~ELENA~
I sit up slowly, my legs still trembling, my breath shallow, and my body a hazy mess of tingling sensation and exhaustion.
What just happened??
My skin is still flushed, and my cheeks are burning–not from shame, but from the memory of how that stranger thoroughly wrecked me.
I glance around the room, half expecting him to walk back in and say something…anything. But he doesn't. He's really gone.
He didn't ask for my name or digits before leaving.
I don't even know his name too.
I exhale deeply and finally peel myself off the bed, walking…no, wobbling…towards my dress on the floor.
My red panties are still around my knees. I pull them up first and wince as the fabric brushes my over sensitive skin. Then I slip into the red dress and smooth it down, adjusting it over my curves.
My hair is a mess and my lipstick is all but gone, and my lips are a little swollen. I look like I have just been ravished.
Because I have!
I stand in front of the mirror for a second, tilting my head. A small smile forms on my lips.
Damn, Elena!
I reapply some lipgloss I have in my clutch, do my best to finger comb my hair into something that doesn't scream, just got fingered by a sex doll, and walk out of the room like I have just conquered the world.
The pulsing bass of the club returns as I step back into the hallway. I follow the lights, descending the stairs until I find my girls in our VIP section.
Valentina sees me first and her eyes widen.
“Look who's finally decided to graze us with her presence” she teases.
Gianna gasps, mouth open in mock horror.
“Oh my God, you actually went through it??” She asks.
“I cannot believe it!” Valentina squeals, slapping my arm as I sit besides her. “You made out with a stranger! Actually, scratch that, it might be more than made out. You disappeared for like…. almost an hour!”
Gianna fans herself. “Elena, girl….did he least say his name? Or are we calling him Mr. Kisser from now on?”
I laugh, reaching out for my cocktail and taking a slow, cooling sip.
“You two dared me” I say, cocking a brow at them. “Don't act shocked. You literally said I should kiss that stranger or I am doing the laundry for a month. So I kissed him. The rest…just sort of happened.”
Valentina leans in, eyes wide with curiosity.
“What do you mean the rest just happened??”
Gianna scots closer, grabbing my arm.
“Don't you dare go quiet on us now. Spill! Did you…do it?? Like it-it??”
I smirk and shake my head. “Nosy much?”
Gianna gasps dramatically. “You did! Oh my God, you totally…!”
I hold up a finger.
“I'm not confirming or denying anything” I tell them.
Valentina groans. “Oh come on, don't leave us hanging like this.”
“I can,” I say sweetly, taking another sip of my drink. “And I will.”
“Did he at least kiss good?” Gianna pouts.
My lips curl into a slow smile as I glance at them.
“You could say that.”
“You're evil. Give us details, now!” Valentina lets out a frustrated squeal.
But I stand up, picking up my clutch.
“Nope, it's late. And I, for one, am exhausted” I say.
“From what, exactly??” Gianna teases.
“Ask your imagination” I throw her a wink.
They both groan in protest as I start making my way out of the VIP lounge.
“Elena, don't you dare walk away from us with that smug grin on your face!”
“I'm walking, Val,” I call over my shoulder. “But just so you know…that dare? Best dare ever.”
They burst into laughter, grabbing their purses and hurrying after me.
We step out into the cool night air, heels clicking against the pavement, still buzzing from the music, the drinks, and now….my little adventure.
And as we head towards the waiting cab, Valentina throws an arm over my shoulder.
“I swear,” she says. “If this turns into a romcom and you end up falling for the hot stranger, I want maid of honor rights.”
I just laugh and shake my head.
If only she knew….I have no idea who he is.
But somehow, I have a feeling this isn't the last time I'll see him.
And God help me, I hope I do.
***
We are back home and I am about to go to bed with Valentina and Gianna when my phone beeps.
I check my phone and see it is a message from mom. I open it and read it.
“Elena darling. Don't forget you're moving in to your new house tomorrow. Enough staying at Valentina and Gianna's place.”
I roll my eyes.
I don't want to move into any house and have been delaying by staying with Valentina and Gianna at their house.
But I can't keep postponing it anymore. So I'll finally move in tomorrow.
I sigh deeply. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.
****
The next morning, my mom sends a car to come pick me up at Gianna's and Valentina's place.
She says her new husband is a billionaire.
She doesn't say he's a Mafia.
She definitely doesn't say he has three sons.
And she really doesn't say they're triplets.
After hugging Valentina and Gianna bye and promising to always visit them, I enter the car.
I have just two suitcases.
The black car drives off, and almost an hour later slows in front of a mansion that looks more like a fortress—wrought iron gates, stone pillars, cameras that blink red as we approach.
I hug my cardigan tighter around me and press my face to the glass.
It's beautiful….but in a cold, haunted kind of way.
The driver opens the door without a word.
“Miss Elena. The family is waiting inside” he announces to me.
The family.
I step out and stare at the estate that now apparently belongs to me too.
Before I can even reach for my suitcase, the front door opens.
And they step out.
Three of them. Tall. Broad shouldered. Inhumanly attractive.
And identical.
Triplets.
My breath catches.
My eyes dart to the one on the left, then the one in the middle.
But it's the one on the right who tilts his head…. just slightly.
That face. That smirk.
The world tilts.
Oh my God!
This face! It's the same face at the club.
It's him.
The stranger I had kissed.
The one who wrecked me without telling me his name.
