LOGIN~FIORELLA~“Yes, let's really explore” I say excitedly. “Tomorrow can wait.”And that's how our evening begins.We walk even though we don't have a plan or a destination.We simply follow the streets and see where they take us.The further we go, the more beautiful everything becomes.Historic buildings stand beside narrow streets. The lights begin glowing as evening settles in, reflecting against the damp pavement.At one point, we stop near a beautiful old structure, and I stare at it in fascination.“This is gorgeous.”Lucas looks at me instead of the building. “You've said that about everything today.”“Because everything is gorgeous,” I tell him, still staring at the building.“Everything?” he asks.I turn to him. “Yes.”He smiles. “You're easily impressed. You keep staring.”“I'm appreciating things,” I say. “And there's nothing wrong with staring.”“There is when you're staring at me,” he tells me and my cheeks heat.“Well, it's a good thing I wasn't staring
~FIORELLA~The first thing I become aware of when I wake up is the soft gray light filtering through the curtains.For a few seconds, I lie completely still, staring at the ceiling while my sleepy mind tries to remember where I am.Then I remember I'm in Scotland, and I have a presentation at King's university by 2pm today with Lucas.I check the time on my phone and I see it's 10:00am already.Wow! I really slept for long.My eyes immediately drift toward the other side of the room, and I notice his bed is empty.I sit up slowly, pushing my hair away from my face.“Lucas?” I call tentatively.“I'm here,” he replies, and I nearly jump.He steps out of the bathroom, already dressed and looking annoyingly awake for someone who went to bed as late as I did.He's wearing a crisp shirt with dark trousers, his hair slightly damp from his shower.I narrow my eyes at him.“How long have you been awake?”“Long enough to realize you're capable of sleeping through an alarm
~LUCAS~I stare at the bathroom door after Fiorella disappears behind it, and for several seconds, I can't help the grin spreading across my face.Recently, I've been seeing Fiorella really embarrassed, and it's always fun to see.Fiorella Vincenzo—the woman who can walk into a room full of lawyers and make half of them question their life choices—just spent the last few minutes hiding behind a bathroom door because she forgot her toiletries, and then her nightwear.I bite back a laugh.This woman is unbelievable.I glance toward the bathroom again. The water is still running.I shake my head.First, she forgets her soap and sponge. Then she forgets her nightwear. And somehow, despite all of that, she still manages to carry herself like she has everything under control.I find it adorable. More adorable than I should probably admit.Especially after what she said before disappearing into the bathroom.‘Like pulling you over here and kissing you senseless.’My s
~FIORELLA~What the hell did I just say?I stare at myself in the mirror, my eyes wide and my cheeks burning.I actually said that to him….out loud.I drag both hands down my face and groan.“Idiot.”I should have kept my mouth shut.I should have said nothing and walked into the bathroom like a normal person.Instead, I had looked straight into Lucas's eyes and told him I could kiss him senseless.Who says things like that? Apparently, me.I take a deep breath and turn away from the mirror.I refuse to think about it.I came in here to take a bath, and that is exactly what I'm going to do.I walk toward the shower and begin removing my clothes, folding each piece and placing it neatly on the small stool beside the sink. My mind is still embarrassingly stuck on Lucas, but I force myself to concentrate on anything else.The hotel bathroom is beautiful.Too beautiful, actually.The marble tiles gleam beneath the warm lights, the shower enclosure is spotless, and ev
~FIORELLA~I choose the latter. I refuse to give in to him easily. I refuse to get flattered by his words. So I narrow my eyes. “Don't start, Lucas.”He chuckles. “I didn't say anything bad.”“You called me rude downstairs,” I glare at him.“You were being rude,” he says.“I was defending my right to have my own room.”“And I was defending our right to enjoy this beautiful room,” he says, and I stare at him.He holds my gaze for two seconds before making an exaggerated pout.Then he dramatically throws himself onto one of the beds.“Fine. I'll be sad all by myself.”I roll my eyes. “Lucas.”He sits up and sighs loudly.“It's okay. I'll survive. I'll spend the entire night staring at the ceiling and wondering why this beautiful woman standing here doesn't want to share a room with me.”A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.I immediately cover my mouth.Lucas's face lights up. “There! I knew I could make you laugh.”“I didn't laugh.”“You absolutely did.”“It wa
~FIORELLA~“There's been a mistake,” I say, eyes wide with disbelief. “We're meant to have separate rooms. Two different rooms.”When we arrived in Scotland, nothing would have prepared me for finding out that the firm reserved a room for both Lucas and I.And now, hearing the lady at the counter tell us that we'll be sharing a room sounded so funny.“I'm so sorry, but your firm reserved one twin room. There are separate beds though,” the lady behind the counter says again.She's getting more and more flustered every time I repeat myself, and she keeps stealing glances at Lucas.Her cheeks are flushed and I notice a slight tremble in her hands.Is she crushing on Lucas? Is she nervous because of her crush? Or is it something more?“Are you implying that our firm will expect colleagues of different genders sleep in the same room?” I ask, still not believing my ears.“It's different beds,” she says calmly.“And so??”Yes, I have shared a room with Lucas.I have sh
~ELENA~I don't even know when we get home. I just feel someone pulling me out of the car and leading me to my room.I feel numb. My body, my senses, my mind….they all feel numb.The door to my room opens and I am led inside.“Take your bath and rest. We'll come to chec
Alessandro shouldn’t have come. Every instinct tells him to stay away.But curiosity, or maybe something darker…. drives him straight to the masquerade ball party.After what happened yesterday, he couldn’t stop thinking about them.The triplets.So he did what anyone with too much fear, curiosity,
~ELENA~I walk toward Nico, grab him by his collar and crash my lips against his, kissing him hard and passionately.The kiss is hot, hungry…and for a moment, the kiss is all there is.Nico groans low in my throat, his hands immediately going to my waist as he pulls me clos
~ELENA~Nico's lips graze my cheeks…almost a kiss.Almost.And then the gym door swings open.“Damn!” We both exclaim.Riccardo walks in, towel over his shoulders. He pauses, eyes flicking between our too-close bodies.“Everything okay here??” He asks, voice neutral, but b







