Where Darkness Learned Breath by Rylor Dusk 129

Posted by Adminj, ? Views, Released on February 17, 2026

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129 chapter 129: Relieved

Aria pov

“I feel relieved,” Damien said. “Relieved that the truth came out, that justice was done, and that my family can move forward safely.”

“Are you two officially back together?”

“We’re partners,” I said, squeezing Damien’s hand. “In business, in parenting, and yes- in life. What happened with Ms. Clarke only made us stronger.”

“Any message for others who might be facing similar situations?”

“Yes.” I looked directly at the cameras. “If someone you love is assaulted–whether it’s physical, sexual, or otherwise–believe them. Support them. Fight for them. Don’t let anyone victim–blame or suggest they somehow deserved it. What happened to Damien was assault, plain and simple. And survivors deserve support, not suspicion.”

*********

Later that night, after Noah was in bed, Damien and I sat on the penthouse balcony with wine and the city lights stretched before us.

“You fought for me,” he said quietly. “During that trial, every day–you fought for me like I was worth fighting for.”

“You are worth fighting for.” I leaned against him. “You’re my partner. My family. Of course I fought for you.”

“Family.” His voice was filled with wonder. “You called me family.”

“You are family.” I looked up at him. “You, me, Noah–we’re a family. Messy and complicated and still figuring things out, but a family nonetheless.”

“I like the sound of that.” He kissed the top of my head. “My family.”

“Our family,” I corrected.

“Our family,” he echoed.

We sat in comfortable silence, watching the city. Somewhere out there, Vivian was hiding. Marcus was plotting. Enemies were circling. But right now, at this moment, we’d won. We’d protected our family. We’d stand together against an attack and come

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129 chapter 129: Relieved

out stronger.

And that–that felt like everything.

“Damien?” I said after a while.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being someone worth fighting for.” I smiled at him. “For becoming the man I always hoped you could be.”

“Thank you for seeing that potential,” he said softly. “For believing I could change when I didn’t believe it myself.”

“Always.” I kissed him gently. “I’ll always believe in you.”

He deepened the kiss, his hand sliding into my hair, pulling me closer as heat flooded through me instantly.

“Wait” I pulled back slightly, breathless. “You’re not that strong yet. You need to

recover.”

“Since we’re on the topic of recovery…” Damien’s voice dropped to that dangerous register. His large hand glided down the curve of my side, fingers splaying possessively over my hip as he pressed forward. I felt the thick, insistent length of him already straining against the fabric of his trousers, hot and heavy against my lower belly. His icy blue eyes darkened his pupils, blown wide with raw intent. “I’m more than fully recovered. And in case you forgot–you still owe you the ending that was denied in that damn hospital room.”

A breathy laugh slipped from me despite the sudden heat pooling low in my core, “Okay, but don’t overdo it, you are still recovering.”

He answered with a slow, predatory smile that made my thighs clench. “Watch me,”

I stepped back deliberately, holding his gaze, letting him feel every second of the tease. My fingers found the top button of my silk blouse. One by one I worked them free, the fabric parting to reveal the black lace bra beneath–simple, elegant, chosen. His breathing grew audibly rougher with each inch of exposed flesh. When the blouse slid off my shoulders and pooled at my feet, his jaw ticked,

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129 chapter 129: Relieved

Next came the skirt. I turned slightly, giving him the view of my ass as I eased the zipper down, inch by torturous inch. The material whispered over my hips and fell. I stepped out of it, then hooked my thumbs into the lace of my panties and drew them slowly down my legs, bending just enough to make him growl low in his throat.

I straightened, completely bare now except for the city lights painting golden streaks across my skin. No bra. No panties. Just me–taller, sharper, unafraid.

“Aria…” His voice cracked on my name.

I closed the distance again, sinking gracefully to my knees between his spread thighs. My hands went to his belt first–slow, deliberate, metal clinking softly. Then the button. The zipper. I tugged his trousers and briefs down just enough to free him.

His cock sprang up, thick and flushed dark, the head already glistening. I wrapped my fingers around the base–he was so hard the vein along the underside pulsed against my palm—and leaned in.The first swipe of my tongue over the slit drew a hissed curse from him.

