Page 27 of Devil's Iris
This has to be a dream. I’m going to wake up on my lumpy mattress and find out none of this happened.I pinch myself hard enough to leave a mark, hissing at the sharp pain. Nope. Real.This is actually real.
“Anything else,bellezza?” His voice is like liquid velvet, those vivid green eyes turning my way and scrambling my thoughts into mush.
Anything else?A dizzying wave of something—power,maybe, or pure euphoria—floods my veins. I can ask for anything else and actually get it? Just like that? A sharp breath rushes out of me.
My body acts before my brain can catch up, launching myself out of my chair and straight at him. My arms wind around his neck, and he catches me with a surprised grunt, not even stumbling despite the sudden impact.
He chuckles softly, “You–”
But I silence him with my mouth on his, ignoring every rational thought screaming at me about why this is a terrible idea and giving in to the desire that’s been clawing at me since I first laid eyes on this dangerous, beautiful man.Now, he stumbles back a step, his eyes going wide with shock.
He inhales sharply against my lips while the air between us crackles with electricity, hot and alive, but…he doesn’t kiss me back.
Shit, did I just ruin everything?
Panic shoots through me, and I start to pull back, to break the kiss and salvage whatever dignity I have left—then he reacts.
His arm tightens around my waist, yanking me flush against his body as his lips finally begin to move against mine. Slowly at first, careful. Then something seems to break inside him. A low groan rumbles deep in his chest, sending electric vibrations through me, and my eyes flutter shut.
The kiss deepens as he parts my lips with his tongue and starts exploring my mouth with a thoroughness that makes me shiver from head to toe. I feel weightless, breathless, like I’ve stepped off a cliff and am free-falling straight into him.
My fingers trail up his neck and slide into his hair, anchoring me to him before I float away entirely. The strands are softer than I expected, smooth and clean beneath my touch—too perfect, just like the rest of him. I don’t know how long we stay like that, lost in the kiss, but when he pulls back, it’s justenough to let our breaths mingle, his forehead pressing to mine. His chest rises and falls against me, unsteady, like I’ve knocked the air right out of him—and honestly, I’m not breathing much either.
“What was that for?” His voice is rough, almost wrecked, eyes searching mine.
My lips are tingling, my pulse thundering in my ears as I meet his gaze. “Th–thank you.”
His thumb brushes my cheek with aching gentleness, and a slow, almost disbelieving smile tugs at his lips. “You–”
The office door suddenly swings open, shattering the spell. I quickly slide out of his arms as I spin towards the newcomer, who looks like he wants to disappear into the floor.
“Forgive me, Mr. Lombardi, I’ll leave, I?—”
“No!” I shout, then clear my throat when both men stare at me. Cheeks on fire, I rush back to my seat to grab my bag. “I was just leaving.”
“Bellezza–”
I don’t look back at Romero or answer him. I just bolt from that office like I just saw the hounds of hell in there, my heart roaring so loud in my ears it drowns out everything else.What on earth came over me?
Shit, shit, shit.
At the bank of elevators, I mash the call button with shaking fingers. When the doors finally slide open, I practically throw myself inside, grateful to find it empty, and slump against the wall, gripping the railing.
I shouldn’t have done that. What was I thinking? How am I ever going to face him again?
But even as embarrassment floods through me, my lips still tingle with the phantom weight of his mouth on mine. It was the best kiss of my life. Granted, I’ve only kissed two other men, but still… this was different. This was earth-shattering, life-altering, ruin-you-for-all-other-men kissing.
What must he think of me now?
As the elevator descends to the ground floor, my heartbeat slowly returns to something resembling normal, the fire in my blood cooling to a manageable simmer, and I’m able to think rationally again.
I shouldn’t be embarrassed. I was just thankful, that’s all. Besides, we’re getting married soon—we’re going to do a lot more than kiss.
I nod to myself as the elevator dings and the doors slide open. Yes, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. But my face is still burning as I walk through the glossy lobby, weaving between suited professionals and their briefcases.
To take my mind off it, I start thinking about the harder part—convincing Mom and Ethan that I’ve suddenly fallen in love with someone and am getting married soon. Will they even care enough to ask questions?
I hadn’t given much thought to what would happen if Romero actually agreed to my proposal—because I honestly didn’t think hewould.
