Bound by fire, Claimed by love

Evelyn was drowning. Not in the icy grip of the duke's former indifference, but in the fire of his kiss. His lips were urgent, desperate, as if he had spent a lifetime holding himself back—only to finally lose all control.

But just as suddenly as it began, Damian pulled away, his breath ragged. His hands still cradled her face, his forehead resting against hers. "Evelyn…" he murmured, his voice thick with something that sounded dangerously close to devotion.

She could barely think. "What?"

His thumb brushed against her cheek. "Tell me to stop, and I swear I will."

It was an out. An escape. A chance to regain the distance between them.

And yet, the words refused to leave her lips.

Instead, she stared into his stormy gray eyes—eyes that had once looked at her with nothing but irritation but now held something far more dangerous.

Longing.

"Why are you doing this?" she whispered, her own voice betraying her resolve.

Damian exhaled slowly, as if the answer weighed heavily on him. "Because I can't lose you," he admitted. "Not to anyone. Not even to yourself."

Evelyn's heart stuttered. "You don't own me."

A shadow of a smirk ghosted his lips, but his eyes remained serious. "I know. But God help me, Evelyn, I wish you did."

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words, unspoken feelings. And then, as if suddenly realizing the weight of his own confession, Damian let go.

He stepped back, running a hand through his dark hair, as if struggling to catch his breath. "I should go," he said, more to himself than to her.

But before he could turn away completely, Evelyn reached out—this time, she was the one grabbing his wrist.

His eyes snapped to hers, surprise flickering across his face.

"You're an idiot," she muttered, glaring at him.

Damian arched an eyebrow. "I gathered as much."

She sucked in a breath, steadying herself. "If you leave now, don't come back."

It wasn't a threat. It was a challenge. A dare. A test to see if this feeling between them—this unbearable, all-consuming thing—was real.

Damian didn't hesitate.

He took a step forward, tilting her chin up with a single finger, his expression unreadable. And then, with a smirk that sent her heart tumbling, he whispered, "Then I guess I'm never leaving."