Finally, the day had arrived.
The atmosphere inside the headquarters was charged — quiet, but heavy with unsaid things. We were all pretending to work, papers in hand, eyes on screens, but the tension was thick. Everyone could feel it. I sat at my desk, eyes flicking to the clock every few seconds, my heart ticking in sync with it. Miss Serena stepped in, her heels clicking softly against the floor; her presence was always commanding. Her gaze fell on Eva, sharp yet knowing. "Eva," she said with a knowing smile, "I think you should get ready." Eva stood up and nodded with a faint, respectful smile.
"Yes, ma'am." Then she turned on her heel and walked away — cool, composed; her movements were graceful, her presence commanding even in silence, as she walked toward the changing rooms. I didn't wait. I leaned toward Matteo, smirking slightly.
"I'll be back," I said casually, too casually for what I was about to do.
I slipped away, quiet as a shadow, and followed her. My pulse quickened with each step, desire and danger twisting together inside me like wildfire. The hallway was empty and dimly lit. I reached the changing room, glanced around to make sure no one was watching—and slipped inside.
And there she was.
She is standing near the mirror, struggling to tie the delicate strings of her blouse. Her bare back faced me, exposed, vulnerable, maddeningly perfect. The soft curve of her spine, the tension in her arms as she reached behind—it was enough to make time freeze. I moved silently behind her, my footsteps lost in the hush of the room. Then, without a word, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her into me, resting my head against her shoulder. I breathed her in—her scent, like danger dressed in perfume—and held her like I was holding onto life itself. She let out a low, teasing chuckle, her voice dripping with mischief.
"Finally, you came, huh?"
I turned her around to face me, our bodies close, barely an inch of air between us.
"Oh," I whispered, brushing my lips dangerously close to hers, "so you knew I'd come?"
Her eyes met mine, challenging, glowing with something darker than just affection.
"Yes," she said, pulling me into a tight embrace. "I knew you couldn't stay away." I let her hold me, but not for long. My hands slid down to her waist as I gently spun her back around. Slowly, deliberately. I smiled the kind that hid too many thoughts. Then I gently spun her back around, my fingers finding the blouse ties again. This time, I moved with intention — slow, calculated. Each loop I made felt like a promise, a threat, a tease.
"Tsk," I murmured close to her ear, the corner of my mouth curling, "I'm disappointed in darling…" She tilted her head, voice curious. "Disappointed?" I leaned closer, lips grazing the shell of her ear as I whispered, "You left the door open while changing. Now I don't know whether to praise you… or punish you." She turned around slowly, mischief dancing in her smirk. "And if I prefer the punishment?" she asked, eyes locked on mine with a sinful gleam. "Because something tells me... your punishments aren't the kind people forget."
I lifted her effortlessly into my arms, feeling the heat radiate from her skin as our bodies pressed together. Step by deliberate step, I carried her forward until the cold surface of the door pressed firmly against her back. My hand cupped her jaw, thumb brushing over her bottom lip.
"You'd be right," I said softly, deadly, "I don't believe in mercy. Especially not for tempting little spies who leave doors open like invitations." Her voice was a whisper now, breathless. "Then what are you waiting for?"
I leaned in and kissed her—not with hunger, but with something more devastating. Our kiss was a war and a surrender all at once. I felt her melt into me, and I pressed her tighter as if the world might collapse and I'd still be hungry for her. In that moment, the mission, the danger, the lies—none of it mattered.
Just her.
Just us.
Just this.
Then — a sharp, sudden knock at the door shattered the fragile bubble of our intimacy. Eva pulled back slightly, her breath catching.
"Who's there?" Her voice was steady but laced with a flicker of caution. From outside, a soft, familiar voice floated through.
"Ma'am, it's me, Daisy," she called softly. "I just wanted to check if you need any help getting ready," I smirked against her skin, slipping my hand to the delicate tie of her blouse at the small of her back. Fingers nimble and teasing, I tugged the knot loose just enough to feel the heat of her skin beneath. My lips traced a slow, sinuous path down her neck, eliciting a soft breath that echoed in the tight space between us. My breath ghosted near her ear, low and dangerous.
