“What if I said yes?” he murmured. “What if I wanted to?” Eloise’s heart pounded so loudly she swore he could hear it. But she refused to be the first to break. Instead, she smiled. A slow, taunting smile. “Then I’d say… you think too highly of yourself”. As Eloise turned toward the door, her pulse still racing from their exchange, she reached for the handle. But just as she twisted it open, a firm hand shot out, pushing it shut with a quiet thud. Her breath caught. Dino was behind her now, his body a breath away, his presence overwhelming. She could feel the heat radiating from him, the tension thick enough to suffocate. Slowly, she turned to face him. Her back was against the door. His gaze was dark, unreadable, but the fire in his eyes was unmistakable. Before she could say a word, he caught her wrists, lifting them above her head, pinning them against the door with an effortless grip. Her breath hitched. “Dino—” He didn’t let her finish. His lips cr
“What if I said yes?” he murmured. “What if I wanted to?” Eloise’s heart pounded so loudly she swore he could hear it. But she refused to be the first to break. Instead, she smiled. A slow, taunting smile. “Then I’d say… you think too highly of yourself”. As Eloise turned toward the door, her pulse still racing from their exchange, she reached for the handle. But just as she twisted it open, a firm hand shot out, pushing it shut with a quiet thud. Her breath caught. Dino was behind her now, his body a breath away, his presence overwhelming. She could feel the heat radiating from him, the tension thick enough to suffocate. Slowly, she turned to face him. Her back was against the door. His gaze was dark, unreadable, but the fire in his eyes was unmistakable. Before she could say a word, he caught her wrists, lifting them above her head, pinning them against the door with an effortless grip. Her breath hitched. “Dino—” He didn’t let her finish. His lips cr
His hands gripped her waist, fingers slipping beneath the fabric of her panties, dragging them down her legs in a slow, torturous motion. The cool air against her bare skin only heightened the sensation of his touch, sending a shudder through her body. Dino looked at her for a moment, his dark eyes burning as he took her in. "Tell me you want this." Eloise’s breath hitched. "I—" But words failed her because he was already moving again, his hands parting her thighs, his mouth replacing them in a way that sent her spiraling. A broken moan tore from her lips as his tongue found her, teasing, tasting, devouring. Her hands flew to his hair, gripping, pulling him closer as pleasure crashed over her in waves. Her body was taut, trembling, every nerve ending set ablaze by him. He worked her expertly, knowing exactly how to unravel her, how to pull her closer and closer to that edge she was desperate to reach. Her moans filled the office, the sound of his name slipping past her lips
Eloise hurriedly adjusted her blouse, her fingers trembling slightly as she fastened the buttons. Her body was still humming, fully aware of Dino’s lingering presence behind her. She could feel the heat of his stare, the intensity that had consumed them moments ago still crackling in the air. Her breath was uneven, her heart refusing to settle even as she forced herself to regain control. Then her phone rang. The sharp sound startled her, and she fumbled to grab it from the desk. She blinked at the screen. Matteo. Her stomach clenched. Of all times. Taking a slow, measured breath, she answered. "Hey, Matteo." "You sound out of breath," he noted instantly. "Are you okay?" Dino let out a quiet chuckle behind her, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. The sound sent a fresh wave of frustration and something far more dangerous rushing through her veins. "I’m fine," she said quickly, clearing her throat. "Just… a long day." Matteo exhaled. "I figured. I was thinking, why d
Matteo’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he reached over, his fingers grazing hers briefly before he turned his attention back to the road. The restaurant was elegant but not over-the-top. Matteo had chosen well dim lighting, warm ambiance, a perfect balance of sophistication and comfort. He pulled out a chair for her, and she slid into it, adjusting the hem of her dress. “Wine?” he asked, already signaling for the waiter. She nodded. “Red is fine.” As the waiter poured their drinks, Matteo leaned forward slightly, watching her with an easy smile. “You don’t have to pretend, you know.” Eloise raised a brow. “Pretend?” “That you’re okay. Something’s on your mind.” She hesitated, fingers tightening around her glass. She could still feel Dino. The way he touched her, the way he made her lose herself completely. It felt imprinted on her skin. And yet, here she was, sitting across from Matteo, a man who had always been gentle, kind, and undenia
