by Cora Reilly
I sucked in a breath, shocked by the jolt the small touch had sent through me. Heat gathered between my legs and I could feel myself getting wet. I squirmed in embarrassment, not wanting Luca to realize that a bare brush and his stroking of my butt had caused such a reaction. Maybe I wasn’t experienced but I’d been imagining certain things, had caressed myself on many nights. It wasn’t that I was frigid. Luca’s body turned me on. Maybe I wanted love, but my body wanted something else. The feeling of Luca’s strong chest and muscled stomach under me, his gentle kisses, his soft touch, they made me want something more, even if my mind told me it was a bad idea.
Luca’s eyes narrowed a fraction as he studied me, like I was a difficult equation he wanted to figure out. Then he lightly graced the crotch of my panties with his fingertips and I knew he could feel it. I could feel that the thin fabric was soaked. My cheeks flamed in mortification and I lowered my eyes but I couldn’t bring myself to slide off him or even close my legs. His fingertips against my core felt good even if they’d stopped moving.
“Look at me, Aria,” Luca said in a rough voice.
I peered into his eyes even as my face felt close to exploding from shame. “Are you embarrassed because of this?” He traced a finger over my wet panties. My butt arched and I exhaled harshly.
I couldn’t say anything. My lips were parted as small sounds that weren’t quite moans slid out. Luca’s moved his finger up and down, gently, teasingly, and small shivers of pleasures slithered through my body. I’d always thought that passion and orgasms came as a forceful wave leaving nothing in their wake, something almost intimidating but this was like a slow trickling; a deliciously sweet tension mounting to something bigger.
I quivered on top of Luca, my fingers clinging to his shoulders. He never sped up his stroking but the pleasure rose with every brush. His eyes bore into mine as he slid two fingers over my opening then between my folds and pressed down on my clit. How could this feel so intense? He wasn’t even touching my skin. I gasped and trembled as sparks of pleasure shot through my body. I buried my face against Luca’s neck as I clung to him. His finger rubbed my clit through my panties, slower and slower until he simply rested his hand possessively over my folds.
Luca pressed his face into my hair. “God, you’re so wet, Aria. If you knew how much I want you right now, you’d run away.” He laughed darkly. “I can almost feel your wetness on my cock.”
I didn’t say anything, only tried to calm my breathing. Luca’s heartbeat was strong and fast beneath my cheek. He shifted and his length briefly brushed my inner thigh. He felt hot and hard.
“Do you want me to touch you?” I said in the quietest whisper. I was half-scared and half-excited about seeing him naked and actually touching him. I wanted to lay my claim on him, wanted to make him forget about the women of his past. Luca’s hand on my back tightened and he drew in a deep breath, his chest expanding under me.
“No,” he growled, and I lifted my head in confusion and a little hurt. Some of it must have showed, because Luca smiled grimly. “I’m not quite myself yet, Aria. There’s too much darkness on the surface, too much blood and anger. Today was bad.” He shook his head. “When I came home today and found you lying on the sofa, so innocent and vulnerable and mine.” Something flickered in his eyes, some of the darkness he’d mentioned. “I’m glad you don’t know the thoughts that ran through my head then. You are my wife and I swore to protect you, if necessary even from myself.”
“You think you’d lose control?” I whispered.
“I know it.”
“Maybe you underestimate yourself.” I trailed my fingers over his shoulders. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince him or myself. He had scared me, there was no denying it. But he had snapped out of it.
“Maybe you trust me too much.” He ran a finger over my spine, sending a new wave of tingling toward my core. “When I lay you down on the bed like a sacrificial lamb, you should have run.”
“Someone once told me not to run from monsters because they give chase.”
The ghost of a smile crossed his face. “Next time, you run. Or if you can’t, you ram your knee into my balls.”
He wasn’t joking. “If I’d done that today, you would have lost control. The only reason why you didn’t was because I treated you like my husband, not a monster.”
He traced my lips with his thumb, then brushed my cheek. “You are far too beautiful and innocent to be married to someone like me, but I’m too much of a selfish bastard to ever let you go. You are mine. Forever.”
