“It won’t be the last time you have to forgive me.” She raises her brows. “I’m a horrible grump in the morning, and I tend to lash out when I feel powerless, and you make me feel very humbled.”
Ella reaches out again for Gretchen, and this time, she takes her from me, snuggling Ella in close, and I continue.
“I’m a blanket hog, and my brothers say I’m unreasonable about food. But I want to do all that with you. Because I begin and end with you, Angel.”
Gretchen looks at Ella and then back to me.
“What should I say, Ella? I know—how about, giuro di essere il tuo tutto come sei mio.” I swear to be yours as you are mine.
It feels like the wind has been knocked out of me. Her voice, those words, all in Italian, are doing things to me. I reach out, grabbing a handful of her shirt, and pull her in close to me. My arms wrap around her waist, snuggling Ella between us.
“How are you saying this in Italian?”
My voice is filled with amazement. She’s never predictable, one of the reasons I love her so much.
“I looked it up on Google a while ago. I’ve been waiting for the right time.”
Her eyes crinkle as she smiles, and I lean in to feather a kiss on her lips.
“Sposami.” Marry me. My words are a prayer as I pull away.
“In English, Luca.” She laughs, but I shake my head.
“The next time I say it, I’ll be expecting an answer—in Italian.” I wink, before leaning down again and taking her mouth with more purpose.
THE SMELLS COMING FROM THE kitchen are making me drool, almost as much as watching Luca, shirtless, jeans slung low, barefoot, and cooking.
He’s made himself right at home, but like he told me after kissing me, I’m his home, so the walls around us don’t really matter. It wasn’t difficult to forgive him because there’s never been an ending to our story I was willing to accept that didn’t have us together.
“All of what you’re throwing down should be illegal,” I say semi-seductively since I’m in the presence of a child.
His child… I look down at her and can’t help but picture her older, holding my hand and loving me.
“Yeah? Like what you see? You want to show me how much later?” He chuckles, breaking me from my thoughts. Luca rubs his rock-hard stomach. “I’m dying for something to eat. Maybe just a taste?”
It’s clear he isn’t talking about the food he’s making. I could lick him.
“Luca,” I chastise playfully, leaning my head toward Ella, who is crawling around me.
“What? Ella can’t understand what I’m saying. Would you feel better if I spelled it out?”
I laugh, and he wags his brows, taking a taste of the sauce he’s making. He pulls the spoon from his lips and smiles.
“Tonight, I’m going to F-U-C-K your brains out.”
I dissolve into laughter, holding my arms up and motioning around us.
“News flash: this is a one-bedroom arrangement. We’re living like the Amish, buddy.”
I shake my head and start to play with some toy trucks Luca brought with him for Ella as I look out at the luggage in my apartment.
He came to me. Leveled the playing field and showed me how important I was. He bent for me. Luca doesn’t do that for anyone.
My gaze drifts back up, and he has his phone to his ear. “Have it ready in an hour. We’ll leave right after dinner.” He pops a piece of what he’s cooking into his mouth, seeming to enjoy it.
“Leave?” I question to his chewing face.
He takes a drink of wine and looks at me.
“Like you said, the Amish. I can’t do that. Hard no. So, we’re packing up and going to my lake house for a long weekend.” So much for bending.
I do a double take.
“What? First, were you going to ask me? And second, how did I not know that you owned a lake house?”
I’m actually more amazed at the second part than I am at his bulldozing.
Luca presses a hand on the counter and leans forward, his chest making me want to bite it.
“Baby, I’m insanely wealthy. There’s practically nothing I don’t own. Are you going to come? Or do I need to stuff you in the trunk, gorgeous?”
His voice is seductive, so much so that he’s just made kidnapping sound pleasurable. I feel dreamy, and he chuckles knowing I’m not paying attention to anything he’s saying. I’m 100 percent reducing him to eye candy.
“Open your mouth and answer me, Angel. Or if you prefer, I can find another use for it?”
