A/N: Happy Belated Halloween Everyone!!👻

Ive seriously been in such a writing mode and Im keeping my fingers crossed that it continues this way😂!! Im trying to get in as much writing time as I can which is why I got chapter 42 written in such a timely fashion. The only thing is the chapters are a bit shorter than my normal (I usually writer chapters on the much longer side, LOL) but because its coming to an end, chapters are a little shorter.🤷‍♀️ 

Anyways, I hope you guys love it! Enjoy!😘

| Damon | 

After Ariel and I had our moment in the ambulance, the medics were quick to interrupt; telling us she was all set to go and she just needed to replace the bandage every night and put the antibiotic cream on it. The moment was ruined after that, nothing was pretty much said between us as we waited for all the cops and medics to leave the scene in front of her house.

It was a couple hours before we made it inside the house. My family finally decided it was time to leave when Ariel was snuggled up against my side, her eyes falling open and closed; she was more than exhausted and I wanted nothing more than to take her up to bed and let her sleep it all off.

Ariel was half asleep on the couch when she mumbled. "I have to call my dad. Can you give me my purse Dae?"

Her dad was working late at a job for a close friend of his and he hadn't gotten home just yet but I would speak to him in the morning about everything. I didn't want her to worry about any of that, I just wanted to be there for her, anything she needed.

"I'll take care of it." I made my way over to her and tucked my arms under her knees, lifting her off the couch. "Right now, you need a hot bath then sleep."

She didn't resist at all and just settled in my arms, wrapped her own around my neck and mumbled sleepily. "You don't have to stay. I can manage on my own."

Now, I get Ariel's new found strength to try and be her own woman and do things on her own but she must have hit her head or something if she thinks I want to be anywhere other than here right now.

"I want to. I'm right where I want to be baby."

I carried her up the stairs and bumped her bathroom door open lightly with my leg. Setting her down on the toilet, I turned on the bath to more than a warm temperature; I knew she liked the water to be on the hot side. As the tub filled up, I rummaged through her cabinet and found the lavender mint scented bath salts, lavender bubble bath soap, and the rose scented candle I got her. I smiled at the fact she already found a home for the gifts I gave her.

Lifting on to my feet, I set everything up in the bathroom. Poured the bath salts and soap in the hot water and set the candle on the side of the tub. I would get something to light it with as soon as she was relaxed in the water.

No words were said, it was a comfortable silence as I kneeled down to remove her boots that were well above her knee. Removing each one slowly, I rubbed the soles of her feet a minute. Her hand softly reached out to stop my movements. My gaze moved to hers and she shook her head. "Damon you really don't have to do all of this. I'm ok – "

I sit up on my knees, press my hands into her thighs and nudge her legs open, allowing me to sit in the middle of them. My eyes lock with hers and the burning sensation of tear form behind my eyes, I hope she sees the fear and worry in them because I'm going to pour it all out to her right now.

My lips part to speak but I choke on my own words as my emotions get the best of me. This is the first time I have opened up this way to her and I've never felt more comfortable about it.

"Ariel." I rasp out, my hand gripping her thighs, afraid she will vanish. "I'm fucking scared to leave you alone right now. They let him out of jail once and who knows if they ever will again. I need to be with you, to know you're safe with my own eyes."

Her eyes became a soft brown and it was as if she melted right before my eyes. She reached out for my cheek, cupping it in her soft hands.

"Damon. I'm here. I'm fine."

I reach up and hold her palm against my cheek, turning my head slightly to kiss the inside of it. My other hand still resting on her thigh, rubbing gentle circles.

I grit my teeth to control the anger of almost losing her, imagining I was too late. "I almost lost you, twice! Once because I pushed you away and again to a fucking psycho, there will not be a third time, not if I can help it."

The tears are blinding me and so close to falling. I pray that she sees how real I am being with her in this moment. I could care less that it's in the bathroom surrounded by lavender and roses.

"I love you so fucking much Ariel. You have such a good heart baby, please find it in there somewhere to give me one last chance. I'm sorry I hurt you, I'm sorry I made you cry, I'm sorry I denied you and didn't give you all of me. But I am now; please fucking see that. This is all of me and I swear I will be the man you need. You're my blessing baby, you showed me how to love again. Please don't stop, don't stop loving me Ariel."

| Ariel |

By the end of his beautiful speech, I sit there a blubbering mess. On the toilet, tears cascading down my cheeks and my makeup streaking, I'm sure of it. My heart raced in my chest and warmth zinged throughout my body making me feel loved more than I ever have in my life. In that moment I felt the happiest, I felt complete.

I was never going to let him go or give up on him without giving him a chance. Everyone deserves a second chance and Damon isn't a bad person, he was just in a bad place and I understood that. It hurt but his pain and fear were understandable to me. He poured his heart out to me and showed me just how vulnerable he can be and he might think this is a first but it's not, he's done it before, he just didn't know it.

The fact that he feared so strongly that I wouldn't give him a chance, that I wouldn't believe his love, breaks my heart and I don't care anymore – I'm putting us out of our misery, not just him. Like I've said before, life is too short to be playing games. I just want to be happy.

I sniffled and leaned forward pressing my forehead against his. "I could never stop loving you Damon. Tell me again."

"Tell you what baby?" His voice still thick with emotion.

I bit my lower lip and smiled "Say it again."

His smile now matched mine as his thumb stroked my inner thigh. "I love you." He kissed my nose. "I love you." He kissed my forehead. "I love you; I love you." He kissed my eyes and cheeks.

