ARIA'S POV - The Next Morning
Aria woke in Damien's bed with her body aching in new ways and her neck throbbing with each heartbeat.
She touched the marks gingerly...they were tender, raised, unmistakably visible. Hickeys that would be impossible to hide without a high-necked shirt or scarf.
Damien was already awake, propped up on one elbow, watching her with possessive satisfaction.
"Good morning," he said, his hand tracing one of the marks on her shoulder. "How do you feel?"
"Sore. Claimed. Thoroughly yours." She turned to face him. "Did you really have to mark me quite so....visibly?"
"Yes." His smile was unapologetic. "I told you. I want everyone to know. Especially Julian."
"He's going to see these and know exactly what happened."
"Good. That's the point." He pressed a kiss to one of the marks. "Now get up. You need to get ready for work. And I...." He paused, his expression shifting to something more serious. "I have something I need to tell you."
