Unraveling

(Sofia)

The rain had a way of making everything feel temporary. Like if I stood still long enough under it, the night would wash me away and no one would notice I was gone but Luca didn't let me stand still.

His hand didn't let go of my wrist until we were inside the building. His building. The lobby was cold, silent and nothing like Noir. There was no music or laughter. The only sound I heard was from our footsteps on the shining marble and the faint beep of a security scanner.

Security cameras followed us everywhere. I counted three before I got tired and stopped looking.

The elevator doors slid open before we reached them, like he had been expected. Of course he had. Men like Luca didn't wait.

We both stepped into the elevator alone and honestly, the space was too small.

He smelt of cedar, smoke, something expensive that didn't belong on a rainy street. It was distracting and my brain was screaming run, but my body was too tired to listen.

The elevator doors closed and silence settled between us as the elevator started moving up real fast.

I stared at the floor numbers lighting up one by one. 12. 13. 14.

"What floor are we going to?" My voice sounded small, even to me.

"Mine," he said.

That was it. There was no explanation and definitely no reassurance.

I swallowed. "And if I say no?"

His eyes flicked to me. There were dark, sharp and currently assessing. "You already said yes when you got in the car."

My stomach twisted. He wasn't wrong but saying yes to not dying felt different from saying yes to… whatever this was becoming.

The elevator stopped on 32.

The doors opened into a hallway that looked like it belonged in a luxury magazine. It had cold lighting, black doors and no noise.

Luca's apartment was at the end.

He unlocked it with his thumbprint. Fancy.

The door swung open into a space that was too big, too empty, too him. There were floor-to-ceiling windows that showed the city below, drowning in rain and light. He had very minimal furniture, just a black couch, a glass table and no clutter.

It felt like a place someone stayed in, not lived in.

I stood in the doorway like an idiot, water dripping off my jacket onto his floor.

"You're getting water everywhere," he said, shutting the door behind us.

"Sorry." I said it automatically, then immediately hated myself for apologizing to him.

"Sit." He nodded toward the couch.

"I'm fine standing."

"Are you?" He stepped closer, close enough that I had to tip my head back to look at him. "You've been standing for hours, Sofia. You're shaking."

I was. I hadn't noticed until he said it. My hands wouldn't stop.

"Get warm," he said, softer now. Not softer like he cared. Softer like he was used to giving orders and having them followed.

He walked away before I could answer, disappearing down a hallway.

I didn't sit. I couldn't. My legs felt like they would give out if I stopped moving.

When he came back, he had a towel and a glass of water.

He held the towel out first.

"I'm not a child," I said, but I took it anyway.

"Act like one and I'll treat you like one."

I glared at him, but I started drying my hair. The towel smelled clean and expensive.

He set the water on the table and watched me. Not staring in a creepy way. Watching like he was filing every detail away.

"Drink," he said.

I did. My throat was dry from everything I hadn't said tonight.

When I finished, I set the glass down too hard.

"Okay," I said. "What now?"

"Now you don't die tonight."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one that matters."

I laughed, short and bitter. "You're really good at avoiding questions, huh?"

"I'm really good at keeping people alive." He stepped closer again. "You included."

My heart did something stupid at that.

"Why?" I asked. "Why me? You don't even know me."

"I know enough."

"Enlighten me."

His eyes dropped to my mouth for half a second before meeting mine again. "You're scared. You're stubborn. You don't trust me. And you're here anyway."

"That's not enough."

"It's enough for tonight."

The way he said tonight made my skin feel hot despite the cold.

I took a step back. "I'm not sleeping with you because you saved me."

"I didn't ask you to."

"Then what do you want?"

Luca was quiet for a long moment. The rain hit the windows behind him, making the city look like it was on fire.

"I want you to stop pretending you don't feel it," he said finally.

It was like he knew. Like he could see the way my pulse jumped when he got close. The way my skin prickled when his voice dropped low.

I hated that he was right.

"I don't have to want you," I said. "I can be grateful and still not want you."

