The silence after they left was louder than the confrontation itself.
Aria could still feel it.
The tension.
The fear.
The way her heart had nearly pounded out of her chest.
But now… something else had taken its place.
Awareness.
Of him.
Of how close Damian still stood.
Of the fact that his hand hadn't fully left hers.
"Damian…" she said softly.
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his gaze stayed on her face—intense, searching, like he was trying to read something she hadn't even said out loud.
Slowly… his fingers loosened.
But they didn't completely let go.
"You're shaking," he said quietly.
She hadn't even noticed.
"I'm fine," she replied quickly.
"You're not."
Her jaw tightened slightly.
"I said I'm fine."
A pause.
Then—
"You don't have to pretend with me."
The words were simple.
But they landed heavier than expected.
Aria exhaled slowly, her shoulders dropping just a little.
"I thought he was going to drag me out of here," she admitted.
Damian's expression darkened instantly.
"He won't," he said.
There was no hesitation.
No doubt.
Just certainty.
And somehow… that made her feel safer than she wanted to admit.
She pulled her hand away this time.
Fully.
Creating a small distance between them.
But it didn't help.
Because the space only made her more aware of him.
Of the way his eyes followed her.
Of the way the air still felt charged.
"You didn't have to do all that," she said, turning slightly away. "Saying I'm yours… threatening him…"
"I did," he interrupted.
She looked back at him.
"Why?"
The question hung between them.
Heavy.
Real.
Damian took a step closer.
Of course he did.
"You needed him to believe it," he said.
"That's not what I meant."
His gaze didn't waver.
"I know."
Her pulse quickened.
"Then answer me properly."
A long silence followed.
Then—
"I don't like people thinking they can take what's under my protection."
Her heart skipped.
"That's still not an answer."
Another step closer.
Now they were barely a breath apart.
"It's the only one you're getting."
Her breathing became uneven.
This man—
He always did this.
Answered just enough… but never fully.
"Why me?" she asked suddenly.
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
His brows pulled together slightly.
"What?"
"Out of everyone in that room… why did you pick me?"
Silence.
For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer.
Then—
"You were different."
Her lips pressed together.
"That's vague."
"It's accurate."
She shook her head slightly.
"No. You don't just get involved in someone's life because they're 'different.'"
His gaze darkened.
"You ran to me."
"I was desperate."
"And I was there," he said simply.
Her chest tightened.
"That's not enough."
Something shifted in his expression then.
Subtle.
But real.
"It was for me."
Her breath caught.
The honesty in his voice hit harder than she expected.
They stood there in silence again.
Too close.
Too aware.
Too something.
Aria swallowed.
"You're dangerous," she said quietly.
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
"I've never pretended otherwise."
"I should stay away from you."
"You should."
But neither of them moved.
Not even an inch.
Her heart was beating too fast now.
Her thoughts too loud.
Everything about this felt wrong.
But also—
Impossible to walk away from.
"You didn't answer my question earlier," he said suddenly.
She frowned slightly.
"What question?"
"Does it bother you?"
Her brows pulled together.
"What does?"
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips again.
Then back to her eyes.
"That I said you're mine."
Her breath hitched.
There it was.
The thing she had been trying not to think about.
"It should," she said.
"But it doesn't?" he pressed.
Silence.
Her heart pounded harder.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't deny it either."
She opened her mouth—
Then closed it again.
Because she didn't have an answer.
Not one she understood.
And he saw it.
Of course he did.
Slowly… deliberately…
Damian lifted his hand.
This time, he didn't stop.
His fingers brushed lightly against her cheek.
Soft.
Unexpectedly gentle.
Aria froze.
Her breath catching instantly.
"You think too much," he murmured.
The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down her spine.
"I have to," she whispered.
"Not with me."
Her heart skipped.
That was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
His thumb moved slightly—
Tracing just beneath her cheekbone.
The contact was light.
But it burned.
"You don't get to turn my brain off," she said, though her voice lacked strength.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"I don't need to."
Her pulse raced.
Because he was right.
In this moment—
She wasn't thinking.
Not clearly.
Not logically.
"Damian…" she whispered.
But she didn't pull away.
Didn't stop him.
And that was all the permission he needed.
He stepped closer.
Closing the last bit of distance between them.
Now there was nothing left.
No space.
No air.
Just him.
Her hand lifted slightly—resting against his chest.
Not pushing him away.
Just… there.
Feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Strong.
Controlled.
Unlike hers.
"Tell me to stop," he said quietly.
Her breath hitched.
"I…"
But the words didn't come.
Because she didn't want him to stop.
And that terrified her.
His gaze dropped again.
To her lips.
Slowly…
Carefully…
He leaned in.
Closer.
Closer.
Her eyes fluttered slightly.
Her grip on his shirt tightened.
Everything slowed.
The world faded.
All she could feel—
Was him.
His breath.
His presence.
The heat between them.
Just inches away now.
Her heart pounding wildly.
His lips almost—
Almost—
A knock echoed sharply through the room.
They both froze.
The moment shattered instantly.
Aria pulled back quickly, her breath uneven.
Damian's jaw tightened, frustration flashing briefly across his face before disappearing.
"Sir," a voice called from outside. "There's something you need to see."
Silence.
Heavy.
Lingering.
Then Damian stepped back fully.
The distance felt… wrong.
Too sudden.
Too cold.
"I'll handle it," he said, his voice returning to its usual calm tone.
Aria nodded, still trying to steady herself.
He walked toward the door—
Then paused.
"And Aria…"
She looked up.
His gaze held hers for a moment longer.
Dark.
Unreadable.
"Don't go too far."
Her heart skipped.
Again.
And before she could respond—
He was gone.
Aria stood there alone.
Her fingers slowly lifting to her lips.
Still feeling the ghost of something that hadn't even happened.
"What is wrong with me…" she whispered.
Because she knew—
That moment shouldn't have felt like that.
Shouldn't have mattered that much.
But it did.
And that was the most dangerous part of all.