Dangerous Desires

"Aria, you've been distant all morning. What's going on?"

Mia leaned against Aria's desk, concern etched across her features as she watched her friend stare blankly at her computer screen.

"Just…thinking," Aria replied, trying to focus on the work in front of her. But her mind kept drifting back to last night—the heat of Dante's kiss, the way his hands felt against her skin.

"Thinking about what?" Mia pressed, her eyes narrowing. "Dante?"

Aria bit her lip, her heart racing at the mention of his name. "Maybe."

"Maybe? You two looked pretty cozy last night," Mia teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

"Can we not talk about it?" Aria shot back, a mix of embarrassment and excitement coursing through her. "I'm just trying to focus on work."

Mia raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You know you can't hide from your feelings forever. What you have with Dante… it's intense."

Aria sighed, pushing her hair back from her face. "It is, but it's complicated. I can't just dive into this without considering the consequences."

"Like what? Luca?" Mia's voice turned serious, her expression shifting. "You need to be careful, Aria. He won't let you go easily."

"I know," Aria replied, her heart sinking. The weight of Mia's words loomed over her like a dark cloud. "But I can't keep running from what I feel."

The rest of the day dragged on, each hour feeling like an eternity. Every time the office door creaked open, Aria's heart raced, hoping it would be Dante. But the moments passed, leaving her feeling more restless and anxious.

As the clock struck six, she finally packed up her things, her mind racing with thoughts of the night ahead. Would she see him again? Would they have the chance to explore what lay between them?

She barely made it out of the office when her phone buzzed. A message from Dante lit up her screen:

Meet me at the rooftop?

Aria felt her breath catch in her throat, excitement bubbling within her. With a quick nod to Mia, who was still at her desk, she made her way to the stairs, anticipation coursing through her.

The rooftop was dimly lit, the city skyline twinkling beneath the stars. As Aria stepped out, she spotted Dante leaning against the railing, a silhouette against the backdrop of the night. Her heart raced as he turned, his eyes lighting up when he saw her.

"There you are," he said, pushing off the railing and striding toward her. "I was starting to think you wouldn't come."

"I almost didn't," Aria admitted, the cool night air sending shivers down her spine. "But I couldn't stay away."

Dante stepped closer, his gaze intense as he surveyed her. "You look beautiful tonight," he murmured, his voice low and husky.

Heat flushed her cheeks at the compliment. "Thanks," she replied, her heart pounding as he reached out, brushing a stray hair behind her ear.

"I've been thinking about you all day," he confessed, his voice dropping to a whisper. "About us."

Aria's breath hitched in her throat. "And?"

"And… I want to explore this," he said, taking her hand and pulling her closer. "But I need to know you're all in."

"I am," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's complicated."

"Complicated how?" he pressed, concern shadowing his features.

Aria hesitated, the weight of her past pressing down on her. "With Luca… I can't let him find out about us. He'll do anything to tear us apart."

Dante's expression hardened, the protective edge in his demeanor intensifying. "Then we'll keep it a secret. Just you and me."

"Just us?" Aria's heart raced at the thought. "What if—"

Before she could finish, Dante crushed his lips against hers, the kiss igniting a fire within her. She melted against him, losing herself in the intensity of the moment.

As they pulled apart, breathless and dazed, Dante's gaze darkened with desire. "I want you to feel everything," he whispered, his voice low and rough. "Every single thing."

Aria's pulse quickened as she caught the glint of hunger in his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I want to take my time with you," he said, stepping even closer, their bodies nearly touching. "To make you feel things you've never felt before."

She felt a thrill of anticipation race through her. "Like what?"

Dante's lips curled into a devilish smile. "You'll see."

Before she could respond, Dante captured her lips again, but this time, the kiss was deeper, more possessive. His hands slid down her back, pulling her body flush against his as the world around them melted away. The sensation sent shivers coursing through her, every nerve ending alight with longing.

"Dante," she gasped, pulling away just slightly, her breath mingling with his. "What if someone sees us?"

"Let them," he murmured, his lips brushing against her neck, sending electric sparks through her body. "I want everyone to know you're mine."

As his lips traveled down to her collarbone, Aria's heart raced, the thrill of his touch consuming her. She felt a mix of excitement and fear, knowing they were dancing on the edge of a precipice. But with each caress, all her doubts began to fade away, replaced by a burning desire she couldn't ignore.

"Dante, please," she begged softly, her body arching into him, craving more of his touch.

"Tell me what you want," he breathed, his lips hovering above hers, teasingly close.

"I want you," she admitted, her voice trembling with urgency. "I want you to take me, to show me everything."

With that, Dante pulled her closer, capturing her mouth in another searing kiss. Their bodies moved together, lost in the rhythm of their desire, the world fading away until it was just the two of them on the rooftop, surrounded by the stars.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the building, Luca watched from afar, his gaze dark and filled with rage. He could see the way Aria melted against Dante, the way their chemistry ignited the night. And it fueled a fire within him—a desire for revenge that simmered just below the surface.