Page 18 of Alessio DeLuca

His eyes stare down at me, unreadable. “Would you have rather I introduced you as my employee? Or the woman I’m trying not to fuck? Or wait, no, as my pretend date?”

I glare up at him, my cheeks burning with irritation and embarrassment. “You didn’t have to introduce me as anything! You could have just…”

I trail off, realizing how childish I sound. Alessio’s expression softens, his hand coming up to cup my cheek.

“Maty,” he murmurs, his voice low and intimate. “After all this time, if you think for one second I’m ashamed of you, or that I want to hide you away like some dirty little secret… you don’t fucking know me at all.”

I swallow hard, my throat tight. “Then what am I to you, Alessio? What is this thing between us?”

He’s silent for a long beat, eyes searching mine. When he finally speaks, his voice is rough.

“You’re mine,” he says simply. “The only person who matters in my goddamn life, the only one I want. And if I have to shout it from the roofs for this whole fucking town to know, I damn well will.”

I stare up at him, my heart in my throat. I can feel the truth of his words, the raw honesty in his gaze. And suddenly, the rest of the world fades away - the glittering ballroom, the swirling dancers, the curious stares.

There’s only him, only us. His body against mine, his hands on my skin, his eyes burning into mine.

“Alessio,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “I…”

But before I can get the words out, he’s kissing me. Right there in the middle of the dance floor, in front of everyone. His mouth hot and demanding on mine, his tongue diving deep to claim me.

I melt into him, my fingers tangling in his hair as he fucking devours me. I can taste the hunger on his tongue, the fierce need. It matches my own, a wildfire burning out of control.

By the time Alessio lifts his head, we’re both breathing hard. Every eye in the room fixed on us.

But he doesn’t seem to care. His eyes are locked on mine, dark with promise.

“Let’s get out of here,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down my spine. “I need to get you alone. Now.”

I can only nod, my heart pounding as he laces his strong fingers through mine and leads me out. My mind is racing, my body thrumming with anticipation.

This is it. The moment everything changes, the point of no return. And as Alessio helps me into his waiting car, his hands already roaming hungrily over my curves… I don’t hesitate for a second.

For better or worse, come hell or high water… I’m his. Utterly, completely. And there’s nothing in the world that can fucking change that.

* * *

Alessio

She’s a fucking vision.

From the moment I saw her in that dress, her deep brown skin glowing and gorgeous eyes sparkling, I knew I was fucking doomed. Every man in the room wanted her. Wanted to touch her, taste her, take her away from me.

But they can’t. She’s fucking mine, even if she doesn’t fully accept it yet.

I couldn’t keep my hands off her as we moved through the crowd, my fingers digging into the soft flesh of her waist. She felt so damn right in my arms, like she was made to be there. Like she was always meant to be mine.

And then fucking Valentina had to go and open her fucking mouth, dripping poison with every word. I saw the way Maty flinched, the doubt and insecurity creeping into her eyes. I wanted to wrap my hands around that spiteful bitch’s throat and squeeze until she turned blue.

But I didn’t. Instead, I claimed Maty in the only way that mattered. In front of everyone, I made it clear she belongs to me. That anyone who so much as looks at her wrong will answer to the fury of the DeLucas.

Let them talk. Let them gossip, speculate and scheme. None of it matters. The only thing that matters is the woman in my arms, the woman I can’t fucking breathe without.

I had to get her out of there, had to get my hands on her before I lost my fucking mind. The way she looked at me on that dance floor, with her juicy lips parted and her caramel eyes hazy with want… I nearly took her right then and there, in front of everyone.

But I didn’t. I waited until we were alone, until I had her pressed up against the wall of my penthouse, my body caging hers. And then I kissed her, with every ounce of pent-up hunger and desperate need.

She opens for me like a fucking flower, her tongue tangling with mine as she arches into my touch. I can feel the heat of her through the thin silk of her dress, the way her hard nipples peak against my chest. I want to rip the fabric away, put my mouth on every inch of her soft skin until she’s writhing and begging.

---