Allison's POV

Luca moved to reach for me when I fell, and I threw my arm up for him to take, but midway, he stopped and pulled away, retreating back from me as if I had suddenly caught a plague.

He glanced down blankly at me, his gaze considering me carefully, and his lips pulsed and tightened in silence. His deep blue orbs that had always looked at me with lust and teased me to laugh even when I hated him just flitted over me like I was nothing.

His look was demeaning in every way. My gaze ...