Chapter 89 SNEAKING CLOSE
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AUTHOR’S POV
The dimly lit corridor was eerily silent, save for the soft hum of distant voices in the grand estate.
The walls were lined with paintings, their ornate frames casting long, distorted shadows under the golden glow of the wall sconces.
Adeline’s breath was uneven as she stared at the man before her.
Luciano’s dark eyes locked onto hers, his expression unreadable, yet there was an unmistakable edge in his voice when he spoke.
“What are you doing here?”
His deep, velvety tone sent a shiver down her spine.
She knew she wasn’t supposed to be here but she was executing her plan but what was Luciano doing here? She didn’t understand that.
This place was dangerous for someone like her—someone who didn’t belong. But before she could muster a response, another voice rang through the hallway, sharp and questioning.
“What’s going on here?”
Her blood turned cold.
Her heart pounded so loudly she feared it would give her away. Footsteps echoed in the hall, coming closer, steady and unhurried.
Whoever it was, they were approaching fast, and if they saw her—if they recognized her—it would be over.
This whole floor was for Leonardo and no unknown person was allowed unless they were people of …… Leonardo.
Her wide eyes snapped back to Luciano’s, and for the first time, she saw something flicker in his gaze—calculation, determination.
In an instant, he moved.
Adeline barely had time to react before her back was pressed against the cold wall, her breath hitching as Luciano’s body caged her in.
Then, without warning, his lips crashed onto hers.
She gasped, the suddenness of it knocking the air from her lungs. Her hands flew up, instinctively gripping his broad shoulders as shock rooted her to the spot.
His lips were firm, demanding, moving against hers with a possessive hunger that left her lightheaded.
The scent of him—rich cologne mixed with something inherently masculine—invaded her senses, making her dizzy.
She knew what he was doing.
He was hiding her—shielding her from whoever was coming their way. But that didn’t explain the way his fingers dug into her waist, the way his lips moved with an urgency that felt far too real.
His mouth slanted over hers, deepening the kiss, his hand tangling into her hair to angle her head the way he wanted.
Her heart stuttered as he pressed in closer, his body heat wrapping around her like a vice. It was overwhelming.
A low scoff snapped her out of the haze.
“Is that even a place to get intimate when there are rooms everywhere?” The man’s voice was laced with disapproval, followed by an annoyed sigh.
“These people.”
Adeline barely had time to process his words before she heard the retreating footsteps, the man muttering something under his breath as he disappeared down the hall.
Relief should have washed over her.
The danger had passed.
But Luciano… he wasn’t pulling away.
Her breath came out in a shaky gasp as she tried to push against his chest.
“Luciano, he’s gone—”
But her words were cut off when his lips descended onto hers again. This time, there was no pretense. No act. Only raw, unfiltered possession.
His grip tightened as his mouth moved against hers, slower but no less intense. A quiet growl vibrated in his chest as his teeth grazed her lower lip, teasing before he tugged on it sharply, eliciting a startled whimper from her.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, nails digging into his shoulders as heat pooled low in her stomach.
“Luciano,” she tried again, voice barely a whisper against his lips.
“Shh,” he murmured, the sound rough and commanding.
His hands slid down her sides, gripping her hips as he pressed her harder against the wall, making it impossible for her to move away.
His kisses turned desperate, almost punishing, as if he was staking a claim—one that had nothing to do with necessity and everything to do with desire.
Adeline’s mind was spinning.
This was wrong. She should push him away, demand an explanation, anything—but her body wasn’t listening.
It was traitorous, responding to him, melting into him as his warmth enveloped her.
She wasn’t naïve. She had seen the way Luciano looked. He did not look like he was officially invited here. It was as if he was sneaking in as well.
But this… this was something else entirely.
When he finally pulled back, just enough to let her breathe, his forehead rested against hers.
His breath was warm, heavy, mingling with hers in the small space between them.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he murmured, his thumb brushing over her cheek.
Adeline swallowed, still struggling to catch her breath.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
His jaw tensed.
“Didn’t I?”
For a moment, there was only silence, thick and suffocating.
Then, as if realizing just how close they still were, Luciano finally stepped back, his hands lingering on her waist before he let go completely.
But the fire in his eyes told her one thing.
“ explain “