Chapter 5 - Under the Same Roof
The transition from the modest guest cottage to the grand, vaulted suites of the main Moretti estate felt less like an upgrade and more like entering the lion's den. Yet, as Isabella unpacked Lily’s small suitcase in the sprawling guest suite directly adjacent to Leo’s bedroom, she couldn't deny the underlying sense of security it provided. After the harrowing attack in the sunroom, the idea of being feet away from Dominic and his armed security detail was strangely comforting.
The suite was breathtaking—high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows draped in heavy velvet, a plush king-sized bed, and a private adjoining room where Lily was currently fast asleep, exhausted from the day's terror.
A soft knock sounded at the open door.
Isabella turned around to find Dominic standing in the doorway. He had changed into a fresh black shirt and dark trousers, looking every bit the formidable patriarch, yet his posture carried a relaxed, almost hesitant edge.
"Is everything to your liking?" Dominic asked, his deep voice carrying softly into the quiet room. "If the mattress is too firm, or if Lily needs anything special, tell Mrs. Higgins. She’s been instructed to provide whatever you need."
"It's more than enough, Mr. Moretti," Isabella said, walking toward the doorway, stopping a few feet away from him. "Thank you. For moving us here, and... for protecting us."
Dominic stepped further into the room, his eyes scanning the space before returning to her. "You saved my son today, Isabella. Not just from the knife, but from himself. You gave him permission to feel. That’s something money can't buy, and a debt I can't easily repay."
"You don't owe me anything," Isabella replied quietly, her heart beating a little faster as the space between them seemed to shrink. "I just did what any mother would do."
"No," Dominic murmured, taking a step closer, his gaze locked onto hers with intense, smoldering heat. "Most people in your position would have packed their bags and run for the hills the second the glass shattered. You stood your ground. You fought for my son as if he were your own."
Isabella looked up into those striking gray eyes, feeling entirely exposed yet strangely safe. The air between them felt thick, charged with an undeniable, electric chemistry that had been simmering beneath the surface since the moment they met in the kitchen.
Dominic slowly raised his hand, his long fingers hesitating for a fraction of a second before gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His knuckles grazed her cheek, sending a jolt of pure lightning straight down her spine. Isabella’s breath hitched, her eyes fluttering closed for a split second at the sheer intimacy of the touch.
"Dominic," she whispered, using his first name for the very first time.
The sound of his name on her lips seemed to act like a catalyst. Dominic stepped closer, closing the remaining distance, his other hand coming up to rest gently on her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. Isabella’s hands instinctively came up to rest against his shirt, feeling the solid, rapid beat of his heart beneath her palms.
"I shouldn't be doing this," Dominic muttered, his voice thick with a raw, pent-up hunger as his gaze dropped to her lips. "In my world, getting close to someone is a death sentence. It gives my enemies a blade to put straight through my chest."
"Then don't think about your world," Isabella whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she looked up at him with unmasked yearning. "Just... be here."
Dominic didn't hesitate any longer. He lowered his head, capturing her lips in a deep, fierce, and utterly consuming kiss. It was a kiss born of adrenaline, grief, survival, and a buried passion that had been denied for years. Isabella gasped softly against his mouth before melting into him, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt as she kissed him back with equal fervor.
The weight of the sprawling mansion, the danger lurking outside the gates, the ghosts of the past—everything vanished, leaving only the heat of their embrace in the quiet sanctuary of the suite.
But as Dominic’s lips reluctantly parted from hers, resting his forehead gently against hers as they both caught their breath, a soft, sleepy voice echoed from the adjoining room.
"Mommy? Can I have a glass of water?"
Isabella’s eyes snapped open, a flush of crimson rushing across her cheeks as she gently stepped back from Dominic’s embrace. Dominic closed his eyes for a brief second, letting out a low, rueful sigh before a faint, genuine smile touched his lips.
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"Go," Dominic whispered, his thumb brushing her cheek one last time. "I'll check on Leo."
Isabella turned and hurried toward Lily’s room, her heart racing not from fear, but from the terrifying realization that her life—and her heart—was no longer her own.
