by Soraya Naomi
“Oh shit,” he replies. “Where are you? Don’t follow them, Luca. Talk to her another time.”
“I don’t know if I can stop myself from going after them,” I say and throw the phone onto the passenger seat.
I cup my mouth harshly, brooding while stuck in this fucking car.
CHAPTER 6
Fallon
I’ve been home for a week and a half, and I’m beginning to annoy myself in my zombie-like state. I rarely return texts or calls from my friends and family and have only left the apartment once to get groceries. Nothing I do gives me an ounce of peace, and on top of that, I’m continually missing Luca. Even if I could forget him, he’s making it impossible. More than ten missed calls and messages are from him, the one man I’m trying to rid my mind of.
When I saw him last Tuesday, I noticed he had stitches in his ear and scratches on his neck. Being close to him, feeling his warmth seep into mine when he embraced me was the only moment of peace I’ve experienced in weeks. It frightens me how quickly my intentions dissolve when I get too close to him. The best way to move on is to forget, and if I contact Luca, he’s just going to suck me back in. I’m simply not strong enough to resist him.
Detective Wade hasn’t contacted me, but that in no way lessens my worries about what they’re investigating. I contemplate whether or not to tell Luca every day. Maybe I should? Secretly, I’m hoping things will just die down. I’m not even under investigation. Maybe Alex actually wrote the note, and the Syndicate didn’t have anything to do with it. I’m inclined to believe that Luca has done nothing but help me. However, his helping me means that he’s eliminating all the threats, and that’s what scares me.
Monday – almost a week after seeing Luca last Tuesday – is the first day I don’t receive a message from him. And even though I never returned any of his messages, I’m still disappointed when he doesn’t try to contact me. My heart is saddened that he’s making an effort to let me go, but I keep in mind that it’s better this way.
I grab a bowl of cereal and plop down on the couch with my book, but after rereading the same passage a few times without absorbing the story, I close it and give up in search of the remote. I rarely watch TV. My reading obsession began when I was young, but not even reading takes my mind off Luca, so I turn on the TV to TNT where some show with hilarious nineties special effects is on, and I just keep it on that channel while finishing my crunchy cereal. But an hour later, I’m engrossed in a paranormal series about three witches called Charmed, and I’m still in the exact same position on my couch. TNT shows the reruns back to back, and time actually passes fairly quickly while I watch five episodes.
That night, I’m sitting Indian style on my couch with my laptop, updating my résumé and applying for jobs. There aren’t many openings for copywriters, but I end up applying for two. My mother calls for the second time since yesterday, and I pick up so she doesn’t start to worry about me.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Sweetheart, I called you yesterday; didn’t you see?”
I haven’t told my parents or anyone else about losing my job. Not even Teagan. I’m just not in the mood to talk. “I guess I missed it, Mom.”
“You still sound sad. Are you okay?”
“I am still sad.” My mother knows that I miss Luca very much, but she doesn’t know the exact reason why we ended our relationship. “I miss him.”
“Honey, breaking up is always sad. It takes time to come to terms with your feelings. Why don’t you visit us this weekend? Being alone in that apartment can’t be good for you.”
“I can’t this weekend. Maybe next weekend.”
“Oh, do you already have plans this weekend then?” she asks, clearly disappointed.
“No, but I wanted to stay home.”
“Good, because I have a favor to ask you, and since you’re available this weekend, you can’t deny me. I know how you are, and you shouldn’t be stuck with your head in your books.” I can hear she’s smiling, even though she’s lecturing me.
I groan at how conniving my mother is because I honestly want to be alone. She used to do this all the time when I still lived at home and she needed a favor.
“I haven’t read a book in almost two weeks,” I defend. It’s the first time in years that I haven’t picked up a book and read at least a few pages daily.
“You know what I mean,” she chides. “Remember Jenny’s stepson, Evan?”
“Uhm...no.”
“Yes, you do. You two even went to the same high school.”
