She picked up a heavy vase from the table and walked towards the balcony, her footsteps low and cautious. The footsteps stopped just outside the door. With her heart pounding, she swung the vase as the person stepped onto the balcony. A cry of pain escaped from the man as he stumbled back.
She quickly turned on the lights, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the man. It would have been less shocking to see Rowan here, but Alessandro? She never expected him to come over. But why the hell did he come from the balcony, not the door?
“Are you alright?” she asked, her voice a mix of concern and confusion.
“No, thanks to you,” Alessandro replied, rubbing his arm where the vase had hit him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t expect you to come here,” she said, setting the vase back on the table. “But why didn’t you use the door?”
“Well… there are guards outside your door, so…” Alessandro trailed off, looking sheepish.
“You could have asked the guards to let you enter. Anyway, what do you want?” Amara’s voice was edged with impatience.
Alessandro leaned in suddenly and captured her lips with his. “I want you, Sweetheart,” he murmured, his hands roaming around her body.
Amara felt his lips on hers, but the memory of Rowan’s kiss lingered in her mind. Alessandro tasted nothing like him. God, what was she even thinking? She pushed Alessandro away forcefully.
“Know your limits, Alessandro. I won’t repeat myself next time,” she warned, her eyes flashing with anger.
Alessandro wiped his lips with his tongue, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Easy, sweetheart.”
“Leave now,” Amara commanded, her patience wearing thin.
Alessandro leaned forward to kiss her again, but Amara stepped back. “You’re drunk, Alessandro. Leave already.”
“Please,” he pleaded, his voice slurring slightly.
“Leave before I call the guards,” Amara said firmly, her hand hovering over her phone.
Alessandro’s face twisted with frustration, but he knew better than to push her further. With a resigned sigh, he turned and made his way back to the balcony, disappearing into the night.
Amara locked the balcony door behind him, her hands shaking slightly. She sank onto the edge of her bed, trying to steady her breathing. The evening’s events had left her rattled, and she needed a moment to collect herself.
The audacity of Alessandro stunned her. He had always been confident, but tonight he had crossed a line. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret for hitting him, but his actions had left her with no choice. She knew she needed to talk to him about boundaries, especially with their upcoming engagement.
As she sat there, her thoughts drifted back to Rowan. Despite his flaws and the chaos he brought into her life, she couldn’t deny the intensity of their connection. Alessandro’s kiss had been a stark reminder of that. Her feelings for Rowan were complicated, but undeniable.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Lucas, checking in on her. She quickly replied, assuring him she was fine and thanking him for his concern. She knew she could rely on Lucas to keep an eye on things, but tonight she felt more vulnerable than ever.
Trying to shake off the lingering unease, she climbed into bed. She needed to get some rest and clear her mind. Tomorrow was going to be another busy day, and she couldn’t afford to let tonight’s events affect her any further.
As she lay there, the moonlight casting a soft glow across the room, Amara found herself thinking about the future. The engagement with Alessandro seemed more uncertain than ever. She needed to make a decision, but her heart was torn between duty and desire.
Sleep eventually claimed her, but her dreams were restless. Images of Alessandro and Rowan danced through her mind, their faces blending together in a confusing mix of emotions.
Outside, Rowan glanced up at Amara’s balcony as he saw Alessandro leaving. He had just come out to feel the fresh air, but this was the scene he saw. Alessandro was leaving her room. As if his dance with her wasn’t enough, he had the audacity to enter her room. Amara called Alessandro her fiance, but she deserved better. She deserved me, Rowan thought. He wasn’t a better man by conventional standards, but at least he wasn’t like Alessandro, who slept around carelessly.
Without another thought, Rowan climbed over the balconies, his movements swift and silent. He finally reached her balcony and used a bit more strength than necessary to open the locked door. Inside, he saw Amara already asleep, her breathing steady and peaceful.
