Our lips met.

The fire to the right of us was nothing compared to the one igniting in my body. He moved slowly, making the kiss deeper by pulling my face closer. Suddenly I was underneath him, and our lips started meeting in sync.

At first I didn't know was I was doing but I caught on quickly, meeting Damien's actions. His hands drifted down my body, grabbing my legs and pulling me closer, hooking them around his torso.

It was almost as if a switch flipped and we both picked up the pace, his hands exploring me and undoing my night robe to be able to feel even more. He placed hot kisses down my neck and suddenly started sucking on a small area, causing a moan to slip out my mouth.

I never knew I could do that. Or feel this.

I felt his smile against my neck as he continued his trail, sucking and licking and even biting my ear. He was driving me crazy. His long arms wrapped under my legs, being able to reach higher up. He was trailing his hands up and down the inner thighs of my legs while continuing his attack on my neck, causing multiple moans and sounds to fall out.

He placed kisses along my jaw, then met my lips again. This time it was much more passionate, me being more demanding then ever. His touch on my thighs kept getting higher and higher...

And our lips were both in sync, a passionate blur of emotions leaving no time to breathe. Almost as if we had opened Pandora's box, we had both been wanting this for a long time.

His hands kept reaching higher and higher... until he pulled away.

" Annalise, we have to stop." Damien sat up, his breath uneven.

"Why can't..." I was panting.

"Or else I'm going to loose control and do something you aren't ready for yet." He sighed, his eyes dilated as ever. He kissed my lips," Annalise Woods, you sure are something."

"Better then being nothing." I giggled, and a lopsided grin spread across his face.

"You are going to make me loose it." He propped himself up on the couch, legs spread out. He mentioned for me to come over with a flick of his hand.

"Why?"

"Just do it." I crawled over, and he put me in between his legs in front of him, my back against his torso and wrapped his arms around me. I leaned back, enjoying the feeling of the fire and his strong arms making me feel safe. The electric pull toward him was finally satisfied.

He laughed," I never knew you could make sounds like that, shortcake."

I smacked his arm,"Hush it Damien, or else you won't hear them again."

"Mhm, I don't know about that one." He smirked as he placed another kiss on my neck, grinning ear from ear," I don't think you know how long I've been wanting to do that." He pulled me closer to his chest.

I laughed,"Since the first day we met?"

"Yes, but back then I just wanted to have fun and play games with you."

"Well what do you want now?" I tilted my head up to him.

"I want you. All of you, just for myself." He answered in all seriousness,"No more games, Annalise Woods."

"No more games, Prince Darius of Deltora." We both laughed causing our bodies to shake being so close to each-other. He moved aside my hair and trailed his fingers over my neck. I shivered at the contact.

"I might've left a few marks, sweetheart." He was smirking in delight.

"Are you serious?" I asked up at him. He nodded with his usual devious smirk. "Damien, your going to make me look like a floosy."

"Well now Jack will know not to touch you." He winked at me. I wanted to rub my temples in frustration, thinking back to a few hours ago in the hall.

Damien's not going to like that.

"It doesn't have to be a competition, Damien. You've already won that battle."

"Yet, I haven't won the war. Did that book you obviously weren't reading teach you anything?"

I rolled my eyes,"You men treat girls like a prize."

"Or we both see the potential in a beautiful girl and want them all to ourselves." He placed a kiss on my head. It felt so comforting being in his arms, I could sit there forever.

I mean, he wasn't wrong.

"Sleep here tonight. Please, Annalise." I could tell by his voice his eyes were pleading.

"What about Henry and Hazalen? Henry was very intoxicated when I left him." I smiled, snuggling closer.

"I'm sure he's to bed by now. There's nothing else you can do at this point." Damien tried to reason.

"What if the maids start talking again?"

"Let them talk. We've already had this discussion."

"I know-I know, I would be giving-"

"Giving them the power that should be yours, exactly sweetheart." He pinched my side, elated I had taken his advice; encouraging me. I thought back to the ball and the incident had crossed my mind.

"But Damien, you don't think there's anybody out to get Deltora, do you?"

"Whatever do you mean?" His arms tightened his hold on me.

"I don't know, I just feel like there are eyes watching me... everywhere I go." My conclusion was that because of the rumors of Darius and I, I am known as valuable to the Prince. I could easily be used as leverage to capture Deltora.

"Annalise, our land is far too powerful to let spies or an army take over our kingdom. You're not thinking about the Descuvi again, are you?"

"No, of corse not."

"You have no reason to be afraid of them. I would never allow a Descuvi to slip past our defenses." He was trying to reassure me, acting like a alpha male.

I wanted to roll my eyes at him," I'm not afraid of the Descuvi!"

"Then what are you worried about?"

"I don't know, Damien. I honestly don't know." My mind whirled at the possible thoughts of who the 'watchers' could be. Where do they originate? What do they want?

And why do I come into play?

Damien picked me up and I squealed,"Where are you taking me!" I giggled in delight.

"To get all that makeup off your face. I don't want you breaking out and I like you without makeup better." He bluntly stated.

"Well you can't just make me take it off!"

"You were going to take it off anyway, weren't you?" He plopped me down on a seat in the corner of his grand bathroom. I could see him smirking through the mirror as he wet a cloth.

"That's besides the point, Damien." He walked over with the cloth and bent down to my level, moving my hair to my back. He gently started wiping away the makeup, his face as focused as ever.

"Your going to need makeup for your neck tomorrow though," he smirked a little. I stood up and examined myself in the mirror with a gasp. Multiple love bites were scattered up and down my neck, turning purple and shades of red.

"Damien!" I gasped,"When is this going to go away!" I took the cloth from him and started to press against it.

"That's not going to help at all, shortcake." He laughed from the side," It's already been done."

"This is not funny." I said in all seriousness," What if my mother sees this?"

He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my torso, staring into the mirror at me,"You will just need to keep your hair down and apply makeup." He took back the cloth and sat me down again, dismissing the topic so I would stop freaking out. He continued to wipe my face, holding my chin to steady it. My lips slowly started to lift and my smile becoming wide.

Who knew Damien had this gentle side?

"Whatever could be on your mind, Woods?" His eyes were so focused as he wiped off my mascara, careful not to hurt me.

"I've never seen you this sweet. I didn't know you could be like this," My voice was gentle.

"Only for you, Annalise Woods. Only for you," he stepped back, scanning every area of my face to make sure he got all the makeup off. I took the back of his calloused hand and kissed it as a gentle gesture for his kind one as well.

A billion Deltora coin smile crossed his features as he picked me up, my legs wrapping around his torso. He planted kisses all over my face,"Annalise, Woods, is, the, most, beautiful girl, alive." I was in a fit of giggles as he walked us to the bed and plopped me down.

"I say we go to sleep, don't you princess? It's been a long and exciting night,"He winked at me while putting out the fire by kicking the coals.

"I agree, my feet are killing me. At least this time I'll remember sleeping in your bed," I exclaimed with a smile, getting under the heavy duvet.

He joined me in bed,"Don't scream when you wake up this time, ok?"

"No promises." I smiled as he wrapped his arms around me, the faint glow of the fire dying out.