11. Lara
Chapter 11
Lara
I ’m still riding the high from my last orgasm when Luka drives me to work. My pussy is sore and my body exhausted, but damn was it worth it. I tighten my grip around his waist, and he immediately reaches down to squeeze my calf. He weaves us in and out of traffic while I relax against him, not even slightly worried about my safety. I know he’ll keep me safe, and I’m addicted to that feeling just as much as I’m addicted to everything else about him.
He pulls into the alley behind the club, stopping at the exact spot where I’d found Pip. I’m expecting him to just drop me off, but instead he shuts off the bike and waits for me to get off. I pull my helmet free and then try to fix my hair as he comes to stand beside me.
“Thanks for bringing me, Luka. I can text you when I get home if you want.”
He laughs and cups my face, leaning down so we’re closer. “You think I’m just going to drop you off and leave? You have a lot to learn about me, kisa .”
I look over at the club. “You don’t have to wait here. It’s going to be hours. ”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I’m not leaving you alone. I need to talk to Dario and Dominic about a few things anyway.”
Leaning closer, he brushes his lips along my cheek. “Yesterday and today have been the best two days of my life, and I’m not ready for it to end.”
“I feel the same way.”
“After you meet my family tomorrow, I want to meet your mom. I don’t care what we have to tell her about me, but she needs to know about us, and then I want you to move in with me.”
He kisses a line to my mouth, nipping and sucking on my skin until I’m pressing my body against his and wishing we had more time before my shift starts.
“Now that I have you, kisa , I’m never letting you go and that includes us living apart. I want everything with you, not just one night a week and a few afternoons when you sneak out of your apartment for a few hours. I want and need more. I’m a selfish, greedy bastard when it comes to you, sweetheart, and that’s never going to change.”
Grabbing my hand in his, he drags his thumb over my skin. “I also want my ring on your finger.” I feel the soft laugh he gives against my lips. “I also want to see your belly swollen with our baby and my last name as yours, but we can start with a big diamond on that pretty finger.”
“I don’t need a big diamond.”
I feel him smile. “You’re getting one anyway.”
Before I can keep arguing, he cups the back of my head and cuts off my words with a searing kiss that leaves me breathless and my panties more than a little wet.
“Is that how you’re planning on winning every argument we have?”
He laughs and brings his hand down to cup my ass. “We’re never going to argue, kisa . Unless it has to do with your safety, I could never deny you anything.”
“So you won’t be buying me a huge, overpriced diamond?”
“You deserve the best.” He gives my ass another squeeze. “I’ll definitely be spoiling you, kisa. You might want to get used to it.”
“There’s a lot of things I’m going to have to get used to,” I say, wincing when he cups my pussy from behind and I feel the sting his giant cock left behind.
“Yeah?” he teases, gentling his fingers so the touch is soothing and whisper soft, teasing little strokes that quickly have me forgetting about how sore I am. “What else do you need to get used to?”
“Your big cock,” I say, making him smile. “Will it ever stop hurting? I mean, I’ve got to get used to it at some point, right?”
“You’ll get used to me, kisa . You wouldn’t be this sore if you hadn’t begged me to fuck you in the shower.” He nips at the corner of my mouth. “And then again on the couch.” I feel him smile before he gives my top lip a soft suck and dances his fingers over my clit. “And while bent over the table.”
He’s not wrong, so I don’t bother arguing. I’d been greedy, damn greedy, and I don’t regret a single second of it. “Worth it,” I whisper.
He smiles and kisses me one last time. “I’m glad you think so, sweetheart, because there’s no way in hell I could’ve held back. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything, and there’s no place I’d rather be than inside you.”
“Good,” I say, kissing his cheek while he gives a soft laugh before pulling back with a groan.
“Come on, baby. I’ll walk you up.”
He threads his hand through mine and leads me into the club. This time, the guard by the door nods and actually speaks.
“Evening, Mr. Melnikov,” he says, showing him the same courtesy he’d show Dario or Alessandro. I notice that he doesn’t look at me at all, and I remember what Luka said about it being a sign of respect.
“Hey, Emilio,” Luka says while wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me tighter against him. “Busy night?”
“Yeah, the club is packed, and tonight’s game has a lot riding on it upstairs.”
I let out a soft groan, because I’d really been hoping for a quick game and then a nice soak in the tub, but it looks like that’ll have to wait a while. Luka kisses the top of my head, and when we’re past Emilio, he whispers near my ear, “I’m talking to Dominic tonight. He’s going to need to find a new waitress.”
