Crossing The Line
976 Words
For the rest of the day, Alessia tried to convince herself that the encounter with Dante meant nothing.
Just a strange moment with a stranger.
Nothing more.
But every time she tried to focus on her work at Bianchi & Caruso Law Firm, her mind drifted back to the same memory—standing in the rain, his voice close to her ear, the way his fingers had brushed against her face like he had every right to touch her.
It made no sense.
Men like him didn’t just appear out of nowhere.
And they definitely didn’t learn your name without a reason.
By the time evening arrived, Alessia’s patience with herself had worn thin. She packed her things quickly and left the office building, determined to clear her head before going home.
The streets of Ravenna glowed in the warm gold of sunset. Cars moved steadily through traffic while pedestrians filled the sidewalks on their way home.
Normal.
Everything looked normal.
Still, Alessia felt that now-familiar sensation creeping along the back of her neck.
She turned a corner toward a quieter street—
And stopped.
A black car sat parked beside the curb.
Her heart immediately started beating faster.
The driver’s door opened.
And out stepped Dante.
He closed the door slowly, his dark coat catching the last light of the sunset.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Alessia crossed her arms.
“You really need to stop appearing like that.”
Dante walked toward her calmly.
“And miss the chance to see you again?”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the truth.”
He stopped a step away from her.
Up close, she caught the faint scent of his cologne again—deep and warm, annoyingly distracting.
“You didn’t answer my question yesterday,” she said.
“Which one?”
“How you knew my name.”
Dante’s eyes flickered with amusement.
“Let’s just say I have resources.”
“That sounds vaguely illegal.”
His smile widened slightly.
“Everything interesting usually is.”
Alessia sighed.
“You realize this whole situation is strange, right?”
“Strange how?”
“You keep showing up wherever I am.”
“And yet you’re still here talking to me.”
Her mouth opened to argue.
Then she stopped.
Because he was right.
For some reason, every time she saw him… she stayed.
Dante watched the hesitation cross her face.
“You’re curious,” he said.
“I’m cautious.”
“Not cautious enough.”
She frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Instead of answering, he stepped closer.
Now their shoulders nearly touched.
Her pulse jumped.
“Why haven’t you walked away yet?” he asked quietly.
She hesitated.
“You’re persistent,” she said finally.
“That’s not the real reason.”
“Then enlighten me.”
Dante studied her face as if searching for something.
“Because part of you wants to know what happens next.”
Her stomach tightened.
“And what exactly would happen next?”
He didn’t answer right away.
Instead, his hand lifted slowly, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face.
The touch was gentle, but it sent warmth rushing through her chest.
“You should stop doing that,” Alessia murmured.
“Why?”
“Because it’s distracting.”
His voice softened.
“That’s the point.”
For a moment the noise of the city faded around them.
The space between them felt charged again, just like the night in the rain.
“You’re trouble,” she said quietly.
Dante’s gaze darkened.
“You have no idea.”
“Then maybe you should tell me.”
“You wouldn’t like the answer.”
“Try me.”
Silence stretched between them.
Then Dante leaned closer.
Close enough that she felt his breath.
“You’re too good for the world I live in,” he said softly.
Alessia blinked.
“That’s… oddly dramatic.”
“It’s also true.”
His hand rested lightly against her cheek now, warmth spreading across her skin.
“You keep saying things like that,” she whispered. “But you still keep showing up.”
Dante’s thumb brushed along her jaw.
“Maybe I’m testing my self-control.”
“And how’s that going?”
His eyes dropped briefly to her lips.
“Not well.”
Her heartbeat stumbled.
“You could leave,” she said.
“I could.”
“But you won’t.”
“No.”
The tension between them tightened.
“Why not?” she asked softly.
Dante studied her face as if memorizing it.
“Because I’ve wanted to do something since the moment you looked at me in that café.”
Her breath caught.
“What?”
Instead of answering, his hand slid to the back of her neck.
Firm.
Intentional.
Alessia felt her pulse racing as he leaned closer.
For a second she thought he might stop again like before.
But this time he didn’t.
His lips met hers.
The kiss began softly—almost careful.
But the moment it happened, something electric sparked between them.
Alessia’s hand gripped the front of his coat as the kiss deepened slightly.
Warm.
Slow.
Dangerously addictive.
Dante’s hand tightened at the back of her neck, holding her close.
For those few seconds, the world around them disappeared.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing a little heavier.
Dante rested his forehead against hers.
“You should stay away from me,” he murmured.
Alessia let out a quiet laugh.
“That advice feels a little late.”
His thumb brushed lightly across her lower lip.
“Probably.”
But something serious lingered in his eyes.
Because that kiss had just crossed a line.
And once you crossed into Dante Moretti’s world…
There was rarely a way back.
- Writer