"You can lie to yourself," he replied. "But not to me."

I opened my mouth to argue, but he moved before I could.

One step. Then another.

He stopped when he was close enough that I could feel the heat coming off him. Close enough that if I breathed in, I would breathe him in.

"Sofia," he said. My name sounded different on him. Slower. Like he meant it.

"Don't," I whispered.

"Don't what?"

"Don't make this harder."

"I'm not making it hard." His fingers brushed a strand of wet hair off my cheek. The touch was light, almost hesitant. "You're making it hard by pretending you don't want this."

I should have slapped his hand away.

I didn't.

His thumb lingered against my jaw, tilting my face up slightly.

"Tell me to stop," he said.

I couldn't.

Because the truth was, I was tired of being scared. Tired of running. Tired of feeling alone.

And for ten seconds, in this room, with him, I didn't feel any of that.

"Don't regret this," I said instead.

"I don't regret things I choose," he replied.

His mouth was on mine before I could answer.

It wasn't gentle. It wasn't careful. It was hot and demanding and exactly what I'd been trying not to think about since he spoke to me at the bar.

I kissed him back before I could stop myself.

God, I kissed him back.

His hands found my waist, pulling me closer. I gripped his jacket, needing something solid to hold onto because my knees felt weak.

When he pulled back, we were both breathing hard.

His forehead rested against mine.

"Bedroom," he said, voice rough.

I nodded.

I don't know if it was consent or exhaustion or something else, but I followed him.

The bedroom was as minimal as the rest of the apartment. Big bed, black sheets, no mess.

He didn't turn on the lights. The city glow was enough.

Luca stopped at the edge of the bed and turned to face me.

"Last chance," he said. "Say no now, and I'll stop. No questions."

I looked at him one more time.

He wasn't smirking. He wasn't mocking me. He looked serious, like he meant it.

I reached for his shirt.

That was answer enough.

He didn't rush. Even though I could feel how much he wanted to. His hands moved slow, careful, like he was memorizing me. Like I wasn't just a warm body to him.

My jacket hit the floor first. Then his shirt.

The air between us felt electric.

When his hands slid under my shirt, I shivered. Not from cold.

"Sofia," he murmured against my neck.

He scooped me up and laid me gently on his bed.

Fondling my breasts, he made his way down to my mold and began to tease me with his fingers. Pulling my red panties aside, he pushed two fingers into me.

"F*ck, you're so tight and wet," he said.

I could only moan as I had been taken to ecstasy by his fingers.

I was a moaning mess and the only thing I could think of at this time was pleasure.

He smiled, seeming pleased with the sight of me writhing in pleasure.

He knelt in front of me and began to lick my cl*t while simultaneously pulling his fingers in and out of me.

I had this intense urge in my lower abdomen as though I wanted to burst.

"I need to pee," I said suddenly.

He chuckled at my words.

"I'm not letting you go till you come undone in my mouth princess".

He kept sucking and I came hard.

Grabbing a foil packet from his nightstand, he unbuckled his belt, and I widened from seeing the bulge in his boxers.

Amused by my reaction, he chucked.

"It'll fit princess,".

Spreading my legs, he removed my panties and pushed in making me yelp in pain.

"You're a virgin?" he asked in surprise.

I nodded in reply.

"Why didn't you tell me? Are you sure you want this? Should I stop?" he asked again.

"No, I want this," I said.

He began to move inside me and we both melted into each other while moaning.

The world outside stopped existing.

There was no father. No debt. No Rossi. No rain.

Just him. Just the way he said my name when he thought I wasn't listening.

After, I lay against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It was steady and calm. Like he had done this a thousand times.

Maybe he had.

I hadn't.

"Regret it?" he asked quietly.

I thought about it.

"No," I said.

He didn't say anything for a long time. Then his arm tightened around me slightly.

"Good," he said.

Outside, the rain hadn't stopped.

But inside, for the first time all night, I felt warm and safe.

Even if it was only for tonight.