"Hey, lover," Chloe purred, leaning against the doorway of their home gym.

Damian was midway through his morning workout, his chiseled body glistening with sweat under the dim lights. He was shirtless as he lifted weights, his gray gym shorts clinging to his powerful thighs. Every muscle in his body rippled with raw strength.

Chloe's eyes traced the dragon tattoo curling along his left ribcage, its tail winding down to his sculpted abs. Her heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat as a wave of heat surged through her. The sight of him like this—raw, powerful, and utterly gorgeous—ignited her primal need to give herself to him. She could feel her body responding to him, a throbbing ache building within her.

Damian glanced up, seeing her standing in one of his old shirts that hung loosely down to her knees. His green eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his lips as he wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel.

"Hey, beautiful. You're up early for a Sunday morning. I thought you liked to sleep in."

"Couldn't sleep," Chloe replied, pushing aside the slight nausea in her stomach. But the hunger in Damian's eyes overshadowed her discomfort, how he looked at her as if she were the only woman in the world.

He lowered the weights and stepped toward her, his stare smoldering with intent. "Glad you're here," he drawled, his voice a deep, seductive rumble sending shivers down her spine.

Without another word, Damian closed the distance between them, his hands slipping under the hem of her shirt. He pulled her against him, his mouth claiming hers in a fierce, possessive kiss. Chloe moaned softly, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed herself against his hard chest.

He broke the kiss, trailing his lips down her neck, his breath hot against her skin. "You have no idea how much you affect me. I need you."

Chloe's pulse quickened as she looked up at him, her eyes filled with longing. "Then take me."

Damian's taut cheekbones ticked with primal desire, and he wasted no time. He lifted her effortlessly, placing her down on the weight bench. "Lie back," he demanded.

Chloe obeyed, biting her lower lip as she felt the cool leather against her back. Damian knelt between her legs, his hands gliding up her thighs, pushing the shirt higher until it bunched around her waist. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her inner thigh, his lips barely brushing against her skin.

"You smell so good," he said, his breath hot against her core. He glanced up at her, his eyes blazing. "I want to taste you, Chloe. Show me how much you want it."

"Please," she whispered, her body aching for him. "Do whatever you want with me."

Damian didn't hesitate. He buried his face between her thighs, his tongue tasting her with deliberate, slow strokes. Chloe gasped, her back arching off the bench as he savored her slick folds.

"You taste so fucking sweet," he growled against her sensitive flesh. "I could devour you all day."

Chloe moaned, her grip tightening on the edge of the bench as she felt herself spiraling into a whirlwind of pleasure. Damian's tongue moved expertly.

Swirling.

Sucking.

Teasing.

Driving her to the brink of madness.

"Your pussy was made for me," Damian murmured between licks. "No one else will ever have you."

"Yes," she gasped, her head falling back as a natural high built inside her, every nerve tingling with electricity. "Only you, Damian. Only you."

He pushed her legs wider, his tongue moving faster, more urgently, until Chloe teetered on the edge of release. "Come for me, baby," Damian ordered, his voice thick with lust and allure. "I want to taste your juices when you orgasm."

His words sent her over the edge. With a loud moan, Chloe shattered, her body convulsing as she struck nirvana. Damian didn't stop, his tongue lapping up every drop, his mouth never leaving her until she was spent.

When she finally came down from the high, Damian pressed a tender kiss to her inner thigh before pulling back, his eyes teasing. "You're delicious. Best breakfast I've ever had."

Chloe's breath was still ragged, her body trembling from the intensity of the experience. She smiled weakly, her heart swelling with affection as she reached out to touch his face. "You always know how to make me feel amazing."

Damian leaned down, brushing his lips against hers. "Can you taste yourself?"

"Mm-hmm..." Chloe sighed, her mind drugged in a trance of seduction.

"I'll always remember you as my first," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "The first woman who ever made me feel something real."

"But I wasn't your only one," Chloe said, a shadow of doubt creeping as she recalled the past. "You left me for Gemma once."

Damian's expression hardened, his eyes locking onto hers. "You know why things were different then. I'm not letting you go again. And let's not forget, you had Chase when we were apart."

"I never slept with him," Chloe shot back, her nostrils flaring with defiance. "He's just a friend."

"A friend?" Damian's tone sharpened with accusation. "With benefits, if I remember right."

"And what about Valentina?" Chloe challenged. "Have you two...?"

"We were lovers, but not in the way you think. I never put my dick in her."

"But do you want to?"

"Babe, let's not go there," Damian warned, gritting his teeth.

