INICIAR SESIÓN~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
~FIORELLA~I really did!.I really asked Lucas Santis to go first.I always want to go first. I always want to take the lead.I like controlling the room from the beginning.I like setting the pace.So why did I just ask him to go first?Lucas looks genuinely stunned."You want me to go first?" He asks."Yes,” I reply.He studies me for a second. "Are you feeling okay?"I fight a smile. "Very funny.""You never let me go first,” he says. “So why?”I shrug. "I don't know."And that's the honest answer.I really don't know.Maybe I just want to watch him. Maybe I want to see him in his element.Maybe I want to listen to his voice.Maybe I want to know what it feels like to sit back and simply admire him without pretending I don't.Whatever the reason is, I don't take it back.Lucas finally nods. "Okay."He walks toward the podium, and I step aside. Then he begins."Good morning, everyone."His deep, calm, and confident voice fills the room.The students immediately be
~FIORELLA~I barely sleep after I lie on my bed when I'm done taking my bath, and changing into my nightwear.And it's not because I'm nervous about the presentation.At least, that's what I keep telling myself.But every time I close my eyes, my mind drifts back to Lucas, to the way he looked at me when we finished practicing, to the warmth in his voice when he told me WE were ready.That word shouldn't have stayed in my head for as long as it did. But it did.And when I finally wake up, sunlight is already slipping through the curtains of my hotel room.I lie there for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling.Today is the presentation. Today is also the last day of our time in Albania.By tonight, we'll be on a flight to Scotland.Everything suddenly feels like it's moving too quickly.I sit up and drag a hand through my hair."Focus, Fiorella."Presentation first, then feelings later.I force myself out of the bed and walk into the bathroom to brush my teeth an
~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
~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,







