CHAPTER 10

The alarm buzzed, dragging Sienna out of sleep. She groaned, rubbing her face as she sat up, stretching her stiff limbs. The sun barely peeked through her curtains, signaling that it was still early. A workout. That’s what she needed. Something to clear her mind, to shake off this dangerous pull toward Damian before it consumed her completely.

Throwing on a pair of leggings and a sports bra, she tied her hair into a ponytail and grabbed her water bottle before heading to the gym.

To her relief, the place was empty.

Finally. Peace.

She let out a slow breath as she stretched her arms above her head, willing her thoughts to quiet. Then she got to work, starting with the treadmill before moving to weights. The music pumping through her earbuds helped drown out the mess in her head.

For nearly an hour, she focused on her body, pushing herself harder, faster. Sweat coated her skin, but she welcomed it. Anything was better than the confusion twisting inside her.

By the time she finished, her muscles ached in the best way possible.

She grabbed her towel and wiped the sweat from her forehead before making her way back upstairs to her apartment.

But the moment she stepped onto the fifteenth floor, her stomach twisted.

Damian was standing outside his apartment door, his phone in one hand, his other hand tucked into his pocket.

Sienna cursed inwardly.

She could ignore him. Walk straight past him, pretend he wasn’t there.

She almost succeeded—until he spoke.

"I’ll see you later tonight," he said smoothly, barely glancing up from his phone. "I’ll pick you up around the time your shift would start."

Sienna halted in her steps, turning to face him.

"I don’t remember saying yes."

Damian finally lifted his eyes, locking onto hers. There was amusement dancing in the depths of them, like he knew exactly how this conversation was going to end.

"You didn’t," he admitted, pushing off the wall. "But we both know you will."

Sienna folded her arms over her chest, giving him a hard look. "And what makes you so sure?"

Damian took a step closer, closing the space between them.

"Because you’re curious," he murmured. "Because you want to know what happens when you stop running from this."

Sienna opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Damn him.

Damn him for being right.

She clenched her jaw, fighting against the urge to give in. But she already knew she’d lost.

She exhaled through her nose and gave him a glare. "Fine. But just drinks."

Damian smirked, a glint of victory in his eyes. "Just drinks," he echoed, though she wasn’t sure if she believed him.

—

Later that night, Damian did exactly as he said he would. He picked her up, driving them to the club where they both worked.

Sienna had changed into a casual but flattering dress, something simple yet comfortable. She didn’t want to overthink this.

The moment they stepped inside, Marco’s eyes went wide with surprise.

"Well, well, well," Marco drawled, crossing his arms. "Look at this. The bartender and the boss, sitting together for drinks. This is interesting."

Sienna shot him a glare. "Shut up."

Damian smirked but said nothing as he led her to the bar, sliding onto one of the stools.

Marco leaned in, resting his elbows on the counter. "So, I’m serving you tonight, huh? This is weird."

Sienna rolled her eyes. "It’s just drinks."

Marco chuckled. "Right. Just drinks." He glanced at Damian. "And what will the gentleman be having?"

"The usual," Damian answered lazily.

Marco raised a brow before turning to Sienna. "And for the lady?"

Sienna pursed her lips. "Something strong."

Marco grinned. "That’s my girl."

As Marco prepared their drinks, Sienna shifted on her stool, suddenly feeling nervous.

Damian, however, looked completely at ease. He swirled the ice in his glass before taking a sip, watching her like he was studying her reactions.

"So," he said. "Why did you really agree to this?"

Sienna scoffed. "You didn’t give me much of a choice."

Damian smirked. "I always give you a choice, Sienna. You just keep making the same one."

Before she could argue, a sultry voice cut in.

"Damian, I was wondering where you disappeared to."

Sienna turned to see a blonde woman, the same one who had been shamelessly flirting with Damian before.

The woman ran her fingers down Damian’s arm, her perfectly manicured nails dragging along his skin.

"I was hoping you’d be behind the bar again tonight," she purred, pouting her lips.

Damian’s expression didn’t change, but Sienna felt something burn in her chest.

Jealousy.

She hated it.

But she wasn’t going to act like some insecure little girl.

Instead, she picked up her drink and took a slow sip, pretending to be unaffected.

"You should have told me you had a fan club," she muttered.

Damian glanced at her, amusement flickering across his face. "Jealous?"

Sienna let out a dry laugh. "Hardly. Just wondering how many desperate women are going to throw themselves at you tonight."

The blonde narrowed her eyes at Sienna before turning her attention back to Damian. "I’ll be waiting for you when you’re done here," she said, running her finger along his jaw before sauntering away.

Sienna rolled her eyes.

Marco, who had been watching the exchange, let out a low whistle. "Damn. Someone’s popular tonight."

Damian ignored Marco and instead focused on Sienna. "You were saying?"

Sienna huffed. "I was saying that you clearly have options, so why waste your time sitting here with me?"

Damian leaned in, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Because you’re the only one who hasn’t fallen at my feet yet."

