Aria’s POV
The night was still, the air in the lake house heavy with the weight of anticipation. Damon’s hand lingered on my waist as we stood in the dim light of the bedroom, his eyes locking with mine in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.
“I suppose this is the part where we seal the deal,” he teased, his voice low and rich, with just enough mischief to make my heart skip.
I smiled, a small laugh slipping past my lips. “That’s one way to put it.”
His lips curved into a slow, crooked grin, the kind that could make me forget about everything happening outside these walls. Everything we were running from, everything we were fighting against—it all faded when he looked at me like that.
He moved closer, his fingers brushing against my cheek before trailing down to my jaw. “You look
