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His body presses against mine, hard planes against soft curves, his hands moving from my hair to trace the outline of my body with possessive intensity. When he breaks the kiss, we’re both breathing hard, his forehead resting against mine.

“We shouldn’t,” he says, the rasp in his voice betraying his desire. “Your wedding—”

“Is a business arrangement I never wanted,” I finish, pulling him back to me. “This is my choice. My decision. For once in my life, something I’m taking instead of being given.”

Something fierce and protective flashes in his eyes. “Are you sure? There’s no going back from this, Isadora.”

In answer, I reach for him, pulling his mouth back to mine. The kiss deepens, his hands lifting me as my legs wrap around his waist. He carries me from the living room to the smaller bedroom—his childhood room, I realize through the haze of desire.

What follows is nothing like our frantic coupling in the club bathroom. This is slower, more deliberate—each touch imbued with newfound understanding, each kiss weighted with revelations shared. He undresses me with reverent hands, his eyes never leaving mine as if searching for hesitation that isn’t there.

When we’re skin to skin, the last barriers between us fall away—no longer enforcer and heiress, no longer Gravano and De Angelis, but simply Stefano and Isadora. Two people discovering each other anew in the growing light of morning.

His scars tell stories beneath my fingertips—the bullet wound near his collarbone that came from his first assignment with the Calviños, the knife slash along his ribs from a territory dispute, the oldest one on his shoulder from the night Maria fled with him.

As he hovers above me, his eyes locked on mine, I feel like he sees me—the real me.

“Are you sure?” he whispers, searching my eyes for any indication I might change my mind.

“Yes.” There’s no hesitation, no tremble in my voice. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.

Instead of answering, he bends his head to me and steals the breath from my lungs with a kiss that sets my blood on fire. I weave my fingers into his raven black hair and hold him to me, refusing to relinquish the contact. His lips trail along my jaw, setting fire to my nerves with each tantalizing caress.

“Alessio.” I breathe his name, unable to keep the tremble from my voice.

“Stefano.” His lips lock around my earlobe, tongue teasing the sensitive skin. “I’ve told you my name. Only fair for you to use it.”

He takes my earlobe between his teeth, biting down, not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to send pleasure thrumming down to the base of my spine.

“Stefano.” I whimper his name, wrapping a leg around his narrow hips, welcoming him with everything I have, everything I am.

11

Alessio

Isadora moans as I slip inside her, holding her close as she adjusts to the fit. She’s hot and tight and better than I could have imagined.

“How long have you wanted this?”

Her question breaks through the hunger thundering through my veins. “Since the club. That first night.”

“Me, too.”

I brush my lips against hers. “I’m sorry if I was rough that night.”

She kisses me back. “Don’t be.”

Our mouths fuse again, her fingers digging into the muscles of my shoulders as I begin to move. We find a rhythm that echoes the one we used in the club, but it’s slower and deeper. Instead of taking her, I’m showing her how much I want her, showing her what I’ve done without her, and what I could do if only I had a chance.

“You don’t know how many times I’ve thought of you,” I whisper against her throat, leaving small kisses along her pulse point. “Of seeing your eyes, touching you like this.”

She rakes her nails across my upper arms, her breasts pressing into my chest.

“Ever since that night, I haven’t been able to forget.” I grit my teeth, loving the feel of her muscles fluttering around my cock. “Every night, I’ve been coming to the thought of you. It isn’t fair.”

She nips at my bottom lip, her eyes full of mischief. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you, life isn’t fair?”

I thrust harder, burying my cock balls deep and drawing a soft cry from her. My hands gravitate to her ass, tilting her pelvis so I can get even deeper. “Tell me what you want. What do you need,principessa?”