An Heir Before Dusk

Chapter 7: Uncertainty

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Chapter 7

Emilia’s pulse raced as she stepped into the luxurious penthouse, the scent of rich leather and expensive cologne filling the air. She had been avoiding Damian for the past few days, the pregnancy pushing her into unfamiliar emotional territory. But tonight, there was no avoiding him—he had summoned her. His cold, authoritative voice on the phone earlier had left no room for refusal.

The door closed softly behind her, and there he stood, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that hugged his broad shoulders. His gaze locked onto hers the moment she entered, a mix of possessiveness and desire simmering in his piercing blue eyes.

"You’ve been avoiding me, Emilia," Damian said, his voice low and dangerous, the weight of his words sending a shiver down her spine.

"I haven’t been avoiding you," she retorted, trying to sound confident, though her heart beat wildly in her chest. "I just needed some space."

"Space?" His lips curled into a smile, but it was anything but warm. "You think you can hide from me, Emilia? From what’s between us?"

She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. It was true—she couldn’t deny the undeniable attraction that pulled them together, but the idea of being consumed by him, of surrendering completely, terrified her. She was losing control of herself.

Damian took a step forward, his presence enveloping her, his scent intoxicating. "You’re carrying my child. You don’t get to run from me."

Her breath caught as his hand gently cupped her face, his thumb grazing the curve of her jaw. She tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, holding her firmly in place.

"Damian, stop," she whispered, her voice a mix of defiance and something deeper, something she couldn’t quite name.

His gaze darkened, and he leaned in close, his lips brushing against her ear. "You think you can resist me? You think you can just walk away from this—us—what’s starting to burn between us?"

Emilia’s heart pounded in her chest, her body betraying her as heat spread through her. His closeness, the way he held her, ignited a fire inside her she had been trying to suppress. She wanted to scream at him, push him away, but all she could do was stand there, trembling under his touch.

Before she could respond, he spun her around, his hands pressing her against the wall. His lips crushed against hers in a searing kiss that took her breath away, silencing her protests, leaving no space for argument. The kiss was possessive, demanding, a raw display of everything he wanted from her—and everything she was trying to resist.

When he finally pulled away, his eyes were filled with an intensity that left her breathless. "You’re mine now, Emilia. Whether you want to admit it or not."

Her lips parted as she gasped for air, her mind spinning in a whirlwind of confusion and desire. But there was no denying the truth—Damian Moretti was far from the man she once hated. He had wormed his way under her skin, and as much as she fought it, he was consuming her.

"You can’t control me," she managed to say, her voice shaky, but defiant.

"I don’t need to control you," he replied, his voice dark and sultry. "I already have you."

Her body responded to him in ways she hated to admit. Despite everything—despite the animosity, the fear, and the hesitation—she wanted him. And she feared it was already too late to stop herself.

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