"Well, do you?" I whispered near her ear, my voice a soft breath of temptation. "Do you need help dressing, or… undressing? Because I'm fully at your."
Her body melted against mine, nails digging into my shoulder with a mixture of need and desperation. I kissed the path it left behind, lips tracing every inch revealed.
Another knock—more insistent this time—broke the spell.
"Ma'am, are you alright? Should I come in?" Daisy's voice called again, tentative but concerned. I leaned in closer, biting softly at the shell of her ear, my voice a sultry growl.
"Would you like her to see what I see right now? How breathtakingly undone you are just for me?"
Eva's breath caught, and a delicious shiver ran through her.
"Yes… yes, I'm alright," she whispered back, voice thick with emotion. "You can go… I don't need any help. Thank you."
The door's faint acknowledgment sounded—"Okay, ma'am."
I pulled back just enough to look deep into her eyes, the flicker of wild desire mirrored there.
"Are you sure you're alright?" I asked, my voice low, teasing.
A breath escaped her lips—raw, unabashed.
"What do you think?" she breathed.
I claimed her lips again, this kiss fierce and hungry, a promise and a warning all at once.
She leaned into me, breathless but trying to collect herself.
"I need to get ready," she murmured, her voice still hazy with desire. "We're running late."
I smiled, brushing a stray strand of hair from her flushed cheek.
"Then let me help you," I said, my voice low, seductive. I turned her to face the mirror, slowly guiding her to stand still beneath the soft golden lights. The reflection captured her bare back, the tender rise and fall of her breathing, the glow on her skin where my lips had just been. I slid her blouse up gently, watching her eyes flutter as my fingers ghosted over her ribs. She bit back a breath—but it escaped anyway when I tied the silk knots at her back, pulling them snugly, pressing my lips to her shoulder as I whispered. She trembled slightly under my touch. Then I sank to my knees in front of her, lips pressing tender kisses just above the curve of her hips. Her breath caught when I reached for the delicate belly chain resting on the chair beside us. Lifting it with deliberate grace, I slid it around her waist, the cool metal brushing against her skin. I fastened it slowly, teasing her skin with every movement—earning a quiet gasp that echoed in my mind like music. Slowly, teasingly, I tugged it into place, fastening the cool metal against her heated skin while my hands caressed her thighs. My touch lingered at her sides, deliberate and slow. She whispered my name falling from her lips like a secret.
"Vincenzo…"
Her fingers tangled in my hair. Her touch was desperate, and so was mine. She tasted like danger wrapped in heaven. I slipped off her sandals one by one—first lifting her leg gently and placing her foot on my knee, sliding the strap down, and kissing her ankle before lowering it. Then the other. Every touch was deliberate. Every movement worshipped her. I stood up slowly, trailing kisses up her waist before facing her fully again. Her eyes were dazed, her lips slightly parted, and she looked like the embodiment of forbidden dreams. My fingers brushed her cheek as I looked at her with a mix of awe and possessiveness.
"God, you look so tempting…" I whispered. "I don't know how I'm supposed to stand there and watch you dance in front of him looking like this." She smiled wickedly, her breath brushing my lips as she rose on her toes, wrapping her arms around my neck.
"Don't worry," she whispered, her voice thick with promise. "I'll give you a personal show… better than anything they'll ever see. Just for you." I pulled her close, burying my face in the crook of her neck.
"You don't even realize what you've done to me," I murmured. "You've ruined every sane thought I had." She laughed softly, a sound like velvet sin. "Okay, now let me do my final touch-up," she said, stepping toward the mirror. "I just need to fix my lipstick…"
She leaned forward slightly, her fingers reaching for a tissue.
"I don't think this shade works," she muttered.
