a's

ing breeze against the windows. I sat on the edge of my b

on looking at Ele

feeling. The dress clung to her like it was made for her, the delicate lace teasing over her skin, the shimmer

ust a quiet, satisfied curve of her lips as she looked at herself i

it down i

later, the image ref

u?" I muttered under his breath

asier when she was just a name, a concept-Alessandro's beloved stepd

d to act like non

oor snapped me o

uc

ssa

nning a hand through my hai

n his pockets, his usual compos

ed. "Not

Walk wi

down the hallway, through the grand staircase, and out onto the balcony overlooking the garden. Th

rty Friday, I assume

"Do I have

ned against the railing. "I want Elena to

impassive. "She'

d at him, eyes sharp. "So

She doesn't

. But I ne

y skin. Alessandro had always been good at getting what he want

tter than

in

k." He clapped Luca's shoulder before turn

nning a hand

was going

na'

p to the party had

party would help me settle in and make new friends. Georgia, ever the doting mother, had agreed, promising th

is avoidance had beco

nto a room, h

mething, he gave

by accident, he

ed me. Then, it ju

we sat in class, watching Luca and his group of fr

e wh

arrogan

describe him. But no, not always. He just doesn't giv

have stung,

e it easier for me

e had been a wel

o know that he was effortlessly charming, dangerou

ter," he had teased when we were in the libr

s. "You're certainl

what I d

I looked up, I noticed Luca standing at the entrance o

ting, he simply tur

e same on

uring lunch, or after school-I could feel Luca notic

ed to let m

faster tha

re excited, Tomasa was mostly concerned about keeping Aria from drinking too mu

oping her arm around mine as we walked to o

smile. "Let's just

around? Y

ieved

ough, was how the night

---

getting ready, the pa

brated through the floor. I took one last look at myself in

dr

believe Luca ha

t it ma

re I didn't stick out like a sore thumb at a party ful

or pulled me out

" Aria'

with excitement. She wore a deep red dress that hugged

, giving me a once-over.

ng my eyes. "You

topped herself, shaking her head. "Never m

ing me down the hall. The moment we reached the to

melled of expensive perfume, fresh roses, and something sweet-champagne, probably. People were la

allo

e kind of part

red me as if reading my tho

aught sight of Tomasa, Emilia,

e slowly, appreciation fli

"Luca's stepsis

lbowed him. "You lo

. "Thank

lead me toward the bar. Aria and Emilia followed close behind,

arting t

I fel

liar, hea

ps fal

as-Luca, leaning against the bal

on is un

cro

w

ante's arm, and something sharp passed through

yes l

e all week, he wa

s wat

sed to-the dismissi

o

somethi

alle

poken

oblivious. "Come on, bell

I could still feel Luca's

reason, my he

--

was wind

who remained were scattered across the garden-some still drinking, some dancing

the pool's edge, my bare feet dipped in the cool water. The reflections of

arded somewhere during the night. His hair was slightly tou

t," he said, swirling

feeling lighter th

don't seem like the kind of gir

. "You're

ed his head. "But you'r

urprised by how eas

I am," I

ed. "I l

de my stomach flip, but it wasn't the overwhelming,

ly, turning to fa

s tone made me

ow what it is, but from the moment I saw you, I knew I wan

heart beating

anything," he continued. "But if you're open to it, I'd like

a small smile pl

," I said. "Bu

smile was wa

w it

n, he l

t brush of his lips against mine, test

ye

ing fe

Not in a way that

e something

e place it, so

ed, as if silently agreeing that

e, someone else

a's

und his glass, the cool w

to watch. Hadn

e had found

en

pool, leaning

is drink. The burn was sharp, but not sharp enough

hell was

it eve

the hell she wanted-it ha

shadows like some idiot, watching th

etting his empty glass

felt the weight o

eways and met

gaze trailed over him wit

smi

eeded a di

ards her, and Emil

lf?" she asked,

s beautiful-dark curls framing her fa

oying myself mo

pends. What exactly would

the space between them.

as if daring him

nge ac

they were on t

ers, their movements fluid as they swayed to the music. She was

ayed along, his m

at th

to

by his thoughts, his ey

ere sh

en

chi

laring. Wasn

e way she looked at hi

rest

-

floors, laughter and conversation filling the air. Elena had been smiling, engaging

too close to his. She said something, and he laughed, a low, husky sound that sent a st

eeded

o the dimly lit garden. The cool night air brushed against her skin, a stark contrast to the heat inside. S

g away

idn't need to turn aro

u

ding him standing a few feet away, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other holding a half-empty glass of

permission to step outside,"

t a second too long before he tilted his head. "You don

h. "And what? You follow

t found it interesting. One second you're all smiles with your little d

s eyes-dark and unreadable-made her feel like he could see throu

aybe I just needed a br

he space between them shrinking. "Or maybe," he said, his

scent of his cologne mixed with whiskey, the heat

he upper hand. "Please. I couldn't care

s gaze, something searching. "Funny. You seemed pretty int

ch twisted. H

at she felt his breath against her skin. "Careful, stepsister," he m

He was toying with her, pushing

uld-she smiled sweetly. "You're

them, and turned toward the house. But before she could tak

ena. Dante doesn't seem like the

ore she forced herself to keep walking, refus

rt was still racing. And she hated that

-

ter fading into the cool night air. Elena climbed the stairs, her heels clicking softly against the marble as she m

e's

urned from ac

at her like he was try

reached the long hallway leading to her room. But ju

u

rs. His shirt was slightly unbuttoned at the top, sleeves pushed up carelessly, revealing the sharp lines of his fore

re, refusing to

fun with your date?" His voice was rough, touched wi

ound the railing beside her.

The space between them shrank, but he didn't stop to say anything else. Instead, he brus

lick of his bedroom door closing before she relea

d between them, she was