I roll my eyes at him dramatically, trying to hide my love for the second half of his statement. Ella pats my leg, and I look down at her.
“Daddy’s an A-S-S hole,” I say in the sweetest voice.
I scrunch my nose as she crawls to the table and turn my attention back to my handsome chef.
“Yes, I’m coming. It’s fine. I’ll take a long weekend. I’m thinking of leaving Cohen anyway; maybe I’ll pick your brain while we drive.”
Ella lifts an arm, then the other, bringing herself to her knees, and begins to pull up on the coffee table.
“Of course. Why are you thinking of leaving? That’ll be a big hit for them.”
I don’t answer, in shock at what Ella is about to do.
“Luca…” I whisper out.
“What?” he answers, facing away from me.
“Luca!” I snap, and his head swings in my direction. I look at him with wide eyes and point.
“Oh.” He sucks in a breath, not wanting to scare her.
I slowly scoot a little closer, just in case she takes a tumble, and smile at his beaming face. Ella pulls all the way up, and we cheer like a bunch of buffoons.
Luca looks at me and winks.
“Now we’re in for it.”
I nod and kiss Ella’s little cheeks. “We’re in for it.” My heart feels like it’s beating through my chest. I’ve never loved the sound of something so much. Biting my lip as I look back up at him, it feels as if I can see my entire future.
I’m going to let him keep me barefoot and pregnant forever.
We arrived at his lake house right as the sun was setting. Ella stayed awake until the last ten minutes of the drive. I wanted to put her to sleep, but the moment we arrived, Rose was here to greet us, and a small part of me was relieved and also disappointed.
I liked our bubble. I feel like an imposter in front of Rose, but with Luca, caring for Ella feels natural. It’ll just take time, I tell myself, sighing as I look out at the lake from the back deck. It’s gorgeous, everything I’ve ever wanted, with glass walls and beamed ceilings.
I stare at the way the deep reds from the sunset reflect off the glass like water and feel complete. If today was as good as my life ever gets, I’ll feel as if I’ve won.
Luca’s arm relaxes over my shoulder, a glass of wine dangling from his hand. I take the stem and smile up at him, bringing the red wine to my lips and taking a sip.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His eyes search mine for a moment. “You know I only called Rose so we could fuck like bunnies, uninterrupted.”
His crassness makes me smile.
Of course he saw through me. I nod.
“I know. I just feel like an idiot in front of her. I don’t know Ella as well, and I don’t even know Rose. I feel a little bit like the mistress being moved in.”
“You are the mistress being moved in.” He smirks, making me laugh. “Give it time, baby. Rose will love you, and if she doesn’t, I’ll pack your shit.” Luca laughs out, and I pinch him. Hard. Dick.
“Ow!” He growls and fixes his eyes on me, making my insides tingle. “I’m going to make you pay for that.”
The implication is far more sexual than vengeful, even though he sounds deadly.
“Promise,” I say, licking my lips as he tilts my chin up with his finger.
“Would I lie?” he answers coolly.
Luca’s hand pulls away from my chin, and he takes
my glass, putting it on the table.
“How I see it is you need to stop assuming the worst and trust me to care for you, and the only way for us to do that is to make sure you get what you need, over and over, until you take it for granted.”
He’s talking about more than just sex, even though I love the “over and over” part. I didn’t trust him; I prolonged this moment as much as his stubbornness did. But I did it by way of mistrust, assuming he wouldn’t do what we both needed.
“So, you want to teach me a lesson in trust?”
The desire in my voice gives away my readiness.
He nods.
“I paid a helluva price almost losing you. What price should you pay for not trusting me? Huh?”
The tumbler he’s holding runs up my leg, and I can feel the coolness through my jeans. Luca leans close to my cheek and whispers, “Choose your fate. Do you want to be fucked or loved, Angel?”
I close my eyes, knowing they aren’t mutually exclusive, but for us, they have very specific meanings. He knows I need the connection between us, the aggression and anger we’ve both felt to play about in the sheets.
His breath is warm against my skin as he keeps whispering.
