Where Darkness Learned Breath by Rylor Dusk 79

79 Chapter 79: Morning After 

Aria POV 

They absolutely were, I could feel it. “You’re 

ridiculous.” 

“You like it.” His nose traced the shell of my ear. “Admit it. You like morning Damien, he is charming.” 

“Morning Damien is pushy.” 

“Pushy, charming .Same thing.” He bit my earlobe again, a little firmer this time. Not hard enough to hurt, just enough to make me gasp. “See? You like pushy.” 

“That was a gasp of outrage.” 

“Uh–huh.” His tongue soothed where his teeth had been. Warm and wet. “Keep telling yourself 

that.” 

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My toes curled in the sheets. The fabric was smooth and cool against my feet while the rest of 

me felt like I was on fire. 

“This is inappropriate,” I said. But I didn’t move 

away. 

“We shared a bed, we have had sex i think we’re 

past appropriate.” His hand slid back up to my stomach, fingers spreading wide. “Besides, you smell good in the morning.” 

“I smell like sleep.” I said my voice wavering slightly. 

“Exactly.” He inhaled deeply against my neck, dramatic and exaggerated. “Sleep and something flowery, your shampoo maybe. And underneath that, just you.” 

“That’s creepy.” 

“That’s romantic.” He kissed my neck again, slower this time. “See, this is the problem with 

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you, Monroe. No appreciation for the finer things.” 

“The finer things being you sniffing me?” 

“The finer things being us. In this bed. Together.” His thumb rubbed small circles on my stomach. “Finally, being cuddled together.” 

The word landed heavy between us. Finally, Like he’d been waiting for this, dreaming about it. 

“You’re really committed to this seduction 

attempt,” I said. My voice is shaky now. 

“Very committed.” His hand moved higher, resting just below my ribs. His pinky finger barely brushed the underside of my breast through my shirt. “The question is, are you going to keep pretending you hate it?” 

I opened my mouth to respond with something cutting and clever. 

“Mama? Daddy?” Noah’s voice came from the 

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hallway, followed by the patter of small feet on the hardwood floor. 

We sprang apart like we’d been electrocuted. Damien rolled away so fast he nearly fell off the bed. I sat up, heart hammering, face burning. The sudden cold where his body had been felt like a 

shock. 

The door burst open. 

Noah stood there in his superhero pajamas–the blue ones with Captain Amazing on the front. Mr. Hoppy dangled from one hand, the stuffed rabbit’s ear dragging on the floor. Noah’s hair stuck up in every direction. His face broke into a huge grin, showing the gap where his front tooth was growing in. 

“You’re in Daddy’s bed!” He bounced excitedly, his bare feet slapping against the floor. “Does this mean you’re not mad at each other anymore?” 

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My 

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79 Chapter 79: Morning After 

face felt like it was on fire. 

Damien recovered faster, he cleared his throat. “We were just… talking.” 

“In bed?” Noah tilted his head, exactly like I did 

when I was confused. “That’s weird.” 

“Very weird,” I agreed, climbing out of bed, the floor was cold under my bare feet. I could still feel the ghost of Damien’s touch on my skin, his breath on my neck. “How about breakfast?” 

“Can we have the flying pancakes again?” He grabbed my hand with his small, warm one. His fingers were sticky with something. Probably the candy I told him not to have before bed. “Please, 

Mama?” 

“No more flying pancakes.” I led him toward the door, desperate to escape Damien’s gaze. I could feel him watching me. “Regular, non–airborne pancakes only.” 

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79 Chapter 79: Morning After 

“But those are boring!” Noah dragged his feet, making himself heavy. 

“Boring is safe.” I glanced back at Damien, who 

was watching us with soft eyes. His hair was messy from sleep. His shirt was wrinkled. He looked good, too good. “And right now, we need 

to be safe.” 

He nodded, understanding the double meaning. His jaw tightened slightly. 

We needed to be safe, we needed to be careful. We needed to not jump into this before we were ready. 

Even if every part of me wanted to dive in 

headfirst. Even if my neck still tingled where his lips had been. 

Later, after breakfast and while Noah was distracted with cartoons in the living room, Damien pulled me into his study. The room smelled rich and masculine. 

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“We need to finalize the plan,” he said, closing the door. The click of the lock was loud in the quiet room. “If we’re going to draw Marcus out, it has to be soon. Before he makes another move.” 