“But it’s good money,” I quickly say, thinking about my mom’s rent.
He stops and hooks a finger under my chin, tilting my face to his. We’re still in the dark hallway, and even without being in the main room, the music is loud and obnoxious.
“Stop worrying about money.” He kisses the brow I hadn’t realized I’ve been furrowing. “You’re mine now, kisa , and I take care of what’s mine. You will never want for anything again. You’re quitting this job, and you will let me take care of you.”
When he feels me hesitate, he adds, “Baby, that includes your mom. I would never make you choose. You don’t need to work here, and I don’t like you working here. I want to take care of you, and I want you to let me.”
I look up into his green eyes and nod my head. “Okay,” I whisper, because I'd have to be an idiot to say no to his offer.
He smiles and runs his thumb over my cheek. “Good girl. You think you’ll be okay for this last shift? I can talk to Dominic now if you’re feeling too tired,” his smile widens, “or if you’re too sore.”
“No, I’m okay.”
He studies me for a second, making sure I really am okay, and when he’s confident I’m telling the truth, he nods and grabs my hand. “Let’s get this over with then.”
I follow as he leads me into the main part of the club and then over to where Marco is guarding the stairs. When he sees Luka, he nods and steps aside. Since I know Marco, I’m assuming the don’t look at me rule doesn’t apply, so when we walk past, I say, “Hey, Marco.”
“Evening, Lara,” he says, giving me a small smile and nod. There’s nothing even remotely flirty about it, but Luka’s hand still tightens around mine and he gives a soft sigh as we continue up the stairs.
“What?” I ask, looking up at him. “I know him. I can’t just be rude and walk by without saying hello.”
“I would never ask you to do something that makes you uncomfortable, kisa. Just be careful. ”
I turn to him at the top of the stairs. “What do you mean? Be careful about what?”
He brushes back a strand of my hair, letting his fingers linger on my skin. “If anyone hits on you, I will do something about it. If they look at you in a way that I don’t like, kisa ,” he says, leaning even closer, “then I will do something about it. Creating distance between you and the men who are a part of my world not only protects you, but it also protects them. It helps them to not do anything stupid.”
I hadn’t thought of it like that, and the last thing I want is to create problems or get someone in trouble, but I’m also not going to not say hi to someone that I already know. “Okay,” I tell Luka. “I’ll be careful, but Marco’s always been nice to me, and I can’t be rude to him. I won’t go out of my way to get on friendly terms with the other guards, though.”
Luka smiles. “Thank you. Dominic wouldn’t be too happy with me if I had to kill one of his men.”
“Please don’t kill anyone,” I whisper, and then I can’t help but arch a brow and ask, “Have you ever killed anyone?”
It’s impossible for me to picture this sweet man killing anyone, but when he just laughs and kisses my forehead before grabbing my hand again, I can’t help but wonder if I’m wrong. I’ll never be able to see him as a killer. To me, he’ll always be the man I love, the one who holds me as I fall asleep, the one who fits my body so perfectly and gives me more pleasure than I ever thought possible, and the man who loves me and makes me feel safe. He’ll never be a criminal in my eyes, no matter what.
When we get to the door, he cups my face and kisses me slowly, not letting me go until I’m moaning against his lips and pulling him closer for more.
“I’ll be here the whole time, so text me if you need me.”
“I’ll be fine,” I tell him. “You can leave if you need to.”
“That’s not going to happen.” He gives my ass a pat. “Come find me when you’re done.”
“I will,” I promise him.
He opens the door for me, and I quickly walk over to help Gabby get everything set up. Luka and I are cutting it close, and the players should be arriving any second.
“I'm sorry I’m late,” I say, grabbing a few glasses and setting them down on the bar.
Gabby grins and looks over at Luka. He’s talking to Alessandro, but every few seconds his eyes drift over to me, constantly checking to make sure I’m okay.
“I’d be late too if I was showing up with him,” Gabby whispers with a soft laugh. “Jesus, you are one lucky girl.”
It’s impossible to hide my smile, and when Luka sees it, he lifts a brow at me, clearly wondering what the hell Gabby just whispered to me. As soon as we have the bottles of liquor lined up, the men start arriving. I’m not sure if they know who Luka is, but they all eye him as they take their seats. Right before I start fixing drinks, he turns to leave. He laughs at something Alessandro says and then looks over to give me a wink before leaving and closing the door behind him. As soon as he’s gone, Alessandro blocks the only exit, his face morphing into an unreadable, hard mask.