“Maybe we play your favorite game, Angel. I’ll hunt you…here.”
He brings the glass between my legs and runs it up, rolling it over where my clit is throbbing. My breath hitches.
“Do you trust me?” he asks seductively.
He sets his drink down and begins to gather my T-shirt, tugging it up.
I look around, worried about being caught.
“Luca, someone could catch us. The wall is all glass.”
The minute I say it, I know I failed my lesson. Luca doesn’t stop or change expression as he pulls my shirt up and over my head, leaving me exposed in just my bra.
“Take them off, or I will,” he directs in his deep gravel, indicating my jeans.
I’m not a submissive girl. But when he does this, gets sexually dominant, I feel understood. I’m a powerful woman, and I need a man who can handle me, break me, and make me feel devoured. Luca was made for me. He crosses his arms over his chest.
“The longer I wait, the longer you wait to come. Get ’em off,” he growls. Holy hell, I’m wet. Rough Luca is my favorite Luca.
I reach slowly for my button and pull it open, challenging his patience by lowering the zipper only a fraction.
“You know, I’m not wearing underwear,” I lie.
The thought of being fucked out here where someone could catch us makes me nervous, even if I’m supposed to trust him.
“When I pull off these jeans, everyone will see what’s yours…you sure you want to share?” My voice is a purr, and he bites his lip, gripping his bulge.
I know I’ve won. No fucking way is he willing to share me with prying eyes.
Right as I feel victorious, Luca shakes his head and says, “So fucking stubborn,” then grabs me by the waistband of my jeans and jerks me forward.
“Luca!” I yelp and laugh.
He pushes his hand down the front of my jeans, and I gasp, silenced. Grabbing my tiny lace G-string, along with the few hairs I have down below, he tugs me closer, and the sensation makes my pussy slick with need.
My back arches from being pulled forward.
“Little liar,” he whispers knowingly, and I whimper.
Pleasure grips my body as his hold tightens.
“You definitely need a lesson in trust. Maybe I’ll take it out on your ass or maybe in your ass. Here’s the game, baby: I catch you, I pick.”
His hand retreats as he takes a step away from me.
I’m breathless. My entire body is on fire. This man speaks to every filthy fucking piece of me.
“What’s the second choice? What if you don’t catch me?” I ask hungrily.
A slow smile grows on his gorgeous face. Luca takes out his phone from his pocket and presses a button, laughing to himself.
The light that glowed from inside the house begins to fade as heavy black shades roll down, and I hear a click as the door locks. He was never going to let me be seen. But now, I’m on my own.
My eyes widen as the world around me gets darker, and my desire amps up tenfold. A thousand thoughts are fighting for priority, but I can’t focus on any of them.
All I can do is feel.
The adrenaline is already starting to flow through me, and my eyes begin to dart around, looking for places to run to. I step to my right, and Luca does the same just as quickly. His eyes dilate, locked in on mine.
“Where are you going, Angel?” He licks his bottom lip, pulling it between his teeth, a lion ready to pounce.
“Anywhere I want. You think you can stop me?” I challenge, all in for this little game.
I’m won’t make this easy for him or me. Oh fuck—my head drops back, and a small moan escapes my lips as the thought settles into my body. I bring my eyes back to his, fevered and ready.
Luca steps closer to me, his voice low, filled with his need.
“Angel, I’d give a million for each dirty thought that just played out in your mind. I’m going to fulfill every wish and more tonight.”
Our bodies are so close, I can feel the heat emanating off him.
“Yes, please,” I breathe out, wanting him to touch me.
“Tonight, you’re mine to do with as I please. There’s no one to help you,” he says, reaching out to massage my breast, and my body shivers at his touch. “No one to hear you.”
He looks out at the dotted landscape of lights, and my gaze follows, seeing the faraway glows that serve only as a reminder of neighbors and their distance. He rolls my nipple through my bra, and my body squirms.
“What are you going to do to me?” My voice is wanton and raspy.
