All Chapters of CRAVING THE WRONG MAN: DANGEROUS DESIRES BOOK 1: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Rhaena’s POVI quickly grabbed my phone from the bedside drawer where I must have left it last night, even though I didn't remember doing that. Then I followed him out of the bedroom, down a hallway, and into what turned out to be a really nice, modern kitchen. It had shiny appliances and granite countertops and everything looked expensive and clean.He walked over to the stove and grabbed a plate that was sitting there. He handed it to me, and I looked down at it in surprise. On the plate were perfectly golden pancakes stacked on top of each other, fluffy scrambled eggs that looked incredibly delicious and were still steaming hot, and even some crispy bacon on the side. It looked like something from a restaurant, not something a regular person had made in their home kitchen.I was absolutely starving, so I didn't waste any time. I sat down at the kitchen counter on one of the bar stools and dug in immediately, not even bothering with poli

Rhaena's POV"He deserved it," Alessio said, his laughter finally dying down to just a smile. "Any guy who keeps calling his ex-girlfriend after she's made it clear she doesn't want to talk to him deserves to be messed with a little bit."I wiped the tears from my eyes, my laughter finally subsiding into just occasional giggles. My stomach hurt from laughing so hard and my face felt warm. "You're right," I admitted, still smiling. "He did deserve it. And honestly? That felt really good. Really, really good. I've wanted to do something like that for weeks. I've wanted to get back at him somehow, to make him feel even just a tiny bit of what he made me feel."Alessio reached over slowly and gently pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing softly against my cheek. His touch was surprisingly soft and tender, so different from his usual rough and teasing manner. It made my skin tingle where he touched me."Good," he said quietly, his green eyes meeting mine and holding my

Alessio's POVWatching Rhaena panic and then run into my bedroom like her life depended on it amused me greatly. The look of pure terror on her face when she realized it was my dad at the door was absolutely priceless. Her eyes had gone so wide I thought they might pop out of her head, and her mouth had fallen open in shock and horror. I had to bite down hard on the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing out loud at her reaction. She was so dramatic sometimes, making everything into such a big deal. It was actually kind of cute and endearing, though I would never, ever admit that to her. She would probably hit me if I called her cute.I stood up from the kitchen counter slowly, taking my time, not rushing at all. I stretched my arms above my head and rolled my shoulders, deliberately moving at a leisurely pace. There was no need to hurry.My dad could wait a few more seconds. He was the one who had shown up unannounced at my apartment on a Saturday morning without even calling first

Alessio's POVThe moment those words left my mouth, the entire atmosphere in the kitchen changed. It was like all the air had been sucked out of the room. The silence that followed was heavy and thick and uncomfortable.My dad's face fell. All the frustration and concern that had been there a moment ago disappeared, replaced by deep sadness and pain. His eyes got a distant look in them, like he was remembering something he'd rather forget. The lines around his eyes and mouth seemed to deepen, making him look older suddenly. He looked genuinely hurt, like I had reached into his chest and squeezed his heart.For a second, just a brief moment, I regretted bringing her up. I regretted throwing that in his face. It was a low blow and I knew it. My mother was a sore subject for both of us, a wound that had never fully healed even after all these years. We usually avoided talking about her, avoided mentioning her at all if we could help it. It was an unspoken agreement between us - we just d

Alessio's POV"That's wonderful news," my dad said, his face genuinely happy and relieved. "I'm so glad to hear that. It was one of my biggest concerns about marrying Moiraine - that you and Rhaena wouldn't be able to get along, that there would be constant tension and conflict in the family. But if you two are finding common ground and building a good relationship, then that makes everything so much better. A blended family only works when everyone makes an effort to connect."He reached out and clapped me on the shoulder affectionately, his grip firm and warm. "I'm proud of you for making that effort, Alessio. I know it probably wasn't easy at first, but I'm glad you're trying."If only he knew the truth.If only he knew that I could never see Rhaena as my stepsister. Not now, not ever. Because I found her attractive. Way too attractive. Dangerously attractive. In a way that kept me up at night and invaded my thoughts at the worst possible times.The memory of last night flashed thr