A wave of unease tore me from sleep. I staggered toward the bathroom and vomited again, kneeling on the cold marble floor, too exhausted to get up. I shivered. Luca reached toward me and pulled the water before stroking my hair back from my forehead. “It’s not so hot anymore, is it?” I laughed in a hoarse voice.
“It shouldn’t have happened. I should have kept you safe.”
“You did.” I grabbed the toilet seat and staggered up. Luca’s hands gripped my waist.
“Maybe a bath will help.”
“I think I will drown if I lie down in the bathtub now.”
Luca turned on the water in the tub while continuing to hold me with one hand. The sky was turning gray over New York. “We can take a bath together.” I attempted a mocking smile. “You just want to try an idea.”
“I won’t touch you while you’re taking Roofies.”
“A Chief with Morals?”
Luca’s face was serious. “I’m not a Chief yet. And I have morals. Not many, but a couple.”
“Just teasing,” I whispered as I rested my forehead against his bare chest. He rubbed my back and the movement sent a gentle tingle deep inside me. I pulled back and carefully went to the sink to brush my teeth and wash my face.
Luca turned off the water when the tub was almost full. Then he helped me take off my panties and remove my boxers before putting me in the tub. I lowered my face under the water for a moment, hoping this would clear the remaining fog from my head. Luca slid behind me and pulled me against his chest. His erection pressed against my thigh. I turned so that I was facing Luca, and his length slipped between my legs and grazed my entrance. I stiffened. Luca would only need to thrust his hips upward to penetrate me. He groaned, gritted his teeth, then reached between us and pushed his erection back so that it rested against my thigh again and flattened me on his torso.
“Some men would have taken advantage of the situation,” I murmured.
Luca’s jaw clenched. “I’m that kind of man, Aria. Don’t delude yourself into thinking that I am a good man . I am neither noble nor a gentleman. I’m a cruel bastard.”
“Not to me.” I pressed my nose against the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar musky scent.
Luca kissed me on the top of my head. “It’s better if you hate me. There’s less chance of you getting hurt this way.”
What had I told him the night before, when I was out of my mind? Had I told him that I had fallen in love with him? I couldn’t remember. “But I don’t hate you.”
Luca kissed my head again. I wished he would have said something. I wished he would have said.
“You mentioned something Grace told you.” His voice was casual but tension gripped his body. “Something about fucking the hell out of you.”
“Or yes. She said you were going to hurt me, that you were going to fuck me like an animal, that you were going to fuck the shit out of me, when she talked to me during our wedding reception. It scared the hell out of me. Then I frowned. “I think that guy last night almost said the same thing.”
“Before I killed him, he said that one of the women who bought drugs from him had told him you were a bastard who needed to be taught a lesson. She gave him money.”
I raised my head. “Do you think it was Grace?” Luca’s eyes were like a stormy sky. “I’m sure it was her. The description fits and who else would have an interest in attacking you.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I can’t kill her, even if I wanted to cut her fucking throat, but that would cause too much trouble for her father and brother. I’ll have to talk to them, though. Tell them they have to put her on a leash, otherwise there will be no more money from us.”
“What if they refuse?”
“They won’t. Grace has been messing things up for a long time. They’ll probably ship her off to Europe or Asia for rehabilitation or something.”
I kissed him but the tension didn’t leave Luca’s body. “I can’t stop thinking about what would have happened if Romero and Caesar hadn’t been there, if that asshole had let you out of the club.
The thought of his dirty hands on you makes me want to kill him again. The thought that he could have …” He shook his head.
I knew it wasn’t because Luca had emotions for me. He was possessive. He couldn’t bear the thought that someone might have laid hands on me, that someone might have taken what Luca considered his. Resignation filled me. “When Gianna leaves in a few days, you can have me,” I whispered against his throat. Luca’s hands stopped on my back. He didn’t ask me if I was sure. I had not expected it. Luca had said it himself; he was not a good man.
*** Gianna and I had spent the last few days trying out different bars and restaurants, talking, laughing, and shopping, but today Gianna had to go back to Chicago. My arms around her were tight as we stood in the departure lounge at JFK. Gianna had to go through security soon but I didn’t want to let her go. Not only because I would miss her so much but also because I was anxious about my promise to Luca.
I took courage and stepped back from Gianna. “Come back soon, okay?”
She nodded, tightening her lips. “Call me every day, don’t forget.”
“I won’t,” I promised. She stepped back slowly, then turned and headed for the line at the security checkpoint.
I waited until she passed and disappeared from view.
Luca was a few steps behind me. I rushed over to him and pressed my face against him. He stroked my back. “I thought we could have dinner and then have a relaxing evening.” He sounded hungry and excited, but not about food.
