Consequences

Chapter 48: The Gala

A FEW DAYS LATER....

After learning that Kylie was recovering well and scheduled for discharge in two days, Damien finally allowed himself to focus on something- or rather, someone else. His heart skipped a beat when he noticed the unread messages on his phone from Ariana, detailing that Aya had been shot in the leg and that she had something important to tell him upfront. Guilt gnawed at him for being so consumed by Kylie's condition that he hadn't checked sooner.

Without wasting another moment, he rushed to their apartment. His mind raced with thoughts of Aya, her sharp wit, her fearless demeanor, and the way she always managed to get under his skin with a single well-aimed jab. And so did he. But there was more than just banter between them. There was something unspoken, something electric that neither of them had fully acknowledged.

When he arrived, Ariana opened the door, her expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. Damien barely greeted her, his eyes already searching for Aya. He found her just stepping out of the shower, her hair damp, and a towel wrapped around her. Even in this vulnerable state, Aya radiated a kind of untouchable strength that Damien both admired and feared.

"Ari, I told you to call pest control! There's a massive roach in the middle of the living room!" Aya scoffed, her lips twisting into a smirk as her eyes narrowed on Damien.

"Aww, do I make you hop on the bed, blueberry?" Damien grinned, throwing her a playful wink, mischief dancing in his eyes.

Aya gave an exaggerated gag, rolling her eyes as if the thought of Damien alone was enough to make her nauseous. Sensing his chance, Damien leaned in. "Missed the cock, but still gagging? Damn, that's impressive!"

"Such a gentleman your mama raised, Damien," Aya shot back, voice dripping with sarcasm, though the glint in her eyes betrayed her amusement.

"My mom may have raised a gentleman, but you, baby, raise my cock," Damien quipped, giving her a shameless wink.

Aya's expression twisted into mock disgust, her glare sharp. "Looks like this cockroach is about to get his cock smashed," she retorted, her tone razor-sharp and full of biting humor.

She moved to strike him, but the sudden, searing pain from the wound on her leg betrayed her, sending her stumbling. In an instant, Damien was there, his arms wrapping around her with a protective urgency. The world seemed to freeze as their eyes locked. Time itself faltered, yielding to the electricity that crackled between them.

Damien's heart stuttered in his chest as he saw something unguarded in her gaze- a flicker of vulnerability hidden beneath her tough exterior. Aya's usual defiance wavered, her furrowed brows hinting at the pain she tried so hard to conceal. In that brief moment, both were laid bare, stripped of their banter and bravado, leaving only the unspoken connection that tethered them together.

Their banter was a dance of contradictions, an intricate game played with practice ease. Damien would toss a suggestive remark her way, laced with enough flirtation to turn the air between them electric. Aya, in response, would feign indignation, her sharp retorts carrying the bite of mock irritation. Yet beneath the surface of her disdain, a secret thrill would blossom, spreading warmth through her veins.

Their exchanges were a symphony of sharp wit and hidden longing, where teasing barbs masked unspoken affection. Each playful insult, each exaggerated eye roll, only served to deepen the connection they both pretended to ignore. It was in these moments, amidst the sarcastic jabs and the flirtatious innuendos, that they found themselves most alive. The butterflies that they refused to acknowledge stirred within, fluttering in sync with every smirk and every cleverly disguised compliment.