Page 34 of Isaia

His lips hover inches from mine, a tantalizing promise of what’s to come, and I can’t help but clench my thighs as heat pools there. I’m sure he’s going to kiss me, and the worst part?

I want him to.

I want it more than I care to admit, and there’s no part of me that’s willing to pull away.

“I wonder,” he whispers, “what would happen if I stayed.”

Disaster. Calamity. Catastrophe.

Take your pick.

But none of those thoughts seem to matter because all I can think about is how his touch is still lingering, how his breath mingles with mine, how everything about him is raw, magnetic heat, pulling me under.

His thumb brushes over my lower lip, and my heart stumbles, my body leaning that little bit closer to his, craving the contact, cravinghim.

“Isaia, you have to…” I trail off and his hand glides to the back of my neck, his fingers applying just enough pressure to make me shiver.

My lips part instinctively, the space between us shrinking, anticipation thickening every second. I brace for the kiss I both dread and crave when something nudges against our legs.

The spell shatters.

We glance down to find Luna rubbing her face against Isaia’s leg, streaking his black jeans with long lines of drool.

“Jesus.” Isaia jerks back, shooting to his feet. “That’s disgusting.”

I bite back a laugh, glancing at Luna’s wide-eyed, innocent expression. “That wasn’t very nice,” I mock-scold her, but can’t help the smile tugging at my lips.

He jumps up and grabs a paper towel from the kitchen to clean his pants. “Your dog’s a menace.”

Still trying to hold in my amusement, I shrug. “But she’s cute, though, right?”

“How can so much drool come out of that one dog?”

“It’s a basset’s superpower.”

He huffs, tossing the paper towel into the trash can, but when his eyes meet mine again, the humor fades. That electric charge is back, stirring between us, crackling just beneath the surface. It’s more controlled this time, but no less intense.

I head for the door, trying to regain some semblance of control. I open it and step aside. “Good night, Isaia.”

For a moment, he hesitates. His gaze moves from Luna to me, and I can feel the weight of his unspoken words hanging in the air, a storm of desire and something darker simmering just beneath his cool exterior.

He clenches his jaw, giving a slow nod before striding toward the door, his presence lingering even as he walks away.

As he reaches the doorway, he pauses. “Just FYI, I prefer cats.”

I smile. “Now, that’s a red flag if I ever saw one.”

He steps closer, his eyes dark with intensity. “Red flags? I’m the whole parade, little troublemaker.”

Chapter 11

ISAIA

There’s something about the way she moves—quiet but intentional, like she’s trying to be invisible but doesn’t realize she’s the brightest fucking thing in the room.

It’s not just her face, though God knows that’s enough to ruin a man. It’s the way her hands brush the counter, the way she tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear, the slight bite of her bottom lip when she thinks no one’s looking.

Except,I’mlooking. And I can’t stop.

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