“You can tell me to stop,” Dino murmured, voice thick, strained, but his thumb was brushing along her jaw so delicately, like she was something precious. Eloise shook her head faintly, chest heaving. “I don’t want you to.” That was all he needed. He kissed her again, slower now, deeper, tasting every inch of her mouth like he couldn’t get enough. His hand slid under the hem of her sweater, fingers brushing over the bare skin at her waist. The touch sent a shiver through her... so light, so electrifying it made her knees weaken. She gasped softly, clinging to his shoulders, nails digging in just slightly as his lips trailed down to the corner of her mouth, then lower, brushing against the sensitive skin just below her jaw. Each kiss left her dizzy, wanting more, needing more. “Dino…” she breathed, voice trembling, almost pleading without realizing it. He smiled faintly against her skin, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes again. His gaze burned into her, a soft, reverent l
Just then... The door slid open. “Oh, shit!” Jess’s voice rang out, eyes wide like saucers as she froze at the doorway. Eloise jolted, heart hammering, but Dino didn’t even flinch. Cool as ever, he simply looked over his shoulder, one hand still firmly on Eloise’s waist. “Jess,” he greeted casually, voice like he hadn’t just been seconds away from devouring Eloise whole. Jess blinked, mouth opening and closing like she couldn’t form words fast enough. “I... I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything,” she sputtered, slamming the door shut so fast the walls shook. Eloise buried her face against Dino’s chest, mortified. “Oh my god.” He laughed softly, lips brushing the top of her head. “Guess that wasn't bad at all.” Her face burned, but his arms only tightened around her. “I don't really care,” he murmured against her hair. “I don't think I'm letting you go.” Later that night, after everything had quieted down, Jess cornered Eloise in their room, arms folded, one brow raised
Across the space, Dino stood stiffly by the drinks table, glass in hand, eyes sharp and fixed on the pair. His jaw tightened slightly as Matteo leaned in to whisper something that made Eloise laugh... something that wasn’t meant to sting, but did all the same. Beside Dino, Luca sidled up, catching the direction of his brother’s gaze. "So this is it, huh?" Luca teased, nudging him lightly. "Family." Dino’s lips pressed into a thin line, saying nothing. Luca chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "I always wanted a sister, you know. Though, I gotta say..." he glanced at Dino sideways, smirking..."she might be the only one who can handle you. You can be pretty boring sometimes." Dino shot him a look but didn’t deny it. His attention flicked back to Eloise, her soft smile, the way she moved so easily with Matteo. Luca's words lingered in the air, light and teasing, but Dino barely reacted. His focus remained glued to the dance floor, watching as Matteo effortlessly made Eloise l
The wedding reception slowly shifted into a more relaxed, intimate after party. Guests who remained were family and friends, laughter mingling with the soft hum of music as the night stretched on. Eloise found herself seated with Jess and Matteo, nursing a drink while conversation ebbed around her. Across the terrace, Dino stood in a quiet circle with Luca and Alessandro, but every so often, his gaze flicked toward her always brief, always unreadable. Matteo leaned back in his chair, glancing between the two of them knowingly but saying nothing. Instead, he stretched his arms lazily, flashing her an easy grin. "Enjoy tonight while you can, Eloise. Once we’re back in New York, it’s back to chaos." She laughed softly, but her heart tightened at the mention of returning. As the night wound down, Alessandro and Anne made their rounds, thanking guests one last time. When they stopped b
Eloise excused herself quickly, retreating to the room she’d been assigned. She needed space to breathe, to unpack literally and emotionally. But as she closed the door behind her, she couldn’t help but lean against it, Dino’s voice still echoing in her head. Tomorrow’s work. Back to normal. Back to pretending. Her chest tightened. Eloise dropped her suitcase by the bed, blowing out a sharp breath. “Is he kidding me?” she muttered under her breath, pacing the room. Not even twenty four hours back and Dino was already acting like Hawaii hadn't happened... like they hadn’t kissed, hadn’t touched, hadn’t nearly unraveled everything holding them together. She yanked open her suitcase a little too hard, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior as she unpacked. Each movement sharp, purposeful, as i
Not really who she expected. It wasn’t Dino. Just a colleague standing by her desk, offering a small nod. “Boss wants to see you in his office. Right now.” Eloise exhaled slowly, nodding as she set down her pen. Of course, he did. Pushing back her chair, she straightened her blouse and grabbed her notepad... an unnecessary prop, but she needed something to keep her hands busy. The walk to Dino’s office felt both too long and too short. Every step tightened the coil of tension in her stomach. She knocked once, firm and professional. “Come in,” his voice came from inside. She turned the handle, stepping in to find him sitting behind his desk, eyes already on her. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. “You wanted to see me?” she asked, keeping her tone businesslike. He gestured to the chair across from him. “Close the door, Eloise.” A flicker of heat crawled up her spine at the way he said her name, but she masked it, shutting the door before moving to sit.