There are ten players tonight, and a few new faces I’ve never seen before. One by one, the men call out what they’ll be drinking tonight, and I do a few mental gymnastics to make sure I’ve got my five memorized. Gabby and I quickly make everyone a first round, and then everything turns serious when Franco grabs the brand-new deck of cards and starts shuffling.
It’s a long six hours, and relief washes over me when Gabby’s Dry Martini finally wins the enormous pot. My feet are killing me, and I feel terrible that Luka’s been stuck here waiting for so long. After we collect our tips and get the area cleaned up, we follow Alessandro down the stairs. I say a quick goodbye to Gabby and then look around the crowded club for Luka. I’m just about to text him when I hear a sharp whistle. When I whip my head around, I see his gorgeous face watching me. He’s leaning against the door to Dominic’s office with a big smile on his face. Giving me a wink, he beckons me over, and as soon as I’m close enough, he pulls me against him and kisses me like he hasn’t seen me in days instead of hours.
“Damn,” I whisper when he finally lets me go.
“I missed you, kisa .”
“I’m sorry it took so long.”
He smiles and kisses me again. “You’re worth the wait.”
“Oh my god, you must be Lara.”
I turn at the unfamiliar, feminine voice to see a beautiful, dark-haired woman smiling at me. She holds her hand out and gives Luka a quick smile before turning her full attention back to me. “I’m Natalya, Luka’s cousin.”
“And my wife.”
I look past her to see Dominic walking towards us while Natalya laughs and looks over her shoulder at him before turning back to me. “And his wife,” she says with a big smile.
I’ve never seen Dominic look so normal before. He’s always the scary, intimidating mafia boss in the expensive suits and a constant don’t fuck with me aura, but right now he’s pulling his wife against him and smiling down at her like a man in love.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I tell Natalya. “Luka mentioned you were married to my boss.”
“Ex-boss apparently,” Dominic says and then nods towards Luka. “He’s just informed me that I need to find a new waitress, which is a damn shame because everyone says you’re doing a great job up there.”
“I’m sorry,” I quickly say. “I can give you two weeks’ notice.”
“No, you cannot,” Luka says while Dominic laughs and shakes his head.
“It’s okay. I have until Friday to find someone.”
“Luka was just telling us that you’ll be coming over tomorrow,” Natalya says.
“Yeah, I guess I’ll be meeting you all at once.”
She hears how nervous I am and reaches out to squeeze my arm. Even with my long-sleeved shirt, I still tense a bit at the contact, and within seconds, Luka’s hand is at the nape of my neck, his thumb running soothing circles along my skin, comforting me and reminding me that he’s here for me. His actions aren’t anything that would draw attention. It’s just for me, a private comfort that means the absolute world to me.
“It’ll be fine,” Natalya says, completely oblivious to what’s going on between Luka and me. “They’re going to love you, and even though there’s a lot of us, it’s going to be super laid-back, so you don’t need to worry about anything.”
“Thanks,” I tell her. She gives me another big smile, and I quickly decide that I like her. She’s sweet and friendly, and she doesn’t seem like she’s faking it for the benefit of her husband and cousin. She just seems like a genuinely sweet person.
“I’m sorry we can’t stay and chat right now, but someone,” she says, nodding up at her husband, “promised me Italian food. My parents are watching our daughter tonight, so we need to take advantage of it.”
Dominic laughs and picks her up, making sure to keep his arm around the pink dress she’s wearing so she’s completely covered, and then kisses her before saying, “Don’t worry, principessa , you’ll get your Italian.” He whispers something in her ear that makes her laugh and turn her head away, trying to hide the blush that’s creeping up her cheeks.
Luka pulls me close and whispers, “This is how my entire family is, kisa . I told you we’re all faithful and completely whipped.”
I lean against him, relieved that I’m not going to be walking into a family of misogynistic assholes who treat their women like shit and have mistresses on the side. It’s a comfort to know that Luka wasn’t raised around men like that, and it makes me even more grateful for the kind of man he is because it could’ve so easily gone the other way.
“I’m taking her out to eat,” Dominic says, still smiling and looking not at all like my scary boss. “She gets cranky when she’s hungry.”
“I do not,” Natalya says, laughing and smacking her husband’s shoulder. When he carries her out of his office, she hollers back to us, “Bye! Nice to meet you, Lara! We’ll talk more tomorrow!”
“Bye!” I holler back, returning her wave. “She’s really nice,” I tell Luka once they’ve disappeared down the hall.
“Yeah, we all get along really well. I can’t wait for you to meet them all.”
I tilt my head back against his chest and look up at him. “Thanks for waiting around for me.”