Dino’s lips barely ghosted over hers before he pulled away, his breath warm against her skin. The heat between them lingered, stretching the moment unbearably thin. “Sweet dreams, Eloise,” he murmured, his voice deep, deliberate. Then, just like that, he stepped back. Eloise stood frozen, her grip tightening on the towel around her. She should be relieved that he hadn’t pushed further, that he had walked away. But she wasn’t. She watched as he turned, moving toward the door at an unhurried pace. He wasn’t rushing. He knew exactly what he was doing, leaving her standing there, breathless, aching. He reached for the handle, but before he could twist it, she found her voice. “Dino.” He stilled, but he didn’t turn. She swallowed. “What… what are we doing?” A slow exhale left him, his hand dropping from the knob. He turned his head slightly, enough for her to catch the side of his face... the tight clench of his jaw, the flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
Eloise: Girl's hangout with Jess Then she tossed the phone to the couch immediately... Jess watched her closely, a smirk tugging at her lips. “That bad, huh?” Eloise crossed her arms and slumped back into the couch. “I don’t want to deal with it right now.” Jess hummed. “So, let me get this straight... you can spend an entire night thinking about him, but the second he reaches out, you shut down?” Eloise shot her a glare. “I am not shutting down.” Jess arched a brow. “Oh, really? Because it looks a lot like you just threw your phone like it personally offended you.” Eloise exhaled, rubbing her temples. “I just—” Before she could finish, her phone buzzed again. Jess lunged for it before Eloise could stop her. “Ooh, let’s see what he said.” “Jess, don’t—” But it was too late. Jess already had the phone in her hands, her eyes scanning the screen. Then she let out a low whistle. “Oh. Oh, girl, he’s pissed.” Eloise snatched her phone back and hesitantly looked at t
Eloise groaned, sinking deeper into the couch. “You’re impossible.”Jess grinned, completely unfazed. “And yet, you love me.” She tossed a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “So, tell me how did this even happen? One minute you and Dino are bickering like enemies, and the next, you’re tangled in the sheets?”Eloise exhaled, staring at the ceiling as the memories flooded back. The way he had looked at her. Touched her. Claimed her. She felt the heat creeping up her neck and covered her face with her hands.“Eloise,” Jess nudged her. “Details. I need details.”Eloise peeked at her through her fingers. “Jess, I’m not going to sit here and narrate my sex life to you.”Jess pouted. “But I live for this kind of gossip.” She crossed her arms. “Fine. I’ll respect your privacy—”Eloise sighed in relief.“—but at least tell me who made the first move?”Eloise hesitated before muttering, “Him.”Jess gasped dramatically. “No way! Dino is all broody and possessive, but I never took him for the act f
They met in a tight embrace, the kind of hug that made the world quiet again for a few seconds. “You didn’t tell me you were coming today,” Eloise said, her voice soft against her mother’s shoulder. “I wanted it to be a surprise,” Anne chuckled as she pulled back, cupping her daughter’s face briefly before brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Well, your mother insisted,” came another voice from the corner, smoother, deeper. Eloise turned to see Alessandro, standing just a few steps inside, a glass in his hand and a small smile playing on his face. Before Eloise could say anything, Dino stepped into the house, his pace slower now, his features carefully arranged in something close to neutral. “Dad?” Dino greeted, eyes briefly meeting Alessandro’s. Then, “Anne.” “Dino,” Anne said warmly, pulling him into a hug just as she had Eloise, as if all the tension between them didn’t exist or perhaps, she chose to ignore it tonight. Dino hugged her back, but his eyes f
After he left, Eloise exhaled slowly and looked out the window. She had survived the first awkward encounter. She hadn’t flinched. She hadn’t cracked. And she wouldn’t. Even if Dino hadn’t come home last night. Even if he hadn’t called. Even if the silence between them was louder than ever. She would play it cool. Be professional. Focus on her goals. She had too much going for her to let emotions complicate things. But as the day stretched on, and she scrolled past another post dissecting the Alessandro family dynamic, her jaw clenched. She wasn’t just playing it cool. She had to be cool. Because the minute she let her guard down, she wasn’t sure what she’d do the next time she saw Dino. Or worse, what she’d let herself feel. Just before Eloise could slip into the rhythm of her work, the sharp sound of heels clicking against the polished floor interrupted the quiet hum of the office. Each step was too deliberate, too loud, and it was already clear who it was..
