Ella stumbled out onto the balcony, the cool night air hitting her flushed skin like a slap. Her heart was still racing, her body thrumming with the heat that Nicholas had left behind.
What the hell was wrong with her?
Her hands gripped the cold railing as she took deep, steadying breaths. She could still feel the ghost of his touch on her waist, the way his fingers had skimmed up her spine like he owned every inch of her body.
He had almost kissed her.
And she had wanted him to.
Desperately.
The realization made her stomach knot.
This was dangerous. Whatever was happening between them—whatever was building—could only lead to disaster. Nicholas was… everything she had promised herself to avoid.
But then why did her heart betray her every time he looked at her like that?
"Running away again, dolcezza?"
Ella's eyes snapped open at the sound of his deep, smooth voice behind her.
She stiffened but didn't turn around. "I needed air."
