She cries out and moans and makes all sorts of whimpering, pathetic noises as she comes.
I grunt again, the muscles of my abdomen flexing as I spill into her, riding my high for as long as possible.
We’re both still against the wall, breathing hard.
The silence that follows is suffocating, heavy with the weight of what just happened.
I step back first, releasing her and pulling out of her, wincing at the sensitivity.
Giuliana slides down slightly, steadying herself on shaky legs. She won’t look at me.
Reality crashes down with devastating force.
What the fuck did I just do?
I bend down and pull up my boxers and pants, fumbling with my belt.
The click of the buckle is the only noise made outside of our labored breathing.
She’s still not looking at me.
Good. Because I have no idea what to say to explain what happened.
This wasn’t part of the plan.
Losing control, giving in to rage and lust, blurring the lines between revenge and something far more complicated—none of it was supposed to happen.
I was supposed to remain focused on making Antonio Conti suffer through Giuliana’s pain.
Instead, I’ve just fucking complicated everything in ways I’m not equipped to handle.
I finish dressing and move toward the door. As my hand touches the handle, Giuliana’s voice cuts through the room.
“This doesn’t change anything.”
I pause but don’t turn around. “No. It doesn’t.”
“I still hate you,” comes her voice.
I can’t help but laugh. “Good.” The word comes out rougher than I intended. “You should.”
I leave without looking back, the lock snicking into place.
The walk back to my office passes in a blur.
I pour another drink and sink into my chair, staring at Marco’s photograph without really seeing it.
It’s just physical attraction, I tell myself again.
Lust, nothing more.
A complication that can be managed, controlled, filed away under “biological urges” and forgotten by morning.
But even as I try to convince myself, I know it’s a lie.
Giuliana didn’t break tonight.
She didn’t surrender or submit or show me the defeat I’ve been working toward.
