Chapter 80
Aria’s POV
Morning light filtered through the hospital blinds, pulling me from sleep.
I became aware of three things simultaneously: I was still pressed against Damian’s chest, his fingers were tangled in my hair, and he was already awake, watching me.
“Good morning, sweetheart p>
Heat flooded my face. “Don’t call me that p>
“Why not? You didn’t seem to mind last night.” His thumb brushed across my cheek. “You talk in your sleep, by the way p>
My eyes widened. “What did I say p>
“Nothing incriminating.” The bastard looked far too pleased with himself. “Though you did call me an ’insufferable ass’ at one point p>
“Well, that part’s accurate p>
He laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest, and something warm unfurled in my stomach. God, I was in trouble.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, trying to shift the focus away from how intimate this all was.
“Much better, thanks to you.” He swung his legs off the bed with far too much ease for someone whose stitches had torn open. “Ready to get out of here p>
“Damian, you should rest p>
“I’ve rested enough.” He was already reaching for his shirt, wincing slightly as he pulled it on. “Besides, I heal fast, remember p>
Dr. Matthews was less than thrilled when Damian announced he was leaving. She tried everything short of physically restraining him, but he was immovable.
She finally relented with a list of strict instructions and a look that said she knew he wouldn’t follow any of them.
“He’s your responsibility now,” she told me pointedly as she handed me a bag of medical supplies.
“Change the dressing twice daily. Keep the wound clean and dry. And for God’s sake, keep him from doing anything strenuous p>
“I’ll try my best p>
“You’ll have to do better than try.” She glanced at Damian, who was already on his phone. “Alpha males are notoriously terrible patients p>
She had no idea how right she was.
Rick was waiting outside with the SUV. The drive was tense, the silence between Damian and me thrumming with unspoken words.
I could feel him glancing at me, but I kept my eyes on the window.
“Where are we going?” I finally asked.
“My place.” He said it like it was obvious. “Unless you’d prefer to go back to your hotel p>
“Your place is fine.” The words escaped before I could think them through. “Just for today. Until I’m sure you’re not going to tear those stitches again p>
The satisfaction in his expression was unmistakable. “Whatever you say, Luna p>
“Stop calling me that p>
“Make me p>
I turned to glare at him, but he was smiling—that rare, genuine smile that transformed his entire face and made my traitorous heart skip.
We pulled through massive iron gates into an estate that made my inherited properties look like garden sheds.
The main residence was a sprawling masterpiece of glass and stone, modern yet somehow timeless, surrounded by perfectly manicured grounds that seemed to stretch for miles.
“Subtle,” I muttered.
“Wait until you see the inside.” His hand found the small of my back as he helped me out of the car, warm and possessive.
The interior was even more stunning—soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, elegant furniture that probably cost more than most people earned in a year.
But what caught my attention were the staff members who appeared the moment we entered.
An older woman with kind eyes approached immediately. “Alpha. Welcome home. We’ve prepared the west wing as you requested p>
“Thank you, Mary.” Damian’s hand slid from my back to my hip, pulling me against his side. “This is Aria. She’ll be staying here. Make sure she has everything she needs p>
Mary’s eyes widened slightly, a knowing smile crossing her face. “Of course, Alpha. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Aria p>
Two more staff members appeared—a younger woman and a man who looked like he handled security.
“This is Sarah and Thomas,” Damian introduced. “They manage the household staff. If you need anything at all, just ask them p>
I felt overwhelmed by the sudden attention, by the way everyone was looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and respect.
“Make yourself at home,” Damian said, already heading toward what looked like a home office. “I need to handle a few things p>
“You’re supposed to be resting p>
“I’ll rest after I deal with some urgent matters.” He paused at the doorway. “Mary, show Aria to my room. I want her comfortable p>
My face heated at the implication. “Damian p>
“My room, Aria.” His eyes held mine, dark and commanding. “Where you’ll be sleeping from now on. With me p>
He disappeared into his office before I could protest, leaving me standing there with three staff members who were clearly trying not to smile.
“This way, Miss,” Mary said kindly, leading me toward a grand staircase.
His room was at the end of a long hallway—massive, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the grounds, a king-size bed that looked sinfully comfortable, and a bathroom that could double as a spa.
“The Alpha wanted to make sure you’d be comfortable,” Mary said, gesturing to the walk-in closet.
“We’ve had some clothes brought in for you—your size was provided. If there’s anything else you need, please don’t hesitate to ask p>
I was still processing the fact that he’d somehow gotten my exact clothing size when Mary added,
“He’s been preparing for your arrival for some time, Miss. He’s very particular about making sure you feel at home p>
She left me alone in the room, and I sank onto the edge of the massive bed, trying to wrap my head around everything.
This wasn’t temporary. Damian was making that abundantly clear.
And the terrifying part? I wasn’t sure I wanted it to be.