I sat stiffly on the velvet chair in my father’s study, feeling the weight of a hundred stares pressing down on me.
My father paced the floor, his jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth might crack. My mother sobbed into a handkerchief, her whole body trembling. As for Elio… Elio glared at me with burning rage, arms folded across his chest like he owned me. I glared at him, hard and not moving.
They’re waiting for me to explain, but I didn’t bother to say a word.
“Where did you go?” my father finally barked. I shrugged, cool and detached. “Out.” He looked at me in disbelief, I never talked to him in that tone.
“Don’t play games, Isabella!” Elio snapped, stepping closer. I rolled my eyes and barely spared him a glance. My heart was pounding, but I refused to let it show.
“We tried tracing your phone,” my father said. “You disappeared. Vanished.” Good. I thought. That was the point. I need some space to think.
“I hid somewhere,” I lied smoothly. “No big deal.” They didn’t believe me. I could see it in their narrowed eyes, the suspicion curling in the air. Their gazes dropped to the oversized hoodie I still wore — Leandro’s hoodie — hanging loosely off my frame.
My mother’s face went ghostly white. “Isabella…” she whispered. “You… You didn’t…”
I tilted my chin up. “I did.”
Her hand flew to her chest. She swayed, then crumpled to the floor. My father caught her, cursing under his breath. He turned to Elio and me.
“Elio,” my father growled, “the wedding is still happening. This time no more delays.” Elio nodded and turned to me, wanting me to answer my mother’s question.
Elio's nostrils flared. “Who?” he demanded, stepping closer. “Who touched you?”
I didn’t even blink. I turned my back on him, walking upstairs without a word.
I slammed my bedroom door shut and locked it behind me. My body shook—not from fear, but from the adrenaline crashing through my system. I flopped onto the bed, pulling out my phone.
Twelve new messages.
All from an unknown number.
I didn’t need to open them to know who it was.
Leandro.
I stared at the screen for a long moment. Temptation gnawed at me. What would he say? Was he checking if I was safe? Teasing me again? Demanding a second round?
I swallowed hard, then did the only thing I could think of.
Blocking his number.
I tossed the phone onto the nightstand and buried my face in the pillow. Sleep came hard and heavy.
The dream hit me like a freight train.
Leandro’s hands on my skin, his mouth rough and hot against mine. My back arching, my breathless moans filling the air. Fingers tangling in messy sheets. Whispers of my name against my throat. Heat pooling between my thighs, aching and desperate—
I woke up gasping, my body tight and trembling on the edge of something unbearable.
Oh my gosh, did I…
And a sharp crack against the window jerked me fully awake. My heart slammed into my ribs. I scrambled out of bed, yanking the curtain aside. Outside, standing on the lawn like some cocky outlaw, was Leandro.
He grinned up at me, tossing another tiny rock against the glass.
No. No. No.
I flung the window open and hissed, “What are you doing?! Are you fucking insane?”
“Maybe,” he said, flashing a wicked smile. “Missed you, princess.” I glanced around wildly. Guards patrolled the edges of the property, but they hadn't seen him. Not yet.
"Go away!" I whispered harshly. Instead of answering, he crouched—and climbed the goddamn tree growing next to the house.
In two seconds flat, he was at my window, one leg swinging over the sill.
"You're crazy," I whispered, backing up.
"And you're blushing," he teased, slipping inside, boots hitting the floor silently. I pressed my back to the wall. "You need to leave."
He prowled closer, eyes glinting in the moonlight. "You're looking at me like you want to jump me." I shoved at his chest, trying to push him back toward the window. He caught my wrists in one hand and smirked.
"You had no problem jumping me last night." Heat flushed through my entire body.
“Leandro, I’m serious—” He cut me off with a brutal, desperate kiss, crushing his mouth against mine before I could even finish. I melted into him before I could think, my traitorous body reacting to the way he kissed — like he was claiming something he already owned.
I kissed him back, angry at him, angry at myself, angry at everything. My hands tangled in his hair. His hands roamed down my sides, gripping my hips.
A knock sounded sharply at the door.
"Isabella, open the door! We need to talk!" My father's voice and Elio's, growling behind him.
Panic jolted through me. I shoved at Leandro's chest and turned to the door in horror, but Leandro pulled my body facing him again. He leaned his face to me and laughed against my mouth — low, dangerous.
And then — just to be an asshole — he pinned me against the door. Right there. Right where my parents and Elio waited.
Jesus, this man is crazy.
He kissed me harder, grinding his hips into mine, muffling my gasp. On the other side of the wood, my father's voice grew louder.
"Isabella, answer me!" Leandro pulled back an inch, breathing hard, his forehead resting against mine.
"You’re playing a dangerous game, princess," he murmured.
"So are you," I whispered back, looking straight into his eyes.
Outside the door, the knocking grew louder. Inside the room, the air sizzled, heavy with danger, lust, and reckless need.
And God help me…
I wasn’t ready to stop.