"I'm good at many things, Olivia..." Dante's voice was low, almost dangerous. "...and if you let me, I'll show you every single one." Her breath caught. "Then show me," she whispered, daring to trail her fingers up his arms, tracing every hard vein until she reached his sculpted biceps. Then higher. Her nails dug into his neck as she pulled him closer, craving the heat of his breath. "Show me all of you, Dante." --- The night Olivia plans to confess her feelings to Lucas - her best friend - everything falls apart. Heartbroken and humiliated, she walks alone under the rain, desperate to disappear. That's when she crosses paths with Dante Salvatore - the man who will ruin her carefully planned future. Older. Forbidden. Dangerous. Dante is twice her age and the father of her best friend. Falling for him could destroy her. And maybe... That's exactly why she wants him so badly.
Chapter 1 Party
Olivia Fernandes
I woke up with a start. I sat up in bed, breathless, rubbing my hands over my face in a desperate attempt to shake off the tormenting thoughts that haunted me.
For seven days straight, I'd been waking up like this. Dazed, disoriented, sweating, and ashamed.
Whenever I closed my eyes, the vivid, lifelike dream that had been plaguing me all week came rushing back. I could recall every detail-the intensity of his touch, his scent, the overwhelming sensations that took over me when I allowed myself a taste of what could be... if I weren't so damn scared.
That's exactly how I felt every time I saw him.
Lucas. My best friend from college. The popular guy every girl in high school dreams but unlike all the boys I'd known back then, he was different. Handsome, smart, kind.
Which is why I always believed it had to be some sort of trap. There had to be something lurking beneath the surface. Something Lucas was hiding behind all that charm and perfection. Some toxic trait, an annoying habit, poor hygiene- anything to prove he wasn't so... flawless.
But after a year of being around him, I'd found nothing. Nothing to kill the butterflies that fluttered in my stomach every time he smiled at me. Nothing to stop the sharp, aching pull in my chest when he was near.
And that infuriated me. Not because I wanted to find something wrong with him, but because I wanted to stop feeling this way. I wanted to get rid of the helplessness that came with being too afraid to admit how I felt.
It wasn't just cowardice. It was this gut-deep fear that telling him would ruin everything. That he'd laugh, or worse, pity me.
It was hard not to believe my looks would get in the way again.
My brother had done a pretty good job convincing me no one would ever find me remotely attractive. And even though people constantly told me otherwise-even though I was often considered one of the prettiest girls in class despite not being a size zero-I still doubted it.
I always wore dresses that flattered my curves, mostly pastel shades, adorned with bows and lace, romantic and vintage all at once. I turned heads, sure.
But emotional scars from abuse don't fade so easily.
And throughout the day, while I got ready for Lucas's 24th birthday party, all those thoughts clung to me like fog.
Love, insecurity, courage-they tangled in my mind like a web I couldn't escape from. And as I stared at myself in the mirror, I knew the choice to untangle it all rested entirely in my hands.
The door creaked open, and I jumped slightly. My roommate stepped in, eyes widening as she took in my appearance.
"Damn, Liv!" Natália whistled. "If I were single, I'd hit on you." She winked, and I gave her a shy, sheepish smile.
Compliments were always hard for me to take, even though I heard them often.
"Do you think I overdid it?" I smoothed down a wrinkle in the black velvet dress. It had a slit on the right thigh and a plunging neckline that showed just enough.
"With the Salvatores? Honestly, you might be underdressed." Nat pulled a worn-out pack of cigarettes from her bag and tossed it onto the bed, leaning by the window to light one.
I frowned, worried at her words, but she just shrugged and went on, "You look amazing, seriously. They're just over the top. I mean, people say Lucas's mom is weird."
"Everyone says that. I still think it might be an exaggeration," I said, slipping on a pair of black heels and placing a matching headband delicately on my head.
The truth is, I didn't know what to think about Lucas's family. Unlike most wealthy families, they were very private.
No tabloid drama, no scandals, not even a single juicy rumor. They would be completely anonymous-if they didn't practically fund the entire university.
That was part of what made me so nervous about tonight. That, and the fact that I'd chosen this party as the moment I would finally tell Lucas how I felt.
So, I spent the whole day getting ready. I put on my best outfit and mentally rehearsed every word of my carefully planned confession.
On the ride there, I kept reciting my speech in my head, trying not to forget anything important. But the moment the driver pulled up to the Salvatore estate's front gate, it was like my brain went numb.
Security checked my name on the list and pointed me toward the path leading to the house. For a second, I genuinely thought I'd arrived at a second university campus- it was that massive.
It took a few minutes to walk the stone path, and let me tell you, walking in stilettos was not helping.
As soon as I heard the thump of bass-heavy music, I knew I was close.
I entered through a side entrance-far from the main doors of the mansion-where a few staff members were welcoming guests. And then I understood what Nat had meant.
Everything was... extravagant. Loud colors, ornate chandeliers, bold and even bizarre decor. Irregular geometric shapes, provocative art hanging on the walls.
Yet the paintings stood out. They were beautiful in a way that clashed with everything else- subtle colors dulled by harsh lighting, yet they pulsed with emotion, each brushstroke soaked in a kind of raw, passionate energy.
I stood there, transfixed, completely absorbed by the naked honesty in the images, one depicting love in its most vulnerable, unfiltered form.
The room grew warmer and more crowded with every passing second. I felt out of place, surrounded by strangers, my nerves prickling.
And then I saw him.
Chapter 1 Party
08/04/2025
Chapter 2 Storm
08/04/2025
Chapter 3 Dante
08/04/2025
Chapter 4 Free
08/04/2025
Chapter 5 Decision
08/04/2025
Chapter 6 The Truth
08/04/2025
Chapter 7 Tasting
08/04/2025
Chapter 8 Discoveries
08/04/2025
Chapter 9 Touch
08/04/2025
Chapter 10 Time to Go Back
08/04/2025
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