CHAPTER 4 - LITTLE FIRE

BIANCA'S POV

He laughed, causing a sudden reaction in my body that I couldn't understand.

"You see," he remarked, inhaling from his cigarette and watching the smoke rise into the air, "It appears that you are bearing a heavy burden on those lovely shoulders."

I was taken aback by his unexpected compliment, causing my breath to catch in my throat.

Attractive? No one had complimented my appearance for a long time, ever since Matteo started ignoring me, and his feelings for me slowly diminished with time.

"It's... complicated.'"

He brushed the ash off his cigarette while keeping his eyes locked on mine. "Life has a tendency," he mentioned as he moved closer, our bodies almost touching. "However, complexity can also be thrilling."

A sudden sensation of warmth spread through my chest, catching me off guard.

"This man, known for being a playboy who breaks hearts, was stirring up something inside me that had been locked away for a long time," I thought, staring at him with intense emotion in my eyes.

He leaned closer, his warm breath on my cheek. "Please, Bianca," he whispered softly, his voice husky, "what occurs when the past meets a strong current desire?"

A wild drumming pounded in my chest, signaling my sudden alertness.

His words lingered in the atmosphere, dripping with a menacing vow.

It had been years since I last experienced the unfamiliar sensation of desire, longing for more than the life I had meticulously created.

"I..." I started, my voice shaking a little, "I'm not sure."

As his lips touched mine, a spark ignited, sending electric energy through my body.

The kiss came out of nowhere, a mix of passion and desire.

He had a flavor of smoke and another unknown primal and intoxicating element.

My thoughts urged me to distance myself, to recall the man's character and the possibility of trouble he posed.

However, my treacherous body reacted by melting under his caress.

His hand glided along my back, causing shivers to ripple across my skin.

His kiss intensified, showing ownership and authority, but with a hint of unexpected gentleness.

We were a tumultuous mix of feelings, a collision of history and the present, of fury and longing.

The kiss was an urgent request for an unidentified desire, a feeling of closeness I longed for following many years of being alone.

His eyes shone with a deep intensity as he finally withdrew. "You're more complex than you appear, Bianca Rossi," He croaked "...more than a jilted former spouse and a prosperous entrepreneur." His eyes locked with mine, containing a brewing storm within.

The cool breeze was filled with silent opportunities, the distinction between curiosity and something more seductive becoming increasingly unclear.

I caught my breath when he moved a loose hair from my face, his touch causing tingles down my back. "You have a flame inside you, Bianca," he whispered, his voice gently husky. "A fire waiting to be set free."

Prior to my reply, a loud, high-pitched squeal filled the tense air.

With a flushed face from sleep, Luca stood at the villa entrance holding onto his adored T-Rex.

His innocent eyes blinked at us, completely unaware of the complex tangle of emotions surrounding him.

I was overwhelmed by shame and guilt, as if a tidal wave had hit me.

Matteo. Luca. Alessandro.

These three men are complications, mysteries in my meticulously organized life.

While I knelt to embrace Luca, a symbol of purity and warmth, one thought resounded in my head;

"What have I gotten myself involved in?"

Luca's tiny body pressed against mine briefly brought me back to the present. I felt shame engulf me, icy and wet. This was not meant to occur. Here is not the place, not in this manner. Alessandro remained motionless, a brief moment of inscrutable emotion passing over his face before a grin appeared.

"It appears that our small meeting has been disrupted," he remarked, his voice as smooth as silk.

Luca, unaware of the atmosphere, walked towards Alessandro, presenting his dinosaur to him. "Excuse me, sir? Do you want to play a T-Rex's roar?"

Alessandro laughed, bending down to match Luca's height. "Of course, my little friend. What is the maximum volume at which your T-Rex can roar?" Luca giggled.

Their playful exchange briefly alleviated the frantic pounding in my heart. However, despite the casual exterior, I couldn't shake the question from my thoughts.

Was it all just a rehearsed performance, with the charming billionaire pretending to be a hero for my son's sake?

While observing them, I felt a peculiar sense of ownership. I should not be feeling like this. I hardly knew this man, but I had heard about him before. Still, the way his eyes wrinkled at the edges while smiling at Luca, the way his voice became gentler, it was...disarming.

At that moment, Luca faced me with a furrowed brow. "Mom?" Why are you looking sad?" He asked.

"I'm not feeling sad, my dear," I managed to smile. Slightly taken aback.

Luca, content with my response, went back to playing his game with Alessandro. Taking advantage of the distraction, I moved away, creating the necessary space between me and the tempting allure of Alessandro Moretti.

His jaw muscle twinged, his amusement shifting to a deeper emotion. He moved closer with deliberate, unhurried steps, his strong presence noticeable in the air.

"There's no need to run, Bianca." His tone darkened into a quiet growl as he brushed his thumb against my lip. His intoxicating cologne wafted into my nostrils. "I'd like to see where this leads us.”

He gently held my face in his palm, his touch causing a chill to run down my back. His gaze trapped me, a tempest swirling in its depths.

"My little fire. The little amber in your eyes looks tempting." He murmured, his voice filled with unexpressed longings, as his eyes lingered on mine. "I can't wait to see when it finally ignites. Tempting..."

My mouth was slightly agape, as he made me yearn for him.

He leaned in and kissed me passionately again, his lips touching mine. It was a brief contact, a suggestion of a future, something that was not allowed. He moved back, leaving me breathless.

"See you later, Bianca," he said, a faint smile appearing on his face. He blinked at Luca before departing, leaving me feeling unsettled and unsure.

Luca pulled on my hand, his eyes full of innocence and curiosity. "Mommy, who is the gentleman?"

I gazed at Alessandro's departing figure, still savoring the taste of his kiss on my lips. At that instant, I was certain my meticulously crafted life had permanently changed.