This was about choice. Trust.
And neither of them were quite ready.
"I don't want this to be something we regret," she said softly.
He pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. "Neither do I."
For a long moment, they stayed like that—touching, but not rushing. Breathing, but not speaking.
Then, Damien stepped back.
His eyes searched hers, like asking for permission not just to touch her—but to wait. To give this a chance to become something that wasn't just passion in the dark.
She reached for his hand and led him to the bed. They climbed in together, fully clothed, tangled but not tangled enough to lose themselves.
His arm curled around her waist as she rested her head on his chest. The sound of his heartbeat grounded her.
There was no rush now.
Just the slow, simmering truth of something that was becoming real.
And that was enough for tonight.