Chapter 28: Unspoken Desires

The mansion was quiet, the night still, but Anna's mind was a whirlwind. She couldn't escape the images of Luca—the way his eyes had burned into hers, the way his touch had lingered on her skin, the way he had commanded her with such authority. It wasn't just his power that kept her on edge. No, it was something else—a pull that was magnetic, impossible to ignore, and yet, she tried to distance herself from it.

But it wasn't working.

Her heart raced, and no matter how much she tried to distract herself with the tasks at hand, her thoughts always drifted back to him. The man she was supposed to avoid, the one who made her feel things she wasn't ready to confront.

And yet, tonight, she found herself standing on the balcony again, the cool night air brushing against her skin as her mind replayed their last encounter. She had to admit to herself, a part of her wanted more—more of him, more of that dangerous, exhilarating connection.

Footsteps broke through her thoughts. She froze, knowing exactly who it was before she even turned around.

Luca.

The sound of his footsteps grew louder as he approached, his presence so overpowering that she felt it before he even reached her. Anna didn't turn to face him at first, trying to maintain some semblance of control. But when he came into view, she couldn't help herself. Her gaze locked onto him.

He was different tonight. There was something in the way he looked at her—darker, more determined, yet filled with an undeniable hunger. His eyes roamed over her slowly, and the way his lips curved into a knowing smile made her breath catch.

"You look lost in thought," Luca said, his voice smooth, laced with a hint of amusement.

Anna swallowed, trying to steady her racing heartbeat. "Just thinking," she said, turning away slightly as if to avoid his gaze.

"You shouldn't think so much," he replied, stepping closer. His voice dropped, becoming softer, more intimate. "It only gets you into trouble."

She stiffened at his proximity. "I don't need you to tell me what to do."

Luca's eyes darkened slightly as he moved even closer, closing the space between them. "You might not need it," he murmured, "but you want it."

Her pulse quickened. The intensity in his gaze made it hard to breathe, hard to think straight. She took a step back, but his hand shot out, stopping her from retreating further. His fingers grazed her arm, sending a shock of heat through her body.

"You've been avoiding me," he said, his voice low, almost a whisper.

"I'm not avoiding you," she countered quickly, but her words felt hollow even to her own ears.

Luca smirked, clearly not buying it. "Then why do you act like you're running away every time I'm near?"

She turned her face toward him, challenging him with her eyes. "I'm not running from you, Luca. I'm just trying to keep things clear."

But as soon as the words left her lips, she knew they were a lie. Her body betrayed her. It was clear in the way her heart pounded when he was close, in the way her breath hitched when he touched her. She was lying to herself, pretending she could ignore the electric charge between them.

He didn't speak at first, just watched her, studying her as if he knew everything about her—her secrets, her fears, her desires. His gaze was piercing, relentless, and for a moment, Anna felt naked in front of him. But instead of backing down, she met his eyes, daring him to call her bluff.

Luca was the first to break the silence. "You want this," he said simply.

Anna's stomach clenched, her breath catching in her throat. His words were quiet but undeniable. They hung in the air between them like a promise, a challenge, a question.

Her mouth was dry. She wanted to deny it, to tell him that he was wrong, but something in the way he was looking at her—something in the weight of his gaze—made it impossible. She didn't say anything. She couldn't. Because, deep down, she knew he was right.

"I'm not the one you should be afraid of, Anna," Luca said, his voice lowering, becoming darker, more intense. "You should be afraid of what you'll do when you finally stop pretending."

Before she could respond, Luca reached out, his hand brushing her cheek in a gentle touch. It was a stark contrast to the power that radiated from him, yet it was no less commanding. He tilted her chin upward, forcing her to meet his gaze once more.

"I told you before, didn't I?" His voice was a low growl now, his lips hovering just inches from hers. "You belong to me."

She felt her breath hitch in her chest. The words were dangerous, laced with a promise she wasn't sure she was ready to accept. And yet, everything inside her screamed to surrender, to give in to the temptation that had been building between them for weeks.

Luca's lips grazed hers, a teasing, almost tender kiss that left Anna gasping for air. It wasn't enough. She wanted more. Her body craved more.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto hers. "You're not the one who gets to decide what happens next, Anna. I am."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut, but instead of recoiling, Anna found herself leaning into him. Her hand shot out, gripping the front of his shirt, pulling him toward her.

Luca's lips crashed onto hers in a desperate, consuming kiss. The moment his mouth met hers, the world around them seemed to vanish. There was only Luca and the undeniable pull between them. His hands were on her, tugging at the fabric of her dress, making her body ache for him.

Anna's heart was racing, her body trembling with anticipation. She wanted him. She didn't know if it was fear or desire, but it didn't matter. What mattered was that she couldn't stop herself.

Luca's hands moved lower, tracing the curve of her waist, and she gasped as his fingers brushed against her skin. Every touch was electric, sending waves of heat through her. She responded instinctively, her hands running through his hair, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss.

"You're mine," Luca whispered against her lips.

The words were both a declaration and a challenge, and Anna knew, without a doubt, that he meant them. And for the first time, she wasn't sure if she wanted to fight it anymore.