Leona watched with barely contained satisfaction as Valerio took a reluctant bite of the chocolate she offered. The tension in his frame hadn't completely vanished, but there was a shift—a softening, however slight. It was enough to make her heart ache for him. He carried too much, always did.
She leaned against the desk, tilting her head at him. "So? Did it work? Do you feel even an ounce happier now?"
Valerio chewed, watching her with those sharp, calculating eyes, but there was something else there too—something warmer. "You're persistent."
"It's one of my best qualities," she said with a grin. "And, you know, you're really bad at hiding how much you actually enjoyed that chocolate."
Valerio exhaled, as if her presence alone could ease some of the burdens on his shoulders. "Come here."
Her brows lifted, but she stepped closer. Before she could say something smug, his hands settled on her waist, pulling her between his legs as he sat on the edge of the desk. The warmth of his touch sent a spark through her, the air between them shifting into something heavier, something neither of them wanted to name just yet.
"You always do this," he murmured, his voice lower now, rougher. "Find ways to slip past my defenses."
Leona swallowed, her heart beating faster. "I don't mean to."
"Yes, you do," he countered, his thumb brushing against her waist. "You see me unraveling, and instead of letting me fall, you catch me."
Her breath hitched. She hadn't expected those words. Valerio was a fortress—solid, composed, immovable. But here, like this, with her, he was letting himself be vulnerable.
She reached up, fingers grazing along his jaw. "Then maybe you should stop pretending you don't need to be caught."
Something flickered in his expression, something unreadable. Then, without another word, he pulled her closer. His lips brushed against hers, slow and deliberate, testing the boundaries neither of them had fully acknowledged before.
Leona's hands gripped his shoulders, steadying herself even as her knees felt weak. The taste of chocolate and whiskey lingered between them, sweet and rich, but nothing compared to the way he kissed her—firm, unyielding, yet careful in a way that made her chest tighten.
She melted into it, into him, letting herself forget everything outside of this moment. Her fingers slid into his hair, tugging slightly, earning a quiet groan from him that made her stomach flip.
Valerio pulled away just enough to press his forehead against hers. "You shouldn't do this to me."
Leona's breath was unsteady. "Why not?"
His hands tightened on her waist, as if anchoring himself. "Because I don't know if I can stop wanting more."
A shiver ran down her spine at the confession, but instead of pulling away, she pressed herself closer, her arms wrapping around his neck. "Then don't."
Valerio inhaled sharply before capturing her lips again, this time with more intensity, more need. The control he usually wielded with such ease slipped through his fingers, and Leona welcomed every second of it.
Her back met the desk as he deepened the kiss, hands exploring cautiously, reverently. The world outside ceased to exist. There were no threats, no family feuds, no bloodshed—just them, lost in each other.
And for once, neither of them wanted to be found.
The warmth of Valerio's breath fanned over her skin as he hovered close, his gaze locked onto hers with an intensity that made Leona's heart pound. The half-eaten chocolate bar rested between them, forgotten on the nightstand.
Valerio smirked, his fingers lightly tracing her jawline. "You started this, Leona," he murmured. "Are you ready for where it leads?"
Leona swallowed hard, refusing to back down despite the nervous flutter in her stomach. "I never back down, Moretti," she whispered, tilting her chin up in defiance.
He chuckled, the sound low and deep. "I admire that about you," he admitted, his lips brushing against her ear. A shiver ran down her spine, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she let herself lean into him, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt.
The tension crackled between them like a live wire. Valerio's hands skimmed down her arms, his touch igniting something deep within her. He was giving her a chance to retreat, but she had no intention of doing so.
Leona inhaled sharply, then—acting on pure instinct—she closed the distance, pressing her lips to his. Valerio stilled for a moment, as if caught off guard, but then his arms tightened around her, pulling her closer.
The kiss was slow at first, hesitant, but then it deepened. Valerio was all-consuming, his lips coaxing, demanding. Leona responded with equal fervor, her hands threading through his hair as she melted against him.
He tasted of dark chocolate and something uniquely him, something intoxicating. His grip on her waist tightened as he lifted her effortlessly, placing her on his lap. "You drive me insane, Leona," he muttered against her lips, his voice husky.
She smirked against his mouth. "Good."
Valerio groaned, capturing her lips again, this time with a hunger that sent heat spiraling through her veins. His hands roamed her back, pressing her closer until there was no space left between them.
Leona gasped when his lips trailed down her jaw to her neck, his teeth grazing her skin. She felt lightheaded, her senses overwhelmed by his touch, his scent, the sheer presence of him.
"Valerio…" she whispered, her fingers gripping his shoulders. He pulled back slightly, his eyes dark with something unreadable.
"Tell me to stop, and I will," he said, his thumb brushing over her lower lip.
