The light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows is warm and golden when I slowly open my eyes. I blink a few times, taking in the unfamiliar silk sheets and the sleek lines of Dante’s high-end penthouse.
We’ve been staying over and sneaking around for about a month now. Every day, I tell myself it’s getting too serious, that mixing my job with my feelings is risky. If anyone finds out, it’ll put a target on my back. But every night, morning, or stolen lunch hour, I end up with him, unable to resist.
I roll onto my side. Dante is already awake, leaning against the padded headboard, reading something on his tablet. He looks up the moment he senses me stir, a devilish grin forming on his lips.
“Morning,” he says, setting the tablet aside.
His voice is low, a beautiful baritone still husky from sleep. I stretch my arms overhead, arching my back with a soft sigh.
“Morning,” I reply.
He reaches out, brushing the back of his knuckles lightly along my cheek. “Sleep well?”
I hum, closing my eyes at the gentle touch. “Best sleep I’ve had in forever,” I admit. “Your bed is dangerous—it’s too comfortable.”
He chuckles, pushing aside the covers. “You’re the one who’s dangerous, gorgeous.”
He slides closer, causing heat to flare in me, my pussy clenching. It takes everything I have not to launch myself at him and risk being late to work—again. The passion between us is tempting enough that my thoughts linger on the possibility. My body aches for him, for pleasure only he can give me.
He must sense it, because he dips his head, pressing a lazy, lingering kiss to my mouth. My stomach does a slow flip. I melt into him for a few heady seconds before I manage to break away, laughing breathlessly.
“Stop distracting me. I have to get to the office. You have to get to the office.”
He arches a brow. “I believe I am the office.”
I roll my eyes, pulling the sheets around me as I slide off the bed. “I stand corrected, Mr. CEO.”
He laughs, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. I admire the sculpted planes of his chest, the faint silver at his temples contrasting with the dark hair slightly tousled from sleep.
My mind flashes back to images of him on top of me last night, my hands digging into his perfect ass, feeling it tense and flex as he drove deep into me over and over and over.
Focus, Eva.
I rifle through my clothes I keep in a neat little corner of his enormous closet. It’s weird how quickly we fell into this arrangement—how a spare set of clothes became several outfits next to his designer suits and polished Oxfords, and a toothbrush became an entire facial regimen and makeup bag.
After showering, we dress in companionable silence. Dante helps me with my zipper, pressing a warm kiss to the back of my neck that makes me shiver. Then we head to the modern, high-tech kitchen, where he pours both of us a steaming cup of coffee from the preset machine, a delicious pot waiting for us.
I lean against the marble island, sipping cautiously. He regards me for a few moments, a look that says he can see right through me.
“What’s on your mind?” he asks.
No sense denying it. “It’s kind of a dick move to think about.”
He laughs. “If that was supposed to calm my curiosity, you failed miserably. Tell me.”
I release a sharp exhale, blowing on my cup. “I still can’t wrap my head around how a man like you produced such a jerk like Luca.”
His lips twitch, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You’ve met Linda, haven’t you?”
I wrinkle my nose. “No. He never introduced me to her. Though it sounds like I should consider myself lucky for that.”
He sighs, looking away for a second. “When Luca was born, Linda and I were in different worlds. I tried to guide him, be a mentor, but she had her own ideas. She wanted him to have the right connections, attend the right parties, be in the right social circles. Frankly, she raised him to see people as accessories.”
I shake my head. “That sounds nothing like you.”
He shrugs. “I had other influences. My parents had a certain brand of discipline. I learned never to mistake kindness for weakness, to be respectful and curious, that all actions have consequences. Linda’s family never taught Luca anything about respect. She raised him to be entitled and spoiled, to believe he could get away with anything and Mommy would fix it.”
I sip my coffee, absorbing his words. Sometimes, when I see the softer side of him, I forget he’s more than just an intimidating mafia don or a powerhouse CEO.
He reaches out, tugging me gently to stand between his legs as he leans back on a stool. “I know you don’t think Luca and I share much in common,” he says, his voice quiet, “and you’re right. We’re both stubborn, I guess, but his arrogance is pure Patterson. I’m sorry he hurt you.”
Warmth spreads in my chest. “Don’t apologize for him. He’s ancient history. I’m not losing any sleep over it.”
“Good,” Dante murmurs, leaning in to brush his lips across mine. The kiss is brief but still sends little sparks zipping through my nerves.
I sigh. “I really do have to go.”
“Me too,” he says, finishing his coffee in one long gulp. “Shall I have my driver drop you off?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m trying not to broadcast that I’m involved with you. If I step out of your limo, that’s about as subtle as a neon sign. I’ll take an Uber.”
