Confessions and Decisions. "Well then…" Valeria crossed her arms, staring at him. "I am waiting for an answer."
Diego held her gaze, and for an instant he seemed to debate between keeping silent or exploding at once. Finally, he blurted out in a hoarse voice:
"What do you want me to tell you? Do you not realize yourself what is happening to me? I am dying of jealousy every time I see you near Abel."
Valeria opened her eyes in surprise. She did not expect Diego to be so direct, much less that he would be so honest in that manner. She felt a warmth run through her chest; she had wished to hear those words much sooner, and now that he finally said them, a mixture of joy and vertigo stirred inside her.
Diego, without taking his eyes off her, took a step forward. Then another, shortening the distance between them with a dangerous determination.
"Diego…" she murmured, backing away just a little.
He tilted his face toward hers, with clear intentions of kissing her.
"Not here, please," Valeria whispered, nervous as she noticed how several curious glances were beginning to rest on them. "Everyone is watching us."
Diego smiled with a certain desperation, almost as if imploring.
"Then where? I cannot take it anymore, Valeria. I want to kiss you… to make you mine."
That plea disarmed all the defenses she had tried to maintain until then. Seeing the proud Crown Prince of the Empire of the Rose beg her for a kiss was the last thing she would have imagined. And yet, that was enough to break the repression she carried inside.
She desired him too. Not just a kiss. She wanted him entirely, without reservations.
Valeria bit the inside of her cheek and, without thinking further, took Diego's hand.
"Follow me."
He arched an eyebrow, intrigued, but followed her with a mischievous smile on his lips.
They walked together through the silent corridors of the institute. The echo of their steps resonated between the walls, and Diego soon recognized where they were headed. He stopped suddenly, holding her gently by the arm.
"Valeria, where are you taking me?"
"To a place where we can be alone," she responded, and without giving him further opportunity to speak, she lunged toward him and stole a quick, fleeting kiss, yet enough to leave him breathless.
Diego could barely react when she took his hand again and dragged him until they reached the corridor leading to her room. In front of the door, Valeria opened it firmly and pulled him inside.
He swallowed hard, feeling an unusual nervousness overtake him.
"I do not think it is right for me to be here," he said with a tense voice. "Are you sure?"
Valeria did not respond with words. She took him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him forcefully until joining their lips in a hungry, desperate kiss. Diego could not resist. His tongue sought hers urgently, and Valeria guided him little by little toward the bed. When he fell onto the mattress, he looked at her agape, surprised by the young woman's determination.
With her chest heaving, she climbed on top of him and declared with a firmness that admitted no doubt:
"I am sure, Diego. I want you to make me yours today."
That was the breaking point. Diego lost the little sanity that still restrained him. He kissed her with more intensity than ever, with a contained desire that was consuming him. And that afternoon, they gave themselves to each other regardless of the consequences.
Their bodies sought each other with longing, fitting together as if they had been destined forever. Between sighs, caresses, and broken words, they immersed themselves in a dance of pleasure and passion that consumed them for hours, until the early morning began to give way to the dawn.
When exhaustion was stronger than desire, Valeria finally surrendered, asleep in Diego's arms.
He contemplated her in silence, gently stroking her hair.
(God… I have no words to explain what this woman makes me feel. But what I can swear is that after this, I am never going to allow you to move away from my side again.)
The next morning, Diego woke up earlier than usual. He knew he had to return to his room before anyone noticed his absence. He rose with extreme care so as not to wake her, but as soon as he took a step, he heard her sleepy voice.
"Were you planning to flee?" Valeria asked, half-opening her eyes.
He turned immediately, nervous.
"What? No… well, yes. But it is not what you think."
Valeria laughed softly.
"It was a joke, Diego."
He smiled, relieved.
"I know, but I want it to be clear: I was not going to flee. I just… did not want to wake you. You looked so beautiful asleep that I felt bad interrupting your dream."
She stretched lazily and kissed him on the lips.
"Truly?"
"Truly. But now I must go, before someone notices I spent the night here."
"All right," Valeria sighed, still lying back. "I'll see you in the dining hall in a bit."
Diego said goodbye with one more kiss and went out cautiously, making sure no one saw him.
Upon reaching his room, he closed the door stealthily and leaned back against it. He was just about to head toward the bathroom when a familiar voice made him jump.
"May one know where you spent the night?"
"Damn it, Damian!" Diego put his hand to his chest, startled. "One of these days you're going to kill me with a fright. I thought you were asleep."
"Yes, yes…" his younger brother replied, sitting calmly on the sofa. "Do not change the subject. Answer what I asked you."
Diego rolled his eyes.
"Have I ever told you that you seem like a gossiping old woman?"
"And you keep evading. Until you tell me, I am not going to stop bothering you. You know how I am."
Diego sighed resignedly. He knew Damian well, and he knew he could be unbearable when he set out to get something out of him. So, with little desire to endure an endless interrogation, he ended up confessing what happened with Valeria.
Damian's face went from surprise to astonishment, and finally to reproach.
"You better tell Father when we get home that now you really are going to marry Miss Valeria," he sentenced seriously. "Because if Duke Delacroix ever finds out that you dishonored his daughter after having broken the engagement… I swear to you that blood will run."
A shiver ran through Diego. He knew his godfather all too well. Duke Maximiliano Delacroix was not a man to be trifled with, and much less if it concerned his only daughter.
"I know. I already planned to do it anyway. I do not intend to let anyone snatch her from me. Valeria is mine, and I am not going to allow them to take her from me."
Damian observed him with crossed arms, incredulous.
"You are a walking bipolar, brother. But I hope this time you are serious. Because if not, this story can end not only with your broken heart, but also with the friendship of our families destroyed."
Diego remained silent, aware that, for the first time, he had to truly face the consequences of his decisions.