HELENA'S POV

I lay on the vast expanse of the bed, the silky sheets embracing my body with the soft tenderness that I craved from Dante, my husband. I could hear the metallic ticking of clock, each tick reminding me of every second that passed and Dante wasn't still home. I tried to ignore the moonlight filtering through the sheer curtains. I couldn't sleep, if I didn't feel the warmth emanating from his body while he slept beside me, the weight of his body pressed upon my fragileness while he pumped his load inside me.

Tonight, the emptiness of our bed felt particularly suffocating. I had yearned for his presence all day, a deep longing that gnawed at my soul. As I lay there, the sound of the door opening made my heart race. As I turned my head, there he was, the silhouette of my husband – Dante D'angelo watching me silently from the door. His strong muscular arms were flexing without him even trying to do so and I took a nervous gulp while my insides burned with desire – a desire that burned for just him

He moved towards me with a grace that belied his strength, the soft rustle of his clothes was the only sound in the room save for my heavy breathing. The mattress dipped as he sat on the edge of the bed, his presence a comforting weight. I felt a warmth spread through me, as his scent wafted through my throat.

"Dante," I whispered, my voice barely audible. He turned to look at me, his dark eyes reflecting the moonlight. There was something different about him tonight, his eyes seeming more distant than ever, a barrier that I couldn't seem to cross, or that he wouldn't let me cross.

He lay down beside me, his body a solid warmth against mine. I felt his arm wrap around my waist, pulling me closer but more like a ritual than an actual act of tenderness. The contact sent shivers down my spine, a sweet mixture of comfort and desire. He had never touched me like that and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly safe. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment, wishing it could last forever.

"Dante," I murmured again, my voice trembling with emotion. He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a tender kiss. It was soft, yet hesitant and I kissed him back, pouring all my yearning and affection into that kiss to draw him out of the shell he seemed to be encasing himself in. But he was Dante D'angelo, a powerful billionaire, he could hardly be in any shell so why was he holding back. But as our lips parted, I couldn't help but notice the distant look in his eyes. It was as if he was here with me physically, but his mind was elsewhere. I searched his gaze, hoping to find a hint of what troubled him so I drew his chin closer to mine.

"What's the matter?" I had intended to sound calm and reassuring but my tone came out croaky with a hint of harshness to it but Dante didn't seem to notice.

"I'm fine" he replied back with no emotions to his tone, more like the automated response of a robot.

"You can tell me what's going on Dante, even if it's about the business. Papa used to discuss business with me all the time, I can understand it"

Dante's eyes washed over me in a tender gaze and he pulled me closer to him in an even more passionate kiss, if this was his way of reassuring me that his distance wasn't intentional then I'd gladly take it. It'd been two years since my father sold me off to him in an arranged married to secure an alliance deal. Two years since I had been sold like a prized possession to a man I barely I knew and having to give up my dream of going to ballet school. The first few months had been hard, I wanted nothing to do with him, I loathed and hated him for pulling away from my dreams but that feeling didn't last long when he touched me – finally. Something shifted within me, opening my senses to explore more pleasures that he was willing to offer and there was a lot more where that came from. So I began to fall for him, I wanted him – no I craved and needed him.

"Come here" he pulled me closer to him, enveloping me in a warm hug. My insides exploded into jelly and he kissed me deeply. An intense make out session that slowly evolved into our clothes racketeering off our body and unto the cold floor which then morphed to sweet love making that captivated my insides. But just as Dante pushed into me, his face contorted in ecstasy, a single name spewed out from his mouth – a name that wasn't mine.

"Gianna" his tone had a croaky hint to it and he was so far gone that he hadn't realized his mistake.

Gianna

I knew who Gianna, everyone in Algreen Cove knew who Gianna was. She was his high school sweetheart but she had broken his heart by going abroad to study and it's been years, so why was he suddenly remembering her name.

Was she – was she back?