All Chapters of The Auctioned Bride: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

I needed a distraction…something to take my thoughts off Rico. So, I went somewhere that smelled of Valerio. His study.The moment I opened the door, his scent hit me. That sharp, clean, masculine scent that always lingered on his skin. It was everywhere. The air itself seemed to breathe his name. For a second, it felt like he was wrapping his arms around me again, whispering something soft and cruel in the same breath.I moved slowly around the room, touching the things he’d left behind…his teacup, the edge of his notebook, his gun lying carelessly on the table. My fingers traced each one like they were relics, small pieces of him that refused to let me go.Then my eyes found his shirt hanging on the coat rack. I reached for it, pressing the fabric to my face. It smelled like him. I smiled through the ache in my chest and then…without warning, the tears came. They rolled hot and heavy down my cheeks as I clutched that shirt to my heart like it could fill the emptiness inside me. I c

I sank onto the floor, the echo of that kiss still burning on my lips, my heartbeat filling the silence he left behind. I didn’t know how long I sat there before I heard footsteps in the hallway. My body stiffened…half hoping it was him. But it wasn’t. Rico stood at the doorway, eyes still bloodshot from what he’d seen earlier. The smell of alcohol drifted faintly from him. He looked like he hadn’t slept, like he’d been drinking just to stop thinking. His jaw was tight, and when he looked at me, I saw it…hurt. Deep, raw hurt. “Rico…” I whispered, getting to my feet. “I…” He laughed softly, dryly. “You don’t even know what I think.” “Then tell me,” I said quietly. He looked away, shaking his head. “You think I didn’t notice? The way you look at him. The way you forget I’m even there.” Tears filled my eyes again, though I couldn’t tell anymore who they were for. I took a step forward, my voice small. “Rico, please… don’t do this right now. Not when everything’s already f

It wasn’t hunger like Valerio’s; it was something else. A quiet ache. A warmth that didn’t burn, but melted.I let him. I wanted to forget, even just for tonight. His hands stayed careful, his breath shaky against my skin. But somewhere in the middle of it, my chest tightened…not because I wanted him more, but because I realized I still wanted someone else.Rico pulled back first, his forehead resting against mine. “You’re crying,” he whispered.“I know,” I said, voice trembling. “I just….”“I just… don’t know what’s wrong with me,” I whispered, my breath catching between us. Rico’s thumb brushed under my eye, wiping a tear that immediately found its way back. His touch was tender, too tender for how broken I felt. “Nothing’s wrong with you, Althea,” he murmured. “You’re just… hurting.” The way he said it, quiet, understanding…almost made me break again. I wanted to fall into his arms and let the warmth drown me. I wanted to stop feeling everything that was clawing at my chest.

I wanted to go past this, and I didn’t want to.Valerio was the only one I’d slept with after that bastard, and I knew it was wrong to even think about being with his cousin. But it would’ve been a nice comeback, wouldn’t it? A twisted kind of payback. Except my stupid heart…yeah, it wouldn’t let me.When Rico’s lips brushed against my collarbone, then trailed upward, nibbling gently at my ear, I felt my self-control start to slip away. His hands roamed slowly, carefully, as our breaths grew heavier, our bodies leaning closer until the air itself felt alive.“Rico…” I moaned softly, not even sure what I wanted to say.He stopped, still breathing hard, his hands lingering on me as if unsure whether to stay or pull back. His eyes were heavy with want, clouded with something deeper than just desire.“Althea…” he said, his voice rough, “I’m not sure what you want. I…”“Just shut up and kiss me,” I breathed, pulling him closer.That stopped him completely. Like I’d just snapped a spell he’

It had been a week since Valerio left. A full week of silence from him, and though I thought of him…I thought of his voice, his touch, his stupid temper, I found that the ache wasn’t as unbearable anymore.Rico had a way of filling that space without trying too hard. He was always there…cooking with me, baking, talking late into the night. Sometimes, when I caught him staring at me across the table or when our laughter faded into quiet, I could feel the air thicken between us.But it never went beyond kisses. Never beyond that line we both silently drew.Tonight felt different, though.He’d asked me to get dressed “for an in-house date,” he said, his eyes glinting like he had something up his sleeve.And honestly, I was… excited.It had been so long since anyone had made me feel like I was worth celebrating. Valerio never did things like this…not because he didn’t care, but because he didn’t know how to show it.But Rico… he made it look effortless.I stood before the mirror, smoothi