Amara stirred in her sleep, sensing someone coming closer. She felt gentle lips on hers, then a tender kiss on her forehead. She heard the man’s voice, low and intimate, “You deserve better, Crimson.” The name Crimson jolted her awake. She opened her eyes, her heart pounding, and saw Rowan kneeling by her bed, watching her.
“What are you doing here, Rowan?” she demanded, her voice a mix of anger and confusion.
“I am sorry, Crimson. Did I wake you up?” he asked, his tone soft.
“Obviously, but that’s not the answer to my question,” she replied, her eyes narrowing.
Rowan nodded, his expression serious. “I saw Alessandro leaving. Did he touch you? Did he kiss your pretty lips?” As Rowan said that, he touched her lips gently with his fingers.
Amara felt herself losing in his touch, but her mind screamed at her to stay alert. Amara, don’t forget he is your enemy. “That’s none of your business, Rowan. Leave. I am tired,” she said, her voice firm but wavering.
“I am sorry,” Rowan murmured. Then he leaned forward, cupping the back of her neck and kissed her. This time, Amara didn’t push him away. She felt the heat of his body as Rowan’s tongue entered her mouth, savoring her taste as she savored his lips, his touch. Rowan felt better, more alive, than he ever did with anyone else, certainly better than Alessandro.
Rowan’s lips trailed from her mouth to her neck, then down to her collarbone. A cry left Amara’s mouth as Rowan bit her on her neck, tasting her blood. The sharp pain mixed with a surge of desire, leaving her breathless and confused.
“Rowan, stop,” she whispered, but her voice lacked conviction. Her body was betraying her mind.
Rowan pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. “I can’t, Amara. I can’t stop wanting you.”
Amara’s mind raced. She needed to regain control of the situation, of her emotions. “Rowan, you have to leave. This is wrong. You shouldn’t be here.”
“Wrong?” Rowan repeated, his voice a low growl. “What’s wrong is that you’re engaged to a man who doesn’t deserve you. A man who doesn’t love you like I do.”
Amara’s heart ached at his words. She had never heard Rowan speak like this, so raw and vulnerable. But she couldn’t let herself be swayed. “Rowan, you are my enemy. You and I… we can’t be together.”
“Enemy?” Rowan scoffed. “Is that what you tell yourself to justify this charade of an engagement? Deep down, you know we belong together.”
“That’s not for you to decide,” Amara shot back, her voice trembling slightly.
Rowan’s eyes darkened with intensity. “Then say it. Say you don’t want me.”
Before she could respond, he kissed her again, his lips demanding and insistent. His hands roamed over her body, igniting a fire within her. Amara felt a rush of warmth coursing through her, weakening her resolve.
“You want me as much as I want you,” Rowan murmured against her lips.
“I… don’t,” she managed to whisper, her voice faltering.
“You do, Crimson. I can feel you,” Rowan insisted, his voice low and persuasive.
“No,” she said, trying to muster the strength to push him away.
“You’re denying yourself,” Rowan whispered, kissing her shoulder. She felt her senses slipping away, her body betraying her mind. He kissed her other shoulder, sending shivers down her spine.
“I…” Amara’s voice was barely audible.
“Say it. You want me,” Rowan demanded, his voice both a command and a plea.
“Rowan…” she whispered, her resolve crumbling.
“Say it,” he repeated, his eyes locking onto hers.
“I want you, Rowan,” she finally confessed, her voice filled with both desire and desperation.
Rowan’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he heard her words. He captured her lips again, this time with even more intensity, pouring all his passion and longing into the kiss. Amara responded in kind, her hands clutching at his shirt, pulling him closer.
As they kissed, Rowan’s hands continued their exploration, trailing down her back, drawing soft gasps from her lips. He broke the kiss, his breath ragged, and looked into her eyes, his gaze burning with a mix of triumph and raw desire.
“You see, Crimson? You can’t fight this,” he said, his voice husky.
Amara’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She knew she shouldn’t give in to him, but the connection between them was undeniable, overwhelming.