Divorce: The Price of Betrayal

Chapter 4: Breaking Restraint

*** ENZO’S POV

I stepped into the grand ballroom, the scent of expensive perfumes and faint traces of champagne hanging in the air. The room was alive with the kind of laughter that was both empty and full of promise, where no one really said what they meant, but everyone pretended they did. The chandeliers above cast a soft, golden glow, but all I could focus on was the knot tightening in my chest.

Eryn was here.

I spotted her across the room, standing near a group of people, laughing, her smile bright enough to light up the entire room. Her dress—green and simple, but still somehow regal—clung to her form just the way I remembered. I hadn’t expected her to be here. Not like this.

I didn’t realize how hard I was staring until Celeste’s voice cut through the haze of my thoughts.

"Enzo?" Her voice was sharp, a teasing edge to it. Her fingers brushed against my arm, snapping my attention back to her. "You're not looking at me."

I forced a smile, but I felt off-balance. A knot in my stomach twisted.

"Sorry, just... I didn't expect her to be here."

"Who is she?"

"She's my wife."

Celeste leaned in, the warmth of her breath brushing against my ear. She smelled like roses, and that only made the tension worse.

"Ah, distracted by your wife? Don’t worry, darling, we’ll take care of that later."

I wasn’t sure if her words were meant to comfort or challenge me, but I didn’t want to think about Eryn right now.

Before I could even respond, Celeste was already tugging me through the crowd, her grip firm, her eyes bright with something I couldn’t read. She was pulling me away from the crowd, and I let her.

"Come on, we need to talk." Her voice was insistent, like she knew exactly what I needed to hear.

*** CELESTE’S POV

The moment I had him alone, away from the prying eyes of the Gala, I saw it—the tension that wound tight through his shoulders, the way his jaw clenched, as though he was trying to keep his thoughts from betraying him. Enzo was always a man of control, but tonight? Tonight, his composure was slipping. And I intended to push him further.

I stepped in front of him, blocking his path, and the crowd's distant murmur faded behind us. The cool night air wrapped around us like a cloak, heightening the charge in the air between us. His eyes met mine, the uncertainty in them giving way to a flicker of confusion, but I could see it—the hunger was there too, buried under layers of restraint.

"What is it, Celeste?" His voice was low, but I could hear the hesitation, the way it cracked just slightly as he struggled to read me.

I could practically feel the magnetic pull between us, the tension that seemed to thicken the very air. I wasn’t going to let him pull away—not now.

I tilted my head, my lips curling into a smile that held no innocence. Then, slowly, I took a step closer. He didn't back away, but his breath faltered, just enough to remind me he was trying to maintain his control. My fingers brushed lightly against the sharp lapel of his jacket, my touch deliberate, slow, coaxing.

"I think you know exactly what this is about," I said, my voice soft, but it carried weight. It was the calm before the storm. I let my fingers trace the edge of his tie, feeling the faint tremble in his pulse under my touch. "We made a deal, remember?"

His brows furrowed, confusion clouding his gaze, but I could see the hunger slowly overtaking it. I knew he was trying to push this back, to make sense of it, but there was no reasoning his way out of this.

"What deal? I thought that was supposed to come after your dad agreed to what we discussed." His voice was tight now, breathless, as if he couldn't decide whether to feel frustrated.

I smirked, a thrill running through me as I leaned in closer, my lips almost brushing his ear. I could hear his breathing hitch, feel his body freeze for a moment. His resistance was melting.

"You gave me your word, Enzo," I whispered, my lips hovering above his skin, sending a shiver down his spine. "You promised me that if I helped you, you’d spend time with me... in more private settings."

Before he could form another protest, I captured his lips in a kiss. It was raw, urgent—everything he hadn’t expected. His body stiffened in shock, but I could feel it the moment his control began to crack. His lips parted, responding to the pressure of mine, and it sent a rush through me.

The kiss deepened quickly, hot and demanding, full of everything unspoken between us. His hands came to my sides, tightening there, his breath quickening. I let him take the lead for just a moment, feeling the sharp contrast between his initial hesitation and the way he was suddenly pulling me closer, as though he couldn’t bear the distance anymore.

This wasn’t about a deal anymore. It wasn’t even about what we wanted—it was about power and control. It was about seeing how far we could go without breaking.

When I finally pulled away, I could feel his ragged breath against my lips, his eyes half-lidded, confusion and something darker swirling in their depths. He didn’t speak at first, just looked at me, searching, still trying to make sense of the tangled emotions in the air.

"Celeste..." His voice trembled, struggling to find control, but I could hear it—the tension in his words. "I don't... I don't want to push past my limits. You’ve already crossed mine."

I smiled, a slow, satisfied smile, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. The touch was gentle, but the glint in my eyes was anything but.

"It’s part of the deal, Enzo," I murmured, my voice as smooth as silk, pulling him even closer. "After this, I’ll talk to my father about the project. You don’t have to worry. It’s all part of the plan."

His brow furrowed in that way I loved, uncertainty flashing behind his eyes. But I wasn’t giving him time to process it, not now. Not when he was so close to the edge.

"Don’t think about it too much," I said, my hand slipping into his, guiding it to my waist, pressing my body into his. The feel of his muscles tensing against me was enough to make my pulse race. "Just trust me."

He didn’t speak immediately, his eyes darkening, tracing every inch of my face like he was trying to decide what to do next.

And then it happened.

Before I could blink, his hands gripped my waist tightly, spinning me toward the stone wall behind us. The sudden force of the move caught me off guard, and I gasped, my back hitting the cold surface, but I didn’t resist. His body pressed hard against mine, his lips crashing against mine with an intensity that stole the air from my lungs. There was nothing gentle about it—just raw hunger. His hands were everywhere, pulling me closer, tugging at the fabric of my dress as though he couldn’t stand to wait anymore.

I let out a breathless laugh against his lips, feeling him respond to the challenge, his kiss growing deeper, more insistent. His hand slid down my body, and with a boldness that made my heart race, he cupped my bréast through the fabric of my dress. The touch was almost possessive, sending a wave of heat through me.

His kiss grew frantic, feverish, as if he couldn't get close enough. His hands moved with a purpose now, pulling me against him, the weight of his desire undeniable. His lips traced down my neck, biting and kissing their way to my collarbone, and the heat between us was enough to burn.

It wasn’t about the deal anymore. This was about him wanting something he couldn’t have—until now.

When he pulled back, his eyes were dark with desire, his breathing ragged, but this time, there was no confusion. Just the knowing look of a man who realized he had already crossed a line.

"Trust you?" he muttered, his voice thick with longing, his grip tightening. "I think you’ve made me forget how to think straight."

I smiled softly, my hand trailing up his chest, feeling the tension still coiling inside him, ready to snap.

"That was the idea," I whispered. "Now, I think you’ll keep your word."

"Eryn!" Both of us turned toward the door to the patio. I recognized the voice—it was my dad’s.

I was about to speak when Enzo quickly placed his hand over my mouth, signaling for silence. When I looked at him, his eyes were wide with fear. And so, I knew it.