He smiles down at me and kisses my forehead. “I wasn’t about to leave you here alone. I’m sorry it took so long. Mr. Dry Martini took forever to win.”
I pull back and laugh. “How do you know who won?”
He jerks his chin at the office. “I was watching the security cameras.” He pulls me closer and cups my ass. “You looked sexy as fuck serving drinks in your short little skirt. I wanted to kill all of those bastards just for looking at you.”
“They weren’t looking at me. Trust me, they’re all about the money and gambling. I don’t think they notice Gabby and me at all.”
“They were looking,” he insists, “especially that old fucker who kept drinking whiskey sours. I enjoyed watching him lose.”
“He’s old enough to be my grandpa,” I point out.
“That didn’t stop him from looking, and there was nothing grandfatherly about it. He wanted to fuck you, and I very much wanted to kill him for it.”
“Relax, killer,” I tease, resting my hand on his chest and then laughing at the raised brow he gives me. “He didn’t hit on me or touch me, and I doubt I’ll ever see him again since apparently I’ve just quit my job.”
“I would have killed him if he had,” he says and then gives me a wink. “And you did just quit your job, kisa .” His arms wrap around me, pulling me in against his firm body. “You’re all mine now, baby. Maybe we should just go and pack up your things so you can move in tonight.”
“That’s probably not the best way to break it to my mom.” Just thinking about the future conversation we’re going to be forced to have is enough to make me groan. “I’m going to have to ease her into this. ”
“ We’ll ease her into it,” he corrects. “You’re not alone in this, Lara. You have me now.”
I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest, hugging him tightly as he kisses the top of my head. His strong arms surround me, and I know he’s right. I do have him now, and I won’t ever have to go through anything alone ever again. He’ll always be here for me, helping me and supporting me in all the ways that I need him to. It’s such a relief that I swear I can feel an actual weight leave my damn shoulders.
“Thank you, Luka,” I whisper against his chest, so goddamn grateful that we found each other.
“You don’t need to thank me, kisa . Taking care of you isn’t an option. It’s not even a want, although I do want to do it, but it’s really more of a need.” He thinks for a second while his fingers run through my hair. “It’s hard to explain because I’ve never felt anything like it, but I have to take care of you. Nothing else is even an option. I don’t think I could back off even if you asked me to,” he admits with a soft laugh. “I’m going to be overbearing, sweetheart. I hope you can handle it.”
“I’m sure I’ll manage somehow,” I say, giving a dramatic sigh.
“Good. By the way, I’m going to be assigning you a bodyguard soon.”
I pull back and look up at him. “You aren’t.” I search his face for any sign that he’s joking, but those green eyes are giving nothing away. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
He smiles and bops the tip of my nose with his finger. “Overbearing, sweetheart, I did warn you.”
“I don’t need a bodyguard. No one even knows who I am.”
“They will, though, and I’m not taking any chances. I’m sorry, kisa , but this is nonnegotiable. You will be protected at all times. It’s the only way I’ll be able to leave you alone and do my job. You’ll never know he’s watching. Arkady is a good man. He’ll make sure you’re safe when I’m not around to watch over you myself.”
“Arkady is going to be bored out of his mind,” I say, making him laugh .
He cups my face and kisses me. “Good. I want him bored. Bored is a good thing. I hope Arkady’s future working hours are dull and completely lacking excitement.”
“Poor Arkady,” I murmur, already feeling sorry for the guy.
“He’ll live, and he’ll be making a small fortune while he does it.”
“Not such a bad gig,” I admit, because it’s not like I’m hoping he’ll have an exciting time of watching me. I’m more than happy to live a quiet life where people aren’t trying to hurt me to get to Luka. “My mom will be thrilled to know I’m about to have my own personal bodyguard. She may not love the irony of a Melnikov man providing it, though.”
“She’ll learn to love us.”
I appreciate the confidence in his tone, but I’m still not convinced we’ll be able to get my mom to understand how wrong her thinking has been over the years. Turning my head, I kiss the palm of his hand, wishing like hell we could just go back to his apartment, but instead of suggesting that, I say, “We should leave. I need to go home.”
“Not home, kisa . Your home is with me. You’re going to your mom’s apartment for the night, and then you’re going to meet my family tomorrow. After that, I’m going with you to meet your mom, and then I’m taking you and Pip home.”
When he sees the surprise on my face, he smiles and runs his thumb along my cheek. “Did you really think I’d make you leave him behind? We adopted him together, kisa , remember? Besides, I already have everything set up for him. I even put a litter box in the laundry room.”