But wait…
The middle one just raised an eyebrow at me…exactly the way he did when I said,“Don't stop, please.”
My stomach flips.
No.
Was it him??
I glance at the one on the left…he's expressionless, unreadable, arms folded, but his eyes…God, his eyes burn into me like he knows.
Holy hell!
Which of them did I make out at the club with??
~NICO~The minute I walk into the courtyard, the noise hits me like a punch.Screams, whistles and laughter.All for them.Vincenzo and Riccardo.My brothers.I watch as girls practically claw at each other just to get a closer look. Some are whispering my name too, but most of the attention isn’t on me anymore…..it’s on them.Vincenzo stands like a damn statue…. sharp jaw, cold eyes, not a single emotion slipping through. One glare from him, and half the girls take a step back like they’ve just remembered he’s dangerous.Typical Vincenzo, the kind of guy who doesn’t need to say a word to make people afraid of him.Riccardo’s different. He's silent, steady, and way too calm. He’s got that quiet intensity that makes people want to know what’s going on in his head. He doesn’t even have to look at them, and they still melt.It’s annoying.No, scratch that. It’s infuriating.Because standing a few feet away, I catch Elena staring at them like she’s forgotten how
~ELENA~Screams echo across the courtyard, high-pitched and chaotic. For a second, I think someone’s gotten hurt or maybe there is a fight happening out there.“What the hell??” I murmur, my pulse racing as I dash out with Gianna and Valentina, until I hear the words that freeze me in place.“They’re here! Oh my God, there are two more of him!”And then I see them.My breath catches in my throat.Standing right in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by what looks like half the female population of Aurelia University, are Vincenzo and Riccardo.For a second, I think I’m hallucinating. But no, that sharp, cold stare that could slice steel… that’s Vincenzo. And the one with the smirk that looks like sin carved into perfection…. definitely Riccardo.My jaw drops.What the hell are they doing here?They stand like they own the damn place, sunlight catching on their dark hair, the same sculpted features that match Nico’s but with entirely different energies.
~NICO~I follow Elena out of the class.When we step out, heads turn immediately, guys staring at her legs, girls eyeing me like I belong to them. Elena notices both. I see the way her shoulders tense, the way she presses her books tighter against her chest.Perfect.I sling my jacket over my shoulder and walk just a step ahead of her, letting the crowd swallow us up. A group of girls waves, one of them, Sofia, if I recall rightly is making a beeline straight for me. She’s all glossy hair, red lipstick, and too much perfume.“Nico,” she purrs, sliding her hand onto my arm. “You’re coming to the masquerade ball party tomorrow night, right?”I don’t pull away. I let her touch linger, my gaze deliberately sliding past Sofia….landing on Elena.She’s frozen a few feet away, lips parted, her eyes flashing with something sharp and hot.Jealousy.I smirk, slow and deliberate, before leaning closer to Sofia, close enough to make it look dangerous but not enough to
~NICO~The moment we walk into the school building, I can feel it.Eyes everywhere.It’s like the whole hallway stops to look at her….the way her skirt sways, the way her hair catches the light, the easy confidence in her steps.She doesn’t even seem to notice. Or maybe she does, and she likes it.Her friends walks toward her when they saw her.Elena walks a few steps ahead of me, laughing softly at something her friend says, completely unaware of the way the guys’ gazes follow her.Or maybe she is aware. Maybe this is all part of her plan.A group of seniors near the lockers glance her way, one of them saying something under his breath that makes the others snicker. My teeth clench instantly.I shoot them a look…. sharp enough to cut. The laughter dies in their throats.Good.Elena finally glances back at me, and when she catches my expression, her brows lift slightly. “What?” she mouths silently, all innocence.I don’t answer. I just shake my head, trying
~NICO~I’m halfway down the stairs when I see her.Elena.She’s standing by the dining table, sunlight spilling through the window and catching the curve of her hair, the shimmer of her skin. For a second, I think I’m imagining her….because no one should look like that this early in the morning.She turns slightly, and I catch a better look at her outfit. Tight. Short. Soft fabric hugging every curve in a way that makes my pulse stumble.What the hell is she wearing?She's wearing a black leather skirt that clings to her thighs. A cream silk top that dips low enough to show the swell of her breasts.My fingers curl against the railing as my eyes travel down, then back up, helplessly. I know I should look away….should say something, anything, but all I can do is stare.Her lips curve when she notices me, that small, satisfied smile that makes me think she planned this.“Let’s go to school together,” she says lightly, voice full of sweet innocence that doesn’
~ELENA~“You already let me touch you,” he murmurs, “but now you’re going to let me take you, while they watch.”My breath catches, but there’s no part of me that wants to say no.My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat.Three of them.All of them look at me like I’m something they’re about to devour.Nico kisses me, slow and deep, nothing like the rough, punishing way he kissed me before. This one is deliberate, coaxing, like he’s savoring me.When he finally breaks the kiss, he pulls me closer until my chest is flush against his.“On the bed,” he says.Vincenzo guides me forward, his hands firm on my hips as if reminding me I’m not choosing Nico over him…. I’m choosing all of them.I crawl onto the bed, my knees sinking into the soft mattress, and Nico follows, shedding the rest of his clothes until he’s gloriously, shamelessly naked.He pushes me gently onto my back, and I can feel the heat of Vincenzo standing at the edge of the bed, watc