Caterina.
Something sharp was poking my stomach. Well, it wasn't sharp, but it was firm. Heavy. Unmoving and warm. What was that? I stirred slightly, still half-asleep with a very sluggish mind. It felt like everything was moving in some sort of slow motion. This was so strange. And it was strange enough to pull her from the comfortable darkness of sleep, dragging me toward some sort of groggy awareness. The first thing I noticed was the warmth. A strong, steady warmth that surrounded me like a cocoon. There was a steady rise and fall of breathing against the back of my neck, the slow exhale tickling my skin. It took me a moment to realize that I wasn't alone. The second realization hit me like a freight train. I was wrapped in someone's arms. My eyes snapped open, the unfamiliarity of the room striking me all at once. Where...? When...? Then, I felt it again. The thing pressing into my stomach. What was that? Slowly, cautiously, I wriggled just a little, experimentally shifting against it until there was a low, deep rumble from the chest behind me. "Amorino," Luca's voice was thick with sleep, gravelly, and far too close to my ear. "If you do that again, I can't promise I'll have any control over myself." Oh, shit! Heat flooded my face as the realization crashed over me like a tidal wave. Oh. I froze for a split second thinking of what to do before shoving against his chest, practically leaping out of the bed as though I'd been burned. My pulse hammered as I put as much distance between myself and the bed as possible. Luca groaned, rolling onto his back, one arm draping over his face. He looked far too relaxed while I was standing there, wide-eyed and mortified. “You... ” she sputtered. “You... ” “Me?” He peeked at me from under his arm, a lazy smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “You... ” my words cut off as I threw my hands up in frustration. “I can’t believe I fell asleep with you!” Luca sighed, stretching like a satisfied cat. “You were exhausted.” “That’s not the point!” I turned toward the door, reaching for the handle only to find it unmoving. My stomach dropped. Slowly, I turned her head to look at him, suspicion narrowing my gaze. “You locked the door.” Luca simply watched me, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. He shrugged. “Didn’t want you running off while I was asleep.” My nostrils flared. “Open it.” He didn’t move. My jaw clenched. “Luca.” He stretched his arms behind his head. “Say please.” I grabbed a pillow off the bed and slammed it against his chest hard. Luca laughed, the deep sound vibrating through the room. “Is this how you show gratitude for a good night’s sleep?” Another pillow smacked against his shoulder. “I’ll show you gratitude when you unlock that door, you bastard.” He grabbed another pillow, deflecting my next hit with ease. “Bastard? How cruel. You wound me.” “Good.” I swung again. And suddenly, it wasn't just me attacking him with the pillows anymore. One moment, I was trying to smack the smirk off his face, and the next, he was retaliating, dodging and blocking, before launching his own playful attack. Pillow feathers flew as we swung at each other, laughter filling the air. It was ridiculous. It was childish. And yet, somehow, it was exactly what I needed. The tension from the night before, the weight of everything, all of it melted away for just a moment. Until the shrill sound of my ringtone sliced through the air. I paused, chest heaving, and fumbled for my phone. Alicia’s name flashed across the screen. I didn't hesitate for a second before answering. "Hey." “Hey?” Alicia’s voice was laced with amusement. “You sound breathless. Did I interrupt something?” My face burned. “What? No! I...” Alicia laughed. “Oh, please. I know that tone. You’re all flustered, and your voice is just a little too high.” “I hate you.” Alicia’s chuckle was wicked. “So… was it good?” I nearly choked, scrambling to end the call. “Goodbye, Alicia.” As I hit the button, I realized too late that Luca had been listening the entire time. He grinned. “We could act it out if you wanted.” My head snapped toward him. “Excuse me?” He leaned back, arms resting lazily behind his head, eyes glinting with amusement. “Just saying. If you’re so interested in how it would have gone.” I couldn't help but gawk at him. “You’re unbelievable.” His eyes flicked between mine and my lips, something unreadable passing through his expression. The air between us had shifted. Grew heavier. We were staring at each other now, eyes to lips, caught in that dangerous space between decision and hesitation. A sharp knock at the door shattered the moment. Luca exhaled sharply before moving to answer it while I remained seated, trying my best to collect myself when I heard the voice on the other side. “Maria?” Luca’s surprise was evident. “You weren’t supposed to be here until next week.” A woman stood in the doorway, her striking resemblance to Luca unmistakable. She was beautiful in a way that was both effortless and confident. She shrugged. “Wanted to surprise you.” Then, her gaze flickered past him... to me. A slow smile spread across Maria’s lips. “Well, well.” She stepped inside, her sharp eyes assessing me in a way that made her feel exposed. “I never thought I’d see the day. My dear brother, finally settled down.” “Excuse me?” Maria grinned. “And with a girl he practically kidnapped, no less.” I practically choked on air. Luca rolled his eyes. “Don’t be dramatic.” Maria ignored him. “How did he manage to charm you, hm?” “I wouldn’t say charm.” “No?” Maria arched a brow. “Then what would you call it?” “An unfortunate series of events.” Maria threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, I