Page 18 of Temptation
“I know, sweetheart,” Sienna reassures her, brushing a stray lock of hair from my daughter’s forehead.
“I don’t want to sleep again,” she sniffs, clutching her blanket tightly as if it could shield her from the remnants of her frightful slumber.
“It was just a dream, and it’s over now,” Sienna says, her tone firm yet comforting.
“Can you come cuddle with me?” Maddy asks, her eyes wide and pleading. Without hesitation, Sienna slides into the bed. My daughter immediately wraps her tiny arms around her teacher, holding on as if Sienna is a lifeline.
“Is that better?” Sienna asks softly, her hand gently rubbing Maddy’s back.
“Mhm,” comes the muffled reply, her face buried in Sienna’s shoulder.
“Would you like me to tell you a story?” Sienna offers.
“Please,” my daughter responds eagerly, her grip loosening slightly.
“Once upon a time, there was an incredibly rich and beautiful princess,” Sienna begins, her voice weaving the magic of the tale.
“I love princesses,” Maddy chimes in, her voice filled with wonder and excitement, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, and I can’t help but smile, too.
“Tired of all the suitors who were only interested in her wealth, she proclaimed that she would marry whoever managed to present her with the most valuable gift of all, and soon the palace was filled with gifts of every kind. Among all these gifts, she found a simple pebble. She demanded to see whoever hadgifted it, and a young man was brought before her to explain the meaning of his gift.”
Sienna continues to rub Maddy’s back as she recites the little tale, her voice soothing and melodic. “He said, ‘This pebble represents the most vital thing one can give—it is my heart. It is yet to be yours; hence it is as hard as a stone. Only when it fills with love will it soften.’ The princess took the little pebble with her wherever she went, and for months she regaled the young man with gifts and attention. But his heart remained as hard as the stone in her hands. Frustrated that she couldn’t win the young man’s heart, the princess threw the pebble into a fire. In the heat of the fire, the sand crumbled from around it, and from out of that rough stone, the most beautiful gemstone emerged.”
Before Sienna even finishes her story, Maddy drifts off to sleep once more, a smile gracing her lips. Sienna disentangles herself from the little girl’s grasp, careful not to disturb her peaceful slumber, and climbs out of bed. She moves towards the door, her footsteps light as whispers on the carpeted floor, and suddenly she tenses, a small sound escaping her throat. Her eyes dart around the room, and when her gaze finally lands on me, lurking in the dim light, a frown creases on her forehead.
Wordlessly she brushes past me with a cool indifference, slipping into her room and closing the door behind her. The door barely clicks shut before I push it open again, following her into the room. She stands in the middle, her back to me, the black silk shorts she wears clinging to her firm figure in a way that’s hard to ignore. The silence between us is thick, almost palpable, as if the room itself is holding its breath.
I know I should say something to break this uncomfortable silence. Perhaps an apology for my earlier outburst?
That’s what anyone with even a shred of decency would do. Too bad decency has never been my strong suit, and I remainsilent, the apology dying on my lips before it ever has a chance to form.
Eight
Sienna
Ibrush past him without saying a word, my mind still reeling from our earlier interaction. The thought of spending another moment in his presence fills me with an overwhelming sense of dread.
The moment I enter my room and barely close the door, it’s pushed open again. The atmosphere shifts palpably as Fabrizio steps inside. The soft click of the door closing behind him is deafening in the sudden silence. My pulse races, each beat pounding in my ears.
“You are exceptionally good with kids,” Fabrizio’s voice breaks the silence, low and almost gentle.
“It’s my job, and I love children,” I reply. “And yours are absolutely wonderful.” My eyes catch our reflection in the window, watching as he moves closer. A heartbeat later, he is right behind me, his presence a tangible force. Though he doesn’t touch me, the warmth from his body envelops mine,creating a bridge of anticipation between us. Then, I feel it—his fingertip trails delicately up and down my spine, a touch so light it sends shivers cascading over my skin. Goosebumps rise in response, a physical manifestation of the electric current coursing through me. His lips press against the nape of my neck, moving in a slow, deliberate caress that ignites every nerve ending. The sensation is intoxicating, a heady mix of electricity and raw desire that consumes me. I can feel myself yielding to his touch, my resolve crumbling with every second. I know I should step away and create space between us, but my body betrays me. I am ensnared by the seductive pull of his mouth on my skin, lost in the intoxicating feeling of being wanted. The room fades away, leaving only the sensation of Fabrizio’s lips and the overwhelming desire that they awaken in me.
Fabrizio moves around me, his presence electric in the room. He strides to the window with a confident grace, eyes fixed on the darkness outside for a fleeting moment before he turns his attention back to me. With a fluid motion, he pulls his t-shirt over his head, revealing the taut muscles of his torso. He places the shirt neatly on the chair in front of the large window, then does the same with his jeans.
“Take off your clothes.” His voice is a husky murmur that makes my hair stand on end. My fists clench involuntarily, nails biting into my palms as I bite my lower lip. Each breath I take is shallow and rapid, a futile attempt to steady myself against the storm of emotions swirling inside.
My heart pounds a wild rhythm, a cacophony that mirrors the turmoil of fear and desire warring within me. The lines blur, leaving me a tangled mess of emotions. He casts a glance over his shoulder, his gaze a silent challenge, but I hold my ground, rooted to the spot, unmoving, clothed. I lift my chin, locking eyes with him, a gesture of defiance that belies the turmoil within. I have no idea what I am doing. No idea what I am supposed to do.Slowly, he turns to face me fully, his eyes traveling a deliberate path from my head to my toes and back again. His gaze is intense, burning a trail across my skin that leaves me feeling exposed.
“I don’t like to repeat myself. Take off your clothes.” His tone carries a hint of amusement, a playful edge that contrasts sharply with the underlying threat. Though his words are delivered with a touch of levity, they ring in my ears as a promise of consequences if I fail to comply.
Every thought evaporates in my mind as I begin to undress with trembling hands. I lift my top over my head, feeling the cool air whisper against my now-bare skin. My fingers hook into the seams of my bottoms, pushing them down and stepping out of them. Each movement feels like an eternity, every second stretching out as I stand before him, laid bare in more ways than one. There’s a change in his eyes, so intense that they burn with fire, leaving my skin prickling.
A primal hunger flashes in their depth, a raw desire that takes my breath away. His chiseled features become harder as he takes three long strides in my direction. The room seems to shrink, the space between us disappearing all too quickly. For a split second, I want to ask what he’s going to do. But the question dies on my lips, unspoken and unnecessary. I know exactly what will happen. I can read the intention in his eyes, the promise of what’s to come.
He would do what he threatened—no, promised—this morning. Fabrizio was going to fuck me, the mouth-watering bulge in his boxers clearly indicating exactly that. A guttural sound pushes from his throat as he slips his hand around my neck, taking deep breaths as he peers down at me.
His touch is possessive, a claim of ownership that sends a thrill through me. I put my hands on his sculpted chest, torn between letting my fingers dance across his muscles and pushing againsthim for some distance. My body is humming from the electricity surging through me, my resolve crumbling with every passing second as wet heat forms between my legs. I’m caught in a storm of sensations, unable to do anything but cling to him as the tempest rages on.