Leona stared at him, breathless. She didn't want him to stop.
Instead of answering, she leaned in again, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, sealing her silent response.
And with that, all restraint was forgotten.
An interruption
Leona was still catching her breath, her face hot as she avoided Valerio's gaze. The room was thick with an unspoken tension—something fragile yet intense lingered between them, something that neither of them had been ready to acknowledge before. But now, it was impossible to ignore.
Valerio let out a slow breath, his fingers still brushing against Leona's hand. He was about to say something when—
BAM!
The door slammed open.
Leona jumped, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest. She whipped around, only to see Dante striding in like he owned the place. Completely unaware of the situation he had just barged into, he tossed an apple in the air and caught it with a grin.
"Yo, Valerio! You won't believe—"
Dante finally paused, his gaze settling on the two figures frozen on the bed. Leona's face was flushed a deep red, her hands still resting on Valerio's chest. Valerio, on the other hand, was staring daggers at his friend, his expression darkening with each passing second.
Dante's grin wavered. He blinked once. Twice.
"Oh."
The realization dawned on him in slow motion. His gaze flickered between them, taking in the disheveled sheets, Leona's flustered expression, and the sheer annoyance radiating from Valerio. A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Ohhh."
Leona scrambled back, her face burning. "I-It's not what you—"
Dante ignored her, his smirk widening as he dramatically gasped, clutching his chest. "Valerio! How could you? Corrupting an innocent little thing like Leona?"
Leona groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Dante, please—"
"Wait, wait." Dante pointed between them, eyes dancing with amusement. "Did I just interrupt something? Because if I did—oh, man, this is gold. Valerio, you dog."
Valerio exhaled through his nose, looking like he was two seconds away from strangling Dante. "Get. Out."
Dante, of course, did not get out.
Instead, he plopped onto a nearby chair, resting his chin on his palm as he studied them. "You know, I was wondering why you were ignoring my calls, but now it makes sense. Should I leave? Or would you two like an audience?"
Leona let out an embarrassing squeak, scrambling off the bed. "I—I was just leaving!"
"Oh, come on, Leona," Dante teased, winking at her. "You don't have to be shy. It's not every day we see the infamous Valerio Moretti lose his cool."
Valerio ran a hand down his face, clearly trying to keep his composure. "Dante." His voice was dangerously low. "You have exactly three seconds to leave before I throw you out myself."
Dante put his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright, no need for violence. I'll let you two get back to…whatever you were doing." He winked. "Or about to do."
Leona, unable to handle another second of this, bolted for the door. "I need air."
Dante's laughter followed her out.
Valerio let his head fall back against the headboard, groaning. "I hate you."
Dante only grinned. "Love you too, bro."
Dante burst out of Valerio's room, his expression a mixture of excitement and mischief as he practically sprinted through the halls of the Moretti estate. He wasn't entirely sure what he had just walked in on, but he knew it was something. And Dante being Dante, he wasn't about to keep it to himself.
First stop—the kitchen.
He skidded to a halt, nearly crashing into one of the house staff carrying a tray of pastries. "Oh, man, you won't believe this!" he exclaimed, grabbing a fresh croissant from the tray without asking. "Leona and Valerio were totally having a moment."
The maids exchanged glances before one of them giggled. "Really?"
"Oh yeah," Dante said through a mouthful of food, already enjoying his role as the bearer of unexpected news. "I mean, I walked in at the wrong—no, scratch that, the perfect time." He wiggled his brows. "Valerio was all close and intense, and Leona? She was flustered."
Gasps and murmurs filled the kitchen. The Moretti estate staff were no strangers to rumors, but this was gold.
Next stop—Alessia.
Dante wasted no time knocking on her door, already grinning when she opened it. "Guess what?" he started dramatically, throwing his hands up like he was delivering the most important news of the century.
Alessia raised a brow, arms crossed. "What did you do now?"
"Me?" He feigned innocence. "Nothing! But Valerio and Leona?"
She immediately perked up. "What about them?"
"I caught them in the middle of something."
Alessia's eyes widened, and she pulled him inside, closing the door behind them. "Are you serious? Valerio? As in our cold, broody, emotionally constipated Valerio?"
"The one and only." Dante smirked. "He was looking at her like she was the only person in the world. And I swear, Leona looked like she was about to melt."
Alessia clapped her hands in delight. "I knew it! I knew something was going on between them!"
Dante leaned against the wall, looking far too pleased with himself. "Oh, and it gets better. I think Valerio wanted to kiss her before I walked in."
Alessia gasped. "You interrupted them?"
"Technically, yes. But it was an accident!"
Alessia smacked his arm. "Dante, do you know how rare it is for Valerio to show emotions? You ruined the moment!"
Dante shrugged. "Hey, it's not my fault they didn't lock the door."