“Oh yeah. Evan...” I think Teagan had a crush on him for a while.
“Well, Evan moved to the Loop a week ago, and I thought it would be nice if you could show him around, or maybe have lunch or dinner with him?”
“Mom, I’m really not in the mood to entertain people.”
“Sweetie, it would be good for you to go out.” She attempts to persuade me. “And he doesn’t know anyone there except for his new colleagues.”
I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear and place my laptop on the coffee table. “Fine.” But I don’t feel comfortable giving him my phone number. “Tell him to e-mail me.”
“I’ll give him your contact info.”
“My e-mail address, Mom, only my e-mail.”
“Yes, only your e-mail address,” she placates. “And keep me posted.”
“Okay.”
***
On Saturday night, I’m ready for Evan to pick me up.
He e-mailed me Thursday, and I suggested that we have lunch this afternoon, but he’s been working overtime all week at his new job, and he even had to work today. He offered to take me to dinner, which I was reluctant to accept because dinner on Saturday night might be misconstrued as a date. However, he was so nice and respectful in our e-mail exchange that I decided to accept.
I actually look more like my old self again in my sleeveless, black wrap-around dress. I stroke my hand over the blemish-free skin on my legs in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom. My bruises and scratches have faded, becoming a distant, unreal memory. I have two new scars on my knees that will always remind me of the night I was kidnapped, the night that killed my relationship with Luca. Luckily, the doorbell interrupts my thoughts before they can wander to him.
I push the button to verify it’s Evan.
“It’s Evan,” he announces.
“Come on up.”
After grabbing my phone from the bedroom, I reach the door just in time for Evan’s knock. “Hi, Evan. Let me get my purse, and then we can go.”
I try my best to look welcoming to this man who appears tired but is still handsome in his casual business attire. Evan is half Indonesian, which gives him a gorgeous skin tone.
“Hey, Fallon. I remember you.” And he hands me a box of chocolates. “For you. Thanks for meeting up with me.”
“Dark chocolates are my favorite.” Taking the box, I switch it for my purse on the table. “I remember you too.”
I lock my front door and make sure the apartment entrance door falls closed when we step out.
“Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?” I increase my pace to avoid his touch when he places his hand on my back.
“I’m starving. Italian?” he suggests. “My favorite cuisine.”
Of course, Italian. “Yeah, it’s my favorite too,” I murmur.
Dinner is surprisingly pleasant, and conversation flows freely. We reminisce about high school; he remembers Teagan but doesn’t reveal anything further. And I have to admit, my mother was right; a night out has been much nicer than sulking around my house. But after dessert, I’m ready to call it a night. Being cooped up at home has made me lazy. I need to start running again.
To my annoyance, Evan walks me to my front door when I actually wanted to say goodbye outside. He leans in closer to press his lips to mine, and for a moment, our lips touch, but I place my hand on his chest to put some distance between us – all I can think about is a certain Italian man kissing me.
“Just friends,” I offer, smiling.
Evan’s very easygoing and shrugs. “Okay.” He throws me a wink and turns to exit the building.
After entering my apartment, I take off my heels and drop down onto the couch, but a knock startles me.
Please let him have a question he forgot to ask.
I swing the door open and am greeted by a pair of unrecognizably hard green eyes, so I slam it shut instantly, but Luca’s hand shoots out and blocks the doorway without difficulty.
“Did you have fun on your date?” His jaw clenches in unrestrained anger.
“Luca, go.” I push against his arm, but he doesn’t budge.
“No.” He takes a step into the doorway, and his face lowers to mine. “Did he kiss you?”
It takes all my strength to meet his glare and stay silent as his heavy breathing is hot on my cheek. His cologne ignites my memories, and even though dark circles of exhaustion surround his eyes, he still exudes power. Also, I can tell that he’s battling for control; control that I’m aching to succumb to as his closeness pushes back my determination. He hasn’t shaved, and I yearn to caress my fingers over his jaw and press my lips to his to taste them again.