Sienna’s breath caught in her throat.

Damn him.

Damn him for always knowing exactly what to say.

She forced herself to roll her eyes. "You really love the sound of your own voice, don’t you?"

Damian smirked, taking a slow sip of his drink. "You love it too. You just won’t admit it yet."

Sienna groaned, rubbing her temples.

She had made a huge mistake agreeing to this.

Because Damian wasn’t playing fair.

And she was running out of reasons to keep resisting him.

The night dragged on, but Sienna was more than aware of Damian’s presence beside her. The drinks did little to dull the tension between them, and every time his hand brushed against hers or his knee barely touched hers under the bar, she felt her pulse quicken.

She should have never agreed to this.

But it was too late for regrets now.

Damian set his empty glass down and turned to her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Dance with me."

Sienna scoffed, giving him an unimpressed look. "Seriously?"

He nodded. "Seriously."

Sienna rolled her eyes, acting as if she wasn’t affected by his request. "And what makes you think I want to dance with you?"

Damian leaned in just enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin. "Because you want to see how it feels to be that close to me."

Her throat went dry.

The worst part? He was right.

She hated him for it.

And she hated herself for proving him right when she let out an exaggerated sigh and pushed her drink aside. "Fine," she muttered. "One dance."

Damian smirked, standing up and offering his hand. She ignored it and got up on her own, refusing to let him think she was some obedient puppy following his every command.

He led her to the dance floor, where the music was sultry and slow, the kind that made bodies press together, that made it impossible to dance without feeling every inch of the other person.

Sienna swallowed hard as Damian turned to face her, his hands sliding onto her hips effortlessly.

It started off fine.

Her hands rested on his shoulders, a respectable distance between them. Their bodies moved in sync with the rhythm, her hips swaying with the beat.

It was just a dance.

But Damian had other plans.

His grip on her waist tightened, pulling her closer until there was barely any space between them. His body was firm, radiating heat against her.

Sienna sucked in a breath, trying to ignore how good it felt.

"Relax," Damian murmured, his lips barely an inch from her ear. "Just follow my lead."

She scoffed. "I don’t need you to lead me."

He chuckled, low and deep. "You say that, but look at you."

She hated that he was right again.

Because despite her better judgment, she let him guide her.

His hands roamed, teasing but never too much. His touch was light but possessive, as if he was reminding her that she was in his space now.

Their movements became slower, more intimate.

His thigh slipped between hers, and she gasped at the friction it created.

He used that moment to grip her chin, tilting her face up so she was forced to look at him.

The heat in his gaze sent shivers down her spine.

She knew what was about to happen.

And she knew she should stop it.

But then his lips crashed against hers.

It wasn’t a soft kiss. It wasn’t gentle.

It was aggressive. Dominating.

It stole the breath from her lungs, leaving her dizzy.

His fingers tangled in her hair, keeping her in place as his lips moved hungrily against hers. She could taste the remnants of whiskey on his tongue, mixed with something purely Damian.

She should have pushed him away.

But instead, she kissed him back.

Her hands fisted the front of his shirt, pulling him closer as if she couldn’t get enough.

His teeth grazed her bottom lip before he deepened the kiss, his tongue claiming her with a possessiveness that made her head spin.

Her body was on fire, every nerve ending tingling with electricity.

When they finally pulled apart, Sienna’s lips were swollen, her breathing uneven.

Damian smirked, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. "You taste better than I imagined."

Sienna was too dazed to come up with a smart response.

She had officially lost this battle.

And Damian knew it.

The music inside the club was loud, the bass vibrating through the floor, but Sienna barely heard any of it. Her mind was clouded, her breathing uneven, her lips still tingling from Damian’s kiss.

"Let’s go to my car," Damian murmured against her ear, his voice rough, filled with something dark and unrelenting. "It’s too noisy in here."

She should have said no.

She should have walked away, pretended this never happened.

But she was too dazed, too caught up in the way his lips had claimed her, in the way his hands had molded to her body like they belonged there.

Before she could process what was happening, she found herself outside, the cold night air doing nothing to cool the fire raging inside her. Damian led her to his sleek black car, and without hesitation, she slid inside.

The moment the door shut, the atmosphere changed.

It was just the two of them now. No loud music. No lingering gazes.

Just the sound of their breathing in the enclosed space.

She barely had time to adjust before Damian reached over, gripping her waist and pulling her onto his lap in one swift motion.

A gasp escaped her lips as she straddled him, her knees sinking into the plush leather seats.

His hands were on her thighs, moving slowly, deliberately, his fingers pressing into her skin with a possessiveness that sent shivers down her spine.

"You’re so damn beautiful," he murmured, his lips brushing against the curve of her jaw.

Sienna’s breath hitched as his mouth trailed lower, pressing heated kisses against her neck.

Her fingers curled into his shirt, her body betraying her as she arched into him, craving more.

His grip tightened on her thighs, his hands roaming higher, tracing circles over her hips, his touch setting her skin on fire.

