Chapter 6 Forbidden Touch

Chapter 6: Forbidden Touch

The silence between them crackled louder than the party inside.

Aria's pulse thundered as Damian's fingers hovered near hers-close enough to touch, but not quite crossing the line. Yet.

"This is a bad idea," she said softly, though her voice betrayed her resolve.

He didn't move away. "Probably."

His eyes searched hers, no longer cold or guarded. In that moment, he wasn't the CEO. He wasn't untouchable.

He was a man who wanted something-and she was dangerously close to wanting him back.

"You don't even like people," she said.

A flicker of amusement passed over his face. "True."

"So why-"

"Because you're not like them."

Her breath caught.

The words shouldn't have meant anything. But the way he said them-quiet, certain-unraveled her.

"I don't mix business with-"

He cut her off, his voice low. "Neither do I. Ever."

But still, neither of them stepped back.

Then, with a suddenness that made her heart stutter, Damian leaned in-not to kiss her, but close enough that his breath grazed her skin.

"I'm warning you, Aria," he whispered, "I don't do halfway. If I cross this line, there's no going back."

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. The air felt too thick. Her thoughts, too loud.

And then-his hand brushed her cheek, tentative at first... then sure.

It wasn't a kiss.

But it was a beginning.

One that threatened to unravel everything she thought she knew about control.

Including her own.