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“Oh,” I said, surprised “Like a date?”

The corners of Luca’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t smile “You could call it that We haven’t been on a real date yet” He wrapped an arainst hihtness disappeared from his eyes

“When will you stop being afraid of me?”

“You don’t want ht it would make his life easier if I was terrified of him Would make it easier to keep me in check

Luca’s dark brows drew together “You are ether I don’t want a cowering woman at my side”

That really surprised me Mother loved Father but she also feared him “Are there people out there who don’t fear you?”

“A few,” he said before lowering his head and pressing his lips against mine He kissed me without hurry until I relaxed under his touch and parted my lips for him I raised ers brushing his hair My other hand pressed against his chest, enjoying the feel of his muscles He pulled away

“I have half a ” He rubbed his thuh tilanced at his watch “I really need to go now Roone Take your time and look around” With that he headed for the door and left

For aif anyone would stopInstead I moved toward the staircase and walked up to the second floor Only one of the white doors was ajar and I pushed it open Thearea, an entire as -sized bed was facing them I wondered hoould be to watch the sunrise from bed The wall behind the bed was upholstered with black fabric At the end of the rooht I could see a freestanding bathtub through the glass wall separating the bedroom from the bathroom

I walked toward it Even frolass wall, the washbasins and the shoeren’t visible from the bedroom, and the toilet was in its own small room

“Aria?”

I gasped My heart pounded in my chest as I slowly followed the voice and found Ros “I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said when he saw s?”

I’d forgotten Luca had dropped them on the sofa “I don’t know Maybe the walk-in closet?”

He strode past s down on a bench in the closet My three suitcases as well as twoboxes were beside it “Do you know if I need to dress up for tonight? Luca said he wants to take me to his favorite restaurant, but he didn’t tell me if it has a dress code”

Romero smiled “No Definitely no dress code”