Page 23 of Tower of Temptations

Her hands found my shoulders as I explored the sensitive spot behind her ear. Each sound she made, each tiny reaction, I filedaway. When she breathed my name, I pulled back just enough to watch her eyes flutter open; dark now, pupils blown wide.

I traced patterns on her lower back through the silk, letting the tension build between us. She swayed closer, pressing herself against me with a soft "please."

The first taste of her mouth was addictive. She melted into me as the kiss deepened, making these little sounds that drove me crazy. I backed her against the vanity, lifting her easily to sit on its edge. Her legs parted, letting me step between them as I explored her mouth.

"Perfect," I murmured against her lips, running my fingers down her spine to make her arch. She was everything I'd imagined during those long nights of watching her from afar.

Her hands found their way under my shirt, nails scraping lightly across my skin. I growled, breaking the kiss to attack her neck again. When she gasped "more," I knew I was lost.

Her skin was like silk under my hands as I explored lower, tracing the delicate line of her collarbone. She arched into my touch, head falling back to expose more of her throat. I took full advantage, trailing open-mouthed kisses down that elegant column while my fingers found the thin strap of her camisole.

"Is this okay?" I murmured against her skin. Her breathless nod was all I needed.

The strap slipped easily off her shoulder, revealing more creamy skin that begged to be tasted. Each kiss drew new sounds from her throat, little gasps and moans that made my blood burn hotter. When I found a particularly sensitive spot at the curve of her shoulder, her whole body trembled.

Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me back up for another desperate kiss. The taste of her was intoxicating—sweet and addictive. I slid my hand up her thigh, feeling goosebumps rise in my wake. The silk of her shorts had ridden up, revealing more skin that I traced with careful fingers.

"You're trembling," I breathed against her mouth, feeling how she shook under my touch. Her only response was to kiss me harder, pulling me closer between her parted legs.

The feel of her pressed against me, all soft curves and needy sounds, was almost too much. I wanted to take my time, learn every inch of her body, find every spot that made her gasp and shudder. But the way she moved against me, desperate and wanting...

The compound's alarm cut through everything like a knife, red lights flooding the room. We froze, both breathing hard, as my radio crackled: "Multiple hostiles approaching from the west perimeter! Heavy weapons spotted!"

Pearl's eyes snapped to mine, all trace of desire replaced by raw fear. She slid off the vanity, fingers fumbling with her displaced clothing.

"Go to the safe room behind your closet," I said quickly, already shifting to alert. "Lock the door. Don't open it for anyone without the correct code."

She nodded, but hesitated for a moment. I pulled her in for one last fierce kiss before pushing her toward safety.

The compound erupted into chaos as I ran. Her kiss still burned on my lips, but there was no time to think about what we'd started. Not with gunfire lighting up the night.

13

PEARL

The gunfire was deafening. Huddled in the safe room behind my closet, I tried to focus on breathing, not on the lingering warmth where Vincenzo's lips had touched my skin. The walls seemed to shake with each explosion, making me wonder if they were really as secure as promised.

A pattern of knocks cut through the chaos. "Pearl?" A familiar voice, though not one I'd dealt with much during my weeks here. "We need to move."

The lock beeped and the door opened to reveal one of Giuliano's men —Luca, I remembered. Giuliano had mentioned him once or twice, describing him as someone who kept spirits up during tough times. Now he was in full tactical gear, his expression serious.

His long dark hair was pulled back in a messy knot, and even through the tactical vest, I could tell he was built lean but strong. The stubble along his jaw caught the dim light as he moved.

"You good to run?" His eyes swept over me, taking in my silk pajamas and bare feet. "Ah. Not exactly escape attire."

"I'm fine." I tried to sound braver than I felt. "What's happening?"

"Short version?" He checked the hallway. "Vittorio's done playing nice. Sent his men to fetch you home." The way he said it, casual despite the gravity, somehow made it less terrifying. "Giuliano wants you moved somewhere less obvious."

An explosion rocked the building. Luca moved instantly, stepping in front of me, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

He led me through service corridors I hadn't known existed, moving with surprising grace for someone his size. Every now and then he'd pause, head tilted like he was listening to something through his earpiece.

"Are you heading to the tunnels?" I heard someone say through his radio.

"Already on it." Luca guided me down what looked like a maintenance shaft. "Though I still say we should've installed that waterslide."

"Focus, Luca." Giuliano's voice, tense with gunfire in the background.

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