“Sounds good,” I said with a small smile. Something moved in Luca’s face but then disappeared.
*** I hadn’t eaten much; my stomach was already in turmoil. I didn’t want to take any chances. Luca pretended not to notice. He ate what I didn’t eat. When we got back to our penthouse, I headed for the liquor cabinet, looking for some courage, but Luca grabbed my wrist and drew me to him. “Don’t.”
He took me in his arms and carried me upstairs to our bedroom. When he laid me on the edge of the bed, my eyes found his groin. It was already hard. Nerves were twisting in my insides. He wanted me. I would not deny him, not tonight.
Luca climbed onto the bed and I lay back, palms resting on the blanket. His lips found mine, his tongue dipped, and I relaxed under his skilled mouth. This felt good, familiar, comforting. The muscles in my legs loosened. Luca pulled my mouth away and sucked my nipple into his mouth through the fabric of my dress. I cupped his head, letting his expert care take away my fear. There was an urgency in his kisses and touches that I had never felt before.
She pulled my dress and slid it down my body, leaving me in just my panties. He took a moment to admire my body before lowering himself and burying his face between my legs, sliding his tongue between my folds over my panties. With a growl, he grabbed them and ripped them off, then tossed them aside. His mouth was hot and demanding, but too quickly he stopped and slipped a finger into me. Then he jerked up and pulled off his shirt before taking off his shirt and pants.
His body was tense with tension and his erection was harder than I had ever seen it. The raw hunger on his face conveyed a wave of fear to me. “You are mine.”
And then Luke loomed over me, his knees parting my legs and his tip pressing against my entrance. My muscles locked and I sank my nails into his shoulders and closed my eyes. It was too fast. He seemed barely in control. I pressed my face into the crook of his neck, trying to let his scent soothe me.
Luca did not move, his erection still barely grazing my entrance.
“Air,” he said quietly. “Look at me.” I did. His gaze was hunger mixed with something gentler. I tried to focus on gentleness. For a long time we looked at each other. He closed his eyes and lowered himself so that his body was flush with mine. “I’m an asshole,” he squealed. He kissed me on the cheek and temple.
Confusion filled me. “Why?” God, was that little voice mine? Luca was my husband, and it sounded like I was terrified.
I was terrified, but I should have hidden it better.
“You’re scared and I lose control like that. I should know better. I should prepare you properly and instead I almost shove my cock inside you.
I didn’t know what to say. I shifted and Luca’s erection brushed against my entrance, making me gasp. Luca let out a heavy sigh, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, the hunger was contained. He slid down until his head hovered over my breasts and his abs pressed against my folds. I exhaled from the friction and Luca’s muscles flexed. I could tell he was still nervous.
“You are my wife,” he said fiercely as if to remind himself. Then his fingers closed around my nipples and he pulled on them. I groaned, lifting my pelvis, causing my core to rub against Luca’s abs again.
“Stop wiggling,” Luca ordered, almost pleadingly. He pulled again, this time forcing me to stay still but a moan escaped my lips. Luca’s expression was focused and controlled as he pulled and twisted and turned and rubbed. I arched my back, practically pushing my breasts against his face and he gladly accepted my invitation and sucked my nipple into his mouth. I closed my eyes as he sucked one breast while his fingers pinched my other. He shifted and ran his fingers over my ribs, my hips, my sides before his tongue followed the same trail. He bit the skin on my iliac bones, then soothed the area with his tongue. My whole body was on fire, desperate for relief.
His fingers began massaging my thighs, opening me further as he lowered himself. He kissed my mound, then my inner thigh before gently biting me. I gasped and rocked my hips. He slid his hand under my butt and lifted me a few inches, then kissed my folds. I whimpered at the soft touch. He kissed me again, moving his lips against my folds, then pulled back. My eyes grew wide. He looked at me , then kissed my opening and I could feel the moisture seeping out of me. Luca’s thumbs spread my lips for him and he licked his tongue over my wetness.
I shuddered and felt another trickle. Luca licked me gently, not once touching my clitoris. He sucked my folds, licked them, swirled his tongue around my entrance but never touched me where I needed his touch.
“Luca, please.” I moved my hips again.
Luca touched my clit with his tongue and I cried out. “You want this?”
“YES.”
“Soon,” he growled and slipped a finger inside me, fucking me slowly as his tongue slid around my opening, coating me with his saliva. His tongue moved upward, finally encircling my clit. I relaxed with a moan. Luke took my clit in his mouth and sucked on it, bringing me closer and closer to the edge.
“Tell me when you come,” Luca said against my wet flesh.
He touched me faster and pressed his tongue against my clit.
“I’m com…”