Bella's body still hummed from Damien's touch, but as she lay in his bed, tangled in silk sheets and the scent of him, reality began to settle in.
This wasn't just a reckless decision. It was dangerous.
Damien Sinclair was the kind of man who took what he wanted. Who played by his own rules. And she had just stepped into his world—a world she knew nothing about.
She shifted slightly, intending to slip out of bed before her thoughts consumed her, but the moment she moved, Damien's arm tightened around her waist.
"Leaving already?" His voice was rough, low, dangerous.
Bella swallowed, forcing herself to stay calm. "I have work."
Damien's lips brushed against her bare shoulder. "Cancel it."
Her pulse jumped. "I can't just drop everything because you say so."
He smirked against her skin. "No, but I could make you want to."
Heat flared in her stomach, but she ignored it. This was already spiraling out of control, and she needed to get a grip before she completely lost herself in him.
She slid out from beneath his arm, reaching for her clothes. "Last night was…" She hesitated, trying to find the right words.
"A mistake?" Damien's voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge beneath it.
Bella met his gaze. "A line I shouldn't have crossed."
For a moment, he said nothing. Then, with a slow, measured movement, he sat up, the sheets pooling around his waist.
His dark eyes locked onto hers, unreadable. "And yet, you did."
Bella exhaled sharply. "This isn't just about me. You and I… we come from different worlds, Damien."
A muscle in his jaw ticked. "You don't even know my world, Isabella."
"That's exactly my point." She ran a hand through her hair. "And I don't think I should."
Damien studied her for a long moment, then swung his legs over the side of the bed, standing effortlessly. Even now, bare-chested, with his hair slightly tousled from sleep, he looked like a king surveying his kingdom.
"You can try to walk away," he murmured, closing the distance between them. "You can pretend this was nothing more than a mistake." He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But we both know that's a lie."
Bella's breath hitched.
Damien leaned in, his lips hovering just over hers. "You think you can run from me?" His voice was soft, but there was a dark promise behind it.
"I think I have to."
For the first time, something flickered in his gaze—something almost dangerous.
But then, just as quickly, it was gone.
He stepped back, letting her go. "Go, then."
Bella hesitated.
Damien never let go of control. Never played by anyone's rules but his own. The fact that he was letting her leave so easily should have been a relief.
Instead, it left a cold feeling in her chest.
She turned toward the door, gripping the handle tightly.
Just as she stepped out into the hall, Damien's voice reached her, low and firm.
"This isn't over, Isabella."
Bella swallowed hard, but she didn't look back.
She couldn't.
Because deep down, she knew he was right.
This wasn't over.
It was just the beginning