17

It made me uncomfortable to know that Dante, the older brother of my former boyfriend, had been taking care of me and protecting me, without saying a single word to me. Add to that also the fact that he was obsessed with me, my existence was like the key point of destruction in a man like him.

And I didn't know how to feel about it.

I couldn't deny the feelings that had been born towards him, but I was afraid of the reality.

"Good morning, Mr. Di Marco. Miss Lawrens," Alessandro greeted, suddenly appearing to break the bubble his gaze could put me in.

"Alessandro, what are you doing here so early? We would see each other until the afternoon," Dante replied, settling into his suit.

"I know, sir, but I bring news about Mauro," he said and I was stunned, while Dante looked annoyed. We were precisely talking about him and the fact that I didn't want to warn him, but I was absolutely sure it wasn't about me, "Ask for his location, he wants to see him.

"Wait for me in the office, I'll be there in a moment.

Alessandro nodded and went inside the villa again, leaving us alone.

I sighed, trying not to lose control and tell the reality of what had happened, why it was part of my plan to take revenge on that idiot. However, I didn't feel it was enough for him just to see me with his brother, I had to hit him harder.

Like being with his brother.

"If you want, I can bring him," Dante said, impatient. I was very good at keeping what I was really thinking, but that didn't give me the time to work out what I wanted.

"Isn't it dangerous now?" I asked, trying to sound as normal as possible.

"Yes, quite a bit, but I know the terrain. He knows how to take care of himself," he replied, "I don't see you very comfortable with the news, though.

"It's nothing, I'm just confused," I bit my lips and took advantage of the vulnerability to ask, "Can I ask you a favor? I promise it's nothing bad.

"Tell me.

"I met someone at the hospital," I said and he tensed his jaw, as if he was getting jealous. He had a knack for losing his temper if it was about me, "It's a girl. She gave me her card and I'd like to see her, I really liked her.

"You want a friend?

"You might say, may I? This is her card," she received the card and read it carefully.

He sighed, "Alessandro will call her and make sure it's safe. I'll let you know in the evening if you can see her," he said and I couldn't help but smile happily, at ease with the decision, "You look more beautiful when you smile," he confessed and my heart beat like crazy, before he walked away into the house.

How was I going to endure the confinement, if being near him made my hair stand on end?

I took a deep breath, at least relieved that I was going to consider having a friend on the island. I still wasn't used to what was safe or not, but having a trustworthy man like Alessandro had to be encouraging.

However, I had to put all those thoughts aside and concentrate on what I was going to do to get back at Mauro. Using his brother was the worst revenge, but I didn't know how to entice him, if I already hated him for holding me back, even if I understood the situation.

A sudden change might make him suspicious, he was smarter than he imagined and he knew I didn't love him.

However, that didn't mean I was indifferent to him. He had a mesmerizing gaze, a way of speaking so eloquent that he could sound interesting with anything and my senses were vulnerable to his presence. And I had proven it with that strange dream that wouldn't stop, as if my body had given me an alert.

It was clear that I did not understand signals.

I looked at the pool, that same image that stirred so many things I never thought I'd feel and an idea occurred to me.

Sure Lexi would kill me if she knew what I was planning, but part of getting involved in her head was the sacrifice to find her and I wouldn't rest until I did, before it was too late.

I went back to my room and searched in the huge closet for bathing dresses to match my idea and sighed with some anger. I was ready for anything, just as he was.

I let the day go by, as quiet and mortifying as ever, trying to figure out how to control my emotions and feelings for a moment that would bring all my senses into play.

I wasn't bathed in beauty, but as it was, the most powerful man I knew had become obsessed with me and planned to use it to my advantage.

I covered my body with a robe, as soon as I noticed that night was setting in and expected to find Dante at the pool. For some reason I sensed it was part of if, like a ritual.

I sat on the chairs in front of the pool, appreciating the night sky and the daily sounds of the forest, the place I had not been able to appreciate or visit because I was in despair.

I had no idea what time it was, but I had no time to guess, when I heard Dante's voice; he seemed to be talking to someone in Italian.

"Domani ci sarà l'incontro, sono disposti a parlare. Non mi rassicura, ma almeno si rendono conto del livello in cui stanno combattendo (Tomorrow there will be the meeting, they are willing to talk. It does not reassure me, but at least they realize the level at which they are fighting).

I still wasn't used to listening to him speak in another language, knowing that I didn't understand him at all, but that didn't take away from the fact that I found his Italian accent very attractive.

I saw him head for the garden door and as if I hadn't seen him, I moved to the other side of the pool, standing in front of his eyes, took off my bathrobe and exposed my body in my swimsuit. The darkness favored curiosity and that I had achieved, at the moment when his silence was present.

"Si, eh, domani lo risolveremo," he pulled his cell phone away from his ear and I walked down the stairs into the pool, slowly receiving the cold of the water, "They haven't turned on the pool heater, are you okay?

I looked at him sideways, making it clear that I was not interested, but at the same time sublime, as if I was trying to invite him.

I turned my back to him, waiting patiently.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked and I smiled short.

"No, it is your pool after all.

A minute later, there was the sound of water as he jumped in and movement behind my body at his presence.

"Evie," I felt the brush of his breath on my shoulders and I couldn't help but close my eyes, "The last thing I want is for you to hate me, you don't know how much I wish you loved me as much as I love you.

"But I don't," I replied, turning away, "I don't love you.

His eyes darkened, but there was something different about them.

"That doesn't mean I don't notice how you feel when I'm around you," he slipped his hand around my waist and my chest rose in surprise, unable to help it. He smiled at what he provoked, "I'm not indifferent to you, I know you feel something you don't understand.

"No.

"No? Then why does your body move at the touch of my fingers on your skin," he whispered low, close to my face, as he ran his fingers down my spine, causing my body to bend towards his torso, "It's a synchronicity that cannot be denied, even if you look at me with all the hatred in the world. Your body is never going to lie like you do," I lost all the ground I had gained by drawing him in, the moment he got what he was saying right. No matter how much control I had over my emotions, the pull of my body next to his I couldn't hide it even if I wanted to. He was the first telltale.

"Don't do this, please.

"Do what? It's not me, you yourself are moving at my touch," he replied with a gravity in his voice that moved my pelvic floor and his fingertips caressed my nape so softly, I couldn't help but close my eyes at the electric touch, "See, it doesn't matter if you don't love me, but you feel an attraction to me that your body can't deny.

My back collided with the wall of the pool without warning, without realizing that I had been moving with his caresses. I was cornered and defeated at my own game.

"You still don't realize what I'm provoking you?" he questioned, bringing his face dangerously close to mine, to the point where his lips brushed my nose and descended to mine, so enigmatic and mesmerizing; so dangerous and playful.

Never in my life have I wanted to feel someone's lips so much and he knew what he was provoking me, I was completely sure he knew the power he had to dominate me and everything was in his favor.

The moment my lips lifted to make contact with the corner of his, he smiled victoriously.

It was just him and me, in a cold pool that rose several degrees because of the situation.

"You don't know how much I've wanted to kiss you, Evie," he murmured, caressing my skin and I couldn't resist the temptation.

"Shut your mouth," I quickly replied, before running my hands down his neck to pull him to me.

A sour, whiskey-like taste invaded my tongue as soon as his lips encircled mine and stole my breath completely.

Everything was in his favor; the caresses on my skin, his dominant posture and the unmatched desire that had settled in my system to the dangerous taste of the forbidden.