Chapter 45 — Close Moments and Playful Confessions
The weekend arrived, bringing with it a sense of calm that neither Dante nor Auri had experienced in weeks.
No meetings. No flights. No corporate chaos.
Just them.
Auri woke early, sunlight spilling through her curtains, and found Dante already awake—lounging on the sofa with a cup of coffee in his hands, watching her with that familiar, intense gaze.
"Morning," she said softly, trying to hide the shiver that ran through her at the sight of him.
"Morning," he replied, voice low, casual, yet every word carried weight. "Sleep well?"
She nodded, walking over, her bare feet quiet on the wooden floor.
"I did… until I remembered you staring at me in the kitchen yesterday," she teased, a playful smirk forming on her lips.
Dante's lips twitched. "I wasn't staring… I was… appreciating your presence," he said smoothly, though the heat in his eyes gave him away.
Auri laughed softly, shaking her head. "Sure. Appreciating."
He stood, moving closer, filling the space between them.
She could feel his warmth without any touch yet.
Morning Playfulness
Dante handed her the cup of coffee he had made for her.
She took it, their fingers brushing. That fleeting contact sent a tiny spark of electricity through her.
"You know," he murmured, voice teasing, "you really shouldn't be smiling like that around me. It's… distracting."
Auri raised an eyebrow, teasing in return. "Distracting how? Scared you'll fall in love?"
Dante's smirk deepened. "Already done," he whispered softly, leaning closer, almost close enough to brush their lips together.
Auri froze. "I—"
"Relax," he said quickly, noticing her slight panic. "Not yet. I'm savoring the moment."
Her cheeks heated. "Savoring the moment… by standing too close?"
"Exactly," he said with a playful grin. "And I think you secretly like it."
Auri rolled her eyes but didn't step away. There was something about his presence that made it impossible to leave.
A Tender Confession
Later, after breakfast, they sat side by side on the balcony, the city below bathed in soft sunlight. Dante wrapped an arm around her shoulders gently, letting her lean into him.
"I think… I'm falling for you," he said quietly, voice low and sincere.
Auri's heart skipped. She looked up at him, searching his eyes. "Falling?" she repeated softly.
"Yes," he murmured. "It's different now. It's not just desire or infatuation. It's… you. It's every little thing you do. The way you smile, the way you argue with me, the way you make me feel… alive. I can't ignore it anymore."
Auri's chest tightened. She felt the truth of his words settling inside her, warming every part of her being.
"I… think I'm falling too," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "Even when I tried to resist."
Dante's lips curved into a soft, genuine smile. "Good. Because resisting you… has become impossible."
She giggled softly, hiding her face against his chest.
"You really have no idea how much I've been wanting to hear that," she whispered.
Flirtation and Laughter
The tension broke into laughter, playful teasing, and light touches. Dante kept brushing his fingers against her hand, arm, or hair, each contact making her pulse race.
"Careful," she said, trying to sound composed. "You're dangerous when you're like this."
Dante grinned. "Dangerous enough to steal your heart?"
Auri's eyes widened. "Maybe… if you keep it up."
"And maybe I will," he murmured softly, leaning closer. Their faces were inches apart, yet he paused, letting the tension linger.
Auri swallowed, heart racing. "And maybe I won't run," she teased, feeling braver with every second.
Dante's dark eyes sparkled, his hand gently brushing her cheek. "Good," he whispered, "because I never want to let you go."
A Silent Promise
They stayed like that for a long while, sitting close, hands intertwined, the city alive around them but distant and irrelevant.
It wasn't passion or heat that defined the moment—it was the quiet certainty between them.
The unspoken promise that neither would leave the other behind,
the playfulness, the honesty, the care,
the intimacy that was both tender and exciting.
For Auri and Dante, this weekend became the foundation of something stronger than desire—something that felt like trust, safety, and home.
And deep down, both of them knew—this was only the beginning.