Athena
I slowly opened my eyes, greeted by the soft rays of the morning sun filtering through the curtains. As consciousness enveloped me, I became aware of the warm embrace that surrounded me. Luciano’s strong arms encircled my body, pulling me closer to him.
It felt good. Really good.
A gentle smile played upon my lips as I nestled deeper into his embrace, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back. The warmth that radiated from his body enveloped me, providing a sense of security and comfort that I hadn’t experienced in a long time.
In that fleeting moment, all worries and doubts seemed to fade away. The world outside ceased to exist as I basked in the morning’s tranquility. The weight of my mission, the secrets I held, and the dangers that loomed momentarily lost their grip on my thoughts.
The only grip on me was Luciano’s wandering hands. He squeezed my waist as if testing out the waters, then moved to cup my breasts through the sheer fabric. A soft sound slipped from my throat before I could catch it.
He sighed, too, as if touching me gave him pleasure too.
Contentment washed over me as I allowed myself to be in this moment. The tenderness of his touch, the gentle rhythm of his breathing, and the steady beat of his heart became my sanctuary. It was a respite from the chaos that defined our lives, a stolen moment of serenity amidst the storm.
I giggled. The amount of poetry I had spouted ever since I came to know this jackass would fill a whole book.
Was it weird that with each breath, I could feel a sense of connection and intimacy growing between us? I turned in his arms to face him. He looked so beautiful when he slept. Innocent too. It was hard to compare a man who looked like an angel while he slept to the devilish mafia lord on the prowl. The barriers I had erected to protect myself were slowly crumbling, allowing vulnerability to seep in.
Was this because of how he had handled the nightmare I had a few hours ago? I hadn’t had a nightmare like that in a long while. Usually, I had it when I felt guilty. Guilty of forgetting my father. I suppose it was just a reminder of my mission here.
I don’t think your mission involves being in Luciano’s bed, the nagging voice in my head said. In response, I scooted closer to him, savoring the simple pleasure of being wrapped in his arms, finding solace. It was a temporary respite from the harsh realities we faced, a stolen moment of peace before the world demanded our attention once again.
In that embrace, I let go of the burdens that weighed me down. I embraced the warmth surrounding me, allowing it to seep into the depths of my soul, filling me with a sense of calm and contentment.
I reached for his tousled hair, slowly stroking the strands that fell over his face. He looked beautiful. I trailed a finger down his nose, over his thin lips that were always pressed together in that annoying, condescending manner. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
The world could wait a little longer. My mission could wait. His mafia goons could wait too.
“What are you thinking about?” Luciano asked, startling the hell out of me. His eyes opened slowly, and he grinned when he saw the shock on my face.
“I was thinking about how nice this is,” I mumbled. I didn’t see any harm in telling the truth this time. I was supposed to move closer to him anyways.
“Mhmm,” he hummed, grabbing my waist, and in a flurry of events, he had me sitting on him, staring down at his beautiful bronze skin. “Very nice.”
“Wow,” I murmured, staring at the beautiful male specimen beneath me. His body was hard and muscular. My body tingled as I imagined being sandwiched between him and the bed. His stomach flexed as I traced his abs with my fingers, reminding me he wasn’t immune to me, unlike his claims. And I loved that.
“Good to see that you feel better,” He said, a smile on his face, and then his eyes darkened. “Your nightmare seemed brutal,”
Fragments of it appeared in my head, and I shuddered. It was brutal. Terribly frightening. Luciano looked sorry he asked and raised his hand to cup my face.
“Who’s the bastard?” He demanded.
I frowned in confusion. “What?”
“You said you would fight for him… Was he your ex? Did he hurt you? Is that why you were so scared? Did he lay his hands on you Raven?” His voice carried an urgency I had never thought they could have. He looked worried and angry at the same time.
Fuck. He wasn’t supposed to be nice. He wasn’t supposed to be… to be worried or considerate about me! And for some fucking reason, I was going to cry!
I shook my head, fighting to hold the tears. Luciano took it as a yes, however, to his questions and pulled himself up so that his back rested against the headboard.
“Come here,” he urged, pulling me closer so my head leaned on his chest. It was pretty intimate. A little too intimate, but hell, I wasn’t complaining. “I won’t bring it up again… For now. But I’ll expect answers, Raven. I’ll destroy anyone who lay as much as a hand, hell, a finger on you.”
My heart fucking melted.
Oh, I was in danger. Serious fucking danger. I remained still, trying to gain advantage of the situation. What the hell was I supposed to do or say now?
Luciano chuckled, weaving his hand into my hair to pull my head back. His eyes were molten liquid, and when he spoke, his voice came out in a hoarse sexy tone.
“My, have I truly rendered Raven Gonzalez speechless? The very same woman with a mouth as tart as a sour popsicle?”
“Stop it,” I mumbled, burying my face in his chest in shame. There was no way I was blushing.
Yeah, right, your cheeks beg to differ.
Sometimes I wish I could smash that inner voice into tiny bits.
Luciano laughed a full belly laugh; I would know. I felt the rough and deep timbre under my skin. He caressed my cheeks then, staring at me through a heavy-lidded gaze.
“Red is a good look on you, Cara.” He whispered, placing soft, open-mouthed kisses on my cheeks. “I’d like to see other places on you that I can turn red,”
Unable to resist, I straightened so that I towered above him and leaned down so that my lips hovered above his. “Mhmm, what places do you have in mind?”
“So many,” he whispered in reply, hands pulling on the shorts I wore until they were taut against my core. A moan slipped from my mouth, and as if triggered by it, Luciano slammed his lips against mine.
Our kiss was slow, sensual, and unyielding as if we had all the time in the world. I loved the feel of his mouth against mine, the fluid-like way he kissed me, and his hot and passionate demands.
Luciano broke the kiss briefly and tugged at the flimsy top I wore.
“Take it off,” he ordered.
I licked my lips, savoring the remnant of his taste. “Say please, and maybe I’ll consider it,”
He chuckled, placing open-mouthed kisses along my jaw and then down my neck. “You play a dangerous game, Cara,”
The way he said it so, so sensually, I could swear that my body was primed for danger. Humming, I shifted down his belly until our bodies connected at the right places, and I heard his breath catch. Giving him a knowing look, I ground my hips lightly on his hard-on.
“Danger sounds very appealing right now,” I purred.
Luciano’s face contorted into one filled with pain. “Keep doing that, and I won’t be blamed for what happens afterward.”
“What will you do?” I teased and grinded harder.
“Fanculo!” He roared, gripping my hips, and pinned it down. “Fuck, Cara. Take that fucking top off now!”
Obliging him because, damn, the way he said it was so damn hot. I yanked the top over my head and heard him growl in satisfaction. Pinching my aching nipples, he sighed as if finally getting a dose of his daily cocaine. “I have thought about these ever since the last time I fucking touched you. You keep teasing me, Cara.”
“You tease me too!” I accused, then threw my head back when he closed his mouth around one of the nipples. “Oh my… Ohhh,”.
His hands kept busy, kneading my breasts, stroking and fondling them until I couldn’t sit still anymore. My hips grinded against his harder and faster as pleasure wracked through my entire body.
“Cara!” He bellowed and I think I fucking exploded or died just as little.