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Ten

L EON

Cali shone above the crowd like the brightest star, every other guest dimming in comparison as she moved from one conversation to the next with effortless grace and charm. I watched her in silent awe, her every courtesy perfect, her every smile disarming.

As one of the favored Vitalis sisters, she drew attention wherever she went, and rightly so.

The Vitalis family’s power surged through the syndicate ranks, their name once again commanding the respect of every other house. I took quiet satisfaction in how their security detail hovered, vigilant and unblinking.

Wherever Cali and her sisters ventured, their guards were never out of sight. They had slipped up earlier, allowing Dominic to get dangerously close, but I knew better than to chalk it up to oversight. I suspected Cali had deliberately shaken them off.

The moment we stepped into view in the Book Castle, Calista’s security detail converged on her, and she simply ignored their scolding stares and continued to the elevators and up to the Lighthouse.

I gazed upon my new fiancée with utter disbelief.

It had all happened so quickly.

Everything had moved so fast, and soon, after tonight, it would quicken even more.

The fact that she’d boldly asked me to take her back to my room was surprising. My first instinct had been to stop her, to urge her to take more time to think about it, and to slow down and get to know each other first.

But the gleam in her eyes warned me that such words would be disastrous.

It was clear to me that Cali was attempting to regain a sense of control in her life. She’d struggled with her actions in the incident with Dominic, as she’d explained. The fact that she wanted to claim her power wasn’t something I was ever going to get in the way of.

If she needed me to help with that, I would never refuse. Even if it meant doing something I wasn’t entirely convinced she was ready to do.

It wasn’t up to me to decide that.

It was her decision.

Of course, I wanted to protect her—I always would— but that didn’t mean stripping her of agency. To do so would smother her, the opposite of what she needed. The path ahead would be narrow and delicate, but I would navigate it as best I could.

Calista was worth every careful step.

She was worth the whole wide world.

I chuckled to myself, watching her glide gracefully around the grand ballroom.

Her smile was infectious, lighting up her face and those around her.

Despite being a grown man, something about her transported me back to my teenage years, a thrilling feeling of sneaking around to do something forbidden.

Every so often, she glanced in my direction, a knowing spark flaring between us. It was as if we shared a secret language, silently planning our night together.

The sensation was a delightful rush, and I found it amusing how deeply it affected me.

“That’s some smile on your face, brother,” Iason commented, appearing beside me.

He had accompanied me to the event and had been waiting for me at our table when I returned with Calista.

“I’m sure it is,” I replied, still grinning.

“Want to tell me what it’s all about?” he asked, nodding toward the elegant blonde who had captivated my attention all evening. “I’m assuming it has something to do with that lovely lady you can’t take your eyes off.”

“She’s my fiancée now,” I revealed, feeling a surge of pride.

Surprise flashed across his features. “Excuse me?”

“It happened while I was outside.” I explained the unexpected encounter in the park. “We’re not telling anyone yet.”

“That was fast.” He clapped me on the back. “Congratulations are in order!”

He reached for a glass of champagne from the table, raising it in a cheerful toast.

“Thanks.” I clinked glasses with him, the bubbly liquid fizzing.

“I gotta say, I’m surprised. And curious.” Iason’s brows furrowed.

“About what?” I asked, intrigued by his line of questioning.

“Is this just because you want a Vitalis princess included in your family line?”

I shrugged, a small smile playing on my lips. “That’s not the only reason, Iason. But it’s also not a hindrance, is it?”

“It could be,” he mused, tilting his head as if weighing the possibilities. “Just be careful. Because now, your enemies have leverage against you.”

“I’m well aware of that fact, and fully prepared to confront it as needed,” I assured him, my voice steady and confident.

“Fair enough,” Iason conceded, nodding. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you, brother,” I said, turning my focus back to Calista, who was socializing with friends. “I’m happy for myself, too. Calista Vitalis is an amazing woman, and I would be proud to stand by her side.”

“Does this mean you're thinking of selling your house in Central Athens? As a respectable man now, you could live on the estate full-time.”

“Not a chance. Don’t think I’m unaware of your plans. You can’t have it. Calista and I will need it when we’re in the city to avoid traffic.”

“It’s not like the estate is too far. It’s about an hour with traffic, maybe two at most.”

I shook my head. “That’s not going to happen.”

“It was worth asking.” He smirked, raising his champagne glass with a grin.

I spent the rest of the evening with Iason, but my attention drifted away from the entertainment and the busy auction.

Instead, my gaze was captivated by Calista, who sat across the room, bathed in the soft light of the room.

Our brief kiss earlier had left a tantalizing imprint on my mind. I kept imagining the intoxicating taste of her lips, wondering how it would feel when my tongue explored the warm, inviting depths of her mouth.

The thought of her bare skin, smooth and soft, sliding against mine sent shivers down my spine.

I imagined the symphony of her moans, the sound echoing in my ears, as I envisioned her thighs pressing against the sides of my head while I indulged in her sweetness.

The mere thought of sinking deep inside her made my heart race and my palms sweat.

By the time the evening was over, I was a mess and feeling even more like a clumsy teenager while I attempted to hide my uncontrollable erection .

Just the thought of being with Calista made me crazy.

How would I survive the actual encounter without combusting from sheer anticipation?

