로그인Rhaena's POV"That was a while ago," Alessio said, his tone polite but creating subtle distance. He stepped slightly away from her, breaking the contact, though she didn't seem to notice or care."Not that long," Dove said with a laugh. "Feels like yesterday sometimes." She finally extended her hand to me, and I forced myself to take it, to shake it professionally even though I wanted to do anything but. "It's nice to meet you, Rhaena. How do you know Alessio?"I looked at Alessio, waiting for him to answer, but he seemed frozen, clearly not sure what to say or how to explain our connection.So I said it for him."I'm Alessio's stepsister," I said, the words tasting bitter on my tongue even though they were technically true. "Our parents just got married this weekend.""Oh!" Dove's expression brightened immediately, any perceived threat apparently vanishing now that she'd categorized me as family rather than competition. "How wonderful! I didn't know your father had remarried, Alessio
Rhaena's POV"That's one word for it," he agreed with a slight smile. "But it's more than that. I like talking to you. Like spending time with you. Like knowing you. I want to know more. Want to know everything.""Even though it's complicated?""Especially because it's complicated," he said. "Because if I'm willing to risk all this - our jobs, our parents' relationship, everything - for you, then you must be worth it."It was insane. Reckless. Dangerous.But looking into his eyes, feeling his arms around me, feeling the weight of his words and the sincerity behind them, I couldn't bring myself to say no.Because he was right. I couldn't move on either. Couldn't forget. Couldn't pretend Italy hadn't changed everything."Okay," I whispered."Okay?" he repeated, hope and relief flooding his face, transforming his features from intense to almost boyish in his obvious happiness."Okay," I confirmed more firmly. "We'll try. We'll figure it out. Somehow."He kissed me again, and this time it
Rhaena's POVWe stayed like that for a long moment, both of us trembling and gasping, clinging to each other as we came down from the intensity, our hearts pounding so hard I could feel his pulse where our bodies were pressed together.Reality started to creep back in slowly.We'd just had sex. In his office. At work. In the middle of the day. Just down the hall from where other people were working.Aggressive, loud, desperate sex that we'd barely managed to keep quiet."We really need to stop doing this," I said when I could finally speak, though I made no move to pull away from him, my arms still wrapped around his neck, my legs still locked around his waist, his softening cock still inside me."Probably," he agreed, pressing a tender kiss to my temple that contrasted sharply with the brutal way he'd just taken me. "But we won't.""Alessio—""I know," he said, pulling back slightly to look at me, his hands cupping my face with surprising gentleness given the brutal, desperate way he
Rhaena's POVI nodded against his hand, and he slowly removed it, watching me carefully.Then his mouth returned to my breasts, this time biting down on my nipple hard enough that I had to bite my own lip to keep from crying out.His hands went to my skirt, finding the zipper and yanking it down roughly. The skirt fell to the floor around my feet, pooling around my heels and leaving me in just my panties and shoes in his office."So fucking beautiful," he muttered, his eyes roaming over my nearly naked body with possessive, predatory hunger. "Been thinking about this all morning. About getting you naked in my office. About bending you over my desk. About making you mine again. About reminding you who you belong to.""I'm supposed to be working," I said weakly, even as my hands were already fumbling with his belt, unbuckling it with trembling, desperate fingers."So am I," he said, helping me with his zipper, his hands covering
Rhaena's POVI turned the handle and stepped into his office, closing the door behind me.And standing by the windows, looking out at the view, was Alessio.He'd removed his suit jacket, which was draped over his chair. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his forearms - those same arms that had held me down, that had gripped my hips, that had wrapped around me possessively. He looked relaxed and casual and devastatingly handsome.He turned when I entered, and the look in his eyes made my breath catch. Pure hunger. Raw need. Barely contained desire."Lock the door," he said, his voice low and commanding in that tone that made my entire body respond instantly.I should refuse. Should tell him this was inappropriate. Should leave.Instead, my hand reached behind me and turned the lock with a quiet click.The sound seemed impossibly loud in the quiet office."Good girl," he said softly, and those two words sent heat flooding through my entire body, made my core clench with
Rhaena's POVMy core clenched involuntarily at his words. I pressed my thighs together under the table, trying to ignore the ache that was building between them.Alessio: Do you know what I want to do to you right now?I shouldn't engage. Shouldn't respond. Should put my phone away and focus on work.But my fingers were moving before I could stop them, typing out a response under the table where no one could see.Me: We can't do this. We agreed.The response came almost immediately.Alessio: I know what we agreed. I'm just telling you what I'm thinking. You can stop me if you want. Tell me to stop texting and I will.My finger hovered over the keyboard. I should tell him to stop. Should remind him that this was inappropriate, that we'd agreed Italy was over, that we needed to maintain boundaries.But I didn't type anything. Didn't tell him to stop.And he noticed.Alessio: That's what I thought. You want this too. Want me to tell you all the things I'm thinking about doing to you.Ale
Rhaena's POVI turned away from the mirror and went back into the bedroom, pulling back the covers on the large four-poster bed. The sheets were soft and cool against my skin when I slipped between them. The mattress was incredibly comfortable, the pillows we
Rhaena's POVOur eyes met and I felt that familiar jolt of electricity run through me. He had changed into dark jeans and a fitted navy blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, showing off the muscles and the light dusting of dark hair on his arms. The top two buttons were
Alessio's POVWatching Rhaena panic and then run into my bedroom like her life depended on it amused me greatly. The look of pure terror on her face when she realized it was my dad at the door was absolutely priceless. Her eyes had gone so wide I thought they might pop out of her head, and her mout
Rhaena’s POVThe next day, my phone rang while I was sitting on my bed, staring at nothing in particular and trying not to think about green eyes and stupid smirks. I glanced at the screen and saw Sandro’s name.I answered right away.His voice was warm and friendly, just like always. He asked how







