Page 15 of Bound By Honor

The kiss explodes between us like a storm breaking. His mouth claims mine with a possession that steals my breath, one hand sliding into my hair while the other pulls me flush against him. I gasp, and he deepens the kiss, tasting of scotch and danger and everything I shouldn’t want. My fingers curl into his shirt as he backs me against the wall.

His cologne surrounds me, his touch brands me, and everything narrows to this moment.

When he finally pulls away, we’re both breathing hard. His forehead rests against mine, and for a moment, I see everything in his eyes—desire, fear, need.

As he steps back, the cold air lashes against me. My heart races, not just from the kiss, but from the flood of emotions threatening to drown me.Am I falling for him?The thrill of the kiss clashes with the fear of what a relationship with Luciano could mean—a crossroads between desire and the dangers lurking just beyond reach.

“This can’t happen again,” he says, but his hands haven’t left my waist, his thumbs tracing circles that brand my skin through the thin fabric.

“Liar,” I whisper, feeling his sharp intake of breath.

He steps back with visible effort, and the loss of his warmth almost hurts. “Stay out of trouble, Aurora.” His voice is rough. “For both our sakes.”

The door closes behind him, but his presence lingers like smoke, impossible to catch but burning in my lungs. My phone’s buzz feels like an intrusion, the screen’s glow harsh in the darkness:

You’re not as safe as you think, sorella. Sweet dreams.

Alessandro’s words should chill me, but all I can feel is the ghost of Luciano’s kiss, the phantom press of his hands. Let Alessandro play his games. Tonight, I’ve tasted something worth fighting for—something that tastes like danger and tastes like home.

7

LUCIANO POV

The soft scraping of silverware against fine china echoes through the dining room like gunshots. Alessandro’s voice cuts through the tension with practiced ease, each word a carefully placed bullet.

“You know,fratello, I’ve noticed how... attentive you’ve become to our dear Aurora’s safety.” His smile is razor-sharp across the table. “Almost obsessively so.”

My grip tightens on my fork, the metal digging into my palm as a bead of sweat slides down my spine, chilling me. Dominic’s gaze is a hawk’s—sharp, assessing—making every muscle in my body tense with the instinct to fight or run.

“It’s my job to protect the family.”

“Of course, of course.” Alessandro waves his hand dismissively. “Though I can’t help but wonder if some protections run... deeper than others.”

Aurora stiffens beside me, her knuckles white around her wine glass. The candlelight catches the flush creeping up her neck, and I force myself to look away.

“What exactly are you implying, Alessandro?” Dominic’s voice carries that dangerous edge I know too well.

“Nothing at all,fratello. Merely observing.” Alessandro’s eyes glitter with malice. “Though I must say, the way Luciano rushed to her defense at the club last night was rather... passionate.”

Merda. I set my fork down with deliberate control. “There are credible threats?—”

“Oh yes, the mysterious threats,” Alessandro cuts in smoothly. “How convenient they always seem to appear, just when Aurora starts to dance on that fine line between independence and recklessness. Isn’t it fascinating how easily that line blurs when someone special is involved?”

“That’s enough.” I start to rise, but Dominic’s sharp look pins me in place.

“No, let him speak.” Dominic’s attention fixes on Alessandro. “What exactly did you witness at the club?”

Aurora speaks up, her voice steady despite the tension. “Nothing happened. Luciano simply did his job.”

“Did he?” Alessandro’s smile turns predatory. “Is that why you ended up at his penthouse instead of coming straight home?”

The silence that follows is deafening. I watch the muscle tick in Dominic’s jaw, see the calculations running behind his eyes.

“I needed to check on Luca,” I say evenly. “And it was on the way.”

"Ah yes, little Luca." Alessandro's voice drips with false warmth. "Tell me, Aurora, how do you find playing happy family with my brother? It's quite... domestic."

“That’senough.” The words tear from my throat before I can stop them. The table falls silent.

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