Chapter 15: Desires and promises

Alessandro's POV

My mind is spinning out of control. Hazel stands before me in that dress, tempting me to ravish her exquisite body. I need to rid her of that garment. Images flood my mind of her naked form, all mine to love, to worship, to protect.

I press my lips against the soft skin of her ear, lightly nibbling, eliciting a moan from her and feeling her shiver. My self-control wavers, and I could sense her tension but I must ensure she feels safe with me. "Hazel, baby, relax. I won't do anything you don't want," I whisper trying to reassure her. 

Turning to face me, lust, vulnerability, and doubt flicker in her eyes. I need to make her feel safe, make her trust me. I cup her delicate face in my hands. "Are you okay, baby? Talk to me," I say softly. She opens her lips to speak, then closes them again. I pull her into a hug, holding her close, trying to reassure her that she can lean on me, that I'll be there for her.

Unable to find her words, she buries her face in my chest. I hold her tight. 

In a rare moment of tenderness, I begin, "Hazel..." but she tightens her embrace, and I sense her unease. "Baby, if this is about Matteo, don't worry. I'll protect you from him. Before he lays a hand on you, he'll be dealt with," I assure her.

Raising her head, determination shines in her eyes as she speaks. "It's not about Matteo. If he comes near me again, I'll take matters into my own hands. I'll shoot him in the balls," she declares. I smile, proud of her courage. But then she looks down, her hands trembling on my chest. "Um... I might need to confess something," she adds.

Drawing her closer, I squeeze her shoulders gently "Baby, I'm listening. Tell me," I encourage her.

Her confession takes me by surprise. "Well, I've never been intimate with anyone," she blurts out.

"So..." I prompt, waiting for her to continue.

"So, I don't know what to do," she confesses, her cheeks flushing pink. My heart swells with affection for her innocence. I love her even more at this moment, her sweetness and inexperience are endearing. I want to teach her, to explore with her, I vow to cherish and protect her.

Drawing her close, our lips almost touching, I whisper, "Just relax, baby. I can take the lead now, and one day, you'll be suggesting things to do, believe me,." Her blush deepens, her innocence captivating me.I want to protect her innocence, cherish it. I wish we could have met in a different life, where my world wasn't so messed up.

Lost in my thoughts, I feel her lips on mine, a gentle kiss. I deepen it, showing her how to kiss, gently pushing my tongue into her mouth, tasting her. I want more, but I know I have to be gentle. As our passion intensifies, I'm consumed by the desire to claim her completely. But I restrain myself, knowing this isn't the right moment. I want our first time to be special, I want to be the only one who hears her moans, who sees her in ecstasy .

I break the kiss to let her catch her breath. Her lips are red and swollen from our kiss. I slide my hand under her dress, gently caressing her thigh, watching for her reaction. She lets me continue, closing her eyes, a soft moan escaping her lips. I want to taste her, to do more.

I kiss her again, passionately, running my hand down to her panties. I pull them to the side, running a finger along her folds. She moans, her head falling back. I want to do more, but a knock on the door interrupts us. I ignore it, continuing, but Andrea's voice comes from behind the door, "Ale! Erin Demir killed himself."

I pause, realizing that Matteo lost his mole but we lost someone who we can use. I feel Hazel stiffen under my touch. I reassure her, "Don't worry, we'll get him. It doesn't matter if his mole is dead." Andrea's voice interrupts again, urging me to leave. I look at Hazel, who turns bright red, and she murmurs, "Did he hear us?" I assure her, "He's just joking. This office is soundproof."

She sighs, releasing her hold on me. I don't want her to go. I want her to stay with me, to be safe. I held her close, not wanting to let go. "Just wait for me here, okay? I'll be back," I whispered, urging her to stay. I could see the hesitation in her eyes, and I pleaded, "Please, stay."

Part of me wanted to continue what we had started, but another part wanted to keep her safe. I knew with all the guards around, no one would dare come near us. She bit her lip, lost in thought, before finally saying, "Okay, I'll wait for you to come back, and then you can drop me off at the dorms."

I shook my head, my tone almost desperate. "No, you're staying here with me. It's not safe for you out there. I'll make sure you're protected," I insisted, wanting her to be safe by my side. 

"But I have an assignment to complete and have work tomorrow morning at the foundation it's my first day and I don't wanna be late plus I don't have my clothes here and need to change and all" 

"Hazel, babe, listen," I interrupted her as she started listing her concerns all at once. Before I could finish, there was another knock on the door, and Andrea's voice was starting to irritate me. Ignoring it, I turned to Hazel. "Don't worry about anything. I'll get whatever you need from your dorm. Text me what you need or ask your friend, and I'll swing by to pick it up from her, okay?"

She looked at me and finally nodded. "Okay, please be safe!" Her concern for me warmed my heart. If only she knew what I'm capable of, would she be scared of me? Hate me? The thought crossed my mind, but I pushed it away. I kissed her one last time and then turned towards the door, adjusting my bulge in my pants, and opened it to find Andrea smirking at me and Luca holding his laugh.

Andrea eyed me, stopping at my pants zipper, and started, "Sorry, cousin." The annoyance was clear in my voice as I warned, "Next time, you knock and she's inside, I will break your hand, Andrea." I turned to Luca and added with a serious tone, "And you too!" Luca, caught off guard, could only mutter, "Sorry, boss. Won't happen again." Andrea followed " Sorry! Won't happen again!"

I ordered Alfredo to guard the office until we returned and instructed Amelia to make something for Hazel to eat. Gesturing for Andrea and Luca to follow me, I closed the door to my office and headed towards the dungeons. 

As we walk, I can't help but think about Hazel. How she kissed me back, how she trusted me. I want to protect her, to keep her safe. I know I have to be careful, to tread lightly. But I also know that I want her, more than anything. And I'll do whatever it takes to make her mine.