“I know,” I said, then lowered my cheek back to his chest. Luca extinguished the lights and I fell asleep listening to his heartbeat. I knew a normal person would have run from Luca, but I’d grown up among predators. Decent, normal guys with jobs that didn’t involve breaking laws were a foreign species to me. And deep down a primal part of me couldn’t imagine being with someone who wasn’t an alpha like Luca. It thrilled me to know that a man like him could be gentle with me. It thrilled me that he was mine and I was his.
***
The sky was only just turning gray over New York’s skyline when I woke the next morning. I was still lying on Luca’s chest, my naked breasts pressed against his hot skin, but I’d slid down his body over night and his stiff length was pressed against my leg. I shifted carefully and peered up into Luca’s face. His eyes were closed and he looked so peaceful in sleep, it was hard to belief that the same face had harbored so much violence and darkness last night.
Curiosity gripped me. I’d never seen an erection but I was worried about waking Luca. After what he’d said, I really didn’t want to risk him losing control. I tried to peek over my shoulder at Luca’s boner, but with the way we were positioned I’d have to break my neck to see it.
Suddenly a buzzing came from the nightstand and Luca sat up so fast I squeaked. He took me with him, one arm steadying me around the waist, the other reaching for his mobile. But the new position had made me slide down his body and now his erection was between my legs, its length pressed up against my core. I was practically riding it like a broom. I’d never been more grateful for my underwear.
I stiffened and so did Luca, the mobile already pressed against his ear. I tried to get into a less problematic position but that only made his cock rub against me. He groaned and I froze. Luca’s eyes dilated as his fingers on my waist tightened.
“I’m fine Matteo,” he rasped. “I’m fucking fine. No. I can handle this. I don’t need to see the Doc. Now let me sleep.” Luca hung up, put the phone back on the nightstand and stared at me. I was so stiff he could have used me as an ironing board.
He sank back slowly with all the control only lots of sit-ups could give you. I remained in a sitting position, straddling his hips, but quickly draped one arm in front of my breasts. Now that he was lying his erection was no longer touching me. Gathering my courage, I swung my leg over his hips, accidentally brushing Luca’s boner.
“Fuck,” Luca growled, jerking beneath me. I had to stifle a smile. I knelt beside him, my arm still covering my breasts and then I allowed myself to look. Wow. I had nothing to compare him to, but I couldn’t imagine he could be any bigger. He was long and thick, and circumcised. Gianna had won her stupid bet.
“You’re going to be the death of me, Aria,” Luca said in a low voice.
I turned, embarrassed. I’d been staring. There was hunger on Luca’s face when I met his eyes. One of his hands rested on his stomach, the other was thrown over his head. His abs were taut with tension, actually every inch of his body seemed that way. Suddenly I was overcome with shyness. Why had I thought it was a good idea to take a look at him? I risked another peek.
“If you keep looking at my cock with that stunned expression, I’m going to combust.”
“I’m sorry if my expression bothers you, but this is new for me. I’ve never seen a naked man. Every first I’ll experience will be with you, so.”
Luca sat up. His voice dropped an octave. “It doesn
’t bother me. It’s fucking hot, and I’ll enjoy every first you’ll share with me.” He stroked my cheek. “You don’t even realize how much you turn me on.”
With him sitting, our faces were close and Luca pulled me in for a kiss. I pressed my palm against his shoulder, then slowly ran it down his chest to his stomach. Luca paused kissing me. “Last night you asked me if I wanted you to touch me.”
“Yeah,” I said, my breath catching. “Do you want me to touch you now?”
The fire in his eyes darkened. “Fuck yes. More than anything.” He reached out for my arm pressed against my breasts. “Let me see you.” He curled his fingers around my wrist but didn’t pull. I hesitated. He’d seen them yesterday, but now I felt more exposed. Slowly I eased my arm down. I sat very still as Luca’s eyes roamed over me. “I know they’re not big.”
“You’re fucking beautiful, Aria.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“Do you want to touch me now?” he said in a low voice.