Luca edges me back inside the apartment, kicks the door shut with his foot, and advances toward me until my behind reaches the couch, and his stare drifts to my mouth. My heartbeat thunders in my chest, and my breathing becomes shallow as his glower leaves my lips and clashes with mine, refusing to release me from its hold.
CHAPTER 7
Luca
I stalk toward Fallon, letting every part of my body touch hers while she tries to evade me, until she hits the sofa.
“Did he kiss you?” It sickens me to think about it, and before I know it, my hand moves to her lips, grazing her soft bottom lip with the pad of my thumb to wipe him off because he did kiss her. Her reaction is my confirmation.
Her voice drops to a whisper as she returns my angry stare. “Yes.”
“Did you like it?” If she says yes, I might kill someone tonight.
Her eyes glaze over, and her breath quickens as I start breaking down her walls by sifting my fingers through her hair and cupping her head.
“No.”
Distance is what she wants so that she can forget me. I’ll fucking remind her that I can play much dirtier than she could ever imagine. When she blows out a sigh, her warm breath calms me for only a brief moment.
She let another man kiss her!
Palming her ass, I pull her into me. “Odio il pensiero che un altro uomo ti abbia toccato.” I hate that another man touched you.
Then I crash my lips down onto hers. My tongue darts into her mouth, eagerly tasting home. I groan as her back bows into our kiss, and her body yields to my touch while she momentarily forgets the circumstances. Picking Fallon up by her hips, I seat her on the arm of the couch and wedge myself between her legs. Her warm hands on my neck give me a sense of familiarity that’s been lost for weeks. It’s what I’ve been craving. I leave wet kisses on her mouth, jaw, down her throat, and then I take a hardened nipple in my mouth, biting the soft skin on the curve of her breast over the thin fabric of her dress. She tugs hard at my hair, making me growl in appreciation.
Fallon’s flustered and out of breath as I grind my pelvis against her, and she marks a trail up my back with her nails. I weave my fingers through her hair while hooking her right leg around my hip and tip her head back roughly to plunge my tongue inside her mouth again.
“All. I. Want. Is. You.” I grind the straining erection in my dress slacks against her.
Fallon stiffens suddenly, and then her entire body sags against me. “Stop. I can’t do this. Stop.” She attempts to push me away with her hands flat against my chest.
Releasing a deep sigh, I pull back slightly and catch her lust-filled eyes. “Non negarti a me. Non mi allontanare. Don’t deny me. Don’t turn me away.”
She’s clutching the front of my shirt while fighting to refuse me, but I’m not going to let her overthink this, so I kiss her hungrily, demanding her to open her mouth. The second she welcomes my tongue and returns my kiss, I fist her hair as I continue to taste her.
Stepping back only an inch, I unbuckle my belt as she yanks my dress shirt out of my pants. She unbuttons and pushes down my slacks as I pick her up with one hand on her ass and the other still palming her head.
I smile against her mouth because it feels good to have her under my spell. To know that she wants me as much as I want her. This woman makes me whole, and she needs a reminder that she still belongs to me.
I practically shove us onto the floor right beside the couch and hike up her dress quickly as she moans and tugs at my hair. Hooking my thumb in her lace panties, I rip them off in one swift move and press my raging hard-on against her and circle a few times, causing her hips to jerk up and invite me in. I drive into her roughly while looping my arm under her knee and holding her head so she’s forced to kiss me.
“Fuck, I missed you,” I whisper, groaning as I thrust in and out a few times, reveling in the feel of her tightening core. She’s so wet for me.
I roll her over and pull her hips up, giving her a sharp bite and a hard slap on her ass, and I rub the pink flesh before thrusting back in from behind. Her back arches, and we fuck in a frenzy of pent-up emotion. I’m steadying her hips to take control while she’s trying to move at her own tempo. She’s fighting me, and I’m enjoying her struggle, so I spank and grope the swell of her ass again, and she lets out a gratifying moan.
