A Dance with Danger

Chapter Seventeen

**Estelle POV**

I woke up slowly, my body still heavy with the **Ilaria POV**

I woke up slowly, my body still heavy with the remnants of sleep. The bed felt different, too soft, and as I opened my eyes, the realization hit me like a wave. I wasn’t in my room. I was in Tiberius’s.

I jolted upright, my heart racing, the events of last night flooding back. The soft, protective embrace he had offered, the way he had made me feel… safe, but also confused. My fingers brushed against the oversized shirt I was wearing, and the scent of his cologne lingered on the fabric. I quickly swung my legs off the bed, the coolness of the floor beneath my feet grounding me.

Tiberius was gone, and I wasn’t surprised. He was always up early, always busy. The room, however, still felt like he was there, with traces of him scattered in the air. I sighed, trying to shake off the strange feelings that seemed to envelop me.

I stood up and walked towards the door, but as soon as I opened it, I collided with someone.

“Inessa!” I exclaimed, stumbling back a step, and catching my balance just in time.

She was standing there, arms crossed, a wicked smirk playing on her lips as she studied me. The glint in her eyes was impossible to miss, and my cheeks flushed instantly.

“How was your night, Ilaria?” she asked, her voice dripping with amusement.

I cleared my throat, desperately trying to regain some composure. “It was good,” I replied quickly, feeling my face heat up even more. She looked at me, then glanced down at the Tiberius shirt still hanging loosely on my frame.

Her smirk only deepened. “Why don’t you get ready for the day?” she said, her voice teasing but with a hint of curiosity.

I nodded, unable to meet her gaze as I stepped around her and made my way to the bathroom. Her chuckle echoed behind me, and I knew she wouldn’t let this go easily.

---

I sat in the bathtub, the warm water and bubbles surrounding me, feeling the tension in my body slowly begin to ease. The sound of my phone vibrating against the bathroom counter broke the silence, and I reached out, picking it up.

It was a group call, the girls. I slid my finger across the screen, answering the call.

“You’re joking, right?” Rielly’s voice came through first, full of disbelief.

“Yeah, no kidding,” I sighed, leaning back against the tub, letting the warmth of the water soothe me. “But I’m not.”

Olivia’s voice came next, her concern clear. “Did he do anything that made you feel uncomfortable?”

I paused, thinking for a moment. “No,” I answered softly. “Nothing like that.”

Harmony scoffed from the other end. “Hurt her? Olivia, if Tiberius wanted to hurt her, he would’ve done it already.”

I couldn’t help but laugh softly at her bluntness. It was true, in a way. Tiberius wasn’t exactly the type to hold back if he had intended harm.

“Exactly,” I murmured, trying to push away the nerves that still lingered in my stomach. “He didn’t hurt me. I just… don’t know what to make of last night. He was different.”

“Different?” Rielly’s voice was filled with curiosity. “How?”

“More… vulnerable,” I said, the word feeling foreign on my lips. “He wasn’t his usual cold, commanding self. It was like he was trying to protect me, almost.”