She closed the door gently behind her and leaned against it, letting out a slow, tired breath. Her phone buzzed softly from where she’d left it on the bed. She moved toward it without thinking, the screen lighting up with a new message. Her heart knew before her eyes confirmed it. Dino: "I won’t be coming home today." That was it. No explanation. No follow up. Just a quiet, distant line that made her stomach twist. She sat on the edge of the bed, phone still in her hand. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure whether to type something sarcastic, neutral, or just nothing at all. A million thoughts raced through her head, most of them useless. What was she expecting him to say? That he missed her? That he’d come back tonight and act like nothing was changing? She dropped the phone beside her and rubbed her forehead, closing her eyes. This, whatever this was... was starting to blur. The line between what was real and what was just late night glances and lingering to
Her chest tightened a little at his words. “I’m okay,” she said, even though that wasn’t the full truth. “I’ve had worse.” “I know,” he replied quietly. “But I still wanted to hear it from you.” For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn’t awkward, it was thick with unspoken things. “Where are you right now?” she asked, needing something to ground the moment. “My father’s company,” he answered. “Going over some logistics for the expansion in Paris. It’s a mess here.” “Sounds fun.” “You’d hate it,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Noisy, chaotic, and too many people trying to suck up to my father.” Eloise smirked. “Yeah, definitely not my scene.” Another pause. “Eloise,” he said, his voice a little more serious now. “Yeah?” “We’ll I can deal with all that. Let them say whatever they want, gossip fades after all. But what’s between us...” He trailed off. Her heart skipped. “What’s between us?” He didn’t answer right away. Then, quietly, he
The next morning at the office felt unusually quiet. Eloise stepped into the building with a calm demeanor, but inside, her thoughts were a swirl of noise. She hadn’t had much sleep after last night’s conversation with Dino. It had stayed with her long after he left. The way he opened up, the weight behind his words... it all echoed in her mind, making her heart ache a little. She had always known Dino carried a lot, but hearing it from him directly changed everything. She walked through the familiar halls of the office with practiced ease, offering small smiles to a few colleagues on the way, but her mind was clearly elsewhere. Her desk was just as she left it organized, clean, and oddly comforting. She placed her bag down, booted up her computer, and took a deep sip from her warm coffee. Dino was away today, handling business matters at his father’s company, so the atmosphere was notably different without him around. A part of her missed him already, and it was ridiculous, cons
The silence stretched between them like an invisible thread, tying them together in a strange, heavy comfort. Dino could feel the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air, his mind running over everything that had been said—and everything that hadn’t been said. His father’s voice still echoed in his ears, the words sharp and demanding. And yet, here he was, sitting next to Eloise, as if everything was fine.As if he could just forget about the suffocating pressure from his father and the constant expectations that seemed to define his every move.Dino glanced at Eloise again. Her eyes were focused on the TV screen, but there was something in her posture—a subtle tension in the way her body was angled, her lips pressed together—that told him she wasn’t as absorbed in the show as she appeared to be.He couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking. Was she still bothered by the way he had been distant lately? Or was she starting to understand why he had been pulling away?He did
Dino’s phone rang again, and he groaned, already knowing who it was. He glanced at the screen Father and sighed. With a heavy pause, he answered, his voice taking on that familiar cool, distant tone.“Yeah?”His father’s voice came through the line, clear and commanding. “Dino, I need you at the office tomorrow.”Dino rubbed the back of his neck, already feeling the tension in his shoulders rise. “What for? I thought Luca was handling things.”“He is, but I need your input on something specific. These contracts with the foreign investors... this is big. I can’t leave this to anyone else.” His father’s tone was terse, and it didn’t leave much room for argument.Dino’s eyes briefly flickered to Eloise, who had turned her attention to the television, though her posture was rigid, as though she was trying to seem casual but clearly wasn’t. He rubbed his face, fighting the wave of frustration bubbling up inside. “I’m still dealing with things here. I’ve got enough on my plate.”“Enough? It
But as much as she enjoyed this distraction, she knew she couldn’t avoid Dino forever. And she had a feeling that when she got back home, he’d be waiting. Eloise stood at the entrance of the estate, gripping the strap of her bag as she stared at the sight before her. Sandra was draped over Dino like she belonged there, her manicured fingers tracing slow, lazy circles on his chest as she laughed at something he said. Eloise swallowed hard, forcing herself to take a deep breath. You knew this would happen, she told herself. You knew she’d be here. But knowing didn’t make it any easier. Dino hadn’t noticed her yet, too caught up in whatever Sandra was saying. Or maybe... maybe he had noticed and just didn’t care. That thought stung more than she wanted to admit. She stepped further inside, her heels clicking against the floor, finally drawing their attention. Dino’s gaze snapped to her instantly, his body tensing for just a fraction of a second before his expression smoothed into
Eloise groaned, sinking deeper into the couch. “You’re impossible.”Jess grinned, completely unfazed. “And yet, you love me.” She tossed a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “So, tell me how did this even happen? One minute you and Dino are bickering like enemies, and the next, you’re tangled in the sheets?”Eloise exhaled, staring at the ceiling as the memories flooded back. The way he had looked at her. Touched her. Claimed her. She felt the heat creeping up her neck and covered her face with her hands.“Eloise,” Jess nudged her. “Details. I need details.”Eloise peeked at her through her fingers. “Jess, I’m not going to sit here and narrate my sex life to you.”Jess pouted. “But I live for this kind of gossip.” She crossed her arms. “Fine. I’ll respect your privacy—”Eloise sighed in relief.“—but at least tell me who made the first move?”Eloise hesitated before muttering, “Him.”Jess gasped dramatically. “No way! Dino is all broody and possessive, but I never took him for the act f