For a long moment, neither of them moved, their bodies tangled, their breaths heavy. Then he leaned in, brushing his lips over hers, softer this time. “I guess this changes nothing,” he murmured. Eloise swallowed, still breathless. “Right.” But they both knew that was a lie. A sudden flash of headlights through the window made Eloise freeze. “Oh shit,” she breathed, her heart slamming against her ribs. Dino pulled back slightly, brows furrowing as another set of lights illuminated the kitchen. Someone was pulling into the driveway. Eloise scrambled, slipping off the counter with shaky legs, grabbing for her discarded clothes. “Where the hell are my shorts?” she hissed, searching the floor.
"Everyone will eventually know you're my stepbrother," Eloise said, arms crossed. "I think it's best we keep things down." Dino tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Of course," he said smoothly. "Plus, Jess already knows." Eloise exhaled, about to respond, when the door suddenly burst open. Sandra. Eloise’s stomach twisted at the sight of her. Sandra, who had made her life miserable in high school. The same Sandra who used to sneer at her, belittle her every chance she got. And worse Dino’s ex. Before Eloise could react, Sandra let out an excited squeal and practically threw herself into Dino’s arms. "I’ve missed you so much, Dino!" Dino tensed slightly but let her cling to him, his reaction controlled. "Hey, Sandra." Sandra finally turned her attention to Eloise, her gaze flicking over her like she was assessing her worth just like old times. Then, with a forced smile, she said, "Oh. Eloise, you're here too!" Eloise kept her expression blank. "Yeah,
Dino and Sandra walked by, their conversation light and easy, the kind that came from years of familiarity. Eloise kept her eyes on her screen, pretending not to notice the way Sandra’s laughter rang a little too loud, the way she clung to Dino’s arm like she had every right to be there. She should be used to it. Sandra had always been that way... possessive, smug, the kind of girl who made sure everyone knew what was hers. Back in high school, Eloise had been on the receiving end of that cruelty more times than she could count. The casual insults hidden behind bright smiles, the sharp words disguised as jokes, the way Sandra had made sure Eloise never forgot her place. And now, here she was again, standing in front of her desk like she owned the space, like nothing had changed. "Eloise," Sandra drawled, her voice dripping with that familiar condescension. A slow smirk curled at her lips as her gaze flickered over Eloise
"Everyone will eventually know you're my stepbrother," Eloise said, arms crossed. "I think it's best we keep things down." Dino tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Of course," he said smoothly. "Plus, Jess already knows." Eloise exhaled, about to respond, when the door suddenly burst open. Sandra. Eloise’s stomach twisted at the sight of her. Sandra, who had made her life miserable in high school. The same Sandra who used to sneer at her, belittle her every chance she got. And worse Dino’s ex. Before Eloise could react, Sandra let out an excited squeal and practically threw herself into Dino’s arms. "I’ve missed you so much, Dino!" Dino tensed slightly but let her cling to him, his reaction controlled. "Hey, Sandra." Sandra finally turned her attention to Eloise, her gaze flicking over her like she was assessing her worth just like old times. Then, with a forced smile, she said, "Oh. Eloise, you're here too!" Eloise kept her expression blank. "Yeah,
For a long moment, neither of them moved, their bodies tangled, their breaths heavy. Then he leaned in, brushing his lips over hers, softer this time. “I guess this changes nothing,” he murmured. Eloise swallowed, still breathless. “Right.” But they both knew that was a lie. A sudden flash of headlights through the window made Eloise freeze. “Oh shit,” she breathed, her heart slamming against her ribs. Dino pulled back slightly, brows furrowing as another set of lights illuminated the kitchen. Someone was pulling into the driveway. Eloise scrambled, slipping off the counter with shaky legs, grabbing for her discarded clothes. “Where the hell are my shorts?” she hissed, searching the floor.