like you.” I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Maria linked her arm through mine before I could react. “Come. Let’s leave my brother to sulk. You and I are going to be the best of friends.” As Maria led me away, I couldn't help but wonder... how the hell had I gotten to this point?Caterina.Never considered myself as someone who could make friends easily.Growing up as an only child turned me into someone who was always guarded, with walls built so high fast even I sometimes forgot what it was like to let someone in.Maria... Maria was different.In certain ways, she was even like Alicia.There was an ease to her presence, something so unapologetically warm that it chipped away at the carefully placed barriers around my heart.She was funny, sharp, and had this undeniable charm that her brother certainly lacked.It made it difficult not to like her. So, against all odds, I found myself enjoying her company.Even if that company came with a surly faced Raphael who didn't act as a shadow.We sat on the plush couch in Luca’s expansive living room, the air thick with the scent of expensive cologne and faint traces of Maria's floral perfume. It had been a strange morning if I was being honest with myself... waking up in Luca's arms, nearly losing myself to whatev
Luca.Women were one of the most wonderful gifts on earth. Not my sister, though. She wasn't among them.I had barely stepped out of the shower, and the towel still slung low around my hips when my bedroom door swung open.Had Caterina come for a second round of our little pillow fight? Or was it my...Nope. It was Clarissa.She stood in the doorway at first, those sharp eyes raking over me like she owned me, like she still had some chaim over my body.Something close to disappointment coiled in my stomach.Had the girls seen her?"Luca," She practically purred, stepping forward before I could say a word, her heels clicking against the polished hardwood. "You just ran off before we could get into the fun stuff last night. That's not like you."I didn't bother to respond. Just grabbed a shirt from the back of a chair and tugged it over my damp skin.She wasn't worth it.It was my fault Clarissa always acted like she had me wrapped around her finger, but it was honestly time I stopped
Caterina.I stared at the message for a few minutes longer, really unsure how I was going to pull this off.Luca: I have a little deal for you, amorino.I snorted. Of course, he did. Just after the blonde... no, Rissa had stormed out of here without sparing a glance in our direction.Luca had sent it with no context, no follow-up. But the moment I responded, his next message came though, spelling out exactly what he wanted.Luca: If I can get you to kiss me again tonight at the ball, then you'll spend a night with me in my room.A ball.A formal event where he expected me to be his date for the night. He even attached a number to it... a sum so high that it could put a serious dent in the sixty million debt my father owed him.Should I do it?Would I even be able to resist the man for that long when he was impossible to resist?But a way out, even if just a little closer, was really tempting."But the last party..." My mind whispered to me. I remembered the way the whole thing just
Caterina.“What the fuck did you think you were trying to do?”Someone’s blood had splattered across the concrete, a stark contrast against the pale moonlight. Then there was the sickening crack of knuckles meeting flesh that echoed in the empty garden, drowning out the distant sound of the music from inside.I felt like I was about to lose my dinner.When it came to fighting, I stayed away. Even on the days Alessandro tried to make me go to his boxing house so I could meet some of his friends, I always found a way to make sure I did not go. It was way better to lie than tell him the truth.This was the third real fight I had witnessed.Luca was a storm, his fists relentless as they pounded into Ethan’s face. His blonde hair was matted with blood, yet that annoying smirk of his refused to fade, even as his body went limp beneath the assault.All I could do was watch.I should stop him. I knew it. But something coiled within me refused to move, as if it held onto the nerves that were c
Caterina.What was that blinding light?Fuck.My head felt heavy, my limbs sluggish as if my body had sunk deep into the mattress and decided it preferred staying there.My fingers curled against the fabric beneath me which for some reason felt familiar making it comforting. It smelled like lavender and something warm.. It smelled like home.But it wasn't until I shifted, feeling the tightness of the fabric against me that I realized...I was still in last night’s dress.What the heck?I had to take quick, short breaths while blinking hard against the sleep crusting my lashes, turning my head to take in my surroundings. High ceiling, the bookshelf overflowing with untouched books, the dim glow of the bedside lamp I never turned off.I was home.Sometime in the chaos of last night, I'd made it back. "Urghhh. My head." The groggy sigh escaped my lips, forcing myself even more to stay upright while the dress crumpled around me in a mess of wrinkles.I hope that wouldn't offend Maria.M