Just as she brought the tissue to her lips, I moved in behind her, caught her wrist gently, and pulled her around to face me. Without a word, I kissed her—slow, deep, lingering. When I finally pulled away, I brushed my thumb across her slightly smudged bottom lip, my eyes locked with hers. "Why bother with a tissue, baby," I whispered, "when you have your husband here?"
Her cheeks turned scarlet, lips still tingling from the kiss. I could see the heat in her eyes, the silent confession she never said out loud.
"Now you don't need any blush either," I teased, tapping her flushed cheek with a grin. She laughed shyly, then playfully smacked my chest.
"Now go before you make me late again."
I gave her one last look—slow, intense, my eyes trailing down her figure as if imprinting it in memory.
"Alright," I said with a smirk, reaching for the door. "But I'll be waiting. And thinking about that private show."
With that, I stepped out and headed back to the team, my heart still pounding from what just happened, trying to mask the aftershocks of our stolen moment. And barely a minute later, Eva appeared—composed, elegant, unreadable to everyone else…
But I knew better.
The moment she entered the room, time seemed to stop. Every breath in the room paused. Every heart skipped a beat. Even the air stood still—as if the universe itself had fallen silent to admire her. She walked in with a grace so effortless, it felt like watching poetry glide across the floor. Her heels echoed against the marble tiles, soft and precise, and her presence—bold yet ethereal—commanded every pair of eyes. A hush fell over the team. Then, almost in unison, they murmured—
"Ma'am, you look… breathtaking. Like an angel."
Eva offered a soft, collected smile, her expression unreadable but radiant.
"Thank you, everyone," she replied, her voice calm, laced with just the right dose of elegance and quiet authority. She walked past me and took the seat beside mine. I didn't hesitate. My hand slid under the table and rested firmly on her thigh—a quiet, possessive gesture that only she could feel. Her skin reacted instantly under my touch, the tiniest shift in her posture betraying her awareness of me. Only I could see the slight curl at the corner of her lips, as a secret smile meant for no one else.
Then Matteo, ever observant, broke the silence.
"Sir… what happened to your shoulder? It's… red. Looks like scratch marks." Eva tilted her head toward me, one brow arching in playful curiosity.
"Is that so? Mr. Vincenzo," she said, her tone rich with mock innocence, "what did happen to your shoulder? Do tell everyone."
There was a pause. The room leaned in with subtle curiosity. I cleared my throat with a casual smirk.
"Oh," I said smoothly, "I lifted a cat earlier. The little thing panicked and dug her claws into my shoulder."
Everyone seemed satisfied by the answer and returned to their tasks.
But Eva? She knew better. I tightened my grip on her thigh ever so slightly, leaned close until my lips nearly brushed her ear, and whispered— "If you've forgotten… I can give you a private memory recap. One that'll leave marks you won't forget."
Her breath hitched. Her fingers gripped the edge of her chair just a little tighter.
But before she could say anything, Miss Serena entered, and we all rose in perfect sync, professional once again in a heartbeat. Her voice rang out, cool and composed.
"Alright, team. It's time. Everything's set, and this mission is live."
She walked over to Eva, her eyes sharp as ever.
"Agent Eva," she said, standing just inches from her, "Are you ready?"
Eva stood tall, all traces of softness replaced by the armor of duty.
"Yes, ma'am," she replied, her voice strong and unwavering.
Serena looked her dead in the eyes.
"Tonight is critical. There is no space for mistakes. Not a single step out of place. One mistake… and everything crumbles. If you're caught, we never knew you. Your existence will vanish—just like the shadows you operate in. Understood?" Eva's jaw tensed, her expression cold and focused.
"Understood," she said. Then Serena turned to me.
"Vincenzo," she said, her voice clipped, "Time to move." I nodded.
"Yes, ma'am."
I cast one last glance at Eva—our eyes meeting, no words spoken, but a thousand promises passing between us.
Stay alive. Stay mine.
She didn't flinch. She didn't waver. But I saw it in her gaze—the fire, the storm, the dangerous devotion.
And with that, we turned, stepping out into the night.
Where secrets danced in shadows, and every heartbeat could be your last.