4

My heart raced when the sound of the black sedan's engine dying outside signaled Zaverio's arrival. 

I gazed up from the novel I was reading and walked to the window. I watched him step out of the car, his hair disheveled. His eyes were tired, but his gaze was still piercing. Lifting his head, his gaze met mine, but I walked away from the window and returned to my seat. 

I didn't want to think about him, but my mind betrayed me. It conjured memories of our past encounters. Mrs. Riccardo's shrill voice yelling at a house help to get Zaverio something to drink followed. I rolled my eyes at how protective Mrs. Riccardo was of her son, considering how much of a rogue he had become. 

I tossed my book aside, my throat parched, and my belly craving a drink. I made my way to the kitchen, and downed myself a glass of juice.

As I tiptoed back with the glass, my body collided with another, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through me, and a familiar scent rushed into my nostrils. 

Glancing up, his blue eyes locked onto mine, their intensity making my heart skip a beat. I shook my head, trying to clear the spell he had cast over me, but it only seemed to deepen as he raised a brow, his gaze never leaving mine.

The air between us was thick with tension, and my pulse raced. I knew I had to break the spell, but my body seemed to be under his control, refusing to budge. And then, he spoke, his deep voice low and husky, sending shivers down my spine. 

"Thief,” he said with seriousness that stung. 

I shot back, saying, “Jerk.” 

He stared at me, and then his face broke into a charming grin that stopped my heart for a second.  

“My bad,” he said. “You're a beautiful thief who has stolen my heart.” 

His words brought back hurtful memories, and I shook my head in disagreement. 

“You've changed, Zaverio. You're now cold, selfish, and arrogant.” 

For a moment, his expression faltered, but then he tightened his lips, and shrugged, pulling out a cigar. I was surprised. 

When did he start smoking? 

“Does it matter?” He asked, cocking up his brows, “The bad boy always gets the girl, right?”

My forehead creased into a frown, my eyes fixed on the cigar. “Since when do you smoke?” I asked. 

He countered, saying, “Since when do you steal?” He jutted his chin towards the juice in my hand and I looked down at it, feeling a mix of emotions.

“My throat was parched," I muttered, and Zaverio pursed his lips. 

His eyes roamed down my body, making me feel uncomfortable as if the intensity of his stare would strip me naked.

"Want to spend the night?" He asked, and a coy smile danced on his lips. 

I hesitated, and my face grew hot as I caught his gaze. 

"No," I ground out, trying to sound firm. 

"No?" He repeated, raising an eyebrow and lighting his cigar. 

"No," I responded again with more severity. "I am not going to your bedroom." 

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Should I sneak into yours?"

My face turned red as I looked at him in mortification. “No. Do not.” I stressed every word to show I was dead serious. 

Even if his offer was tantalizing and sent dirty images into my head, I wouldn't fall for his hit-and-trash game. 

"Why do you look shy about it?" He asked, his smile unwavering. "We've done it before, even when we were younger. We're adults now and it shouldn't be much of a big deal." 

 My mouth opened slightly as I stared at him in disbelief. What had the sweet and amazing Zaverio turned into? 

I clenched my jaw. What did he take me for? Did I look like a call girl he could have to warm his bed whenever he pleased? Anger gathered within me like thunderclouds. 

"You're sick," I said, storming away to my room. I couldn't believe what I'd just heard. 

A knock on the door made me hesitate, and I opened it to find Zaverio standing there with a calm smile. 

"Hey," he said with a smile that looked almost innocent as if he hadn't just been cruel. 

"Leave," I snarled, trying to shut the door, but he wedged his foot in the way. 

"Can we just quit being childish? I just want to talk," he said, his eyes gleaming with sincerity that didn't quite reach his lips. 

I halted in my tracks, thinking about what to do. 

“No,” I snapped. “You can have my room if it pleases you.”

I swung the door open and walked out of the room, but Zaverio clasped my wrist like a bracelet and pulled me back, snapping all the air out of my lungs. 

He swept me up, and used his foot to kick the door before tossing me onto my bed. I opened my mouth to scream, but he clamped his hand over it.

"Shhh, I just came to talk," he whispered.

I glared at him, my anger and distrust clear. "I don't believe you, you jerk!" I muffled from under his palm, but he just shook his head, his smile faltering for a moment.

"I don't trust you, you're a liar," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. I opened my mouth to continue, but Zaverio had had enough. He covered my lips with his, and I froze, my words lost in the kiss. 

I returned back to my senses and shoved him away. “Stop it.” I stared daggers at him, chest rising and falling. 

“How dare you show up in my room to kiss me after everything you said to me?” I inquired, chest cramping up. “What sort of game are you playing?”

“I'm not playing games. I'm just trying not to let anyone know something fishy is going on,” he revealed. “I care about you. You're all I thought about today at work.” 

“Lies,” I snarled, wrinkling my nose in distaste. “Leave me alone.”

“No. Never.”

“Why can't they know what's going on?”

“Because my mother would get me a wife with the hopes of ending this thing we share,” Zaverio said, eyes glinting. 

I stared at him, unable to say anything. I didn't know how to feel or what to say. If he got married to someone else, I would never be the same. 

My stomach churned. 

“See,” he said, pulling out a gold bracelet with the name Bella carved on it. “I had this specifically made for you. It's real gold.”

My breath caught in my throat, and my heart leaped for joy. I collected the bracelet, inspecting it with excitement. 

“But my name isn't Bella,” I said, looking up at him.

“Bella is my name for you because it means beautiful.” His gaze softened, and heat spread up my neck. 

He was a silver-tongued devil. 

“Thank you,” I muttered. “But why did you sleep with the maid?”

“I was drunk last night. I'm sorry,” he apologized. 

Reluctantly, I forgave him. 

Zaverio grabbed my neck and pulled me closer to him, claiming my lips, and causing the bracelet to slip from my gaze. 

I lost my senses, and I was left with only the sensation of his hot lips on mine, then he drifted to my neck, his teeth grazing my skin. I groaned, my body betraying me, letting him have it and reacting to his every touch. 

Zaverio's hand slid under my skirt, and I didn't resist as he pulled it off and tossed it aside. My shirt followed, and I watched in wonder as he revealed his perfect body. His stomach was rock hard with eight, his muscles more defined than I remembered. 

I chanced a glance at his face, and he gazed at me, his eyes burning with intensity, and for a moment, I dared to believe he still cared for me.

What if he just wanted to use me for sex? 

He placed his lips on mine again, and I silenced my doubts with his kiss, returning it with longing. I didn't want this soft moment to end, I didn't want to face the pain and betrayal again. But deep down, I knew it was just a joke and I was deceiving myself.

The room became silent with only the sounds of our ragged breathing. Ecstasy still coursed through my veins, not letting me think about my actions. 

Zaverio rolled off me, lying flat on his back. I inched closer to him with a thumping heart, resting my head on his scorching chest. 

“You are so sweet, and that was so short. I need more,” he said teasingly and I giggled, heat spreading up my neck.

My eyelids grew heavy, and my eyes fluttered shut as I mumbled an indistinct whisper. Sleep's gentle embrace enveloped me, carrying me away into a realm of dreams.