I took my time, licking long, wet stripes from root to tip, savoring the salty taste of him, the way his thighs trembled under my forearms. When I finally wrapped my lips around the head and sucked, his head dropped back against the chair, a guttural “Fuck” tearing from his throat.

I took him deeper, hollowing my cheeks, tongue swirling around the sensitive ridge. His hands flew to my hair–not forcing, but gripping like he needed an anchor. I bobbed slowly at first, then faster, letting him hit the back of my throat on every downstroke until my eyes watered and saliva slicked my chin.

He was close–I could feel it in the way his abs clenched, the way his hips jerked involuntarily, Right as his breathing turned ragged and broken, he yanked me off with a desperate sound,

“Not yet.” His voice was wrecked. “Not like this.”

Before I could protest he scooped me up–effortless, possessive–and carried me toward the bedroom, my legs wrapping instinctively around his waist. I laughed against the hot skin of his neck. “So much for being weak”

“You’ve been a very bad girl, Aria.” He kicked the bedroom door shut with his heel. “Teasing me. Edging me. Thinking you’re in control.”

I nipped his earlobe hard enough to make him shudder. “Then punish me… Daddy.”

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129 chapter 129: Relieved

He froze mid–step as his grip on my ass tightened painfully. “Daddy?” The word came out hoarse, disbelieving, aroused.

“Yes, Daddy.” I dragged my teeth along his jaw. “Any Problem?”

A dark, feral sound rumbled in his chest. “None at all.”

He threw me onto the bed–not gently—and I bounced once before he was on me, shedding his shirt and kicking off the rest of his clothes in record time. Then he was above me, caging me with those powerful arms, cock brushing my inner thigh, leaving a wet streak.

I reached between us, guiding him to my entrance. I was soaked–had been since he first put that hand on my hip. He notched himself and pushed in one long, relentless

stroke.

We both groaned–loud, broken, simultaneous. He was so thick, stretching me perfectly, filling every inch until I felt him against my cervix. For a heartbeat we just stared at each other, breathing hard, foreheads pressed together.

Then I rolled my hips. “Move.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. He fucked me hard–deep, punishing strokes that made the headboard thud against the wall. My nails scored down his back; his teeth found my neck, my shoulder, marking me everywhere he could reach. I arched, meeting every thrust, taking him deeper.

“You feel that?” he growled in my ear. “That’s mine. This pussy–mine. This body-

mine. You are mine.”

“Yes–fuck–yours”

He hooked one of my legs over his elbow, changing the angle so he hit that spot inside me that made white sparks burst behind my eyelids. I cried out, clenching around him.

“That’s it. Come on my cock, let me feel you.”

I shattered–hard, sudden, screaming his name as my walls fluttered and pulsed, milking him. He fucked me through it, relentless, drawing the orgasm out until I was shaking, oversensitive, pleading.

Only then did he let himself go.

He slammed in one last time, burying himself to the hilt, and came with a guttural

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moan of my name. I felt every hot pulse deep inside me, felt him throb and fill me until it leaked out around where we were joined.

We collapsed together, sweaty, trembling, hearts hammering in tandem.

Long minutes later he rolled us so I was draped across his chest. His fingers traced

lazy patterns down my spine, over the curve of my ass, back up again.

Reality crept back in slowly. I lifted my head, suddenly aware of the warm mess between my thighs.

“We didn’t use a condom.”

His hand stilled on my back. “Are you worried?”

“I don’t know.” I bit my lip. “We’re engaged, about to get married again. It’s not like it would be the end of the world, but”

“Noah might need younger siblings anyway,” he said, his tone teasing but his eyes serious, watching my reaction carefully.

I smacked his chest. “No rush, Blackwood.”

“Hey.” He caught my hand, bringing it to his lips. “I’m joking. Mostly. But Aria” His voice went serious. “If you choose not to have more kids, that’s fine. It’s your body, your choice. I respect that. We have Noah, and he’s more than I ever thought I’d deserve. If it’s just the three of us forever, I’m happy.”

Something warm bloomed in my chest. “Really?”

“Really.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I want you to know that whatever you decide about your body, your future, our future–I support it. No pressure or expectations. Just us figuring it out together.”