104
Allesio’s POV
The house was quiet and kind of empty. Allesio had taken Emilia and Francesca out for the night, which was exactly what I needed. Irene and the rest of the house workers had retired to their own wing of the house for the night. No distractions for me and Rosa tonight.
She sat with one leg tucked under her, nursing a glass of wine she’d poured for herself. I watched as she tilted the glass slightly ajd took a sip from it.
“Do you ever stop staring?” she asked, not looking at me but smirking as she caught me watching her.
I leaned back in my chair, shrugging with mock innocence. “Not when there’s something worth looking at.”
She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, she took a slow sip of her wine, letting the silence stretch between us.
“Why do you do that?” I asked after a moment.
Her brow furrowed. “Do what?”
“Deflect,” I said simply. “Every time someone pays you a compliment, you brush it off. Like it doesn’t matter or like you don’t believe it.”
Rosa looked at me then, her eyes narrowing slightly, but there was something vulnerable there too. “I don’t deflect,” she said, though her tone was more defensive than convincing.
“You just did,” I pointed out, letting a grin play at the corner of my mouth.
She sighed, setting her glass down on the table between us. “I guess I’m just not used to it. Compliments, I mean.”
I tilted my head, studying her. “That’s hard to believe.”
“It’s true,” she said, her voice softer now. “When you grow up in a world like mine, compliments aren’t exactly common. Criticism? Sure. Expectations? Always. But someone telling you you’re doing okay? That’s rare.”
I frowned, leaning forward slightly. “That’s bullshit.”
She blinked, startled by my bluntness.
“You shouldn’t have to work so hard just to feel seen,” I said, my tone quieter now. “You’re strong, Rosa. And not just because you have to be. It’s who you are. And anyone who doesn’t see that is blind.”
She stared at me, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, slowly, a faint blush crept into her cheeks. It wasn’t often I saw her flustered-she usually had a comeback for everything-but now, she seemed caught off guard.
“Allesio, you-”
“I mean it,” I interrupted, holding her gaze. “You don’t need to pretend or deflect. Not with me.”
Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to argue, but then she stopped herself. Instead, she picked up her glass again, taking a small sip before speaking.
“You’re surprisingly good at this,” she said, her tone light but her eyes serious.
“At what?”
“This,” she said, gesturing vaguely between us. “Making people feel like they matter. Like you actually care.”
I leaned back, letting out a quiet laugh. “That’s because I do care. Believe it or not, I’m not always the asshole you think I am.”
She raised an eyebrow, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. “You’ve got your moments.”
“Moments?” I repeated, feigning offense. “That’s all I get?”
She laughed softly, shaking her head. “Don’t push your luck.”
I laughed, watching her and feeling my heartbeat accelerate a bit. I haven’t been like this for any woman before. I haven’t felt like this for any woman yet she was making me feel things I didn’t want to be feeling. It wasn’t supposed to be a bad thing…but giving the situation at which this was happening…
Plus it was very obvious she didn’t really want me in her life and it made me curious. Why she always pushed me away.
“Can I ask you something?” I said after a while.
She glanced at me, cautious but curious. “Depends on what it is.”
“Why do you keep everyone at arm’s length?”
Her smile faded, replaced by a more guarded expression. “I don’t.”
“You do,” I said gently. “Even now, you’re here, but you’re not really letting me in. It’s like there’s a wall you’ve built, and you’re daring me to climb it.”
She looked away, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. “Maybe I just like my walls.”
“Maybe,” I said, leaning forward slightly. “Or maybe you’re afraid of what happens if you let someone in.”
Her gaze snapped back to mine, sharp and stubborn. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know more than you think,” I said, my voice steady. “And I know that strength doesn’t mean shutting people out. It’s okay to let someone see the real you, Rosa. The one who doesn’t have to fight every battle alone.”
For a moment, I thought she might lash out, tell me to mind my own business. But instead, she exhaled slowly, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little.
“It’s not that simple,” she said quietly.
“Maybe not,” I agreed. “But it’s worth it.”
She studied me for a long moment, as if trying to decide whether or not to believe me. Finally, she shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
“You’re relentless, you know that?”
“I’ve been called worse,” I said with a shrug.
She laughed softly, the sound warmer this time. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re impossible to ignore,” I countered, my tone light but sincere.
The blush returned to her cheeks, and for the first time this night, I felt like I’d caught a glimpse of the real Rosa-the one beneath the walls and the defenses. It wasn’t much, just a flicker, but it was enough to make me want more.
I knew I was playing a dangerous game. Alaric’s words from the last night echoed in my mind, reminding me of why I was here, of what I was supposed to be doing. But sitting down here, watching Rosa laugh and let her guard down, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was in over my head.
Because the truth was, I wasn’t just getting closer to her for Alaric’s sake anymore.
I was doing it for mine.