Lucia’s POV

The night had been merciless. Sleep had taunted me, dancing just beyond my reach as I lay tangled in my sheets, my body still trembling from the encounter with Dante. My mind refused to settle, replaying every touch, every whispered word, every second leading up to the moment he had stopped.

Why?

Why had he left? Why had he unchained me when he had me exactly where he wanted?

I had tossed and turned, my wrists still sore from the cuffs, my pulse still uneven from the way he ...