Chapter 5
The elevator ride was suffocating. It wasn't just the small space or the silence. It was him. Luca stood beside me, his presence commanding the air around him. He didn't look at me once, his gaze fixed on the doors in front of us, his jaw set in that same hard line he had worn all evening.
The car ride here had been the same. Luca had barely spoken during the drive, the occasional hum of the car engine was the only sound between us.
When the elevator doors finally opened with a soft chime, I was relieved though I knew the discomfort would only continue.
The penthouse was just as I expected, modern and sleek with its dark colors and expensive furnishings yet it felt cold, untouched like a place not meant to be lived in.
Luca didn't even glance back to check if I was keeping up as he walked ahead. I followed him in silence, my feet moving almost on their own though every step felt heavier than the last.
The master bedroom loomed ahead, an intimidating space I was not prepared for.
I hesitated at the doorway, the distance between us growing with every step he took. He didn't stop, didn't wait for me but continued walking toward the bed.
He didn't look back as he slowly undid his tie. His back was to me but I could feel the tension in the air, thick and heavy. He paused for a moment then spoke without turning around.
"Come inside." His voice was firm.
There was no room for hesitation, no kindness in the invitation. I should have said something but I was frozen in place. My feet moved before I could think following him into the room. My breath quickened with each step, my palms sweaty as I tried to swallow the lump in my throat.
I stood still, just a few inches away from him and watched as Luca removed his watch before placing it on the bed with his discarded suit jacket and tie.
Luca turned to face me then, his eyes locking onto mine. The intensity in his gaze made my stomach twist with a strange mixture of fear. He wasn't this scary at the reception.
He took a step and stopped just in front of me, close enough that I could feel the heat of his body radiating toward mine.
Without a word, his hands reached out cupping my chin gently. He tilted my head back slightly, forcing me to meet his gaze. My breath caught in my throat as his fingers tightened just enough to send a tremor through my body.
"Unbutton my shirt." he said, his voice low.
I froze.
Luca didn't wait for a response. His hand guided mine to the first button of his shirt, his touch urging me forward. The air between us felt thick, charged with something I didn't understand.
I wanted to pull away but his touch held me in place. His eyes never left mine, his gaze dark and intense. His other hand moved to my lower back, his fingers pressing into the soft fabric of my dress.
I trembled under his touch, my body betraying me. My fingers hovered over the second button unable to pull it out.
"Why are you shaking?" he asked. There was something almost mocking in the way he spoke. "This is what is expected of you, of us."
I shook my head slightly, trying to hold on to some shred of control. I wanted to tell him it wasn't right, that I wasn't ready but I couldn't get the words out.
His hand moved from my waist to the back of my neck pulling me closer, pressing me against the solid wall of his chest.
I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath the thin fabric of his shirt and I wondered if he could feel mine too which was thudding wildly against my ribcage.
He brought his thumb to lower lip tracing it harshly, sending a shiver through me. His eyes didn't leave mine, not even for a moment.
"Yes" he asked slowly, a question in his voice now "Or no?"
The silence that followed felt deafening. My heart raced and I could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on me. I knew what he wanted, knew what was expected. But the words lodged in my throat, a tangled mess of fear and uncertainty.
I tried to move away but Luca's grip tightened on my neck not allowing me to retreat.
"Yes" he asked again, his voice low and commanding.
"No" The word came out quick.
Luca's jaw tightened, the muscle in his cheek twitching. His grip on my neck tightened more, his fingers digging into the skin.
His eyes darkened with frustration but there was something else there too, something that sent a chill down my spine.
"No" His repeated was a quiet hiss, a mixture of anger and frustration.
Then without another word, he released me, his touch leaving a cold void in its place. He turned on his heel and strode out of the room.
The door slammed shut behind him with a resounding finality.
I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest as the sound of his footsteps echoed through the hallway, slowly fading away. The room felt emptier now, quieter.
I was left standing alone in the center of the room, my pulse racing, my mind spinning.
The words he had said, the way he had touched me, they all replayed in my mind over and over again.
I sat on the edge of the bed trying to calm myself but the lingering heat of his touch didn't leave.