I nodded and licked my lips. I glanced down, then tentatively reached out and ran my finger over his length. He felt soft, hot and firm. Luca let out a harsh breath, the muscles in his arms straining from holding himself up. I brushed the tip, marveling at how soft he was. Luca gritted his teeth.
I felt a strange sense of power over him as I ran my fingertips up and down slowly, fascinated by his silkiness.
Luca quivered under my touch. “Take me in your hand,” he said in a low voice.
I wrapped my fingers around his shaft lightly, worried about hurting him. I moved my hand down, then up, surprised at how heavy he felt in my palm. Luca lay back. I knew he was watching me but I couldn’t meet his gaze, too mortified by my own courage.
“You can grip harder,” he said after a few more of my tentative strokes.
I tightened my fingers.
“Harder. It won’t fall off.”
I flushed and turned away, dropping my hand. “I didn’t want to hurt you.” God, this was embarrassing. I couldn’t even do this. Maybe Luca should really go back to his whore Grace. She knew what to do.
“Hey,” Luca said calmly, pulling me against him. “I was teasing you. It’s okay.” He kissed me. His mouth moved against mine, unyielding but gentle, and his hand snaked down my arm, my hip and over the curve of my butt until his finger slipped between my legs and grazed over my folds. He slid back and forth lightly before slipping the tip of his finger under my panties. I held my breath at the feel of him against my bare skin. He dipped between my folds, then slid up to my clit, coating it with my wetness. I moaned against his lips before slipping my tongue into his mouth to dance with his. Pleasure swept through me as he twirled his finger over my sensitive nub.
He tore his mouth away from mine, his eyes boring into me. “Want to try again?” he rasped with a nod toward his hard length.
His finger flicked over me again and I gasped, barely able to think straight, much less form a coherent sentence. My body ached with a need I’d never felt before. I slid my hand down his muscled torso, following the fine trail of dark hair to his erection. I curled my hand around it and it jumped under my touch.
Luca’s fingers slid faster against my wet flesh. His steady caresses made me pant, but I was far too gone to care. Luca covered my hand around his length with his, showing me how hard to grip him. Then he moved our hands up and down his shaft. I watched in fascination. We moved faster and harder than I would have dared. Luca’s fingers between my folds, rubbed me faster too, until I could barely breath and my pulse pounded in my veins. I was about to topple over the edge.
“Luca,” I gasped and he flicked my clit, sending me spiraling out of control. Spasms shot through my body as I moaned. My hand pumped Luca’s length even faster and with a guttural growl Luca’s release washed over him. I shivered against him as I watched him come over our hands and his stomach. My nipples were hard and rubbed against his chest, sending ripples of pleasure through me. His erection throbbing in my palm, it softened slowly. Luca pulled his fingers out from beneath my panties and rested them on my butt.
I closed my eyes, listening to the thundering of his heart. Luca kissed the top of my head, startling me with the loving gesture. My heart burst with new hope. Gradually our breathing slowed. Luca reached out for a tissue box on the nightstand and handed me a tissue, before wiping himself clean. I felt self-conscious as I cleaned his sperm from my hand. I couldn’t believe I’d touched him like that. I was still sensitive between my legs and yet I wanted to feel his fingers again. Was it wrong that I enjoyed Luca’s touch so much?
He was my husband, but still. My mother had always treated sex like something only men desired. Women simply did their duty. Luca rubbed my arm and I decided not to think about it too much. I’d do what felt right. I released a small breath, but then my eyes focused on the cut below Luca’s ribs. Blood was trickling from it.
I sat up. “You’re bleeding.” I’d forgotten all about it. “Does it hurt?”
Luca looked utterly relaxed. He cast his gaze down to his wound. “Not much. It’s nothing. I’m used to it.”
I touched the skin below the cut. “It needs stitches. What if it gets infected?”
“Maybe you’ll get lucky and become a young widow.”
I glared. “That’s not funny.” Not after what we’d just done. I felt closer to him than ever, and my father would only find me a new husband anyway.
“If it bothers you so much, why don’t you grab the first aid kit from the bathroom and bring it to me.”
I jumped out of bed and rushed into the bathroom. “Where is it?”
