I shrugged, my gaze going back to Belle as she stomped up the stairs. “We’ll see, I guess.” I knew I was going to hell, but even knowing she was upset, I still stared at her ass for a long moment before I followed her.
Once we were inside, she stopped to look around. Despite how angry she was, Bell couldn’t keep the wonder out of her expression as she gazed around the foyer. Rather than acknowledge her reaction, I kept my smirk to myself. Pushing her once was enough. At least for now.
"This way," I said gently, directing her toward a corridor that led to the eastern wing of the house. This section contained the family's private quarters. My brothers' suites when they stayed over, my own rooms, and now, Belle's.
We continued down the corridor until we reached the suite I'd selected for her. It was adjacent to my own rooms with a connecting door. Separated enough for her comfort, but not nearly close enough for my peace of mind. I wanted Belle in my room. In my bed. And I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about this need inside me to keep her close. I opened the door, stepping back to allow her to enter first.
The suite consisted of a sitting room, bedroom, and private bath, decorated in soft blues and creams. The room had a view of the eastern gardens, which would be bathed in morning light.
Belle stepped inside slowly, her eyes moving from the comfortable armchair near the fireplace to the writing desk to the windows with their heavy curtains tied back to reveal the night sky. Her fingers trailed over the desk's surface, touched the petals of the peonies arranged in a crystal vase.
"This is..." she began, then swallowed, clearly overwhelmed.
"Your space," I finished for her. "For as long as you need it."
She turned to face me, her expression a complex mixture of gratitude, confusion, and lingering apprehension. "Why are you doing all this, Dario? The truth."
I set her bag down carefully, considering my answer. The truth was multifaceted, some aspects darker than others. How much could I reveal without frightening her? How much did I understand myself?
"Because you matter to me," I said finally. "Because I want you safe. Because having you here..." I gestured to the room, to the estate beyond. "It feels right."
She studied my face, searching for deception, for ulterior motives. I allowed her scrutiny, keeping my expression open in a way I rarely permitted myself. After a moment, she nodded, a small acceptance of what I'd offered, if not complete understanding.
“Why does it matter to you about my things? I know I’m not good enough for this place, but if appearances mean that much to you, I’m not the person you want here.” She winced. “Never mind. I forgot this wasn’t…”
“It’s as real as it gets, Belle. Vincent Rossi knows I have an interest in you. What he doesn’t realize yet, and what I will try my best to keep from him, is exactly how infatuated with you I really am.”
“Why?” It came from her more of a demand than a question.
“Because if he controls you, he controls me. And if Vincent or Anthony Rossi control me, they control the whole city. Which makes you the most important person in Port Haven.”
Judging by the widening of her eyes and the silent “O” she formed with her lips, I’d say Belle saw exactly how serious I was with my statement. There was shock followed very closely by disbelief and confusion. She studied me for a long time, holding my gaze for the first time with any fortitude. I still intimidatedher, but whatever she saw in my face must have been what she’d needed to see.
With a sigh, she stepped closer to me and placed her hand on my chest. "Thank you," she said quietly. "It's a beautiful suite."
I smiled, satisfaction warming my chest. "Rest. Tomorrow I'll show you the grounds."
I moved toward a door on the opposite end of the room. Pausing with my hand on the knob, I opened the door before looking back at her. "My room is here if you need anything. I won’t lock my side. You can lock yours if you feel more secure.”
She nodded. “Thank you, Dario.”
“I mean it, Belle,” I said, needing to drive this point home. “Anything at all. Even if it’s just to talk. I know this is overwhelming, but I’ll do anything I can to put you at ease."
She nodded, her gaze already moving away, her shyness returning. She could get over her intimidation of me when she was vexed, but holding on to anger wasn’t something Belle did naturally. I watched her for a moment longer, memorizing the sight of her standing in the center of the room. Belle now lived in my home. Under my protection. Within my reach.
As I closed the door behind me, leaving her to settle in, a rare sense of peace settled over me. Whatever complications tomorrow might bring, tonight she was here. Safe. And that was enough for now.
Chapter Fourteen
Belle
I tried not to gawk like a tourist as Dario guided me through the revolving doors of High Tower. After two weeks of being sequestered at Villa Luca, this excursion to the heart of his business empire felt both liberating and terrifying. The suit jacket he'd insisted I wear hung perfectly on my frame, courtesy of the wardrobe that had mysteriously appeared in my closet, but no amount of designer clothing could mask how utterly out of place I felt. Dario's hand rested at the small of my back, warm and possessive, as we crossed the threshold into a world where he was king and I was merely a curiosity.
The lobby stretched before us, a cathedral of wealth and power. Polished black granite floors reflected the morning light streaming through the glass walls, creating an illusion of infinite space. To my right, water cascaded down a three-story wall, the gentle roar providing acoustic privacy for the clusters of well dressed professionals conducting hushed conversations in plush seating areas.
"Impressed?" Dario murmured, his lips close to my ear.
"It's beautiful," I admitted, resisting the urge to reach for his hand like a child needing reassurance. "MakesThe Graylook almost modest."
