HELENA’S POV
I wake up that morning with a splitting headache, My mind felt foggy, like it had been soaked in alcohol, though I knew that wasn’t the case. As I slowly blinked, my surroundings came into focus-the dark wood paneling, the sheer curtains filtering sunlight into the room.
“What the hell was happening?” I whispered to myself amidst the blinding the headache that flustered.
Slowly, the realization hit me like a cold bucket of water, and I groaned softly, sinking deeper into the plush pillows. I lay still trying to conjure up my memory from the previous night, last I remembered, I had followed Dante to the club and – the flashing lights, the overwhelming heat, the loud music and people dancing while I settled at the bar with a drink and then… him. The strange man that had approached me leading me away, the dizziness that followed, the confusion.
Then Dante Dante had saved me. I remembered his face behind my blurred vision and hazed state and shit!
I sat up quickly, a sharp wave of nausea hitting me as I did. The blanket slid down, and I stared at myself, realizing I was still in my silk nightgown, one of the straps slipping down my shoulder.
“Oh no no no ” Panic flared as the rest of the puzzle pieces clicked into place. I remembered it slowly but painfully so, the way I had thrown myself at him, begged him to touch me, to take me, like some crazed woman starved of pleasure.
“No Helena, you can’t blame yourself, you weren’t yourself” I tried to soothe myself but it was barely working I had begged him to break the rules I had set just like he had predicted I would I had told him to touch him the way he did in my dreams.
“Fuck Helena, why would spew such vulgar words and to Dante of all people?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, mortification flooding me. Oh God. I’d practically begged Dante to fuck me. The heat from the memory crept up my neck, warming my cheeks as the shame hit full force. What the hell had gotten into me?
Immediately, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, feeling the cool floor beneath my feet as I stood.
My head still throbbed, but I needed to shake off the embarrassment clinging to me. Running my hands through my tangled hair, I smoothed it down as best as I could, and then grabbed a silk robe from the chair, pulling it over my nightgown to cover myself.
Peeking at the clock on the wall, I realized it was already past noon-well over 12 p. m. Maybe Dante had left for the day and I wouldn’t have to encounter, and at least before he got back I would be well tucked in bed for the night asleep and maybe we could run the charade for a few more weeks before I would be ready to face him again.
I sighed in relief at the thought and quietly padded down the stairs, making my way to the kitchen.
The smell of fresh coffee hit me, and I moved toward the counter, eager for a cup to clear my head. As I poured it into a mug, I couldn’t help but hope Dante wasn’t lurking around somewhere. I didn’t know how I’d even look him in the eye after-
“You’re awake” his voice sounded
I jumped, the mug nearly slipping from my hands but I managed to curtail myself, not looking back and silently hoping that if I pretended he wasn’t there he’d go away. Suddenly, his dark presence filling the room as he strode toward me, forcing me to turn around and look at him, his gaze piercing sharp and there was an undeniable amusement dancing in his eyes.
My heart plummeted to the floor, as I silently prayed for the ground to open up and swallow me right there and then but if wishes were horses, I’d be back in Paris away from this man that was beginning to make feel things I shouldn’t, I’ll be so far away that the secret I harboured would no longer matter.
I turned around slowly, meeting his intense stare, trying not to tremble under his gaze. “I… I didn’t think you’d still be here,” I stammered, my voice sounding weak. “I thought you’d already left.”
He arched a brow, his lips curling into a hint of a smile. “Well, I needed to make sure you were okay.”
I stared at him, a certain feeling spreading within my insides like a cozy blanket in front of a warm fire but instead of the relief that came with that it made my chest tighten and my heart ache. I barely nodded, wanting to step away from him before he burned me with his presence and his gaze, before he consumed me with fire that he emitted from his body but before I could even think of stepping away, Dante blocked my path, his scent-masculine and intoxicating-invading my senses. I froze, trapped between him and the counter.
“So tell me Helena, what kind of dreams are you having about me?” His voice was low, seductive, and it sent a ripple of anxiety through me.
My heart pounded in my chest. Oh damn! He remembered, here I was wishing that he hadn’t heard me or still, would pretend I ever mentioned that but no he had to mock me with the knowledge of that. But I wasn’t going to admit it now, he was never going to let it go, not when I had been the one to propose the rule, and I went ahead to dream of him doing unimaginable things to me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about” I feigned innocence.
Dante smirked, leaning in closer, his breath hot against my ear. “Don’t lie to me, Helena. You remember last night. You remember everything. I know you do”
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. I did remember. Every embarrassing, shameful detail. But I wasn’t about to admit that to him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about” I maintained still.
He stared at me for a long moment, studying me with that predatory gaze of his, and I held my breath, waiting for him to push further while I secretly hoped he’ll drop it but he only smirked and he stepped back, pulling something from his pocket and handing it to me.
He pulled out a small velvet box, opening up to reveal a shining diamond, it took me a few moments to realize it was a ring he was holding, but then he handed it to me with an air of nonchalance and said
“Wear it, we’re engaged now” he said it so casually, like this wasn’t a big deal for most people but here he was saying it like he was drinking a neat glass of whiskey just straight to the throat.
“Even if it’s just for show, there has to be something to show for it” he added as if reading my mind.
So many thoughts ran through my head in that moment, why now? Why all of a sudden was he giving me an engagement ring? What kind of claim was he trying to make on me that he needed a ring to prove it? No, the most important question was, what happened last night?
“What now? Are you going to demand I get on one knee too?” he said when I didn’t say anything but I managed a chuckle, despite the confusion swirling within me.
His lips twitched, and for the briefest moment, I saw a small smile tug at the corners of his mouth. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced with that cool, calculated demeanor he wore like armor.
“You can at least put the ring on my finger instead of handing it to me like an afterthought” I held out my hand to him, and he looked at me, a brief sigh escaping his lips that I couldn’t place any meaning to and he slipped the ring unto my finger, our fingers brushing in the process, and an electric jolt shot through me.
My stomach twisted with a feeling I didn’t want to acknowledge. His touch ignited something, a fire I couldn’t seem to put out, no matter how hard I tried.
“There,” he said, stepping back slightly. “You’re properly mine now”
I swallowed hard, staring at the ring on my finger and feeling the urge to remind him that it was all fake but it felt too real, too final. But before I could process it all, Dante turned to leave, pausing only at the doorway. “You’re free to join the dance studio but just the one on this avenue.”
I frowned. “I prefer the one on my father’s avenue,” I replied, my voice quieter now.
Dante’s gaze darkened. “No Helena. You need to be where I can protect you.”