Chapter 5 Forbidden Boundaries

Lena sat in the backseat of Damien's sleek black car, her fingers tightening around the leather clutch in her lap. The air between them simmered with tension thick, electric, unspoken. Damien hadn't said a word since they left the gallery. The only sound was the faint hum of the engine and the dull roar of the city rushing past the windows.

She stole a glance at him. Damien stared ahead, jaw clenched, his profile as hard and unreadable as ever. He was furious and it had everything to do with what had happened with Oliver.

"He shouldn't have touched you," Damien finally said, his voice low, raw.

"I handled it," Lena replied coolly, though her pulse quickened.

"I saw the way he looked at you. The way he put his hand on your waist. That's not acceptable."

"I'm not yours," she snapped before she could stop herself.

The words hung heavy in the air.

Damien's gaze flicked to her sharply, his eyes narrowing. "You're mine the moment you signed that contract, Lena."

"That contract didn't say you owned me."

"No," he said, turning fully to face her now. "But it said you'd submit. And whether you like it or not, I will protect what's mine."

She should have been angry and offended, maybe. But instead, her heart thundered in her chest. The intensity in his voice, the possessiveness in his eyes should have scared her. Instead, it set her on fire.

The car slowed to a stop in front of his penthouse building.

Damien stepped out first, then opened her door. "We're going upstairs."

She hesitated. "Why?"

His lips curved, but it wasn't amusing. It was a challenge. "Because I'm going to remind you exactly what this arrangement means."

Lena followed him in silence, adrenaline thrumming in her veins. She told herself this was dangerous, foolish, even but she didn't stop. She couldn't.

The elevator doors closed behind them, and the moment they did, Damien pressed the emergency stop button. The soft hum ceased, and the lights above dimmed slightly.

"You think I don't see it?" he said, stepping closer. "You think I don't notice the way you look at me when you think I'm not watching?"

"I don't"

"You crave control, Lena, but you want to be undone just as badly."

Her breath caught as his hand slid along her jaw, tilting her face up.

"You can lie to yourself all you want," he murmured, "but your body doesn't lie to me."

And then he kissed her.

Not soft. Not tender.

It was a claim.

Lena responded before her mind could catch up, arms wrapping around his neck, her body arching against him. His hands explored her curves with a reverence that bordered on worship, igniting every nerve ending she possessed. She moaned against his mouth, her fingers tangling in his hair.

The elevator was filled with heat, with breathless need. She barely noticed when the motion resumed and barely cared when they reached his floor. By the time they stumbled through his door, Damien was lifting her, carrying her with ease toward his bedroom.

He laid her on the bed like she was something rare and fragile, something valuable. And in the dim light, with the city glowing behind him, he hovered over her, eyes dark with hunger.

"You're driving me insane, Lena," he whispered. "And I don't know if I care."

Her heart stuttered. "Then don't."

He kissed her again, slower this time. Deeper. His hands slid beneath her blouse, over bare skin, until she gasped.

But just as he leaned down, a sound pierced the air, a sharp buzz from his phone on the nightstand.

He ignored it.

It buzzed again.

"Don't," she said breathlessly. "Let it go."

But something in his eyes shifted. He reached for it, frowning when he saw the screen.

His jaw locked.

"What is it?" she asked, pushing herself up on one elbow.

Damien didn't answer right away. He stared at the phone, his brows drawn, lips pressed into a thin line.

"Damien?"

He looked at her final expression unreadable, like steel shutters had dropped in his gaze.

"It's from my father's lawyer," he said. "He's threatening to leak something. Something that could ruin everything."

Lena sat up fully now, the heat of their moment cooling fast.

"Leak what?"

Damien stood, moving away from the bed. "A scandal. A lawsuit tied to a company acquisition I made last year. But if he's reaching out now, it means my father is pulling strings again. He's never wanted me to have control. And if he can destroy my credibility"

He broke off, fists clenched.

Lena rose and moved to him slowly. "What can you do?"

"I have to meet him. Tonight. End this before it starts."

She grabbed his arm. "Are you sure it's safe?"

Damien's eyes found hers. "It doesn't matter. I'll end this permanently."

"Damien"

But he was already pulling on his shirt, grabbing keys, his entire demeanor shifting into battle mode.

"Stay here," he said. "I'll come back."

Her fingers tightened around his. "Promise me."

His gaze softened just enough to hurt. "I don't make promises, Lena."

He was gone a moment later, the door slamming shut behind him.

Lena stood frozen in his bedroom, wrapped in silence, the ghost of his kiss still tingling on her lips.

And then

The doorbell rang.

She blinked.

Damien wouldn't ring.

Her heart raced as she approached the door cautiously. Another ring. A pause. Then

A voice.

Low, male, unfamiliar.

"Miss Hart... I think you'd want to know the truth about Damien Blackwood. Open the door."

Her blood ran cold.