As the crowd began to lessen, I exchanged goodbyes with Iason, lingering in the expansive Book Castle of the opera house with the remaining guests. The grand space was adorned with books of all types and photographs of artists, aspiring and well-known.

I made a note to bring Calista back here someday to see an opera, attend a community event, or maybe just try out the various vendors in the food court. It would be a good date night. It was exciting to think about all the things we would do together.

Yet the singular, throbbing thought of our plans for tonight occupied my mind. Upon hearing Cali behind me, I turned with a smile, excited for the evening to unfold.

She approached with her sisters, the crowd parting like a river as they strolled together, arm in arm.

“Have you chosen, Cali?” I heard Avra ask with a teasing lilt.

“Now that this event is over, I can tell you,” Cali replied as she neared. “I have made a choice.”

Laya clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God! Tell us!”

Cali’s happiness was infectious as she reached me, her fingers intertwining with mine, her touch reassuring and exhilarating.

With a beaming smile, she turned to her sisters and declared, “I’ve chosen Leon Boscos. ”

The confidence and certainty in her statement wrapped around my heart like a comforting embrace.

My face broke into a broad smile, joy radiating through my chest, warming me from the inside out.

“Yes!” Avra and Laya shouted in perfect harmony.

I turned to them, my expression solemn as I regarded them with deep sincerity.

“I’m honored Calista has chosen me,” I declared, my voice steady. “I promise you both that I will treat her like the queen she is and protect her always.”

“Welcome to the family, Leon,” Avra said, her nod filled with approval. “Just make my little sister happy. That’s all we ask.”

“I will do my absolute best,” I assured them.

“Shall we head out?” Calista inquired, smiling at me.

I nodded, unable to refuse her, yet aware of the curious glances her sisters cast our way.

“Where are you going?” Avra inquired, her eyes narrowing.

A rush of heat flooded my veins.

How could I possibly explain?

Your sister wants me to take her back to my house for a very intimate encounter.

Absolutely not.

Thankfully, Calista seemed to anticipate the need for a tactful response.

“We’re going on a date. Unsupervised,” she announced, cutting off any words I might have stumbled over .

“I see.” Avra chuckled. “You’re a grown woman, Calista. Enjoy yourself.”

“I plan to,” Calista replied, winking at her sisters.

I suppressed a groan before they walked away, leaving the two of us alone.

“Where’s your car?” Calista’s gaze locked onto mine with a confidence that reflected our earlier conversation. A thrill of excitement coursed through me, making my cock twitch in my pants.

“This way.” I gestured, leading her outside.

Every step felt like a journey closer to a paradise I could only dream of. Inside, a storm of emotions raged as I grappled with my desires.

I longed to honor Calista with the utmost respect she deserved, but the way her thumb caressed the inside of my elbow was a whisper of intimacy that stole my breath away.

I yearned to strip away the barriers between us, to enjoy every moment of passion, but that desire conflicted with the gentlemanly restraint I wanted to maintain.

In the back of the car, she sat close to me, so close that her fire-like heat radiated against my side, and her thighs pressed against mine, a silent promise.

The air was thick with tension and by now my cock throbbed hot and hard with raw desire.

I breathed in her perfume, a sweet and musky scent that clung to the air, the same one she’d worn before. It was intoxicating, a fragrance that would forever be entwined with my memories of her and the desperate desire she stirred in me.

I reached for her hand, needing to be closer.

Her fingers were warm and soft, a stark contrast to the hard, calloused skin of my own. The hunger and lust for her gnawed at me, a blaze that threatened to consume us both.

Yet, beneath the inferno was a cold pit of fear. I saw the echoes of old ghosts in her emerald irises, and the last thing I wanted was to be another one of them.

“Cali, is this really what you want, darling?” I asked as I turned to face her. “Are you certain? You can always reconsider. We could pause and grab a drink. There’s a charming cocktail bar nearby. We could just enjoy a proper date. I promise I’m happy to wait.”

She lifted her chin like a queen surveying her court, her lips curving into that confident half-smile.

The streetlight gilded her cheekbones. Her eyes, dark as obsidian, losing the green hue, shone with intention.

“I don’t want a bar,” she said, voice steady as silk. “I want you, Leon.”

Her words stole the breath from my lungs.

She was so fucking beautiful. So stunning, I couldn’t think when I was around her. And still she drew me, like a beacon of light in the darkness. It held a sensual promise, and a direct and unwavering pulse of desire and need shot through me.

“Rest assured, Leon, this choice is entirely mine. Clearly, you’re not forcing me in any manner. Do you want me as much as I want you?”

The question hung between us, soft and impossible to deny.

I closed the space and brushed my lips lightly over hers, tasting the sweetness of her breath. I held back the flood of desire that threatened to pull me under.

“There is nothing in the world I’d rather do than make love to you, Calista.”

She kissed me in return, her urgency reflecting my own. When she released me, her dilated pupils betrayed her desire, glowing like embers poised to spark. The car glided to a stop in the driveway of my Athens house.

We rushed from the car and into the house without uttering a word.

The moment the lock clicked, shutting off the rest of the world, an untamed energy surrounded us.

It was a tense, living, breathing thing.

She positioned herself on the living room threshold and stared at me.

Her face was flushed, and her eyes full of undisguised desire that matched the storm thundering through my brain.

Her silk dress clung to curves I was aching to discover with slow precision.

“Undress me,” she commanded, and I stepped closer, the final step toward the precipice of our future together.