CaterinaI wrapped my arms around myself, resisting the urge to shiver as Luca remained stubbornly in my doorway. The rain had started to pick up, thick droplets smacking against the roof like it held a grudge against it.Luca had to leave soon.I had been expecting this confrontation… It was Luca we were talking about. I just didn’t expect it so soon, nor had I expected this level of relentlessness.“You need to leave.” I said firmly, despite the fact that my nerves thrummed harshly inside.Luca tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in those eyes of his as he leaned against the frame like he belonged there… belonged here. “I was under the impression that wasn’t an option.”“When the heck did…”The rest of the words died in my throat as a sudden movement at the end of the hall caught my eye. A figure. Masked.He was watching us.Luca, ever the observant one, sensed the shift in my focus because I could see his body tense, eyes snapping to where mine had been. In a blink, the
Caterina.I hated... no... that wasn't a suitable word. I loathed parties.Especially when it was my engagement party.The chandeliers above gleamed with the brilliance of a thousand crystals, casting an ethereal glow over the grand ballroom. Laughter and chatter echoed around me, voices mingling with the soft strains of a string quartet in the corner.The air was thick with the scents of fresh roses and expensive perfume.The place was perfect, every detail meticulously arranged for an evening of celebration.I should have felt honoured, proud even, to have a gathering this perfect in my name. Instead, my stomach kept turning with every passing second."Smile, sweetheart." The voice came from beside me, smooth yet commanding, as if daring me to disobey. Allesandro's hand rested on the small of my back, possessive and firm. His touch turned, not with passion, but with a reminder of ownership.I plastered on a polite smile, the one I’d practised in the mirror. A hollow expression tha
Caterina."Her. I want her."Alessandro’s face darkened, his facade of charm splintering like glass. His hands balled into fists at his sides as he took a threatening step toward Luca."You can't have her," Alessandro said, his voice low and venomous. The pleasant murmur of the party continued around us, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in the eye of the ballroom. "She's mine."Luca raised a brow, completely unbothered. If anything, he seemed amused by Alessandro's sudden outburst, as if he'd expected it and found it utterly predictable."Yours?" Luca repeated, his voice dripping with mockery. He gestured lazily toward me without breaking eye contact with Alessandro. "She doesn't look like she agrees."Their words felt like distant thunder, rumbling just outside my comprehension. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Luca, even as unease coiled in my stomach. How could he stand there so calmly, declaring ownership over me like I was a pawn in their game?Alessandro ignored the jab
CaterinaI wrapped my arms around myself, resisting the urge to shiver as Luca remained stubbornly in my doorway. The rain had started to pick up, thick droplets smacking against the roof like it held a grudge against it.Luca had to leave soon.I had been expecting this confrontation… It was Luca we were talking about. I just didn’t expect it so soon, nor had I expected this level of relentlessness.“You need to leave.” I said firmly, despite the fact that my nerves thrummed harshly inside.Luca tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in those eyes of his as he leaned against the frame like he belonged there… belonged here. “I was under the impression that wasn’t an option.”“When the heck did…”The rest of the words died in my throat as a sudden movement at the end of the hall caught my eye. A figure. Masked.He was watching us.Luca, ever the observant one, sensed the shift in my focus because I could see his body tense, eyes snapping to where mine had been. In a blink, the
Caterina.What was that blinding light?Fuck.My head felt heavy, my limbs sluggish as if my body had sunk deep into the mattress and decided it preferred staying there.My fingers curled against the fabric beneath me which for some reason felt familiar making it comforting. It smelled like lavender and something warm.. It smelled like home.But it wasn't until I shifted, feeling the tightness of the fabric against me that I realized...I was still in last night’s dress.What the heck?I had to take quick, short breaths while blinking hard against the sleep crusting my lashes, turning my head to take in my surroundings. High ceiling, the bookshelf overflowing with untouched books, the dim glow of the bedside lamp I never turned off.I was home.Sometime in the chaos of last night, I'd made it back. "Urghhh. My head." The groggy sigh escaped my lips, forcing myself even more to stay upright while the dress crumpled around me in a mess of wrinkles.I hope that wouldn't offend Maria.M
Caterina.“What the fuck did you think you were trying to do?”Someone’s blood had splattered across the concrete, a stark contrast against the pale moonlight. Then there was the sickening crack of knuckles meeting flesh that echoed in the empty garden, drowning out the distant sound of the music from inside.I felt like I was about to lose my dinner.When it came to fighting, I stayed away. Even on the days Alessandro tried to make me go to his boxing house so I could meet some of his friends, I always found a way to make sure I did not go. It was way better to lie than tell him the truth.This was the third real fight I had witnessed.Luca was a storm, his fists relentless as they pounded into Ethan’s face. His blonde hair was matted with blood, yet that annoying smirk of his refused to fade, even as his body went limp beneath the assault.All I could do was watch.I should stop him. I knew it. But something coiled within me refused to move, as if it held onto the nerves that were c
