Chapter 83
Aria’s POV
The first thing I feel is the warmth of the sheets, wrapping around me like a cocoon. It’s strange, being tangled up in such soft fabric when I’m used to the roughness of my own bed. I open my eyes slowly, adjusting to the soft morning light that spills in through sheer curtains. The golden glow bathes the room in an almost ethereal haze, and for a moment, I just lie there, soaking in the quiet peace of the moment.
I ache everywhere, but it’s a different kind of ache. A good one. A soft one.
My body remembers every intense touch from last night, every emotion, every fire we sparked together. The heat that had enveloped us, the way they all made me feel like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. But as the fog of steep clears, I realize I’m not alone. Matteo is beside me, his dark hair disheveled as he sleeps lightly, his chest rising and falling with every breath. And Enzo and Dante–oh, Dante–are sprawled lazily close by. Their bodies are close, the familiar, comforting weight of them almost making me forget where I am.
For a second, I close my eyes again, willing myself to stay in the cocoon of warmth, but my thoughts won’t let me rest. They never do, especially not after what happened.
What happened…
I shift slightly, pulling the sheets tighter around me, my fingers brushing the faint sting on my skin. The memories flood back–each one sharper than the last. The pain, the pleasure, the vulnerability… I wasn’t just held last night. I was cared for. I was seen. And, somehow, I trusted them. Trusted them. I wonder if they see me differently now. I wonder if I’ve changed somehow.
And maybe that’s okay. Maybe, for once, change feels good.
I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips, even as I feel that familiar flutter of uncertainty deep in my chest. Despite the doubts, despite the rawness of last night, I feel a strange pride in myself. I let go. I let them in.
A breath catches in my throat, and I gently trace my fingers over the marks on my skin. A mixture of vulnerability and empowerment. They’ve left their marks on me, and not just physically.
Matteo stirs beside me, his eyes still closed, but I feel the shift in him before I even see it. He smiles softly, the kind of smile that makes my heart thud in my chest.
“Good morning, little one,” he murmurs sleepily, brushing a strand of hair from my face. His lips press gently against my temple, sending a shiver down my spine.
I blink up at him, still not quite ready to break free of the warmth around me. But then, one by one, the other two stir–Enzo and Dante. It’s a slow process, a quiet movement, but in a way that makes me feel safe. Protected.
They’re all awake now, their eyes watching me, soft and adoring, as if they’ve been waiting for me to wake up. Dante is the first to speak, his voice low and teasing.
“Well, we certainly wore you out, huh?” he says, his lips curling into a playful grin.
I can’t help the laugh that escapes me, even as I feel the flush spread across my cheeks. It’s true. My body is sore in the best way, but I don’t mind it. I really don’t.
Enzo, ever the attentive one, brings me water first, followed by breakfast. The gentle clink of plates and the aroma of eggs and toast fills the air, and for a moment, it’s just the quiet hum/of normalcy. Something I’ve never had before. Something I’ve never dared to dream of.
As they all gather around me, checking in on me, making sure I’m okay, I feel this deep sense of care–of them, of us. Each of them showing me something different. Dante’s tender gestures, Matteo’s protective instincts, and Enzo’s teasing smile–it’s all a part of something I can’t quite name yet, but it’s growing inside me.
“Next time, we won’t hold back,” Enzo says with a grin, his voice light but laced with an edge that sends a nervous flutter through my stomach.
1/2
Chapter 83
I swallow hard. The idea of what more might mean sends a thrill through me–nervousness, excitement, anticipation… but also a deep, unspoken promise. They want to push me, I know that. To test my boundaries.
But I’m not sure what I’m ready for. The power to choose is mine, and that’s what makes this feel so different. I’m not afraid of it. Not
anymore.
I curl up a little, snuggling into the warmth of their bodies again, the sound of their laughter in the air. It’s quiet now, but still charged, still full of that unspoken intensity. The kind of intensity I can feel but don’t yet fully understand.
Dante leans down, his breath warm against my ear. “Do you regret last night?” he asks softly, his voice low, almost vulnerable in the way he
asks.
For a moment, I hesitate, just a second of doubt slipping in. But I shake it away. I know the answer.
“No,” I whisper, my voice just as soft as his. “I think… I want more.”
The silence that follows is thick with understanding. Their eyes darken, and I can feel the shift in the air–protective, possessive, predatory. It’s exactly what I thought they’d want to hear.
But I meant it. I do want more.
The last thing I hear before the world outside this room creeps in is their collective smile–their approval, their hunger, their desire for me. It’s a bond that’s beginning to form, one that I’m not sure I can break even if I wanted to.
Matteo’s voice breaks through the silence, teasing but affectionate. “Let’s get downstairs. Breakfast is waiting.”
“But I just ate I said. “I don’t care, you’re eating again, you need it, your body is worn out” Dante said walking out of the room.
And as they all move to leave, I stay curled up in their warmth, feeling something inside me stir–something more than just the ache from the night before. Something that feels like home.