A stab of guilt hits me at leaving my mom and taking the cat she’s quickly fallen in love with. “Maybe I should leave Pip. Is it mean to take him? She’s gotten really attached to him.”
“Do you want to keep Pip?” He leans down a bit so he can see me better. “Forget about feeling guilty and really think about it. Do you want him?”
I think about the adorable, tiny ball of fur, and all the memories from the night I’d found him, and my answer is an immediate yes. He belongs with us. He’s our little kitten, and I love that we adopted him together. I don’t even need to voice my answer because Luka sees it written all over my face. He smiles and kisses my forehead.
“Then we’re keeping him, baby. We’ll adopt another cat for your mom. There are lots of animals who need a good home and someone to love them, but Pip is ours.”
I like the idea of adopting another kitten for my mom, so when I smile up at him and nod my head, he smiles even bigger and gives me another kiss.
“Perfect. After we talk with her tomorrow, we can bring her to one of the animal shelters and she can pick out as many kittens as she wants.”
Wrapping his hand around mine, he smiles and leads me down the hall and to the back exit. The same guard is on duty, and he steps aside and nods to Luka as we leave the building. On the ride back, I cling to him even tighter than usual, and he keeps a hand on some part of me every chance he gets. We both know our time together is almost at an end, and we’re both resisting it.
Pulling to a stop near the elevator in the parking garage, we both pull our helmets off, but as soon as we’re standing, my arms are wrapping tightly around him again. I don’t want to leave him. I want to park my ass right back on his bike and have him drive me home, because my home is with him now, and walking up to my mom’s apartment doesn’t feel right any longer.
“I won’t do this again,” he says, wrapping his arms around me in a big hug while speaking the exact thoughts I’m having. “This is the last time I’m dropping you off and leaving you behind. I can’t do it again, kisa .”
“Good,” I whisper against his chest, “because I don’t want you to.”
He pulls back and cups my face, his green eyes searching mine. “Then come home with me tonight. We can go talk to her now if you want, and then you can come back with me.”
I so badly want to say yes, but the thought of springing all this on my mom tonight is more than I can take. Waiting until tomorrow gives me a chance to convince her to take the damn foil off the windows. Even though I’ve told Luka how she can get, hearing it and seeing it are two very different things. Plus, this will give me a chance to go through my things. I can sort everything into a donation pile and an I can’t live without this pile. I don’t want to just rush through things tomorrow. I don’t want to drop this on my mom and then pack a quick bag.
“I need this time,” I tell Luka. “I want to get everything ready, but I promise this will be the last night we’ll be apart.”
He doesn’t look thrilled, but he kisses my forehead and gives me a smile. “Okay, baby, one more night.”
Grabbing my hand, he takes the elevator with me, determined to see me safely to my door. We stop at our usual spot that keeps us hidden from view, and when he presses my body against the wall and kisses me like he’s starving for the taste of me, I begin to seriously rethink my decision to stay here for the night.
“I’m going to miss you,” he murmurs in between kisses. “I’m going to miss fucking you and tasting you and falling asleep with your naked body pressed against mine.”
“Me too,” I whisper, running my hand under his shirt and along his back. I ignore the gun that’s tucked into the waistband of his jeans and lightly drag my nails up his spine as he lets out a shaky breath against my lips.
“Keep touching me like that, sweetheart, and I’m going to fuck you one last time before I walk away.”
The smart thing would be to back off, to put some distance between us and get my ass inside, but that part of my brain is no longer running the show, and when I hike one leg up, wrapping it around his thigh while my fingers continue to dance along his skin, he groans and immediately slides a hand between us. The sound of his zipper being pulled down sends my heart racing and a moment of panic spreads through me. I turn my head, looking down the empty hallway while Luka gives a soft laugh.
“Too late to change your mind now, kisa .” He roughly pulls my panties aside and lifts me up. With the thick head of his cock pressing against my slit, he watches me with a wicked grin on his face as he starts to slide in. “Better bite that tongue, sweetheart, unless you want an audience.”
I clamp my mouth shut, keeping my eyes on his as he slowly works his hips, giving my sore body a chance to prepare for what’s coming. There’s no preparing for it, though. Luka is huge, and when he spreads me wider than my pussy can comfortably go, I bite back the whimper and dig my fingers into his broad shoulders.
“That’s my good girl,” he whispers against my lips. “Open up for me, kisa . I own this pussy, and I want to feel it wrapped around me right fucking now, baby.”
