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?62?

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of moments between them, but Kailani's curiosity got the better of her when she found herself wandering the halls alone. She had been exploring different parts of the mansion for the past few days, growing more accustomed to the expansive space. Tonight, however, her wandering brought her to a room she hadn't seen before-one hidden behind a heavy door at the end of a long corridor.

She pushed it open hesitantly, only to be met with the sight of rows upon rows of guns, neatly arranged and gleaming in the dim light. Her heart skipped a beat, a nervous laugh escaping her lips as she took a small step backward, the absurdity of the situation not lost on her.

"Oops," she muttered, glancing over her shoulder as if expecting Salvatore to appear any moment. "Uh oh."

She carefully backed out of the room, closing the door behind her, her pulse racing. There was no telling what Salvatore would say-or do-if he found her snooping around in his private collection.

Later that night, Kailani woke up and found Salvatore not next to her, unable to sleep, Kailani found herself wandering the mansion again. The silence was heavy, the darkened halls almost eerie. She didn't know why, but something pulled her toward the basement, a place she had never ventured before. Her bare feet padded softly against the cold floor as she descended the stairs, her breath catching when she finally reached the bottom.

There, under the soft glow of dim lights, was a pool. The water shimmered beneath the glassy surface, but there was something darker underneath-red. The bottom of the pool was red.

Kailani would have a heart attack if she realized what she was looking at was her own blood, collected and preserved beneath the glass.

And there, swimming in the pool, was Salvatore. It was 3 a.m., yet here he was, and he moved through the water with slow, deliberate strokes, his massive form cutting through the stillness. The sight of him, so quiet, so methodical, sent a shiver down her spine.

Kailani sat at the edge of the pool, her legs lazily dipping into the water, watching Salvatore's body glide through the dark, red-tinged water like a predator. His every movement was controlled, deliberate, the eerie glow of the dim lights reflecting off his tattooed skin. Her fingers twitched at the thought of touching him, tracing the lines of ink and muscle that were so tantalizingly close.

"Sal, come to bed... please," she whispered, her voice a soft plea, the need thick in her throat.

But instead of answering, he came closer, emerging from the water without breaking eye contact. The sight of him-soaked, massive, dripping-made her heart pound in her chest. He stood between her thighs, towering over her, water cascading down his chest, each droplet clinging to his skin before falling away. His dark eyes bore into hers, filled with silent intensity.

Without a word, he placed his large hands on her thighs, the touch sending a jolt of electricity through her. He pulled her closer, her legs naturally spreading wider to accommodate him as the cold tile pressed against her, and her body immediately reacted. She shivered, her thighs trembling as he stepped closer, his chest so near she could feel the heat radiating from him despite the wet chill of his skin.

Kailani's hands moved on their own, desperate to touch him, to feel every inch of his powerful body. Her fingers slid up his slick chest, tracing the hard lines of his muscles as water dripped from his skin. She couldn't get enough of him-her hands greedy, shaky as they traveled up to his neck, feeling the pulse of life underneath the cold surface. Her lips parted, eyes glazed with desire as she leaned forward, pressing her face against his chest, inhaling the scent of him, her tongue darting out to taste the mix of chlorine and sweat on his skin.