At the penthouse, Ricardo leaned against the balcony, deep in thought. His arm still ached from the injury, but that wasn't what occupied his mind, it was Elisa that clouded his mind.
He was drawn to her in a way he couldn't explain, and that frustrated him. He kept reminding himself why he married her: power and wealth. That was all this was supposed to be. But last night something had changed, and now he wasn't sure where he stood.
Movement inside caught his attention. Elisa had just walked into the library, her yellow sundress flowing as she disappeared inside. Without thinking, Ricardo followed.
Inside, she was seated by the fireplace, flipping through a book. She hadn't noticed him yet. A smirk tugged at his lips, she was so lost in thought that she hadn't even sensed him. Instead of announcing himself, he turned and left briefly, returning moments later with a bottle of chilled wine. He poured two glasses and set one beside her, the sound making her jump slightly.
"You get startled too easily," he teased, taking a seat beside her. Elisa eyed the glass before picking it up cautiously. "I wasn't expecting company."Ricardo leaned back, glancing at the book in her hands. "The Evolution of Power," he read aloud. "Interesting choice." "You've read it?" she asked, surprised.
Ricardo let out a dry chuckle. "More times than I wanted to. My father made Emiliano and me memorize books like this. He wanted us to understand power before we ever had it." Elisa studied him for a moment. "And do you?" Ricardo's gaze flickered to her, something unreadable in his eyes. "I understand that power isn't just about taking, it's about knowing what's worth keeping."
A thick silence settled between them, the air heavy with unspoken tension. Elisa's fingers tightened slightly around her wine glass as Ricardo leaned in, his presence almost suffocating yet intoxicating. Neither of them moved, but the energy between them was undeniable.
They could no longer deny the pull between them. The air thickened with unspoken desire as their bodies gravitated toward each other which began as a lingering kiss deepened with urgent need, hands exploring in a silent frenzy neither of them could control and each touch grew bolder, more intense, until they found themselves on the floor, lost in each other surrendering completely to the heat of the moment.
They were on the edge of desire clouding judgment, breaths tangled, and control long forgotten. Fingers fumbled with fabric, and Elisa's dress slipped from her shoulders, leaving her exposed to the heat of Ricardo's touch. He was just about to pull off his own shirt, ready to feel her against him, skin to skin, when a sharp, insistent knock shattered the moment.
Ricardo froze with a beat of silence.
"Who is that?" he barked, his voice rough, breathless.
"It's Antonio," came the voice from the other side. "There's an emergency. I need you, now."
Ricardo cursed under his breath, his chest heaving. With a frustrated glance at Elisa, he quickly grabbed his trousers and rushed out, shirtless and slick with sweat.
Elisa, still dazed, scanned the room for something to cover herself. Her eyes landed on Ricardo's discarded shirt, which she threw on and buttoned halfway before cautiously stepping out.
Antonio's brows lifted when he saw her, confusion flickering in his eyes before the realization hit. He quickly averted his gaze and bowed slightly. "Apologies for the interruption, ma'am."
Elisa said nothing, her cheeks warm, suddenly aware of how exposed she looked, standing in a mafia boss's shirt in the middle of a hallway. But instead of retreating, she stood still, listening.
Antonio turned to Ricardo, tone grim. "It's Emiliano. He set fire to the arms warehouse. We managed to contain it, but it was close."
Ricardo's expression darkened. The war between the brothers had just escalated and this time, it was personal.
Ricardo ran a hand through his hair, still catching his breath. The tension from the news warred with the tension that had just filled the room moments before. He turned to Antonio, voice low but firm.
"Leave. I'll come when I'm ready," Ricardo said. "We've gotten it under control for now. We'll handle the rest properly in the morning."
Antonio gave a small nod, stealing one last glance at Elisa before murmuring, "Understood." With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing down the corridor.
As silence settled again, Ricardo slowly turned to face Elisa.
His gaze burned into her, intense and unreadable, an expression so heated it made Elisa's stomach flutter. Her breath caught as his eyes traveled down to the oversized shirt she wore, his shirt. The quiet air between them thickened, heavy with everything unsaid.
Elisa's cheeks flushed instantly, a soft pink rising to her face. She lowered her eyes, her fingers curling into the fabric at her sides. She could still feel the warmth of his hands on her skin, and now, the weight of his gaze only deepened that heat.
He didn't have to say a word, the way he looked at her said everything.
Elisa slipped quietly into the room, her intention was to simply grab her dress and retreat. The weight of Ricardo's gaze still lingered on her skin, and she didn't trust herself under it any longer.
But just as she reached for the fabric, the door clicked shut behind her.
She turned sharply.
Ricardo was already there, his chest rising with silent breaths, his eyes dark and unreadable. In one swift movement, he crossed the space between them, his hand brushing against hers to stop her. Then, without a word, he lowered his head and kissed her.
Elisa froze for a heartbeat but only for a second.
The moment his lips met hers, the resistance inside her melted. She leaned into him, surrendering to the heat that had been simmering between them for far too long. His hands slid along her sides, lifting the hem of his shirt, the only barrier between them. She shivered as his fingers traced the soft curve of her waist, slowly exploring the warmth of her skin.
Every touch, every breath felt like fire, hungry, desperate, inevitable.
Yet even as passion ignited, there was something else simmering beneath the surface.
Every kiss, every touch grew deeper, more meaningful than either of them anticipated. Ricardo traced her form with admiration, as though memorizing every inch of her. Elisa trembled under his gaze, bare and vulnerable, yet somehow safe in his presence.
But just as desire pushed them to the edge, Ricardo paused.
His breath slowed, his hand still resting on her waist. There was a weight in his eyes, not hesitation, but thoughtfulness. He realized in that moment that they hadn't spoken about boundaries, protection, or trust. Despite the fire between them, he wasn't willing to cross a line without clarity.
Instead, he lowered his head, kissed her with aching patience, and guided her into pleasure with slow, deliberate care. Elisa gasped, overwhelmed by the rush of sensation, unable to hold back the sounds that escaped her lips. Her body responded with urgency, her breath catching as waves of release took her under.
Exhausted and breathless, she finally drifted into sleep.
Ricardo watched her for a long moment, then carefully wrapped her in his arms, lifting her gently. He carried her to his room and settled her into his bed, pulling the covers over them both. As he lay beside her, he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and whispered something only the darkness heard.
He wasn't just claiming her body. He knew something deeper had already begun.