“Fuck,” I whimper when he rocks his hips and buries himself as deeply inside me as he can get. His hands grip my ass, fingers digging into my soft flesh as he pins me to the wall and fucks me in a fast, brutal rhythm that makes it impossible for me to do anything except take what he’s giving me. He fucks me like he owns every inch of my body, and I’m more than happy to give it to him. As hard as his thrusts are, there’s a gentleness to it, a knowing that he’ll never push me past what I can take. He may test my boundaries and nudge me over them a bit so I can see the ecstasy waiting on the other side, but he’ll never push me beyond what I’ll like or want. I’m safe with him, and knowing that makes it easy to give up all control.
He kisses me just as deeply as he’s fucking me, and when I start to come, he groans against my lips, feeling my inner walls tighten around his shaft. I pull him over the edge with me, and the feel of his cock pulsing inside me just intensifies my own orgasm. By the time I start to come down, I’m breathless and shaky.
“Jesus,” he whispers against my lips, giving a soft laugh. “Goddamn, baby.”
I smile as my whole body goes limp, completely spent and useless. Knowing I’d probably just slump to the floor, he holds me tighter, keeping me wrapped around him for a few more minutes.
“I’m really glad Mrs. Waterford didn’t come out. She’s in her seventies and probably would’ve had a heart attack at seeing your amazing ass in the hallway.”
Luka laughs and gently sets me down when he’s sure my legs are steady enough to hold me. He gives me a wink and tucks himself back in his jeans while I fix my panties and smooth out my hair, trying to not look like I just got fucked good and hard in the hallway.
“I did warn you,” he says, cupping my face and giving me another kiss. “Now that I know how amazing it feels to be inside you, kisa , I’m going to slide back in every chance I get.”
“I’m not complaining.”
He smiles even bigger when he sees the lazy, happy grin I’m giving him. My body is sated in a way that I hadn’t thought possible until I met him, and I will never complain about anything that involves him being inside me. I will never complain about anything that involves him, period.
Giving me another kiss, he threads his fingers in my hair, just as reluctant to leave me as I am to leave him.
“I’m going to miss you, kisa ,” he whispers, pressing his forehead against mine. “I’ll be here to pick you up at four.”
“Okay.” I stand on my toes and give him another kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.”
With a sigh, he kisses me once more and then lets me go, watching me until I disappear inside the apartment. I almost run back out and tell him I’ve changed my mind, but then I hear my mom calling for me from the living room.
“Yeah, it’s me, Mom,” I holler out to her, not at all in the mood to answer the questions she’s about to ask, but I walk out anyway and plop down on the couch next to her, spending the next several minutes convincing her that no one followed me and that I was careful to make sure I took a different route home. I pet Pip while I endure the interrogation, and when she’s satisfied that everything is okay, I snuggle him against my chest and tell her I’m exhausted and going to bed.
I miss Luka like crazy, but I force myself to try and sleep, and by some miracle I actually do, probably because he’s exhausted my body so thoroughly over the last twenty-four hours. When I finally do wake, the sun is high enough to let me know it’s closer to lunch than breakfast, and with a groan, I force myself out of bed and into the shower. The rest of the day is spent going through my room and convincing my mom that it’s safe to remove the foil from the windows. I can tell she doesn’t want to, but when I don’t give up, she agrees to take it all down but warns that it’s going to go right back up if she sees any signs of us being watched.
“Deal,” I tell her, hoping that she won’t convince herself she sees anyone until after Luka and I leave later on tonight.
Pip hops around and then sprawls out in the sun that’s now streaming in through the window, making us both laugh at how damn cute he is.
“See?” I tell her. “He really likes it, and the sun is good for him. It’s good for you too,” I add, knowing the dreary living conditions can’t be doing her mental health any favors.
“Yeah, I guess so,” she admits, squatting down so she can pet him.
“I need to go do some things tonight, but I’ll be back later, okay?”
She looks up at me while petting Pip. “You’ve been going out a lot lately.”
I shrug and smile down at her. “I’ve been working more and trying to make some friends.” I hesitate before saying, “I’m trying to have a normal life, Mom.”
The hurt look that flashes across her face has me regretting my words.
“I’m sorry I’ve made things harder for you, Lara. I just want to keep you safe. You can’t be like everyone else,” she reminds me. “Your life is always going to be in danger because of the Melnikovs.”
