Chapter 32
Aria’s POV
After work, I met Damian at Luciano’s—an upscale Italian place downtown with dim lighting and private booths.
He was already waiting when I arrived, his dark eyes tracking my movement across the restaurant with that intensity that always made my pulse quicken.
“You’re late,” he said as I slid into the booth across from him. No accusation in his tone. Just stating a fact.
“Traffic was hell.” I accepted the wine menu from our server with a polite smile, waiting until we were alone before meeting his gaze. “What did you want to discuss p>
His jaw tightened, barely noticeable. “I’m heading to the northern territories tomorrow morning. Border dispute between neighboring Packs. I’ll be gone about a week p>
“Okay.” I nodded, scanning the wine list. “Thanks for letting me know p>
Silence settled between us, heavy and strange.
I glanced up to find him studying me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
“That’s it?” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Just ’okay p>
“What else do you want me to say?” I kept my tone light. “You’re the Alpha King. Border disputes are part of your job. I’m not going to throw a fit because you have responsibilities p>
Something flickered across his face. Disappointment, maybe. Or frustration.
“We just slept together last night,” he said carefully, like he was testing the words.
“So?” I met his gaze steadily. “Am I supposed to beg you to stay p>
We’d slept together once. Amazing, mind-blowing, life-changing sex that had left me deliciously sore, yes.
But that didn’t mean I was going to turn into some clingy female who couldn’t function without her man for a few days.
“That’s not what I meant,” Damian said, his voice low.
I shrugged. “It was just sex. No big deal p>
His eyes darkened. “Just sex p>
I didn’t answer. Instead, I picked up my glass of water and took a slow sip, then changed the subject. “I’m going to be pretty busy myself this week. Got a lot going on p>
The words came out more flippant than I’d intended.
Damian’s expression went carefully blank—that Alpha King mask sliding into place. I was learning that meant he was pissed but controlling it.
“Right,” he said flatly. “Too busy p>
Dinner was delicious—perfectly cooked osso buco that melted on my tongue—but the conversation felt stilted, awkward in a way it hadn’t been before. Like we were both waiting for the other to say something that never came.
When he drove me home in his sleek black Mercedes, the silence was thick enough to cut.
He pulled up to the curb but didn’t turn off the engine. Just sat there, hands gripping the steering wheel, staring straight ahead through the windshield.
I unbuckled my seatbelt, reaching for the door handle. “Thanks for dinner. Be safe up north, okay p>
“Aria p>
I paused, looking back at him. He’d turned to face me finally, and the raw emotion in his eyes made my breath catch.
“Yeah p>
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Shook his head slightly. “Nothing. I’ll text you when I get there p>
“Sounds good.” I forced brightness into my voice. “Goodnight, Damian p>
I climbed out and headed toward my building entrance, very deliberately not looking back. But I could feel his eyes on me the entire walk—that weight of his attention, heavy and heated.
I stood at my door, fumbling with my keys longer than necessary.
Waiting for what, I didn’t know. For him to get out of the car? Follow me inside like he had last night, pressing me against the wall and kissing me until neither of us could think straight?
But I was not going to be that girl. The one who couldn’t function without her mate, who fell apart at the first sign of separation.
I’d clawed my way out of one suffocating relationship. I wasn’t diving headfirst into another one where I lost myself completely.
“Goodnight,” I whispered to the empty hallway, letting myself into my apartment.
Behind me, I heard his engine rev. The smooth purr of expensive German engineering pulling away from the curb.
Headlights swept across my windows as he turned the corner and disappeared.
I stood in my darkened living room for several long moments before changing into sleep shorts and an oversized t-shirt. Washed my face. Went through all the normal nighttime routines.
But when I climbed into bed, the sheets still smelled like him—snow cedar and lavender, intoxicating and unmistakably Damian.
This might be a long night.