Our Forced Love

𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓇𝓉𝓎-𝒪𝓃ℯ

Aurora

The mansion was filled with the scent of rich marinara sauce and simmering garlic, a comforting backdrop to the chaotic evening. I stood at the stove, stirring the sauce, trying to focus on the task at hand. But my mind kept drifting. Ever since I was kidnapped by Santiago, my nights had been plagued with nightmares, and even in daylight, I felt the weight of those memories pressing down on me.

Antonio entered the kitchen, his tall frame leaning against the doorframe, a playful smirk on his lips. "Need a hand, or are you still trying to impress me with your cooking skills?"

I shot him a teasing glare, my heart fluttering at the sight of him. "I'll have you know, this sauce is a family secret."

"Right, a family secret that you learned from Pinterest," he teased, stepping closer. The warmth of his presence wrapped around me, momentarily pushing away the darkness that lingered in my mind. He kissed along my jaw, already driving me crazy.

"Okay, maybe I'm not a culinary genius, but I'm trying," I said, rolling my eyes, though I couldn't help but smile.

He moved in closer, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "You know, you don't have to pretend with me, baby. I'm here for you, always."

I nodded, the sincerity in his eyes grounding me. There was so much love between us, even if our marriage had started as an arrangement. I had fallen for him in ways I never expected.

"Let's just get through this dinner, and then I promise I'll show you how grateful I am," I whispered, a hint of mischief in my voice. I've been sexually frustrated for weeks and needed him so bad.

He raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Oh really? I like the sound of that."

As we set the table, I felt a surge of excitement. Kylie and Daniel were already cuddled up on the couch, their laughter echoing through the room. It was comforting to see my best friend so happy with my brother in law.

The doorbell rang, and Antonio moved to answer it. I could hear Kai's voice mingling with Guido's low rumble as they entered, their presence adding a different energy to the room. I wonder how things between them have been.

~

Antonio

The moment I opened the door, Kai burst in, dragging Guido along. The tension between them was palpable, but I could tell it was more than just friendship. I remember that one day Kai and I were interested in what Aurora and Guido were talking about and she made up some bullshit story about two boys in love. I'm not a clueless dickhead— I knew that had something to do with Kai and Guido, and I couldn't help but watch them closely.

"Hey, what's up, fuckers?" I quipped, playfully nudging Kai as he passed.

"Not much, just here for the food and to see how you two lovebirds are doing," he said, shooting a glance at Aurora that lingered a moment too long.

I noticed Guido's discomfort as he shifted on his feet, pretending to be interested in the decorations. There was something brewing beneath the surface, and I could sense both of them were on the edge of something, but neither was ready to jump.

Dinner went off without a hitch, filled with laughter and playful banter. I caught Aurora glancing at me, a flicker of warmth in her eyes that made my heart race. After we finished eating, the music began to play, and I grabbed her hand, pulling her to the center of the room.

"Dance with me," I said, a sense of urgency in my tone.

We moved together, our bodies swaying to the beat. I could feel her tension melt away as she leaned into me, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. "You're the love of my life, you know," I whispered, my lips brushing against her ear. "No one else gets to have this."