I have to bite back the words that want to come pouring out of my mouth. I want to scream at her and confront her about the club and Lou and what he told me about my wonderful father, who apparently was some scumbag asshole who beat her on the regular, but now isn’t the time for all that, so I just sigh and say, “I won’t be too late. We can talk more about everything then. ”
An hour later when Luka texts me that he’s here, I’m more than ready to leave. I give Pip a kiss on his cute head and hug my mom goodbye before getting my ass out of there as quickly as I can. As soon as the elevator doors open, Luka is cupping my face and pressing his lips to mine, kissing me like he hasn’t seen me in weeks. I’ve missed him just as badly, and when I run my tongue along his, he groans and lifts me up so I can wrap my legs around him. Even though it’s hot, I’m wearing jeans and a light, long-sleeved tee that he quickly snakes a hand under, splaying it out against my lower back.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he says as soon as our lips part. “I couldn’t fucking sleep without you. You’ve completely ruined me, kisa . I need you in my bed every damn night from here on out.”
I smile and run my hands through his dark hair. “Sounds good to me.”
He laughs and gives my ass a light smack. “Perfect. Let’s go meet my family and then we’re getting you packed up.” He smiles down at me. “I even drove my car so we’d have room for all your stuff.”
Nodding, I run my eyes over the dark, long-sleeved tee he’s wearing and then quirk a brow at him. He cups my cheek and kisses my forehead. “I didn’t want you to feel self-conscious about being the only one dressed like this.”
It’s so damn sweet that I’m at a loss for words. I just run my hands up his arms and try like hell to not get too emotional about the fact that he’s chosen to cover up, even though we’ll be outside in the blazing heat at his family’s cookout. It’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.
“That’s really sweet, Luka,” I finally whisper, my voice shaky and raw with emotion.
His thumb grazes the skin of my cheek. “I would do anything for you, kisa . Wearing a long-sleeved shirt is the very least of it. Solidarity, baby. I’ll always have your back.”
I smile up at him as he leads me to the passenger side and helps me get in. Being with Luka makes me feel like I constantly need to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming .
“You seem too good to be true,” I tell him when he gets in and starts the car.
He looks over at me with the sweetest damn smile on his face. “You’re the one who’s too good to be true, kisa, and you deserve far better than a man like me. I’ll do everything I can to always make sure you never regret choosing me.”
“I could never regret anything when it comes to you,” I tell him.
He gives me a wink and kisses the back of my hand before starting the car and driving out. I’m nervous as hell about meeting his family, and the closer we get, the more I start to fidget. He finally gives a soft laugh and squeezes my thigh.
“They’re going to love you, baby,” he tells me.
“Maybe, but what if they don’t?”
“They will.”
I try to be as confident as he is, but when he pulls up to the biggest damn house I’ve ever seen, I’m back to fidgeting and worrying. There’s a large, iron fence surrounding the property and actual fucking armed guards patrolling the front.
“What the hell?” I ask, making Luka laugh again.
“This is Dominic’s house. We’re all kind of paranoid when it comes to those we love. He’s always had a lot of security, but after he married Natalya and their daughter was born, he added even more.”
The closest guard recognizes Luka and nods to one of the other men while saying something in Italian. Soon the gate is opening and we’re driving through.
“Jesus,” I whisper, looking up at the mansion, all too aware of the tiny apartment I was raised in. My lack of money has never felt so obvious to me, and I hate how it makes me feel.
“Don’t look like that,” Luka tells me after he’s parked in between a black Porsche and a red Aston Martin.
“Jesus,” I whisper again, stunned by the wealth that surrounds me.
“Look at me, kisa .”
When I’m still gawking at the long line of luxury cars, he gently hooks a finger under my chin and tilts my face back to his.
“It’s just money, baby. My dad and uncles grew up poor, and they swore they’d never live like that again. Remember I told you my cousin Nikita is great with computers and that he can hack into anything?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, his dad is my Uncle Danil, and he’s been stealing money for the family since he and my dad were teenagers.” Luka looks up at Dominic’s large house and lets out a soft laugh. “I’m pretty sure Dominic has just always been wealthy. I know it can be intimidating, but they’re not a bunch of stuck-up, country-club assholes. They know why they have money and how they got it. No one is putting on airs here.”
His thumb runs along my cheek.
“And, sweetheart, don’t forget you’re rich now, too.” He gives me a sexy wink that sends a flutter through my chest. “What’s mine is yours, baby.”
I know he’s being serious, but I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that his money is now my money. Maybe I’ll feel differently once we’re married, but for now, I’m still just me—the waitress who very recently had a bank account balance that always seemed to hover around five hundred dollars.
Even though I’m still terrified, I follow Luka when he opens my door and takes my hand in his, leading me around to the back of the house where we can hear a loud yell and then water splashing.
