Page 24 of Isabella

I shake my head at my internal thoughts. No matter what I’m feeling, I know I can’t have this conversation with Nicco right now. I don’t think my heart can take it.

Nicco steps back and shoves his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Okay,” he concedes. “I’ll give you some space…”

“Thank you,” I breathe out, my body finally relaxing from the tension he’s brought ever since I stepped off that elevator.

Just when I think Nicco will leave, he takes me off guard and closes the distance between us with a few strides. He raises his hand to my cheek and cups it, then wraps his other hand around my back to hold me in place when I jump in surprise. My chest rises and falls against his.

“But don’t mistake this as me giving up,” he states, his lit-up eyes boring down into me like he’s peering deep into my soul. Like he always has.

“I’ll give you some time, but avoiding me forever will not work, Isabella. We’re going to have this conversation, and whether you like it or not, it’s going to be sooner rather than later.”

With the pad of his thumb, he rubs the sensitive skin along my jaw, and a shiver quakes through me no matter how hard I try to keep it at bay.

“Don’t you have awifeto get back to?” I say, knowing he’s not married but still curious at what happened between them.

A small uptick of a smile forms on his face when he says, “No. Definitely no wife to get back to.”

His admission does something to me I don’t want to recognize.

Nicco peers back and forth between my eyes, down to my lips, then back up. My heart rate picks up at what I think is about to happen, but not in a good way.

“Niccolò, don’t even think about it,” I state, recognizing that look in his eye.

He shoots his gaze back down to my lips once more. “You have no idea how many times I’ve fantasized about having you back in my arms again,” he whispers.

“Well, you’re going to have to continue with those fantasies.” I bring my hand up to cover the one he has on my cheek, prepared to rip it off me, but just when I’m about to, I make eye contact with him once more.

“Please, Isabella,” he whispers, the desperation dripping from his voice. “I just need to…”

Just when I’m about to tear his hand off me and pull away from him, warm lips meet mine, and I gasp.

Nicco’s mouth molds to mine, and we fall into a brief second of history. The happy history between us.

But just as quickly as it came, it leaves, my body catching up to my mind. I push Nicco’s chest, but he’s like a stone wall, unwavering. He pulls me in closer, and a low groan escapes him. He’s so caught up in the moment, so I do the only thing that comes to mind—I bite him.

Nicco yanks his head back and releases a hiss of breath through his teeth. Letting go of me, he steps back and brings his hand up to the crimson cut on his bottom lip.

I smile at him, crossing my arms over my chest, but to my dismay, he returns my condescending smile with a smirk of his own.

Chuckling, Nicco says, “You always did like to play a little dirty, Isabella.”

I drop my hands to my sides. “This isn’t a game, Niccolò. I don’t care what you have to say. I don’t want to hear it, so just leave me the hell alone.”

He wipes the blood from his finger onto his jacket, the smirk disappearing from his face. “I’ll give you your space tonight, Isabella. But don’t forget what I said earlier. This conversationwillhappen.” The tone in his voice is chilling, like he’ll never take no for an answer, so I don’t respond, just wanting this conversation to be over.

Nicco finally accepts my silence with a small nod and slowly turns on his heel. He pauses at the door, his back stiff, and I hold my breath, waiting for what’s to come out of his mouth next. But instead of speaking, he pushes forward, leaving me alone in the room, and I let out a long breath.

After taking a few minutes to gather my thoughts and get myself together, I head back out to the gala.

Lux’s eyes widen as she spots me from the dance floor. She whispers something in Teo’s ear before rushing toward me, looping her arm with mine.

“Are you okay?” she asks, concern lacing her voice.

“Yeah,” I say, but my voice doesn’t come out as confident as I meant it to. “I just want to get out of here. It’s been a long night,” I add, trying to feign nonchalance.

“Let me tell Teo and then we can?—”

Stopping us in our tracks, I turn to face Lux and put the brightest smile I can on my face. “No, you and Teo enjoy the rest of your night. I can just have Rocco bring me home.”

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