His Innocent Obsession

The morning after

…

Aria woke up to warmth against her back and the sound of someone else breathing.

For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was. Then it all came back..

Damien's penthouse. Last night's adventure, And everything..

She opened her eyes to the unfamiliar luxury around her. The huge windows. The expensive furniture. And the morning sunlight streaming in..

She turned her head carefully. Damien was still asleep beside her, facing her. He looked different in his sleep— he was younger, and more vulnerable. His dark lashes layed softly against his cheeks. His mouth was arched softly instead of that usual firm line. And one hand curled near his face..

He was beautiful..

And last night, she'd broken every rule she'd ever lived by..

Panic hit her suddenly. What have you done? The voice in her head sounded like Victoria. It was sharp and critical. You've known him for only forty-eight hours. This isn't you..

Was it regret? She checked her feelings carefully. No. Last night had felt right. It had been her choice.

But what happened now?

What was she supposed to do the morning after sleeping with a billionaire she'd just met?

Moving very carefully, she slipped out of bed. Her dress from last night was draped over a chair. She grabbed it and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her..

The marble floor was cold under her bare feet. She struggled into the dress, her fingers clumsy on the zipper..

In the mirror, she barely recognized herself. Her hair was a mess. Her lips looked slightly swollen. Her eyes were wide and a little wild..

She looked like someone who'd just made a huge decision and didn't know if it was the right one..

Her phone lit up with notifications. Seven missed calls from Victoria. Three texts, each worse than the last.

Where are you? The gallery event prep is TODAY. Your irresponsible selfishness is unacceptable.

Answer me Aria.

If you've ruined this for me, I will make sure you regret it..

Of course. Not worry—just anger about how this affected Victoria. She thought...

Aria splashed cold water on her face, trying to think clearly.

She had to go home. Face Victoria. And she had to figure out what last night meant before she started building fantasies about it..

Was it just one night? Would Damien prefer she left quietly? Saved them both an awkward conversation?

The real question underneath everything else was: Did she want it to be more?

Yes. The answer came immediately, clear and certain. She wanted to see him again.

But wanting something didn't make it real..

She made her decision. She'd leave now with whatever dignity she could manage. Thank him if he woke up. Go home. And not make this weird...

She opened the bathroom door quietly. Damien was still asleep in bed, not moving.

She was almost to the front door, her hand on the handle, when his voice stopped her.

"Leaving without saying goodbye?"

She froze. And turned around.

He was sitting up in bed now, the sheet around his waist. He looked completely awake—no trace of sleep left. His expression was hard to read, but there was something that looked like hurt in his eyes.

"I didn't want to wake you," she said.

"And then what? Just disappear? Send me a text later? Ghost me completely?"

The sharpness in his voice wasn't anger. It was hurt. Actual hurt..

"I thought you'd prefer... I don't know. An easy exit. No awkwardness."

"What I'd prefer," he said, getting out of bed and pulling on a t-shirt, "is for you to stay for breakfast. To talk. To figure out what we started last night."

"You want to figure that out?"she asked surprised..

"Aria." He crossed the room until he was standing in front of her. His hands came up to cup her face gently. "Last night wasn't nothing to me. Was it nothing to you?"

She looked at him carefully. The tension in his jaw, and the directness of his gray eyes. There was no mask, and no pretense. Just… honesty.

"It wasn't nothing," she whispered.

"Then why were you sneaking out?"he asked..

"Because I don't know what I'm doing! I don't do this. I don't sleep with men I just met. Heck, have never slept with a man. I'm terrified."

"Of me?"he asked, his voice gentle.

"Of all of this. Of believing it means something and then finding out it doesn't. Of being wrong about you."

He was quiet for a moment, just looking at her. "You're not wrong. And it means something. More than I expected it to." He said it like a promise. "Stay. Have breakfast with me. Let me prove this is real."He requested calmly.

The certainty in his voice made something loosen in her chest..

"Okay," she breathed. "Breakfast then."

His smile was bright and genuine. "Thank you."

He took her hand and led her to the kitchen. The morning light made everything look clean and bright.

"Fair warning," he said, opening the fridge. "I'm not much of a cook. But I can handle scrambled eggs."

"You cook for yourself?"she asked, disbelief flooding her facial expression..

"When work doesn't take over my entire life, yes." He pulled out eggs. "Want coffee?"

"God, yes."

She sat at the bar, watching him move around the kitchen. Damien Blackwood—billionaire CEO—in sweatpants and a t-shirt, making her breakfast. It felt more intimate than last night somehow...

"So," he said as he whisked the eggs. "Business Administration. Tell me what you love about it."

They talked easily. She told him about organizational psychology, about wanting to build companies that actually valued their people. He talked about the early days of Blackwood, about mistakes he'd made and lessons he'd learned the hard way...

Halfway through breakfast, her phone buzzed on the counter. It was Victoria. Again.

Damien noticed her tense up. "Your stepmother?"

"She's not happy I didn't come home last night."

"Let me drive you home."He offered..

"No." She said it too quickly, then tried to soften it. "Thank you. But I need to handle her myself. If she meets you, she'll make it ugly. I don't want her touching this."

"This," he repeated, setting down his fork. "What is this to you, Aria? What do you want it to be?"

The question hung in the air between them.

"I don't have a plan," she said honestly. "But I know I want to see you again. If you want that too."

"I want that," he said immediately. His hand covered hers on the counter. "Let me take you to dinner tomorrow. A real date. With a reservation and everything. Conversation that doesn't happen in my kitchen."

"A date?"

"The first of many, if I get my way." His thumb traced circles on her hand. "Let me do this right."

Warmth spread through her chest. "I'd like that."

They made actual plans. When he finally walked her down to the lobby, his hand rested on the small of her back...

Outside, a town car was waiting at the curb.

He turned her to face him, his hands framing her face. Then he kissed her. The kiss was different from last night—not urgent and desperate, but slow and sweet. Like a promise..

"Until tomorrow," he said against her lips..

"Until tomorrow."She responded...

In the back seat as the car pulled into traffic, Aria looked back through the rear window.. Damien stood on the sidewalk, watching her leave. He lifted his hand in a wave.

She waved back, smiling..

It was crazy. All of it felt… too fast. And completely illogical.

But for the first time in her life, Aria Mitchell had chosen something just for herself.

And it felt right.