“Agreed.” I sat in one of his leather chairs. The material was cool and smooth, it squeaked slightly when I shifted. “What do you have in mind?” 

“A public event. Somewhere he can’t resist showing up.” His eyes were intense, focused. His blue eyes looked darker in the dim study. “Our engagement party.” 

I stared at him, my stomach dropped. “Our what?” 

“Engagement party.” He moved closer, each step was deliberate. I could hear his shoes on the hardwood. “We announce we’re getting married- again, properly this time. Make it a huge society event. Marcus won’t be able to stay away, his ego won’t let him.” 

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“You want to fake an engagement to trap your 

brother?” 

“Who said anything about it being fake?” His eyes held mine. I couldn’t look away. “Aria Monroe, will you marry me? For real this time. Not for business, not for convenience but because I love you and want to spend my life proving it.” 

My mouth fell open. My hands gripped the arms 

of the chair. “You can’t be serious.” 

“Dead serious.” He pulled a box from his pocket. The velvet was dark blue, small and square. “I’ve been carrying this for quite some time now, waiting for the right moment.” 

He opened it with a soft creak. Inside was a stunning diamond ring. The stone caught the light from the window and threw rainbows across the wall. It was nothing like the cold, impersonal band he’d given me years ago. That one had been plain. This one was warm, brilliant, and beautiful. 

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“Damien, this is insane” 

“Probably.” He knelt in front of me, his knee 

touched the floor with a soft thud. The 

movement brought him eye–level with me. I could see the flecks of gray in his blue eyes. “But I’ve spent years regretting every moment without you. I’m not wasting another second. Marry me, Aria let me be your husband for real, let me be the father Noah deserves and the partner you should have had from the beginning.” 

“We barely tolerate each other” 

“We slept in the same bed last night without killing each other. That’s progress.” He grinned. The expression transformed his face, making him look younger. “Besides, you don’t have to answer now. Just wear the ring. Let people think we’re engaged and when this is over, when Marcus is dealt with–ask me again.” 

“That’s backwards.” 

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“Then we’ll do it backwards.” He took my hand, his palm was warm and slightly damp. Nervous. Damien Blackwood was nervous. “Every relationship is different, ours just happens to involve fake engagements, actual children, and 

homicidal brothers.” 

Despite everything, I laughed. The sound burst out of me, surprising us both. “You’re ridiculous. 

“Is that a yes?” 

“Maybe.” I looked at the ring, then at him, the stone sparkled. His eyes were hopeful. “Let me 

think about it.” 

“Fair enough.” He stood, sliding the box into my hand. The velvet was soft against my palm. Warm from being in his pocket. “But Aria? I meant every word. When you’re ready, when you trust me again–I want forever with you.” 

Before I could respond, there was a knock on the study door. Three sharp raps. 

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“Mr. Blackwood?” His assistant’s voice was muffled through the wood. “The security team needs to speak with you. It’s urgent.” 

Damien’s face went hard, the softness disappeared like it had never been there. “Coming.” 

He squeezed my hand once more, his fingers tight around mine. Then he left. 

I sat alone in his study, staring at the ring box in my palm. The velvet was soft under my thumb as I rubbed it absently. The room was quiet except for the ticking of the clock on the wall. 

Marriage. To Damien Blackwood. Again, years ago, the thought would have terrified me. 

Now? 

Now I was just trying to figure out if I was brave enough to say yes. 

My phone buzzed against the arm of the chair. 

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The vibration was loud in the silence, I looked at 

the screen. 

Unknown number. 

My stomach tightened but I opened the message. 

I hate that you make my brother happy. After he took everything from me, he gets you? Does he get to have a family? No. I will make him suffer the way I suffered. I’ll take everything he loves, starting with his son, then you and his company. Then you’ll both know what it feels like to lose everything. -M 

My blood turned cold as my phone nearly slipped from my suddenly numb fingers. 

I ran out of the study, my feet pounding on the floor. Down the hallway, the walls blurred past me. My breath came in short gasps. 

Straight to Noah’s room. 

Empty. 

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The toys were scattered across the floor–action figures and blocks and books. The window was open. Cool air rushed in, making the curtains flutter, the screen was missing. 

And Noah was gone. 

“DAMIEN!” My scream echoed through the penthouse. Raw and terrified. “NOAH’S GONE! 

MARCUS TOOK NOAH!” 

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