Married to the Wrong CEO

Chapter 104: Private Talk

It was a public area, but Llara didn’t care as she leaned into him, pleasure coursing through her entire body in slow, consuming waves. The world around them blurred into nothing as his presence filled her senses, leaving her dizzy and breathless.

He touched between her legs, and she couldn’t get enough. Her fingers roamed over his body, desperate and eager, even as she reached up to kiss him as vigorously as she could. There was no restraint left in her, no hesitation, only the overwhelming need to feel more of him.

He tasted sweet, intoxicating in a way that had her gasping softly for more. It was all she could think about. The taste of him, the feel of him, the way her body responded so helplessly. Finally, she pulled away just enough to whisper furiously to him, her voice low and urgent.

"We should get out of here!" she told him, acutely aware that what she said was already more than enough for him to understand exactly what she was trying to say.

They were both adults, clearly in the mood for sex—something he couldn’t deny, not with the slight bulge she could feel pressed against her. Her body reacted instantly to that knowledge, a thrill running through her as she shifted closer.

But while Llara looked like she could barely wait, Matteo had a reserved way about him, a careful restraint with which he took everything in. Compared to moments before, his hands went a little still, his awareness sharpening. Even though he was hard, even though his body reacted, that didn’t mean he could actually follow through.

He was sick, and the drugs he was taking were heavy enough to ensure that even if he tried, he wouldn’t make it two minutes into the entire thing. The reality of it pressed down on him, sobering and unavoidable.

"Right?" Llara asked, seeking confirmation. She didn’t like the way he fixed his gaze on her without responding, especially not in the dark where she couldn’t read his expression properly.

Instead of answering, he turned her around and wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her firmly. He lowered his lips to her ear, his breath warm as he whispered softly but firmly.

"Not now," he told her.

Llara froze, stunned. Her mouth opened to ask why, confusion written clearly across her face. But before she could form the words, she no longer felt his presence behind her.

One moment he was there, solid and real, and the next he was gone.

When Llara turned around, there was no trace of him anywhere. It was as if he had vanished into the darkness. The space he had occupied felt suddenly cold and empty.

Another man moved closer, attempting to take Matteo’s place, but Llara instantly swatted his hands away. She ignored him completely, refusing to acknowledge his presence with even a single word. Anger flared through her as she stalked away, her steps sharp and unsteady.

She was clearly in a nasty mood as she looked around, trying to see if she could spot Matteo anywhere. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t find him—not with how poorly lit the place was.

Worse was the creeping realization that with the way he had acted, he had most definitely left. ƒrēewebnovel.com

Unable to fathom why he would stick so close to her, showing unbridled passion, only to run from her like she was the plague, Llara felt frustration coil tightly in her chest.

Dora could feel herself slowly gaining weight as she entered her fourth month of pregnancy, edging closer to the fifth. Her body felt heavier, fuller, changing in ways that were impossible to ignore.

All was well with her health, and apart from heading out to buy a few necessities, she barely left the estate. Not that she wanted to. The walls felt safer than the world beyond them.

Her father continued to call, harassing her with endless questions, but Dora couldn’t care less. She sat on the couch, staring down at her bulging stomach, one hand resting protectively over it. Her stomach was much bigger than she thought and harder to the touch.

It was nerve-wracking to think about, and yet strangely comforting. With barely four months left, there was hardly anything she could focus on other than the baby growing inside her.

Dante was back to eating at the table with her, but their conversations were just as bland as ever. Unlike before, Dora didn’t even put in the effort to change things. She smiled when necessary, spoke when spoken to, offering only a few words—nothing more than what was required.

Her days passed peacefully, almost too peacefully. The fear of Tiberio had grown distant, hard to remember, especially considering there was no way he could touch her within the safety of the estate.

Think of the money, she reminded herself as her mind drifted away from the movie she had been watching. She knew her nurses would soon come in to insist she exercise and move around, just like they always did.

She had just picked up another bag of snacks and pulled it close when her phone rang.

Surprised, she glanced at the screen and frowned when she saw the caller ID. It belonged to Dante’s grandfather.

Barely had she answered when he instantly insisted they meet and that she come over. Dora refused at first, scrambling for excuses, but it was futile—just like all the times before. He refused to take no for an answer.

Eventually, she agreed and hung up, irritation mixing with resignation.

She couldn’t understand what he enjoyed so much about seeing her. Apart from speaking to her briefly, he mostly just stared at her belly.

Still, she got dressed and headed to the car, where Ettore was already waiting. She climbed in, and the driver pulled away immediately, heading toward Elder Bellini’s house.

The moment the car came to a full stop, Dora got out and walked straight inside. She didn’t bother knocking as she made her way to his study, knowing without question that she would find him there.

She wasn’t surprised to see the huge smile on his face as he looked up the moment she entered. It was a ritual they had repeated countless times, so familiar that neither of them questioned it anymore.

He immediately stood, picked up his gold cane, and walked toward her with a wide grin.

"You look great!" he proclaimed, even though he had seen her just a week earlier—more often than her own family, really—as he pulled her into a hug.

Dora hugged him just as fiercely.

"You say that every time," she replied, tightening her arms around him before pulling away.

She met his gaze and was surprised to see how tired he looked. Dark circles sat beneath his eyes, and there was a weariness there that hadn’t been before.

"Are you okay?" she asked instantly.

She had barely stepped back when he began to cough, loud and steady. His forehead creased as he pulled out a handkerchief, coughing into it before quickly stuffing it back into his pocket.

"I’m fine. I’m just old," he joked, flashing an even bigger smile.

Dora nodded slowly, patting his shoulder and urging him to take better care of himself.

They didn’t sit in the study. Instead, he led her to the lounge like he usually did. They settled there, and he poured each of them a glass of wine.

"We should go out," he began. "I imagine some golf would—"

"Some other time," Dora interrupted with a sigh. "If I get any bigger, I won’t even be able to stand on my own two feet."

She rubbed her belly lightly, a small smile forming.

"Dante?" he asked. "Is he fine?"

The question barely left his mouth before guilt struck her. Dora hurried to cover it, forcing a smile.

"Of course. Everything is well between us," she replied, avoiding his gaze as she took a sip of wine.

"Are you sure?" he pressed. "You never speak about him."

His look suggested he saw more than he let on, but Dora knew better than to admit the truth.

"What would you like me to talk about? Sex?" she asked with a laugh, deflecting quickly.

"I’d rather we talk about other things," she added firmly as she leaned back into the softness of the chair.

They sat by the open balcony, fresh air drifting in as the garden stretched out below them behind the massive mansion. Dora relaxed into the view, enjoying the calm, aware that this peace wouldn’t last forever.

She was still lost in the scenery when Elder Bellini spoke again, saying a single word that made her heart nearly stop.

"Tiberio."

Her head snapped toward him before she could stop herself.

The reaction was too sharp—far sharper than it should have been. It was almost like her body reacted first even before her mind could realize what she had just heard.