“In the drawer below the sink.”
There wasn’t only one first aid kit. There were about two dozens kits. I picked one and returned to the bedroom but before I joined Luca in bed, I grabbed my nightgown from the ground and put it on. Luca sat against the headboard, still gloriously naked. I concentrated on his torso, embarrassed by his unabashed nakedness.
Luca stroked my cheek when I settled next to him. “Still too shy to look at me after what happened.” He tugged at the hem of my nightgown. “I liked you better without it.”
I pursed my lips. “What do you want me to do?” I set the first aid kit between us and opened it.
“Many things,” Luca murmured.
I rolled my eyes. “With your cut.”
“There are disinfectant wipes. Clean my wound and I’ll prepare the needle.”
I ripped open one of the packets. The overpowering smell of disinfectant clogged my nose. I pulled the wipe out, unfolded it and dabbed it against the cut. Luca twitched but didn’t make a sound. “Does it burn?”
“I’m fine,” he said simply. “Wipe harder.”
I did, and though he jerked a few times, he never told me to stop. Eventually I threw the wipe into the trash and leaned back. Luca pierced his skin with the needle and began stitching himself up, his hands steady and sure. Watching him made me already feel queasy. I couldn’t imagine doing that to myself, but as my eyes wandered over Luca’s body and the many scars I realized that it probably wasn’t the first time he did this. When Luca was satisfied with his job, he chucked away the needle.
“We need to cover it,” I said. I rummaged in the kit for bandages, but Luca shook his head. “It’ll heal faster if it’s allowed to breathe.”
“Really? Are you sure? What if dirt gets in?”
Luca chuckled. “You don’t need to worry. This won’t be the last time I’ll come home injured.” Was I worried? Yes. And I didn’t like the thought of him taking his health so lightly.
Luca opened his arms. “Come.”
“Don’t you have to leave?” I glanced at the clock. It was only eight, but on most days Luca had been gone by then.
“Not today. The Bratva is dealt with for the moment. I’ll have to be in one of the Familia’s clubs in the afternoon.”
I smiled slightly. I couldn’t help it. I was glad I didn’t have to be alone all day again. I snuggled against Luca’s s
ide and he wrapped his arm around me.
“I didn’t expect you to look so happy,” he said quietly.
“I’m lonely.” I hated how weak that made me sound, but it was the truth. Luca’s fingers on my arm tightened.
“I have a few cousins you could hang out with. I’m sure they’d enjoy going shopping with you.”
“Why does everyone think I want to go shopping?”
“Then do something else. Have a coffee, or go to a Spa, or I don’t know.”
“I still have a Spa certificate that I got at my bridal shower.”
“See? If you want I can ask a few of my cousins.”
I shook my head. “I’m not too keen on meeting with another one of your cousins after what Cosima did.”
“What did she do?” He grew rigid beneath me.
I drew back, looking at Luca. Then I realized I’d never told him how I’d found him in bed with Grace and after all the confusion of the last few days he’d never asked. He’d probably had more than enough on his plate with the Bratva.
“She gave me the letter that led me to you and Grace.” Saying her name made my stomach turn again, and unwanted memories resurfaced. I sat up, away from Luca’s warmth. I drew my legs up against my chest, overwhelmed by all that had happened.
Luca pushed himself into a sitting position and pressed a kiss against my shoulder. “Cosima gave you a letter that told you to go the apartment?” His voice was tight with barely controlled anger.
I nodded, then swallowed before I dared to speak. “And a key. It’s still in my bag.”
“That fucking bitch,” he growled.
“Who?”
“Both of them. Grace and Cosima. They’re friends. Grace must have put Cosima up to this. That cunt.”
I flinched away from the fury in his voice. He let out a harsh breath and sneaked an arm around my waist, pulling me against his chest and burying his face in my hair.
“Grace wanted to humiliate me. She looked really happy when I found you.”
“I bet,” he said. “She’s a fucking rat trying to humiliate a queen. She’s nothing.” Wow, he was furious. And I couldn’t help but feel schadenfreude toward Grace.
