A Dangerous Game

Alessia stared into Damian’s dark eyes, her pulse unsteady.

Trust him?

She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it. Trust wasn’t something she gave easily, and it certainly wasn’t something she handed over to dangerous men with power in their veins and blood on their hands.

And yet…

The way he looked at her—like she was something precious, something worth protecting—made her doubt everything she thought she knew about him.

His fingers still brushed lightly against her wrist, his touch burning into her skin like an unspoken claim.

"You expect me to just accept this?" she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

Damian's eyes darkened slightly, as if he was restraining himself from something. Or someone.

"I expect you to survive, Alessia," he said, his voice a low murmur. "And in order to do that, you need to understand the rules of this world."

She shook her head. "I never asked to be part of this world."

His lips curled into a smirk. "And yet, here you are."

She hated that he was right.

She hated even more that a part of her was intrigued.

Still, she refused to let him have the upper hand.

"You talk about protection like it's some noble thing," she said, stepping back. "But what if I don’t want to be under your watch? What if I want to leave?"

Damian’s smirk vanished in an instant.

The shift in his expression sent a shiver down her spine.

"You don’t want to test me, sweetheart," he warned, his voice smooth, but laced with something dangerous.

Alessia lifted her chin. "Maybe I do."

Silence filled the space between them, thick and heavy.

Then, suddenly, Damian moved.

She barely had time to react before her back was against the desk, Damian’s body pressed close, his hands braced on either side of her.

Her breath caught.

"Do you think this is a game?" he asked, his voice so low it sent a shiver down her spine.

Alessia swallowed, refusing to look away. "Maybe I just like pushing your buttons."

Damian exhaled sharply, his eyes locking onto hers with a heat that made her knees weak.

"You’re playing with fire, sweetheart," he murmured, his fingers brushing along the edge of her jaw.

Alessia’s breath hitched, her skin burning where he touched her.

"And what happens if I get burned?" she whispered.

Damian’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.

"Then I’ll make sure you enjoy every second of it."

Her heart pounded so hard she thought he might hear it.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then, just as suddenly as he had closed the distance, Damian stepped back, his expression unreadable once again.

"Go ahead and test me, Alessia," he said, his voice controlled but firm. "But don’t expect to win."

And with that, he turned and walked away.

She stood there, breathless and utterly wrecked, absorbing what just happened.

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