Not really who she expected. It wasn’t Dino. Just a colleague standing by her desk, offering a small nod. “Boss wants to see you in his office. Right now.” Eloise exhaled slowly, nodding as she set down her pen. Of course, he did. Pushing back her chair, she straightened her blouse and grabbed her notepad... an unnecessary prop, but she needed something to keep her hands busy. The walk to Dino’s office felt both too long and too short. Every step tightened the coil of tension in her stomach. She knocked once, firm and professional. “Come in,” his voice came from inside. She turned the handle, stepping in to find him sitting behind his desk, eyes already on her. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. “You wanted to see me?” she asked, keeping her tone businesslike. He gestured to the chair across from him. “Close the door, Eloise.” A flicker of heat crawled up her spine at the way he said her name, but she masked it, shutting the door before moving to sit.
Eloise excused herself quickly, retreating to the room she’d been assigned. She needed space to breathe, to unpack literally and emotionally. But as she closed the door behind her, she couldn’t help but lean against it, Dino’s voice still echoing in her head. Tomorrow’s work. Back to normal. Back to pretending. Her chest tightened. Eloise dropped her suitcase by the bed, blowing out a sharp breath. “Is he kidding me?” she muttered under her breath, pacing the room. Not even twenty four hours back and Dino was already acting like Hawaii hadn't happened... like they hadn’t kissed, hadn’t touched, hadn’t nearly unraveled everything holding them together. She yanked open her suitcase a little too hard, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior as she unpacked. Each movement sharp, purposeful, as i
The wedding reception slowly shifted into a more relaxed, intimate after party. Guests who remained were family and friends, laughter mingling with the soft hum of music as the night stretched on. Eloise found herself seated with Jess and Matteo, nursing a drink while conversation ebbed around her. Across the terrace, Dino stood in a quiet circle with Luca and Alessandro, but every so often, his gaze flicked toward her always brief, always unreadable. Matteo leaned back in his chair, glancing between the two of them knowingly but saying nothing. Instead, he stretched his arms lazily, flashing her an easy grin. "Enjoy tonight while you can, Eloise. Once we’re back in New York, it’s back to chaos." She laughed softly, but her heart tightened at the mention of returning. As the night wound down, Alessandro and Anne made their rounds, thanking guests one last time. When they stopped b
Across the space, Dino stood stiffly by the drinks table, glass in hand, eyes sharp and fixed on the pair. His jaw tightened slightly as Matteo leaned in to whisper something that made Eloise laugh... something that wasn’t meant to sting, but did all the same. Beside Dino, Luca sidled up, catching the direction of his brother’s gaze. "So this is it, huh?" Luca teased, nudging him lightly. "Family." Dino’s lips pressed into a thin line, saying nothing. Luca chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "I always wanted a sister, you know. Though, I gotta say..." he glanced at Dino sideways, smirking..."she might be the only one who can handle you. You can be pretty boring sometimes." Dino shot him a look but didn’t deny it. His attention flicked back to Eloise, her soft smile, the way she moved so easily with Matteo. Luca's words lingered in the air, light and teasing, but Dino barely reacted. His focus remained glued to the dance floor, watching as Matteo effortlessly made Eloise l
Just then... The door slid open. “Oh, shit!” Jess’s voice rang out, eyes wide like saucers as she froze at the doorway. Eloise jolted, heart hammering, but Dino didn’t even flinch. Cool as ever, he simply looked over his shoulder, one hand still firmly on Eloise’s waist. “Jess,” he greeted casually, voice like he hadn’t just been seconds away from devouring Eloise whole. Jess blinked, mouth opening and closing like she couldn’t form words fast enough. “I... I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything,” she sputtered, slamming the door shut so fast the walls shook. Eloise buried her face against Dino’s chest, mortified. “Oh my god.” He laughed softly, lips brushing the top of her head. “Guess that wasn't bad at all.” Her face burned, but his arms only tightened around her. “I don't really care,” he murmured against her hair. “I don't think I'm letting you go.” Later that night, after everything had quieted down, Jess cornered Eloise in their room, arms folded, one brow raised
“You can tell me to stop,” Dino murmured, voice thick, strained, but his thumb was brushing along her jaw so delicately, like she was something precious. Eloise shook her head faintly, chest heaving. “I don’t want you to.” That was all he needed. He kissed her again, slower now, deeper, tasting every inch of her mouth like he couldn’t get enough. His hand slid under the hem of her sweater, fingers brushing over the bare skin at her waist. The touch sent a shiver through her... so light, so electrifying it made her knees weaken. She gasped softly, clinging to his shoulders, nails digging in just slightly as his lips trailed down to the corner of her mouth, then lower, brushing against the sensitive skin just below her jaw. Each kiss left her dizzy, wanting more, needing more. “Dino…” she breathed, voice trembling, almost pleading without realizing it. He smiled faintly against her skin, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes again. His gaze burned into her, a soft, reverent l