I stared at the man, his eyes gleaming with an amused challenge, as if daring me to step forward. My breath hitched in my throat.
His body was sculpted to perfection, every muscle sparkled under the aftermath of sweat from his exertion. My mind screamed at me to leave, to walk away, but my body refused to cooperate. The way his gaze went over me, full of hunger, sent a shiver down my spine.
His smirk widened, and he tilted his head as though giving me a final invitation to join him. The woman beneath him was panting, her face flushed with satisfaction, but all I could focus on was the pull between him and me.
"Well?" His voice was laced with a mixture of teasing and arrogance.
He was aware of the effect he had on me, and he enjoyed it.
I shook my head, finally regaining control over my body.
"No, I..." I stammered, feeling the weight of shame press down on me. I quickly averted my gaze, turning away before I could change my mind. "I can't."
The door clicked softly behind me as I pulled away from the scene, leaving the throaty moans and muffled laughter behind.
My heart pounded in my chest as I rushed through the hall, my heels echoing against the marble floor. The heat in my body still hadn't subsided, but I had to get away from that man and clear my head.
I found solace in the cool air as I stepped out onto the balcony, the distant sounds of the party below muffled by the heavy thudding of my pulse in my ears. Leaning against the railing, I closed my eyes, willing myself to breathe and think about anything other than him.
But it was futile.
No matter how hard I tried, the image of him stayed in my mind, his body, his confidence, the way his eyes had lingered on mine like I was something he could claim if he wanted.
God, what was wrong with me?
He was everything I should despise: arrogant, self-assured, the kind of man who was used to getting what he wanted without effort. And yet, all I could think about was what it might feel like to let him have me, even just for a moment.
But that wasn't me. That wasn't what I wanted. I had bigger problems than lust, and I needed to focus on those.
My parents. The contract. Bruno Alfonzo.
The thought of his name made my stomach churn. How could they do this to me? They were willing to hand me over like a bargaining chip, as if my life was something to be bartered with.
It wasn't just betrayal, it was the complete disregard for everything I wanted, for the fact that I was a person with my own thoughts, desires, and fears.
I bit down on my lip, tasting the salt of the tears that still lingered there. A sob rose in my throat, but I forced it back. I wouldn't cry anymore. Not here. Not now.
"Quite the view, isn't it?"
The voice startled me. I turned to see the man from earlier standing beside me, his presence completely unexpected. He leaned casually against the balcony railing, that same self-assured smirk playing on his lips.
The moonlight cast a soft glow over his face, showing broadly the sharp angles of his jawline and the confident gleam in his eyes.
I inhaled sharply, realizing I hadn't heard him approach.
"What are you doing here?"
He shrugged, his smile never faltering.
"Couldn't help but notice you left in a hurry. Thought I might check on you. Besides…" He paused, his eyes moving over me in a way that made my skin tingle. "You seemed like you might need some company."
I looked away, refusing to meet his gaze. The last thing I needed right now was this man getting under my skin. But his voice, deep and smooth, made it difficult to ignore him.
"I don't need company," I muttered. "Especially not yours."
"Don't be like that," he teased, stepping closer. "I'm just trying to be friendly."
Friendly wasn't the word I would have used for what he was doing. His presence was suffocating, but in a way that was maddeningly intoxicating. I could feel the heat of him, his closeness making my heart race all over again.
"You know," he said, his tone dropping to something more intimate, "you don't have to play hard to get. I can tell when a woman's interested." He reached out, brushing his fingers against my arm. "And you… you're definitely interested."
I stiffened under his touch, pulling away instinctively even though every part of me was screaming to lean into it.
"You think too highly of yourself," I shot back, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
He laughed softly, the sound deep and rich.
"Maybe. But I've rarely been wrong." His hand dropped to his side, and he tilted his head, studying me. "Why fight it, huh?"
I shook my head, turning my back on him. I needed to get away from him before I did something reckless.
"I'm not interested," I said firmly, even though my body was betraying me with every breath I took.
"Suit yourself," he murmured, his voice a low rumble. "But if you change your mind… I'll be around."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding in my chest. I exhaled sharply, shaking my head in frustration.
The party was still going strong when I returned. The music was louder, the guests more boisterous as the night dragged on. My parents spotted me almost immediately, and I braced myself for another confrontation. But instead of berating me, they smiled.
"There you are," my father said, his tone unusually bright. "Come, there are people you need to meet."
I followed them reluctantly through the crowd, my stomach knotting tighter with every step. My father's hand gripped my arm, guiding me toward a man and woman standing near the center of the room. They were older, distinguished, the kind of people who exuded wealth and power.
"Maria, I'd like you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Alfonzo," my mother said, her voice unnervingly cheerful. "And this," she gestured toward the tall figure standing beside them, "is their son, Bruno."
My blood ran cold as my eyes landed on him. Bruno Alfonzo. The man I was supposed to marry. The arrogant man I had seen having sex a few moments ago.
He stood there, tall and imposing, with a smirk that made my skin crawl. His dark eyes glinted with something unsettling, as if he knew a secret I didn't, and he was enjoying every second of my discomfort.
"Well," he said, his voice low and smooth, "it's a pleasure to finally meet my future wife."
And with that, my world came crashing down.