He nods, not pushing the point. “All right. I’ll see you at the office, Ms. Smith.” His tone is teasing when he says my name, a grin tugging at his lips.
A soft thrill skitters through me. “See you there, Mr. Bellacino.”
I call for an Uber, wincing at the morning surge pricing. Still, it’s worth it to keep a low profile. By the time I reach the BK&C building, I’m juggling a half-eaten bagel and a travel mug of coffee—one I hastily poured before the Uber showed up.
I notice my stomach feels off, a low-grade queasiness that started creeping in a few days ago. I chalk it up to stress—my job is pretty intense, my personal life is definitely intense, and I haven’t exactly been sleeping all that much.
I enter the staff kitchen for yet another caffeine fix, hoping to knock the lingering nausea on its head.
I fill my travel mug with fresh coffee, stifling a yawn. The day is already packed with tasks for the new cyber defense system I’ve been designing—an integrated threat intelligence platform designed to identify attacks before they can infiltrate our main systems.
No rest for the wicked.
Footsteps sound behind me and I glance over my shoulder. Luca strides in, smug as ever, a cocky ass grin plastered on his face.
Great.
“Eva.” He nods, going for the coffeepot. “Didn’t expect to see you here so early. Figured a big shot like yourself wouldn’t roll in until noon.”
“And I figured someone so used to skipping work might not show up at all.”
He chuckles, unfazed. “Ha, good one. I’m turning over a new leaf, you know. Gotta prove I’m worthy to be a part of my dad’s empire.”
I roll my eyes. We both know he doesn’t have the backbone.
He smirks, pouring himself a refill. “So, how’s the job treating you? Head of cybersecurity, that’s quite the promotion from your college hackathons.” His voice drips with condescension.
I force a polite smile, stepping aside to let him pass. “It’s fine, thanks. Busy.”
He snorts, coming a fraction too close. “You sure you’re not missing the days when we used to hang out?” He wiggles his eyebrows in a mock suggestive manner.
Every muscle in my body tenses. “That’s ancient history.”
“True.” He sets his mug down, leaning in like he’s about to share a secret. “But a guy wonders, you know? We had fun.” He reaches for my waist, making my skin crawl.
I step back before he can touch me. “Don’t do that, Luca.”
He’s about to retort when a low, dangerous voice cuts in. “Do what, exactly?”
Dante steps into the kitchen, the glare on his face making it evident he dislikes what he heard and what he sees—Luca standing too close to me, my obvious discomfort. In a split second, the tension in the room skyrockets.
Luca clears his throat, taking a step back, feigning nonchalance. “Dad. Didn’t realize you were in.”
Dante’s eyes are cold, fixed on his son. “Clearly.” His tone is curt, controlled fury simmering just beneath the surface. He turns to me, his gaze softening. “Everything all right, Ms. Smith?”
I can’t help the tiny rush of satisfaction that floods through me. “All good, sir.” I emphasize the last word, trying not to grin.
Luca looks between us, frowning. “Wait, what’s going on here? Why are you two acting so weird?” He glances at his father, his confusion mounting.
Dante pins his gaze on Luca again. “We’re not acting weird. Eva and I are an item.”
For a beat, the world stops spinning. My stomach flutters with a mix of triumph and terror. We’d agreed to keep it quiet, but Dante just declared it loud and clear, in front of his son.
Luca’s mouth drops open, and he stares at us like we’ve grown two heads. “You… what?”
Dante’s expression is deadly calm as he slides a hand around my waist. The contact is calming, and I press my lips together, suppressing a giddy laugh.
“She’s my girlfriend,” he repeats. “So I’d appreciate it if you kept your hands to yourself.”
Luca blinks multiple times as he looks back and forth between us. “That’s… you two are…” He trails off, scrambling for words.
Halsey would kill to see this.
I clear my throat. “Yes, we are.”
His confusion morphs into incredulity then anger, though he tries to mask it with a shaky laugh. “Wow. So you’re hooking up with my dad now?”
Dante’s arm tightens around me. “Watch your tone.” There’s a subtle warning underneath.
Luca’s eyes flick to me, then to Dante. He seems lost, like he can’t process it. I half expect him to start sputtering nonsense. Instead, he sets his coffee cup down hard on the counter and mutters, “Whatever. Good luck with that,” before storming out of the kitchen.
As soon as he’s gone, I release the breath I’d been holding. My heart hammers so hard I can barely hear my own thoughts.
I look at Dante. “I thought we were keeping it quiet.”
Dante sighs, running a hand through his hair. “He crossed a line. I wasn’t about to let him disrespect you in front of me. Or at all.”
My chest squeezes with emotion—gratitude, admiration, and a flicker of anxiety. “So now what?”
He gives me a thin smile. “Now, we handle the fallout.”
