The lights from the garden party flickered like stars, casting a soft golden glow over the backyard. Champagne popped here and there, laughter echoing through the air, while Mia tries her best to be far away from the crowd. Drowning herself in alcohol to forget the weight in her chest.
Erica's birthday was nothing small — a red carpet event with paparazzi at the gates, celebrity influencers, and so many rich people. Mia had kept mostly to herself all night, sitting at the edge of the bar around the garden shed in a skin-tight satin dress that clung to her curves like a second skin. Her smoky eye makeup made her green eyes look sharper and brighter, her lips were glossed with blood-red lipstick that felt like seduction.
And yet, no one really looked at her. Only few eyes stared at her wondering about who she was.
No one really concentrated about her existence since Erica was always holding court in her silver gown, laughing like a perfect pretender, enjoying the look of envy and adoration from the eyes that looked her way.
But one person did notice Mia. And has been staring at her for a while.
Jace.
From across the garden, his eyes had been on her for too long. Even when she moved, he was watching her closely. His gaze wasn't a polite glance of a soon-to-be brother-in-law. It was lustful. Possessive. Almost guilty.
Mia saw it.
She felt it.
But she didn't look away from his gaze.
Not when her heart was already ripped open from earlier, the conversation with Bianca, the uneasiness in her mind, and the name of her father echoing in her head: *Santino De Luca.*
She didn't know what he was like in person apart from knowing that he was a powerful man in Italy.
But something inside her told her that she was very close to meeting him.
She needed a fucking drink. A stronger one than the classy champagne.
She drank a shot of tequila and another. Somewhere between her third drink, the DJ started playing a mix of hip-hop music. Suddenly, Jace appeared beside her, his cologne filling her nostrils like a call to temptation. A temptation she has to fight a battle to avoid.
"Didn't expect to see you out here," he said.
She didn't look at him. "Didn't expect you to care."
He chuckled lowly. "You always think the worst of me."
"Only because you prove me right every time."
A beat of silence passed.
Then Jace leaned closer, his voice dark and low. "You look... good tonight."
"I don't need your compliment."
"Mia—"
She turned to him finally, meeting his gaze dead-on. "Don't say my name like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you want me."
Another silence.
Longer. Heavier.
Then his hand brushed her bare back. "You shouldn't wear dresses like this if you don't want attention."
"I didn't ask for yours," she whispered.
"You didn't have to."
And then he kissed her.
Right there — facing away from the flashing cameras and watchful eyes. He smashed our lips together, like he has been holding back for years.
It was wrong.
God, it was so fucking wrong.
But she kissed him back. Because her mind was numb and her body ached.
Because she didn't know what to feel or do at the moment.
His tongue swirling in her mouth as one of his hand gripped her waist pulling her flushed against him, while his other lightly squeezed her ass. Her back hit the cool wall of the garden shed, she moaned as his mouth moved down her neck, teeth grazing her skin.
"Jace," she gasped. "We can't—"
"I know," he growled. "Fuck, I know. But I've wanted you for so long—"
She pushed him off, chest heaving. "Don't say that."
He stared at her, his lips swollen.
"Mia—"
"I'm not your dirty little secret," she snapped. "Not tonight. Not ever."
He reached for her again, but she slapped his hand away.
People's voices and laughter were coming closer including their footsteps.
Mia turned quickly and disappeared into the darkness of the garden, heels crunching against the gravel path. Her heart pounded crazily against her ribs, adrenaline making her dizzy.
She didn't stop until she reached the far end of the property, by the wrought-iron gate.
She pressed her hands to her face.
What the fuck did she just do?
She kissed her step-sister's boyfriend.
The worst thing about it was that she didn't push him away at first and she kinda liked it.
Mia sank to the ground, letting her back rest against the cold metal. Goosebumps appeared on her skin due to the night cold air, but she didn't care.
Because for the first time in her life…
She had gone against her principles and wasn't sure she was the same person anymore.
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