Chapter 28 – Private Kiss
Alexis's heels clicked softly against the polished marble floor as she made her way down the empty corridor, heart still hammering from the earlier challenge. The chaos of cameras, contestants, and forced flirtations faded behind her like a distant storm. For the first time in weeks, she craved something unplanned, something private, something real.
The mansion felt strangely silent. Even the faint hum of production equipment seemed muted, as if the universe itself had pressed pause just for her. She reached the balcony overlooking the moonlit gardens, taking a deep breath of the cool night air. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, but the tension in her shoulders began to loosen. It was quiet here, isolated—perfect.
"Alexis."
The voice was low, familiar, carrying the weight of memory and unspoken emotion. She turned to find Dante leaning casually against the balcony railing, hands tucked into his pockets, eyes fixed on her. Even in the dim light, she could see the sharp contours of his face, the subtle flicker of concern in his gaze.
She swallowed hard, suddenly self-conscious despite the absence of cameras. "Hey," she murmured, her voice barely above the whisper of the night breeze.
"Hey," he replied, stepping closer, his movements deliberate but not forceful. There was an ease to him now that belied the intensity she felt every time they were near each other. The old tension—the kind that had made her stomach knot whenever he entered a room—was still there, but it was layered now with something richer, something deeper.
Alexis's mind raced, caught between fear and longing. What am I doing here? What if I'm making a mistake? But even as the rational part of her mind pleaded for caution, another part—messy, chaotic, unrestrained—thrilled at his presence. Her heart betrayed her every thought.
"I… I wanted to talk," Dante said, his voice soft but deliberate. "Away from everything. Away from the cameras, the contestants… the chaos."
She nodded, biting her lip nervously. "Me too," she admitted. "I… I needed a moment to think. About… everything." Her fingers curled around the railing, knuckles whitening as she struggled to steady herself.
He closed the space between them in two quick steps, the subtle scent of his cologne washing over her. "Everything?" he asked, almost teasingly, though his eyes betrayed a seriousness that made her pulse accelerate.
"Yes… everything," she whispered, looking down at her hands. "Us. The past. The mistakes. The… what-ifs."
Dante's hand brushed hers—lightly, almost tentatively—and she felt a jolt shoot through her. Her chest tightened, warmth pooling low in her stomach, and she realized she had been holding her breath. "Alexis…" he murmured, voice thick with emotion. "I've thought about you every single day since…" He paused, as if searching for the right words. "Since everything fell apart."
Alexis's throat tightened. "I know," she said quietly. "I've thought about you too. Probably too much." She gave a shaky laugh, half embarrassed, half nervous. "I tried to tell myself I didn't care, that leaving was… the right choice. But it wasn't. And you—" Her voice faltered, emotions tumbling out faster than she could contain them. "You never stopped… mattering."
For a moment, the world narrowed to nothing but the two of them, the soft rustle of leaves in the night breeze, and the rapid beating of their hearts. Dante's gaze softened, and he reached out, cupping her cheek with a hand that was warm, steady, and grounding.
"You have no idea how much it means to hear you say that," he admitted, thumb brushing lightly over her skin. "I've carried the same weight, Alexis. I… I've missed you. More than I knew I could."
Her lips parted slightly, breath hitching. The vulnerability in his eyes, the raw sincerity of his words—it was intoxicating. She had spent months, years even, trying to protect herself from moments like this, and now that it was here, she didn't want to hide.
Dante's other hand moved to her waist, a gentle but deliberate touch that anchored her, pulling her closer without pressure. Her body responded immediately, warmth spreading through her in waves that made her dizzy. "I…" she began, but words failed her. What could she say that would capture the storm of longing, fear, and hope swirling inside her?
He leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull back if she wanted to. Her heart thundered in her chest, and for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to lean into the moment, to trust him, to feel. Their lips met softly at first, tentative, testing, as if afraid to shatter the fragile connection they had spent so long rebuilding.
The kiss deepened naturally, as though they had both been waiting for this moment all their lives. Alexis's hands threaded through his hair, pulling him closer, while his hands moved to cradle her face and back, anchoring them together. The world around them disappeared—the flashing cameras, the competitive chaos, the scheming contestants—all of it faded into nothingness.
Alexis's mind raced. This is real. This is happening. And it feels… right. Her chest tightened with longing and relief, and she realized she had never truly stopped caring. Every hesitation, every wall, every attempt at self-protection had dissolved in the heat of this kiss.
Dante pulled back slightly, just enough to rest his forehead against hers, breathing heavy, eyes dark with emotion. "I've wanted this… wanted you… for so long," he confessed, voice low and vulnerable. "I don't care about the cameras, the drama, the show. I care about us. Right here. Right now."
Alexis's hands slid down to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palms. "I… I feel the same," she admitted, voice trembling. "I don't know what comes next… or how to navigate the chaos. But I know I can't ignore this. Not anymore."
He smiled, a slow, incredulous grin that made her stomach flutter. "Good," he whispered. "Because I'm not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever again, if you'll let me."
She smiled back, tears prickling the corners of her eyes—not from sadness, but from the overwhelming release of emotion, the sheer joy of finally reconnecting. "I'll let you," she said softly. "Because I want… this. You. Us."
They kissed again, this time with more certainty, more urgency, the air between them crackling with electricity. Each movement, each touch, was a declaration: a promise that they were willing to take the risk, to step into the vulnerability, to allow their hearts to lead instead of fear.
As they finally pulled apart, breathless and flushed, Dante rested his forehead against hers once more. "We've got a long road ahead," he murmured, voice thick with desire and tenderness. "But tonight… we take the first step. Together."
Alexis nodded, chest heaving, heart full. "Together," she echoed, sealing the word with a final, gentle kiss.
In that quiet, stolen moment off-camera, amidst the quiet hum of the mansion and the glittering night beyond, two hearts found their way back to each other. The slow burn of longing, the tension of unspoken emotions, the messy chaos of the past—all of it converged in a single, perfect, undeniable truth: they were meant to be, and nothing could deny the fire that had reignited tonight.
For the first time since the heartbreak, Alexis felt free. Not free from the world or the cameras, not free from the show's absurd drama—but free to love, to hope, and to surrender to a desire that had never truly faded.
And Dante… he watched her, saw her, understood her in a way no one else ever could. And he knew, beyond any doubt, that this was only the beginning.
⸻