Caterina.I stared at the message for a few minutes longer, really unsure how I was going to pull this off.Luca: I have a little deal for you, amorino.I snorted. Of course, he did. Just after the blonde... no, Rissa had stormed out of here without sparing a glance in our direction.Luca had sent it with no context, no follow-up. But the moment I responded, his next message came though, spelling out exactly what he wanted.Luca: If I can get you to kiss me again tonight at the ball, then you'll spend a night with me in my room.A ball.A formal event where he expected me to be his date for the night. He even attached a number to it... a sum so high that it could put a serious dent in the sixty million debt my father owed him.Should I do it?Would I even be able to resist the man for that long when he was impossible to resist?But a way out, even if just a little closer, was really tempting."But the last party..." My mind whispered to me. I remembered the way the whole thing just
Luca.Women were one of the most wonderful gifts on earth. Not my sister, though. She wasn't among them.I had barely stepped out of the shower, and the towel still slung low around my hips when my bedroom door swung open.Had Caterina come for a second round of our little pillow fight? Or was it my...Nope. It was Clarissa.She stood in the doorway at first, those sharp eyes raking over me like she owned me, like she still had some chaim over my body.Something close to disappointment coiled in my stomach.Had the girls seen her?"Luca," She practically purred, stepping forward before I could say a word, her heels clicking against the polished hardwood. "You just ran off before we could get into the fun stuff last night. That's not like you."I didn't bother to respond. Just grabbed a shirt from the back of a chair and tugged it over my damp skin.She wasn't worth it.It was my fault Clarissa always acted like she had me wrapped around her finger, but it was honestly time I stopped
Caterina.Never considered myself as someone who could make friends easily.Growing up as an only child turned me into someone who was always guarded, with walls built so high fast even I sometimes forgot what it was like to let someone in.Maria... Maria was different.In certain ways, she was even like Alicia.There was an ease to her presence, something so unapologetically warm that it chipped away at the carefully placed barriers around my heart.She was funny, sharp, and had this undeniable charm that her brother certainly lacked.It made it difficult not to like her. So, against all odds, I found myself enjoying her company.Even if that company came with a surly faced Raphael who didn't act as a shadow.We sat on the plush couch in Luca’s expansive living room, the air thick with the scent of expensive cologne and faint traces of Maria's floral perfume. It had been a strange morning if I was being honest with myself... waking up in Luca's arms, nearly losing myself to whatev
Caterina.Something sharp was poking my stomach.Well, it wasn't sharp, but it was firm. Heavy. Unmoving and warm.What was that?I stirred slightly, still half-asleep with a very sluggish mind. It felt like everything was moving in some sort of slow motion.This was so strange.And it was strange enough to pull her from the comfortable darkness of sleep, dragging me toward some sort of groggy awareness.The first thing I noticed was the warmth. A strong, steady warmth that surrounded me like a cocoon. There was a steady rise and fall of breathing against the back of my neck, the slow exhale tickling my skin.It took me a moment to realize that I wasn't alone.The second realization hit me like a freight train.I was wrapped in someone's arms.My eyes snapped open, the unfamiliarity of the room striking me all at once.Where...? When...?Then, I felt it again. The thing pressing into my stomach. What was that?Slowly, cautiously, I wriggled just a little, experimentally shifting again
Caterina.I didn't resist when Luca finally helped me up. Didn't even question where he was taking me.It didn't matter.Everything around me felt muted and distant, as though the world was spinning too fast, and all I could do was struggle to keep up.My chest ached, my head throbbed, and all I wanted to do was forget the past hours.I barely registered getting into the car, barely noticed the soft hum of the engine as he drove us through the city. All I could do was stare blankly out the window, watching the streetlights blur past, while my mind kept on playing the scene from the restaurant over and over again.The waitress’s sneer.The cold slap against my cheek. The way those people had recorded, whispering about me, judging me. And worst of all, the fact that I had let it get to me.Luca didn't speak.He didn't ask me if I was okay or try to do some shitty ass comforting. And for that, I was grateful."We're here."I had to blink multiple times to realize we were in some sort of
Caterina.It didn't take me a long time to realize he wasn't coming.I stared at my phone, fingers tightening around it before I set it down with what anyone would call forced nonchalance.My screen remained dark. No new messages, no missed calls.A hollow laugh bubbled up in my throat. I shouldn't care about it. I didn't care about it.If anything, I only wanted to see if he would actually show up, if I had some kind of power over him.Yes. That was all.It wasn't as if I had been sitting here, waiting, like some desperate woman clinging to false hope.“Rina.”I glanced up at Alicia, who, for some reason, was watching me with raised brows and an amused expression.I couldn't help but roll my eyes before she even opened her mouth to speak. "Don't look at me like that."“Like what?” Alicia smirked, sipping her drink. “Like I can see through the act you’re putting on?”"There's no act," I muttered, crossing my arms. "He's nothing to me."I had doubts she was actually convinced with my l