Chloe's eyes flashed with determination. "Babe, I can handle brutal honesty."

Damian ran a hand through his tousled sandy hair, exhaling sharply. "Honestly? I'm surrounded by fuckable women all the time. Women who want me for my looks, my money, my power. But I don't need a sugar baby when I've got you, my China doll."

"Then what stops you from giving in to temptation?" Chloe pressed, her curiosity piqued. "If you want an open relationship, just be upfront with me."

"No!" Damian's voice boomed. His eyes narrowed with a 'don't fuck with me' vehemence. "There's only one pussy my dick wants. Keep your sex sacred for me. We took our vows, and we're keeping them."

Chloe noticed the raw possessiveness in his tone, but she wasn't backing down. "But if your cock stirs for Valentina and other women, why fight it?"

Damian's gaze turned cold, his expression fierce. "Remember what I told you about my dad? How he skipped his parental visits to fuck countless women instead of taking me under his wing like he promised? How do you think that felt?"

"But that was before he met your stepmother," Chloe countered, her tone softening. "He changed after being with Vera. He became the father you needed."

"The damage was already done," Damian replied, his voice edged with bitterness. "My mother's lovers walking around naked in her house, tossing cigarette butts and used condoms at me like I was trash. I don't want to become my parents."

Chloe's heart ached for him, the pain in his eyes tearing at her. "So why keep the playboy image?" she asked gently. "Alistair gave you his share of The Church. You've got the biggest chunk of ownership in that business, and it's lucrative, making you millions. The club's practically yours. Nick's losing interest, and that leaves Angelo. What do you have to prove?"

"It's a habit," Damian admitted, sighing. "Wearing masks to survive, to blend in like a chameleon. You told me you could handle it—that you weren't the jealous type."

"I'm not. I'm just curious."

Damian's green eyes, like sparkling gemstones, captivated her. "Do I need to remind you how much I love you? One day, you're going to make me a father. How can I look at my kids with an honest heart if I'm screwing other women?"

With a sudden, fierce motion, Damian pressed his long, thick erection against her pelvis. "Now shut up and fuck me like the good wife you are."

He laid her down on the floor, swiftly discarding his shorts. He entered her, each thrust deep and demanding, pulling a raw cry of pleasure from her lips. His movements were unyielding, driving into her with a force that left her breathless.

But amid his relentless passion, his hand caressed her skin, and his eyes never left hers, speaking of a tenderness—how much she meant to him.

***

After their shared release, Chloe lay in Damian's arms, their bodies slick with sweat, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to catch her breath. Her thoughts were a whirlwind—desire, love, and passion tangled together.

Damian's lips brushed her forehead, the warmth of his breath still hot against her skin. He murmured, "I'm leaving for Singapore today. I have to finalize a property deal."

Chloe's heart sank at the thought of him leaving. "When will you be back?"

"Friday," Damian replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Just a week. I'll be back before you know it."

She nodded, knowing his absence was necessary.

"When I return," Damian added with a grin, "I'm taking Mina to the youth volleyball club. She needs something stable, and I know the coach there. I'll teach her to play with the team."

"She'll love that," Chloe said, warmth spreading through her as she remembered Damian's college days—he was the volleyball champ, leading his team to countless victories.

"I hope so," Damian said. "She deserves something good in her life."

Chloe watched as he stood up, his muscular frame stretching before he grabbed his towel. "I'm going for my swim now," he said casually, but his eyes lingered on her, making her heart feverish with yearning.

Chloe's lips twitched, then curved into a playful smile. "Don't be too long."

Damian grinned, his green eyes gleaming with mischief. "I won't," he promised before heading toward the mansion's indoor pool.

As she watched him leave the gym, a swirl of emotions churned within Chloe—love, desire, and a deep-seated anxiety about the future.

She recalled the officers mentioning they would find Mina a foster family. But as she thought about it, a darker realization crept in—how many more children were out there, lost in the shadows, waiting for help that might never come?

Mina was one of the survivors.

The world Damian's mother once controlled, filled with power and corruption, still thrived in the shady corners of society. And if Mina had been caught in its grip, how many others were still trapped?

How many children had Damian saved? How many more could they save together?

Chloe's determination hardened. They couldn't stop now. The stakes were higher than she'd imagined, and in trying to help, they might unleash dangers they weren't prepared for.

A nasty storm was brewing.

***

A/N: That song in the media box above... It's viral here in Norway. The lyrics fit the chapter. ❤️‍🔥 And here's something delish I want to share from my vision board for this series. It's one way I see Damian (there are a few more archetypes of his character). How do you see him? Anyone famous? And Chloe?