I want him to tell me every lurid, racy detail.
Luca fists my hair, pulling my head sideways to make room to devour my neck.
“Whatever the fuck I want, because there’s no one to stop me.”
My chest is heaving, my center drenched at his sinful threats. He knows exactly what I want. It’s the act of being caught, handled, coerced until I submit that makes me wild. I want him to be rough; I want to feel his force.
“What do you say? What’s your word?” he hums into my neck with a tight grip on my hair.
“No,” I moan out, intoxicated by the feeling, knowing I’ll never say it, because I want this.
Luca releases me, and I’m suddenly cold.
He steps back away from me, and the look on his face is pure, primal ferocity. He reaches a hand over his shoulder and grabs the black T-shirt he’s wearing and drags it over his head. He stands shirtless, menacing and mine. Willing to hunt me down and fuck me raw.
We stare each other down, enveloped by the silence and the dark.
“Run!” he hisses, and I break.
My feet carry me down the deck stairs and across the grass. The night air whips my hair around as I run as fast as I can. It’s the strangest mix of emotions to want to be caught, and not, all at the same time.
Luca’s voice roars, “Here I come, Angel.”
He sounds like a proper villain, one with a singular mission: to make me beg for forgiveness. I run toward the darkest part of the yard, finding a large tree to hide behind. I can’t stay here, but I’m hoping to buy some time.
There’s a buzz vibrating through my body. My breath comes out rapidly.
Holy shit, this is the dirtiest game of hide and go seek I’ve ever played. It’s more like hide and get fucked. A laugh escapes my lips as the thought appears, and I clasp my hand over my mouth to keep from giving myself away.
Luca’s voice carries out over the yard.
“You’re the worst at this, beautiful. You think that tree is going to keep you safe? Maybe I’ll tie you to it while I fuck that pretty little cunt.”
Luca’s pleasure over his own idea seeps into the words. I hear his belt crack. Oh shit. He’s going to use it to tie me up.
&n
bsp; I can hear him getting closer; his steps are heavy and purposeful. But I can barely see anything around me.
My fingers dig into the hard bark on the tree as I peek out, squinting as I try to make out if I’m seeing a door or not. I remember seeing one when he took me on a tour. It must be the door on the side of the house that leads into the garage.
I take a deep breath and push off the tree, running toward the door, willing my feet to move faster.
Luca whistles.
“Come here!” His voice is demanding, and his quick steps gain on me.
My body tenses, anticipating getting caught, but his fingers only brush against my skin in the darkness.
He just misses me, and I gasp, almost losing my footing as I keep running to the door.
I push against it, jiggling the lock, but it doesn’t open. I spin around just as Luca roughly smacks a hand against the door next to my face, our noses almost touching.
“Gotcha.”
HER EYES ARE WIDE, BUT she isn’t scared. She’s turned on.
The chase isn’t even the best part. It’s the anticipation of what I’ll do once I catch her that has goose bumps trailing behind where my gaze scorches her body. I lean in close to her face and kiss her jaw, nipping the skin, enjoying when her body jumps. I bring my fingers to her collarbone and trace the delicate area.
“What to do, what to do?”
She doesn’t answer, knowing it’s rhetorical. I have a plan for my angel tonight. And I’m going to fucking enjoy this.
Her hands hit my chest, and it’s so unexpected, my feet carry me back a few steps as I watch her take the advantage to run past me.
“Oh no you don’t!” I roar and grab her wrist, jolting her back, dipping my shoulder and throwing her over it.
It’s déjà vu of the first night I fucked her. It suits us because tonight is our real beginning.
Her body bucks and fights against the grip I have on the back of her thighs.
“Enough!”
I grip her ass hard, squeezing it and making it hurt just enough to remind her who’s in charge. Much to my satisfaction, her entire body tenses as a raspy moan fills the night air.
Gretchen begins to relax, kissing my bare back as I walk up the stairs of the deck. She’s a kitten now that she’s getting what she needs.
Worship (Sinful Series Book 2) Page 21
