170

170
Emilia’s POV
The early morning sunlight streamed through the bedroom windows, giving the room a beautiful golden hue. I blinked awake slowly, my eyes adjusting to the light, and for a moment, I forgot where I was. Then I turned my head and saw him. Alaric was still asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful in a way I didn’t often see.
His hand rested just inches away from mine on the rumpled sheets, and I couldn’t resist the small smile tugging at my lips. I shifted slightly, trying not to disturb him, but the movement must have been enough because his eyes fluttered open.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice husky and still thick with sleep.
“Morning,” I replied softly, suddenly aware of how close we were.
This felt different. Easier. There wasn’t the usual tension or hesitance that seemed to hover around us after nights like this. Now, lying here beside him, it felt natural, as though we belonged in this quiet moment.
He propped himself up on one elbow, his gaze lingering on me like he was trying to memorize every single thing, every single angle and curve of my body. “You look… peaceful,” he said, his lips curving into a half-smile.
I raised an eyebrow. “Peaceful? That’s a polite way of saying I look half-asleep.”
Alaric chuckled, the deep, rich sound filling the room. “You’re beautiful. Even when you’re half-asleep.”
I felt heat creep up my neck and reached for the nearest pillow, tossing it lightly at him. “Stop. You’re too smooth for this early in the morning.”
He caught the pillow easily, his grin widening. “It’s not smooth if it’s true.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t hide my smile. I laid back on the bed, running a hand through my hair and disheaveling it even further before sighing. I stared up at the ceiling, not feeling bothered by the silence that had now descended around him and I.
As we settled into the silence, my thoughts began to wander. When we first met, mornings like this would have been unimaginable. He was too guarded, too wary of letting anyone-especially someone like me-see past the walls he’d built.
But I had been able to dismantle those high walls he had built without even the both of us realizing it. Piece by piece, I’d chipped away at the barriers, and somewhere along the way, he’d stopped trying to rebuild them.
I didn’t know when exactly it happened-when I started feeling this free, this safe, around him. Maybe it was the night he stayed up with Francesca when she was sick, or the way he’d look at me like I was the only person in the world who mattered. Or maybe it was just this: mornings like these, when everything felt simple and right.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Alaric’s voice pulled me back to the present.
I turned to him, hesitating for a moment before answering. “I was just thinking about how much things have changed between us.”
He tilted his head, his expression curious. “Good changes, I hope?”
I nodded. “Good changes. It’s just… I wasn’t expecting this. Us.”
“Neither was I,” he admitted, his voice softer now. “But I’m glad we’re here.”
There was something in the way he said it-something that made my chest tighten in the best possible way. “Me too,” I admitted, but that wasn’t what I really wanted to say. What I really wanted to tell him that I was very much in love with him, and I had been for a while now but I was afraid of pushing him away with such. It was still a miracle that we were doing this together…that we were in some sort of wash relationship and he didn’t mind showing it. Telling him I loved him was like running instead of walking. I didn’t want to go too far.
I wrapped my hands around him, resting my head on his shoulders. “I really should go check up on Francesca. You know how excited she is about finally going to school tomorrow. I can’t leave her alone by herself. I have to prep her.”
“You can always do that later. Stay in bed with me,” he answered.
“But you also have to get to work too,” I reminded him.
“It’s nothing Allesio can’t handle,” he answered and I rolled my eyes. I knew it would be a waste of time trying to convince him so I took a deep breath instead, rolling my eyes slightly.
“I’m going,” I said flatly and he just chuckled. It wasn’t until I started to get up that Alaric stopped me, his hand wrapping gently around my wrist.
“Wait,” he said, his tone suddenly serious.
I glanced at him, puzzled. “What is it?”
He hesitated, his brow furrowing like he was trying to find the right words. “I want to take you out tonight. Just the two of us.”
I blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. “A date?”
“Yes, a date.” He gave me a sheepish smile, which was rare enough to make my heart skip a beat. “I know we’ve been… figuring things out as we go, but I want to do this properly. You deserve that.”
For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. The idea of going on a real date with Alaric-a proper, normal date-felt both exhilarating and terrifying.
“I don’t know,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “What if something happens? What if-”
“Emilia,” he interrupted gently, his fingers brushing against mine. “We’ve been through enough to know that life is unpredictable. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make time for us. I want to take you out. No guards, no interruptions-just you and me.”
His words were earnest, and I could see the sincerity in his eyes. Apart from asking for a date, he was also asking for me to trust him.
I swallowed hard, nodding slowly. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
The smile that spread across his face was enough to make every lingering doubt melt away.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of anticipation, my nerves humming with excitement and uncertainty. I spent far too long agonizing over what to wear, pacing my closet until the options began to blur together. Eventually, I settled on a midnight-blue dress that felt like the perfect blend of elegant and understated.
The dress was floor-length, its fabric flowing like liquid silk, catching the light with every subtle movement. A sweetheart neckline emphasized the delicate line of my collarbones, while thin straps framed my shoulders gracefully. The bodice hugged my figure, cinching at the waist before flaring out slightly into a soft A-line skirt that swayed with each step. A daring thigh-high slit on one side added a hint of allure without feeling over the top.
I paired the dress with a pair of silver strappy heels, their delicate design adding height and a touch of glamour. My hair was styled into loose waves that cascaded down my back, with a few strands artfully framing my face. For jewelry, I opted for simple diamond studs and a matching pendant necklace, their sparkle subtle but eye-catching still. A soft makeup look completed the the whole glam-rosy lips, a hint of blush, and a touch of shimmer on my eyelids that made my eyes stand out.
Standing in front of the mirror, I took a deep breath, smoothing the fabric of my dress and willing my nerves to settle.
When I finally descended the stairs, Alaric was waiting for me at the bottom, his gaze sweeping over me with an intensity that made my breath hitch.
“You look stunning,” he said, offering me his hand.
I took it, feeling a warmth spread through me as our fingers intertwined. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
He laughed, leading me out to the car.