Page 13 of Secrets Of Blackwood

Damien’s hand cups my cheek, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw. “You won’t lose yourself, Lily. I won’t let that happen.”

But it’s not just the losing, I fear; it’s the craving, the need that he stirs within me—a yearning that defies reason and whispers of dangers yet unseen.

DAMIEN

Her confession strikes a chord, resonates with the very essence of my being. Protecting Lily is instinctive, as vital as the air I breathe. Yet the world we dwell in is unforgiving, rife with threats that loom like specters in the periphery.

“Come with me,” I urge, leading her away from prying eyes, to a hidden alcove where ivy creeps along weathered stone walls, a natural tapestry shrouding our sins.

Once there, I draw her close, our bodies aligning with a familiarity that speaks of many shared nights. My lips find hers, a kiss laced with desperation and an insatiable hunger. Her response is fervent, matching my intensity as hands roam, seeking the heat beneath our clothes.

We’re consumed by passion, by the unyielding desire that refuses to be tamed. The world beyond our seclusion fades, insignificant against the backdrop of our union. Our movements are feverish, a dance as old as time, driven by primal instincts that know only the pursuit of pleasure.

“Damien,” she gasps as I navigate the contours of her flesh, worshiping every inch with devout fervor.

“Say it again,” I demand between kisses, needing to hear my name on her lips, a mantra that anchors me to this moment.

“Damien,” she obliges, the sound sending shivers down my spine.

The peril of our affair sharpens each sensation, heightens every touch. We are reckless, yes, but alive—so fiercely alive in each other’s arms.

Suddenly, a floorboard creaks outside our sanctuary, a sinister reminder of the world that awaits. Our eyes lock, a silent understanding passing between us. I press a finger to her lips, signaling silence as footsteps approach, the threat of discovery an all-too-real specter that haunts our every encounter.

The steps recede, and we’re left clinging to one another, hearts racing, the danger of our liaison a palpable force that refuses to be ignored.

“Damien,” she whispers, her blue eyes wide with a dawning realization. “It’s getting too dangerous.”

“Let them come,” I reply with a confidence I don’t feel, unwilling to surrender this, surrender her. “I’ll deal with it.”

But even as I speak, I taste the bitter tang of inevitability in the air—the sense that our world is teetering on the precipice, and one false step could send everything we’ve built crashing down around us.

5

Chapter Five

DAMIEN’S STUDY

Iwatch her, the flicker of candlelight casting shadows that dance over her delicate features. The room feels charged, every breath and heartbeat amplified in the quiet. She’s a beacon of light in my shadowed world, and the yearning I’ve kept at bay for so long rises like a tidal wave.

“Damien…” Lily whispers, her voice a soft melody that tugs at something deep within me.

“Shh,” I murmur, stepping closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating from her skin. Our eyes lock—hers, pools of the clearest blue, wide and expectant; mine, I know, are stormy with desire. It’s a silent conversation, one where our souls recognize the dangerous territory we tread upon.

Her gaze never falters, even as I reach out, my fingertips barely grazing her cheek. That simple touch sparks electricity, a connection that ignites something fierce and undeniable. I can almost see the shivers that race down her spine, and it takes everything within me not to pull her into my arms.

“Damien,” she breathes again, and my name on her lips is both a plea and a prayer.

“Stay still, Lily.” My voice comes out rough, thick with the hunger that’s been gnawing at me. I trace the line of her jaw, and she tilts her head ever so slightly, giving in to the caress. Her skin is soft, unblemished, a contrast to the calluses earned through years of fighting my own battles.

“Your touch,” she starts, her breath hitching, “it’s like fire.”

“Good,” I reply, my hand settling at the base of her neck, feeling the rapid pulse beneath my thumb. “Because what I feel for you… it burns.”

The air between us thickens, laden with anticipation and the promise of what’s to come. This moment is ours, stolen from the world that seeks to keep us apart. And in the dim glow of my secluded study, I’m determined to savor every second of it.

* * *

The coolness of the study fades into insignificance as Damien’s hand, firm yet reverent, descends from the tender hollow of my throat. Anticipation crackles like a living thing, tightening the air with each inch he explores. The whisper of his touch is both a promise and a torment—one that I’m utterly unprepared for.

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