Chapter 2

Dario slowly opened his eyes, as the morning light filtered through the curtains. He turned to look at Ivy, who was still asleep beside him. She lay on her stomach as her hair splayed out on the pillow, and her breathing was slow and steady. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. He stretched his limbs, feeling the aches and soreness from the previous night's passion.

He slowly sat up, careful not to wake Ivy. He stretched his arms above his head and felt the satisfying pop of his joints. He got up from the bed, as his feet sank into the plush carpet.

He walked to the window and pushed open the curtains, letting the light spill into the room. He took a deep breath, and felt a sense of contentment wash over him as he turned back to the bed, and watched Ivy for a moment longer, before heading to take a shower.

He stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash over him as he closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He couldn't believe how quickly things had escalated with Ivy. He had no idea who she was, she was just a stranger he had picked up at a club. He knew that this was not his usual behavior, but something about her had captivated him and he couldn't shake her from his mind.

They had only met the previous night at the club, and yet here he was, in his penthouse shower, reliving the passion they had shared. He couldn't shake the feeling that something about her was different, special.

He stepped out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. As he made his way back to the bedroom, he heard a soft rustling from the bed. He looked up to see Ivy stirring from her sleep, her eyes slowly fluttering open.

She sat up and pulled the sheets up to her chest. She looked around the room, her eyes locking onto Dario. He couldn't help but feel a flutter in his chest as he took in her appearance, her hair tousled from sleep, her eyes still heavy with the remnants of sleep.

"Hey," Dario said, grabbing a towel from the nearby rack and rubbing it over his hair.

"Hey," Ivy responded.

There was a moment of silence as Dario finished drying off and began to get dressed. Ivy watched him in silence, her mind racing with thoughts from the previous night.

"So, um, last night was... fun," Ivy said finally, breaking the silence.

Dario turned to look at her, with a small smile on his face. "Yeah, it was.

Ivy's expression faltered. "But is that all it was? Just a one-night stand?"

Dario's smile faded. "No, of course not. I want to see you again, Ivy."

Ivy's heart skipped a beat at his words. "Really? Cause it feels like you do this with every girl you meet at the club."

Dario made his way over to the bed and sat down next to her, still towel-clad. He reached over and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear as he responded.

"I'm not going to lie to you. I've had my fair share of one-night stands," he began, his voice sincere. "But with you, it's different. I can't explain it, but there's something about you that captivated me from the moment I saw you at the club. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had to know you."

Ivy hesitated, still not fully convinced. Dario could see her uncertainty and knew he needed to change the subject.

"How about some coffee?" Dario asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Ivy hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sure, that sounds good."

Dario walked down the grand staircase that led from his bedroom to the main level of his mansion.

He could hear Ivy's footsteps following behind him. She had opened the drawer of his dresser, picked out one of his oversized shirts, and slipped it on, enjoying the way it smelled of him.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Dario led the way to the kitchen.

The kitchen was a chef's dream come true, with top-of-the-line appliances and marble countertops. Dario walked over to the state-of-the-art coffee maker and began to grind the beans for the coffee.

"Wow, this is some kitchen," Ivy commended as she looked around in awe.

"I like to make sure I have the best," Dario said with a chuckle.

"I can see that," Ivy said with a small smile.

Dario could sense her still feeling uncomfortable and unsure about the previous night, so he tried to make small talk and show her around the kitchen.

"I have a great cook that can prepare anything you like, but I also like to make my own coffee," Dario said as he poured the ground beans into the coffee maker and started the brewing process. "Would you like a tour of the house?"

Ivy nodded, still taking in the grandeur of the kitchen and the house. "Yes, I would like that."

As they walked through the house, Dario pointed out some of his favorite features and shared stories about the art and antiques that adorned the walls. Ivy couldn't help but be impressed by the opulence and luxury that surrounded her. But she still couldn't shake off the feeling that this was all too good to be true.

Dario opened a drawer near the stove, revealing a collection of cups in various sizes and styles. He carefully selected a sleek, modern cup and placed it on the counter. He filled the cup with freshly brewed coffee as the rich aroma filled the room.

He turned to Ivy, who was sitting at the table, and asked, "Milk or sugar?"

Ivy smiled and replied, "A little bit of both, please."

Dario nodded, and grabbed the milk carton from the refrigerator and the sugar bowl from the counter. He carefully added a splash of milk and a teaspoon of sugar to each cup, stirring them gently before bringing them to the table.

"Here you go," he said, placing the cup in front of her.

Ivy smiled up at him and took a sip of the coffee, letting out a contented sigh. "This is perfect, thank you," she said, taking another sip.

Dario smiled back at her, taking a sip from his cup. "My pleasure," he said, looking around the kitchen. "It's one of my favorite rooms in the house. I could spend all day in here."

Ivy nodded in agreement, looking around the room with its top-of-the-line appliances, the large skylights that let in natural light, and the beautiful view of the garden outside.

"I can see why," she said, taking another sip of her coffee. "It's like a dream kitchen."

She set her cup down on the counter and turned to Dario, "I need to get going."

Dario stepped closer to her, his hands sliding around her waist as he pulled her closer.

"Stay, we could spend the weekend together," he murmured against her ear, his lips trailing kisses down her neck.

"I can't," she murmured, even as her body ached for him. "I have to go."

Ivy's resistance melted under his touch, but she forced herself to step out of his embrace.

"I wish I could, but I can't. I just got a new job, so I have a lot to do before Monday." she said, as she got up from her seat.

Dario, not wanting to let her go, followed her as she made her way upstairs to his room. She turned to look at him, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

He sat on the bed, watching her with a seductive gleam in his eyes as she began to undress, slowly slipping off his shirt, and walked into the bathroom. The sound of the shower turning on filled the room.

Dario couldn't help but watch as she took her shower, the transparent shower door offering glimpses of her body. He walked closer, feeling a rush of desire as he saw her silhouette through the glass.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice husky with desire, unable to take his eyes off her.

Ivy smiled, her cheeks flushing pink. She couldn't deny the pull between them. As she turned off the shower, she knew that she would have to leave eventually.

Ivy stepped out of the shower, her skin still damp and glistening. Dario sat on the edge of the bed, watching her with a hungry look in his eyes. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body, giving him a tantalizing glimpse of her curves.

She walked over to the bed as she picked up her dress. Dario watched as she slipped it on, the fabric clinging to her wet skin.

Ivy walked over to Dario, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching her intently.

"I need a little help with this zipper." She said.

Dario stood up and walked over to her, his eyes never leaving her. He took hold of the zipper and slowly pulled it up, his fingers grazing her bare skin.

Ivy couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as he came closer to her.

As he reached the top of the zipper, Dario leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You look absolutely breathtaking."

Ivy felt her cheeks flush with pleasure, she closed her eyes and leaned back into him, relishing the sensation of his touch.

Dario watched her as she gathered her things and prepared to leave the room. As she turned to go, he stood up and walked over to her.

"Here," he said, holding out his phone. "I want to make sure I can reach you."

Ivy took the phone and smiled at him, typing her number into his phone.

As she handed the phone back to him, he took her hand and pulled her close.

"I had a really nice time tonight," he said, his voice low.

Ivy felt her heart race at his words. "Me too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, as she turned and headed down the stairs.

"Ivy, wait". He cleared his throat as he called her back. "I was wondering if we could see each other again?"

Ivy paused and turned to face him, a small smile on her lips. "I had a great time with you Dario. And yes, I would love to see you again."