When I pull out, she immediately pushes me back and straddles me, kissing me hard while biting my lip. She’s fucking stunning when she slides onto me with her fingers wrapped around the base of my erection and takes me in deep.
I bunch up her dress in my hands to watch her move up and down. Then I drop my head back and close my eyes, and the pleasure that only she can give me builds as I dig my fingers into her hips and let her ride me.
I open my eyes and watch Fallon, racing to her orgasm. A trickle of sweat slides into her cleavage, so I yank her dress down to wipe it away and cover her breast with one hand. My other hand trails down and circles her soft spot under her dress until she’s moaning loudly, then I stop, and she looks directly at me.
Rolling us over again without pulling out, I take back control, adjusting my angle as her legs lock around my waist, and I rub her hard to make her come. And I smother her whimper with my mouth as she releases with the most satisfying moan. My own orgasm isn’t far behind, and as she milks me, my balls tighten, and I pour into her, never taking my eyes off her for one millisecond. I growl, and we grind into each other, prolonging our release.
As my head begins to clear, her date flashes across my vision, and in my already furious state, I’m no longer able to suppress my emotions. “Look at me.”
She’s dazed, still coming down from her high.
“Look at me. You will only see me when you come.”
Her amber irises meet mine, and I’m immovable because I swear I see the look of adoration she used to give me. But that look is quickly replaced with regret when she realizes that she let me fuck her. Her regret fuels my resentment.
I’m still semi-hard inside her and thrust two times. “You think I would allow anyone else to fuck you?”
She struggles to get away from me, apparently stunned by my words, but I grab her wrists, pinning them by her head and push my hips against her while inching my face close to hers.
“I will kill anyone who touches you.” And I lick the shell of her ear and push into her once more.
“Get off me!” She jerks against me helplessly, trying to break free.
I tilt my head while holding her down effortlessly. “You like me inside you, and that pisses you off. It pisses you off that I can make you come so easily. It infuriates you that you like my cock,” I taunt and pull out, releasing her wrists and quickly standing up.
“Fuck you, Luca. What happened to you? Get out!” She sits up a
nd fitfully rights her dress.
“What happened?!” I bark, and she flinches. “You happened! You fucking broke me!”
As I button my pants, I look down my nose at her, and a twinge of remorse pierces my soul. But when she rises, tears brimming her eyes, and completely ignores me as she flees to her room, I continue to lash out at her. “You find it so easy to dismiss me now, but you’ll call me when you need me, Fallon!”
Realizing that I need as much distance as possible from her right now, I hurry out of the apartment, slamming the door behind me.
Sprinting downstairs and outside, I cross the street, dodging traffic as I go, and jump into my car, immediately calling David. “Where is he?”
“Past the second intersection, third street on the left,” he answers.
I hang up, fire up my vehicle, and find her date within ten minutes.
Taking my gun from the glove compartment, I hide it in the back of my pants, under my untucked dress shirt. Then I step onto the curb just before he walks by my car and crowd him face-first against the wall of a closed shop.
One hand presses the barrel of my gun into his side, and my other hand grips his neck. “Stay away from Fallon.”
“What?” He tries to turn his head, but I cram his face against the concrete wall while planting my elbow in his neck.
“Stay away from her. Understand?”
“Yes...but,” he stammers.
“No buts. Understood?” I lower my voice while continuously glancing around.
“Yes,” he replies in a rush.
I release him, jump back into my car, and hit the gas to race to my penthouse. A few minutes with her, and I lose control over the entire night because she’s an addiction I can’t seem to shed.
After parking the car in front of my building, I stride through the reception area to be met by Adriano. He falls into step next to me as I proceed toward the elevators.
“What did you do?” he asks warily with a grin.
I don’t speak until we’re inside my penthouse, using the time in the elevator to cool the hell off. I’m pulsating with rage at myself and her. At myself for letting my anger win. At her for cutting me out of her life. For never trusting me. For fucking me and then regretting it.
