Chapter 12: Flames and Friction
The next morning, the resort seemed calm, but for Auri, calm was impossible. Her mind raced as she replayed the previous night's confrontation. Dante's lips, the harsh kiss, the storm in his eyes—all of it lingered, igniting a fire she both wanted and feared.
I can't let myself fall for him, she muttered under her breath, pacing the suite. He has a fiancée. I can't… I won't.
But the truth was undeniable: she wanted him. Every teasing glance, every heated touch, every smoldering moment had left her craving him like nothing else. She had tried to convince herself that distance would help, that avoiding him would protect her untamed heart—but Dante had a way of breaking her defenses without even trying.
Meanwhile, Dante was busy with back-to-back client meetings, his mind technically focused on business—but the memory of Auri's fiery defiance and flushed face haunted him. Olivia sat across from him during the meetings, poised and flawless, but he felt none of the same thrill as he did with Auri.
He kept his eyes on the documents, but his thoughts drifted repeatedly to her—the untamed woman who refused to be tamed, who teased him, challenged him, and made every moment of restraint feel impossible.
By mid-afternoon, Auri had made her way to the pool, needing the water to wash away the tension coiled in her chest. She swam alone, reveling in the cool embrace, letting her hair float around her like a halo in the sunlight. The water reflected the sun's shimmer across her curves, drawing attention from the few guests still lingering.
Why does he have to be so… magnetic? she thought, closing her eyes, feeling the freedom of her untamed spirit, even as her mind continued to spiral with thoughts of Dante and Olivia.
It was a delicate balance: enjoying the attention from admirers while trying to convince herself she couldn't—and wouldn't—give in to Dante's pull.
Later, in the restaurant, Auri sat quietly in a corner booth, quietly enjoying a simple meal. She had hoped to avoid Dante, to remain invisible, but fate seemed to have other plans.
The doors opened, and Dante entered with Olivia. As usual, Olivia clung to him, her elegance and poise radiating as she laughed lightly, leaning closer with a flirtatious touch that ignited a spark of fury and jealousy in Auri.
How dare she? Auri thought, feeling the heat rise in her chest. She tried to look away, tried to focus on her plate, but the sight of Dante smiling for Olivia, their intimacy so public, made her pulse hammer painfully in her ears.
Adrian, who had been seated nearby, slid into her booth with a grin. "Mind if I join again?" he asked, voice smooth, eyes glinting.
Auri gave him a tight smile. "Suit yourself," she replied curtly, deliberately keeping her distance from flirtation. Adrian's presence was a buffer—a distraction she forced herself to enjoy so she could avoid thinking of Dante—but it grated on her patience.
"You seem… distracted," Adrian said, leaning closer. "Something on your mind?"
Auri let out a frustrated sigh, stabbing at her food. "Just… not in the mood," she muttered, glaring briefly at Dante and Olivia from across the room.
Adrian laughed softly. "Clearly something has caught your attention," he teased, trying to peek over her shoulder.
Auri's jaw tightened. "Focus on your own meal," she said sharply, though her thoughts were entirely occupied by the couple across the room.
Hours later, back in her suite, Auri was restless. She had tried to keep her distance, tried to maintain control, but the pull Dante had on her was undeniable. Every glance, every laugh, every small touch she had shared with him lingered in her memory like a flame she couldn't extinguish.
Suddenly, a sharp knock at the door shattered her fragile calm.
"Auri! Open this door!" Dante's voice was rough, urgent, and commanding.
Her pulse quickened. She hesitated, anger and desire warring inside her. Slowly, she opened the door—and Dante stormed in without invitation, eyes dark, lips tense with frustration.
Before she could protest, he closed the distance, gripping her shoulders and pressing a harsh, demanding kiss to her lips. Auri's eyes widened in shock, fury sparking within her. She shoved him back.
"Dante! What the hell?!" she yelled, her voice trembling with anger.
Dante's gaze was intense, his jaw tight. "You think I didn't see you with Adrian? Sitting there… letting him get close?" His voice dropped, a growl of possessive anger.
Auri's chest heaved. "And what about you? Sitting there with your fiancée, laughing, flirting, touching her as if—"
"That's different!" Dante snapped, stepping closer, fists clenched at his sides. "She's… she's part of my life! But you—" His voice softened, raw and trembling with desire and frustration. "You're the one I want, Auri! Do you hear me? You!"
Auri's eyes narrowed, fire matching his. "You can't just storm into my room and kiss me, Dante! You can't expect me to ignore that she exists!"
"And you can't pretend I don't see the way everyone looks at you! Don't act untouchable with me while Adrian or any other man gets your attention!" His voice was harsh, shaking with the intensity of his emotions.
The argument spiraled, a tempest of words, desire, and frustration. Auri's chest burned, both from anger and the undeniable attraction she felt toward him. Her pulse raced, every nerve alight with tension.
"I'm not yours!" she shouted, stepping back, defiance blazing. "I'm not some prize you claim! And don't act like Olivia's nothing—you're her fiancé!"
Dante's eyes softened, a dangerous, possessive tenderness beneath the storm. "I'm not asking you to be mine completely yet. I'm asking you not to push me away with everyone else while your heart is tangled in the fire we share."
Auri's breath caught. She wanted to scream, to push, to resist—but the intensity of his gaze, the heat of his body, and the raw honesty of his words left her trembling.
They stood there, chest to chest, the fire of argument mixing with the simmering passion that had defined their every encounter. The air between them crackled with tension, longing, and unresolved desire.
Auri realized, with a dangerous thrill, that Dante had broken through the walls she had built. Yet she also knew she couldn't surrender entirely—not yet. Olivia's presence, the public claim, and Dante's own complexities made the game of their romance perilous.
"I won't make it easy for you," she whispered finally, voice low but fierce. "Not while she's here. Not while I have to fight for every piece of… you."
Dante smiled, a dark, predatory smile that made her heart stutter. "Good," he murmured. "Because I like it when you fight for me, untamed as you are. But make no mistake, Auri… I'm not walking away either."
The argument ended, unresolved, but the fire between them had only intensified. Auri slumped back on her bed, heart racing, mind a swirl of desire, frustration, and fear. The slow-burn romance, tangled with jealousy and passion, had reached a new height—and neither of them could ignore the dangerous, intoxicating pull any longer.