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“What if you regret confessing to me after seeing Annie?” she asked, her voice playful yet soft. "She might be prettier, richer, and the perfect match for you."
Dante’s fingers slid from her forehead down to her ear, tucking a stray lock of hair behind it. He smiled, but it was a smile full of tenderness and something deeper. “Do you really think I haven’t seen all kinds of women?” he murmured, his lips just inches from hers. “I’ve seen a million women in my life, but the only one I’ve ever wanted more than my next damn breath… is you.”
Anya’s breath caught in her throat, and she felt her entire body flush with warmth. Her grip on his shirt tightened, her body pressed against his, unable to move, unable to breathe properly under the intensity of his gaze and touch. His fingers moved from her face to the back of her neck, pulling her even closer.
“When did you first feel attracted to me?” she asked, her eyes glinting softly with curiosity.
Dante’s face tightened as if the question caught him off guard. He shook his head, his voice soft but filled with truth. “I don’t exactly remember,” he murmured, the memory clouded in time. “But I think it was the very first day I saw you. You had tears in your eyes. I wanted to pull you to myself and stop you from hurting, no matter what it took.”
Anya’s heart fluttered at his words. “Alright then,” she said with a teasing grin. “I’ll also tell you when I started liking you... Ever since I saw you, I started feeling attracted to you.”
A small laugh escaped Dante’s lips. “Is that before you saw me naked, or after I was clothed?”
She laughed lightly, her fingers tightening around his waist. “Definitely because of your naked body.”
Dante’s smile faded slowly, and his expression darkened.
He grabbed her tighter, his fingers digging into her waist as his lips crashed onto hers with a fierce urgency that stole her breath away. Licking, sucking, biting in heated strokes that left her trembling.
His tongue flicked against her lower lip, coaxing a soft, needy moan from deep inside her. “Ahh...” she gasped, her body pressing closer, desperate for more.
Without breaking the kiss, his mouth trailed down her jawline, leaving a scorching path of wet kisses and teasing flicks of his tongue along her neck.
“Hahhh...” she whimpered, her head falling back as his warm breath mingled with the slick trail his tongue left behind. Each lick sent jolts of heat through her veins, making her skin tingle and her heart pound like a wild drum.
He bit gently at the sensitive skin just below her ear, his teeth grazing and nibbling in a deliciously cruel way, and she shivered, caught between pleasure and need.
Her breaths came fast, shallow, unable to catch up as he claimed every inch of her neck with ravenous hunger, leaving her gasping.
Just then, Luca stepped out of the auction room, the ruby ring still in his hand. His eyes scanned the scene, stopping when he saw Dante and Anya.
Dante had his arms wrapped tightly around Anya, and they were kissing, completely absorbed in each other. Luca’s grip on the ring tightened, his face darkening with jealousy.
He had bought the ring for her birthday, for her. But now, seeing this, his chest burned with a fierce, unrelenting anger. He wanted to look away, but his gaze remained fixed on Anya.
‘Why can’t you just be mine?’ His heart ached as the pain surged through him. ‘I would give you anything, everything. Just come to me and be mine.’
But those words were never spoken, lost in the silent air of the night.
Eventually, Luca turned and walked away, unable to bear the sight.
***
“Here.” Luca offered a small box to Anya, his smile warm and affectionate as they sat in a lavish restaurant. They were seated on opposite sides of the table, but his eyes never left her face.
“Happy birthday, Annie,” Luca said, his voice soft.
The restaurant was on the top floor of Max Mall, for the richest guests only. Big windows showed the bright city lights. Soft, warm lights hung from the ceiling, shining on the shiny marble floor.
Tables were covered with clean white cloths, set with crystal glasses and fine plates. Soft velvet chairs made sitting comfortable and private. Quiet classical music played softly.
Anya’s eyes lit up as she smiled, accepting the box. She opened it, and her gasp echoed in the quiet of the room. Inside the box was the ring from the auction the day before.
"This... this is the ring from yesterday?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise.
Luca’s smile grew wider as he watched her reaction. "Yes. Do you like it?"
Anya hesitated, her fingers brushing the velvet box before she slid it back across the table. “I can’t take this,” she said quietly. “It’s way too precious.”