When his lips finally found hers again, it was like an explosion.

The kiss was raw, hungry, filled with an intensity that made her dizzy.

His tongue slid against hers, coaxing, demanding, taking.

She gave in.

She kissed him back just as fiercely, her fingers tugging at his hair, wanting more, needing more.

A low growl rumbled in his chest as he gripped her hips, pulling her impossibly closer.

She could feel every inch of him, the heat of his body searing into hers.

His hands moved again, tracing up her back, then down to her thighs, gripping her as if he wanted to memorize every inch of her.

The way he touched her, the way he kissed her—it was overwhelming.

It was intoxicating.

Her mind screamed at her to stop, to pull away before she completely lost herself.

But her body?

Her body wanted nothing more than to let him consume her.

His lips left hers, trailing hot kisses down her neck, his teeth grazing her skin in a way that made her shudder.

"Damian," she breathed, her voice shaky.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes dark, hooded with desire.

"Say it again," he murmured, his hands gripping her waist.

Sienna’s lips parted, but no words came out.

Because she knew that if she said his name again, if she gave in completely, there would be no turning back.

She was already in too deep.

Her heart was racing, her skin burning everywhere he touched.

She wanted to lose herself in him, to drown in the way he made her feel.

But deep down, she knew the truth.

Damian was dangerous.

And if she wasn’t careful, she was going to fall.

Hard.

Sienna sat on Damian’s lap, her body pressed against his as the air between them grew heavier. The heat of his touch lingered on her skin, his hands gripping her thighs as if he had every right to claim her. The world outside his car didn’t exist—only the dangerous, intoxicating tension between them.

She hated how much she liked it.

His mouth was still hovering over hers, their breaths mingling, his fingers tracing slow, possessive circles against her hips.

She knew she should stop this. She should push him away, regain whatever control she had left.

But she didn’t move.

Damian’s lips curled slightly, his eyes watching her, studying her reaction like he could read every single thought running through her mind.

"You’re shaking," he murmured, his voice rough.

She swallowed, her heart hammering inside her chest.

"This is wrong," she whispered.

Damian tilted his head, his fingers tightening around her waist. "Why are you acting like we’re having some sort of affair?" His voice was laced with amusement, but there was something darker in his eyes. "This isn’t wrong, Sienna. It’s right."

She scoffed, trying to put some distance between them, but he held her firmly in place.

"What do you want, Damian?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes darkened, his expression unreadable.

"Tell me," she pressed, ignoring the warning in his gaze. "Do you just want sex?"

For a moment, he didn’t answer.

Then, his lips curled slightly, and he said the words that made her stomach drop.

"I want to have sex with you."

Sienna’s chest tightened.

She didn’t know what she had been expecting, but deep down, she knew she had hoped for something more.

Some kind of reassurance.

Some kind of indication that he wanted her—not just her body.

But this was Damian.

A man who didn’t do relationships. A man who had women throwing themselves at him every night.

She felt like an idiot for even letting herself think it could be different.

"I have to go," she blurted out, panic rising inside her. "I left my dog without feeding him."

His brows furrowed.

"Sienna," he said slowly, his voice dipping into something more serious. "You don’t have a dog."

Shit.

She tried to move off his lap, but his hands didn’t budge. He wasn’t rough, wasn’t forcing her to stay, but he wasn’t letting her run either.

"Are you disappointed?" he asked, his voice unreadable.

She let out a bitter laugh, avoiding his gaze. "No."

"Liar," he murmured.

Her stomach twisted.

She didn’t want to admit it, didn’t want to acknowledge the sting in her chest.

She had spent so much time resisting him, trying to keep things professional, trying to convince herself that whatever this thing between them was—it wasn’t real.

But it felt real.

The way he looked at her. The way he touched her.

And now, she was reminded exactly of who he was.

A man who took what he wanted.

A man who never made promises.

A man who saw sex as nothing more than a transaction.

She tried again to move, but his grip remained firm.

"I need to go," she whispered, her voice weaker now.

His thumb traced slow, teasing circles against her hip. "And if I don’t let you?"

She forced herself to meet his gaze.

"Damian," she said, her voice pleading. "Please."

Something flickered in his eyes, something almost unreadable, and for a second, she thought he would stop her.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, he let go.

The sudden loss of his warmth made her shiver, but she didn’t hesitate.

She climbed off his lap, her fingers trembling as she adjusted her dress.

As she reached for the door handle, his voice stopped her.

"Sienna."

She froze.

"One day," he said, his voice low and certain, "you’re going to stop running from this."

Her breath hitched, her grip on the door tightening.

"There is no ‘this,’ Damian," she forced out. "You want sex. That’s it. And I don’t want to be another one of your women."

His gaze darkened, his jaw clenching.

"That’s not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?" she demanded.

Silence.

She scoffed. "Yeah. That’s what I thought."

Without another word, she got out of the car, slamming the door behind her.

She didn’t look back.