"You slept in his bed?"
Rae's voice was a furious whisper. She paced the guest room like a caged animal, hands clenched at her sides. Ariella sat on the edge of the bed, fingers twisted on her lap.
"It's not what you think," Ariella said.
"Oh really? Because it sounds like a man far older then you dragged you into his mansion and made you his little toy to mess around with." She fired back
Ariella flinched. "He didn't force me to do anything. He hasn't even touched me."
Rae stopped cold. "You're saying he hasn't laid a finger on you?"
"Well…" Ariella looked away. "Not like that. Just creases"
"Jesus, Ari." Rae dropped onto the bed beside her, voice cracking. "You're talking like you're in love with him."
"I'm not," Ariella said too quickly. Then quieter, "I don't know what I feel."
"You've known him less than a week."
"And he's killed for me."
Rae went still.
Ariella turned to her. "He's dangerous, yes. But he's not a monster. I've seen monsters, Rae. I've seen the way some men look at me like I'm a prey. But Dominic, he... he doesn't look at me like that."
"Then how does he look at you?"
Ariella's lips parted.
But before she could answer, a knock came on the door. Sharp. Controlled.
Rae jumped.
Dominic's voice followed. "Ariella. Come downstairs."
Her stomach tightened.
"I'll be right back," she told Rae, already rising.
Rae caught her wrist. "You trust him too much."
Ariella didn't reply, maybe she did.
But when Dominic called… she couldn't help but obey.
The main lounge had transformed into something like a gathering. Two men she didn't recognize sat on the low couches, both in sharp suits, laughing over glasses of scotch. One was older, lean with silver at his temples. The other was younger, maybe thirty, with olive skin and eyes that lingered far too long on Ariella when she walked in.
Dominic stood near the fireplace, drink in hand, body tense.
She could feel it before he said a word.
Jealousy, Possessive, simmering rage.
"This is Ariella," he said stiffly. "My… guest."
The younger man smiled. "Your guest is beautiful."
Dominic's jaw ticked.
Ariella gave a small, polite smile, unsure what to say. She moved to stand beside Dominic, her hand brushing his sleeve. The contact was barely a whisper, but he seemed to calm, if only slightly.
"Gentlemen," he said, voice tight. "I didn't invite you here to look at my woman."
Ariella's breath caught.
His woman?
Neither man corrected him. But the younger one leaned forward, bold. "You always did like claiming the good ones, Dom. Does she know what kind of man you are?"
Dominic's gaze turned to ice. "You're two seconds from bleeding on my carpet, Matteo."
The older man chuckled. "Easy, boys. We came to talk business."
But Ariella could feel the tension. Razor-thin and ready to snap.
Dominic's hand settled low on her back. A silent claim.
"Go upstairs," he said to her softly. "Now."
She didn't move. "Are you sure..."
His voice dropped. "Please."
It was the please that got her.
She nodded and left, the heat of his hand still burning on her spine.
Later that night, after the guests had left, Ariella was brushing her hair in front of Dominic's bathroom mirror when the door swung open behind her.
She met his reflection in the glass.
He looked furious.
But not with her.
"You shouldn't have worn that," he said.
She blinked. "Worn what?"
He stepped closer, his gaze fixed on her bare legs beneath the oversized shirt she'd taken from his closet. "That."
"It's your shirt."
"And it barely covers your thighs."
She turned to face him. "So?"
"So Matteo couldn't stop looking at you."
"Matteo is your problem. Not mine."
His jaw clenched. He reached for her. Pulling her closer by the waist, gripping her like he might break something if he didn't touch her instead.
"You're mine, Ariella," he said, voice low and rough. "Say it."
She trembled in his grip. "Dominic…"
"I didn't touch you before because I respected your innocence. I waited. But if you keep looking at me like that…"
"Like what?"
"Like you want me to ruin you."
Her breath caught. She did.
God help her, she did.
He leaned in, mouth brushing her ear. "I could make you forget your own name."
Her knees went weak.
"Then do it," she whispered boldly.
His eyes flared.
But then he stepped back. "Not like this."
"Why?" she asked, breathless.
"Because when I finally touch you…" He turned away, voice sharp. "It won't be because you're angry or proving a point. It'll be because you need me, because you carve me."
She stared at his back. "You already know I do."
Silence.
Then he said, "Get in bed. Lock the door. I'll be on the roof for a while."
She waited until he was gone before her knees gave out.
Because she didn't just want him now.
She was starting to fall.
The next morning, Rae was gone.
No note. No warning. Just an empty guest room and a security report that said she'd left around 5 a.m. on foot.
"She left without telling me?" Ariella asked, shocked.
Dominic's tone was dry. "Do you blame her?"
"No why would I. She's worried about me."
"And maybe she should be."
Ariella looked at him. "Is that your way of warning me off?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he handed her a new phone.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Yours. Encrypted. Trace-proof. One number saved on it."
She checked the screen. Only DOMINIC was saved on it.
"No one else?" she asked.
"No one else matters." He said
Her hands tightened around the device. "What will happen if I call you?"
"I'll answer."
"And what if I run?"
He met her gaze, deadly but calm. "Don't."
She stared at him for quit sometime before saying "Okay".
With that he walked away leaving Ariella in her thoughts.