Mag-log in~FIORELLA~“Did you like what you saw?” Lucas asks teasingly. “Would you like to see more??”My jaw drops in disbelief. “Excuse me?”“I'm asking a simple question,” he smirks at me.“You are unbelievably naughty.” I lightly smack his chest, and he laughs.“Was that a yes?” He teases me. “No!” I reply abruptly, and he laughs again.I try to push him away, but he barely moves.“Lucas! You're impossible.”“And you're blushing,” he replies.“I am not.”“You are,” he insists, and leans closer, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “You look cute and adorable when you're shy.”My cheeks somehow become even hotter.“Stop saying things like that.”“Why?” he asks.“Because…” I struggle for an answer. “Because I said so.”He chuckles, then finally steps away.“Give me five minutes.”He disappears into the bathroom with his clothes, and I stand against the wall, staring after him.I put both hands over my face.“This man is going to be the death of me.”A few minutes later, L
~FIORELLA~I stand there for another few seconds, my forehead still against the cool wall.Then I lift my head and stare at myself in the mirror.“No more thinking about Lucas.” I point at my reflection. “Absolutely no more.”My reflection doesn't look convinced….neither am I.I sigh and finally turn on the shower.The sound of rushing water fills the bathroom almost immediately, drowning out the thoughts that have been chasing me around for what feels like hours.I step beneath the warm spray and close my eyes.For the first time since leaving Lucas's room, I allow myself to breathe properly.The water runs over my hair, my face, my shoulders, and slowly, wonderfully, my body begins to relax.I wash my hair twice, taking my time. Then I lather my body with the hotel's scented shower gel, deliberately focusing on the simple things….the warmth of the water, the clean scent, the softness of the towel waiting for me afterward.Anything but Lucas.Unfortunately, my b
~FIORELLA~I run straight to my room, open the door and go in immediately.The moment the door closes behind me, I press my back against it.I close my eyes, and breathe three times."Okay."My voice comes out embarrassingly breathless, and I cover my face.What the hell just happened?What the hell did I just do?What were you thinking, Fiorella??The worst part is that I know exactly what I was thinking.I wasn't. I hadn't been thinking at all.For once in my life, I had simply allowed myself to feel something without analyzing it, fighting it, or trying to win.And that scares me more than I want to admit.Because Lucas isn't supposed to make me feel like this.My breathing is still uneven, my heart is still pounding, and my lips….God.My fingers rise to them instinctively, and the memory of Lucas kissing me flashes through my mind.I immediately drop my hand.“No.”I whisper the word to myself as though that will somehow erase the last several minutes.It
~LUCAS~I'm more than pleased to discover that Fiorella wants this just as much as I do.Her fingers tighten around my shirt, and mine slide more securely around her waist.The kiss deepens almost naturally, as though neither of us has to think about what comes next.Fiorella's body is pressed against mine and I'm enjoying her warmth and softness.I'm enjoying the way she fits against me like she has forgotten that we're supposed to be enemies.I tilt my head slightly, kissing her again, slower this time.She responds immediately.A quiet sound escapes her, and something inside my chest tightens.I don't know what this is anymore.I only know that I don't want it to stop.My hand moves from her waist, slowly traveling upward until my fingertips brush the side of her neck.She shivers, and I feel it immediately.That tiny reaction sends a rush of warmth through me.I stroke my thumb gently beneath her jaw, then let my fingers trail down toward her shoulder.Sh
~LUCAS~I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing.The look on Fiorella's face is priceless.For the past several minutes, I've been lying perfectly still, pretending to be completely lost in sleep while she stares at me like I'm some kind of puzzle she desperately needs to solve.And, God help me, I've enjoyed every second of it.It started with her fingers.The first touch was so light I almost wondered if I'd imagined it.A soft fingertip brushed across my forehead. Then my eyebrow, and then the side of my face.I nearly opened my eyes when she traced the edge of my jaw, because the sensation sent a strange warmth straight through me.But I didn't.I kept my breathing slow and my face relaxed.I kept pretending…. mostly because I wanted to know what she was doing.But also because I wanted to feel her touch for as long as she was willing to give it to me.And she kept going.Her finger moved over my cheek, so gentle that it almost t
~FIORELLA~Warmth is the first thing I notice.I'm warm, so warm that for a few seconds, I don't want to move.I feel something solid beneath my cheek, and there's an arm wrapped around my waist.My brain is still foggy with sleep.I slowly open my eyes, and immediately freeze when I see that my face is pressed against Lucas.My entire body goes rigid and I blink twice.Then I look down to see his arm is wrapped securely around my waist.My hand is resting against his chest.One of my legs is tangled with his beneath the blanket.And somehow, I've practically curled myself into him.Oh. My. God.What happened?I stare at his arm around me like it has personally betrayed me.I slowly lift my head and I see that Lucas is still asleep.His eyes are closed. His breathing is slow and steady. His face is completely relaxed.I stare at him, then at myself, then at him again.How did this happen?We went to sleep with enough space between us.I remember that.I remember
~ELENA~Vincenzo doesn’t take his eyes off me as he shrugs off his jacket, tossing it carelessly onto my couch in the room.“Stand up,” he orders softly, but there’s no room for disobedience in his tone.My legs feel weak, but I obey, standing slowly from the bed.Riccard
~NICO~“Dad, I'm not quitting school. I love it there” I say angrily to my father.Vincenzo, Riccardo and I are in my father's private office and he called us for a meeting because he heard I was at Elena's school yesterday.Yes, I get that father has eyes everywhere but wh
~ELENA~The whispers multiply until it feels like the entire hallway has turned into a low hum of excitement.“Who is he? Does anyone know?”“They say he is doing his masters.”“I heard he's transferred.”“Transferred? He looks like he walked straight out of a magazine.”“D
~NICO~The moment my fist connects with Alessandro’s jaw, the sound is louder than I expect. A sharp crack that silences even the shrieks around us.He stumbles, spits blood, and collapses onto the floor.The crowd roars….half in shock, half in awe. Phones are out, cap