I laughed and warmth spread through me at his tender kisses and words. His smile widened so that it reached his eyes. "Thank you for being you baby. Amazing and understanding."

I nodded my head against his before licking my lips and biting down on my bottom one. "Damon?"

"Hmm?" he hummed in response.

"Please kiss me."

A slow grin appeared on his face "That depends, can I call you my girlfriend now? Are you all mine?"

With another bright smile, I laughed. "Yes, I'm yours."

His mouth crashed against mine and I couldn't think of anything else but his soft lips. He licked the seam of my lips and I eagerly opened for him. His tongue slipped into my mouth, devouring me in slow, demanding strokes. Each swipe of his tongue against mine wiped away any last bit of doubt, any remaining hurt, and left behind a need for him I have never known.

His hand tangled in my hair at the back of my neck, angling my head to deepen our passionate kiss. His other hand still continued to massage the inside of my bare thigh, gripping it in his hand ever so often causing butterflies to explode in my tummy as if it was our very first kiss. When this man kisses like this, he doesn't just kiss me, he owns me.

It's as if were we never apart, this one kiss made me forget our time separate and immediately brought back the rush of memories; memories of home.

I moan softly, leaning forward and pressing my hands against his chest, wanting and needing to get as close to him as possible. My hands fisted in his shirt as I slid off the toilet seat and got on my knees in front of him. I pulled his body against mine, pressing my breasts against his chest. Feeling his warmth surround me and his scent invade my senses, my kisses became hastier against his lips, my want for him rising. My hands slid down his chest, swiftly slipping under his shirt and stroking his taut stomach with my nails.

His soft moan into my mouth was my undoing. I missed him so much and all I wanted at the moment was to be naked and crying out his name as he filled and fucked me. My hands fell to his belt and began tugging, I couldn't help the haste in which I wanted to get his pants off.

His lips curled into a smirk against mine, his hand quickly shooting out the wrap around my wrist and pause my ministrations. He gently tugged my wrist; softly pulling away from the kiss as well and mumbled "Woo, hey. hey. Baby..." he chuckled, his fingers lacing through mine that were just previous on his belt.

"Listen, I missed you just as much and you have no fucking idea how much I want to be buried deep inside you and fuck you till you're dazed and spent but for tonight, I just want to take care of you – "

I bit my lower lip and wasn't ashamed to say I was acting like a hussy for my man at the moment. "That is taking care of me."

He tugged my bottom lip from between my teeth and sucked it into his mouth softly. "Mmm, stop testing me baby, I'm trying to be a gentleman here. You had a really difficult night and I want you to take a long bath while I get some hot chocolate on the stove for us, then you can throw on some leggings and your favorite shirt of mine, and we will watch any Harry Potter movie you want."

My heart melted and all of a sudden, a felt an arousal of a different kind, one that was binding of my soul with his. Intimacy.

"Really?"

He smiled that rare and genuine boyish smile and shrugged, getting up from the floor, bringing me with him. "As long as you fall asleep in my arms baby."

My body went limp in defeat and a huge smile spread over my lips. I held a hand to my chest in awe. Such a sweet and simple gesture had me realizing why exactly, as a woman, I fell in love with Damon Hendrix in the first place. It was mind altering that fact that he chose spending time together and intimacy over sex. He truly had grown.

"Who are you and what have you done with Damon?"

He laughed and kissed my forehead "Oh Its me, it's always been me, you just showed me who I always was and had hidden."

Standing on my tipie toes, I kissed his lips sweetly, softly and smiled. "You really know what to say to make a girls panties drop."

"Just you princess." He winked before leaning down and kissing my neck behind my ear.

"Not helping..." I mumbled as he pulled away with a smirk.

He nudged his head towards the bath. "Get in that bath and take all the time you need. There will be hot chocolate waiting for you when you're ready."

"With mini marshmallows?"

"Of course. Only way it tastes good right baby?" He rose a brow, jutting his chin at the tub once more "Now get in."

"Yes sir..." I bit my lower lip and I began to unbutton my skirt pushing it down my hips, tauntingly slow, his eyes following my every movement.

He bit his lip, his hand coming down to slap my ass – not so gently may I add, and grip it roughly. "Good girl." He whispered in my ear and lingered a few seconds before pushing away and walking towards the door.

I bit my lower lip and shivers rolled through my body; the after effect of the spank consuming me. Just as he was about to walk out, I called out to him once more.

There was one more thing I wanted in order to drink my hot chocolate but I knew he had it taken hostage in his apartment.

"Yeah?" he turned slightly to meet my gaze.

"I want my favorite mug back."

His response to that made me fall a little more in love...

"It's where it belongs. Home, and you will be soon too." 

Two more Chapters left!!😭

So, tell me, what did you guys think? Good, Great, eh? 🤷‍♀️ Your advice is always welcome, I just hope you guys enjoy it like always!🤞 

Now we know that Ariel and Damon are official and taking a chance on something serious, what do we think the last chapter and the epilogue will be? I might be posting something on the next story to come here soon -- Im debating on posting it tonight or after I post chapter 43 but you guys will know regardless. 😊

I will also most likely be posting a potential up coming story on my book labeled The Mind of a Writer. So keep that in mind. ✔

One last thing, I also will be posting for The Fight for Forever, for all those who read both of my book series'. ✔

So keep an eye out and I hope to get chapter 43 to you guys soon!😁

Stay Happy & Stay Safe!🙏❤

Xoxo
L

isamariee 💋