“I can’t believe you pushed me in!” A woman’s voice yells, but there’s no anger in it. She’s too busy laughing to be pissed, and as soon as we come around the corner, I see a young woman stepping out of the pool, her shorts and T-shirt soaked.
“What?” A guy who looks to be about our age laughs and holds up his hands. “I didn’t push. It was an accidental bump.”
The woman laughs and points at another man who’s standing further away. He’s in all black from the boots he’s wearing to the T-shirt that’s stretched tight across a very muscular chest. It blends with the dark tattoos on his arms and neck. He’s not laughing and joining in on the fun, but he is staring at the drenched woman with an intensity that has me curious about their relationship.
“Where the fuck were you on that one, bodyguard?” she asks, unknowingly appeasing my curiosity about their relationship.
He doesn’t answer, just crosses his arms over his chest and scratches at the dark stubble on his jaw. She mutters something in Russian and then finally notices Luka and me standing off to the side. A huge smile spreads across her face, and I’m stunned that anyone can look so damn beautiful right after being pushed into a pool.
“You must be Lara,” she says, reaching out to shake my hand. “I’d give you a hug, but my asshole brother just shoved me in the pool like an animal.”
“Hey,” her brother says, giving me a smile. “She needed to cool off.” He turns his eyes to Luka. “You know how she gets.”
Luka laughs and shakes his head. “I’m not getting involved in this one.” Keeping his arm wrapped around me, he says, “Lara these are two of my cousins, Val and Sveta. Their dad is my Uncle Vitaly.”
“Oh,” I say, immediately seeing the family resemblance and realizing they must be twins. “I briefly met your dad at the club.”
Before they can say anything, it’s like the floodgates open and a large group of people come pouring out of the French doors behind us. I step in closer to Luka, who immediately tightens his grip on me. I scan the crowd, and as my eyes dart from one muscled, tattooed guy to the next, I seriously consider just making a run for it.
I swear Luka can read my mind because he kisses the top of my head and whispers, “Easy, baby, don’t run away just yet.”
A man stops in front of me, and when I see a familiar set of green eyes staring down at me, I know it must be Luka’s dad. I don’t know what gene jackpot all these people hit, but I’ve never felt so out of place in my life, especially when I look over and see a group of women walking closer—each of them stunning in their own way. One of the women walks over with a huge smile on her face, and when Luka’s dad immediately pulls her against him in the same possessive grip his son currently has me in, she laughs and breaks free just long enough to give me a hug.
“We’re so happy to meet you, Lara. I’m Emily, and this is Roman. We’re Luka’s parents.” She scans the area and points out a teenaged boy who’s walking out of the house with a bag of chips. “And that’s our younger son Damien.”
“Hey, Lara,” he hollers out to me before popping a chip in his mouth.
I smile and give a wave before turning back to his parents. “It’s nice to meet you. Thanks for inviting me today.”
“Of course,” Roman says, and even though I know he helps run one of the most dangerous Bratva’s in the country, he doesn’t make me feel scared. “I can tell by the way my son is looking at you that you’ll have our last name soon enough.”
“Roman,” Emily says, laughing and then shooting me a quick look to see if I’m freaking out about what he’s said. She relaxes when she sees I’m not running for the hills.
Luka just laughs and cups my face before kissing my forehead. I swear his mom gets teary-eyed at the sight of it.
“Don’t scare her away, Roman.”
I turn and smile at the sound of Vitaly’s voice. He’s grinning at us and has a drink in one hand and his other arm is wrapped around a beautiful woman with honey-blonde hair. They look so much like their kids that it’s impossible to not peg them as Val and Svetlana’s parents.
Vitaly points his glass at us and smiles even bigger. “I knew I picked up on a vibe that night.” He looks down at his wife. “What did I tell you, ptichka ? I’m never wrong about sexual vibes.”
“Jesus,” Roman groans, looking over at his brother. “Can we at least pretend to be normal for her first family supper?”
“Yeah, let’s save the crazy for until after they’re married and she’s stuck with us.”
I look over at the man who’s just spoken, taking in the pierced brow and lip, and when he gives me a big smile, I gladly return it. He may look fierce, but I can see the love in his light blue eyes when he looks at Luka.
“I’m Lev,” he tells me. “One of Luka’s uncles.” He points to a dark-haired woman walking out of the house with a plate of food. When she sees us, she smiles and gives me a wave. “That’s my beautiful wife Jolene, and I think you met Natalya, our oldest, last night. Sasha and Mia are around here somewhere,” he says with a laugh. “You’ll know ‘em when you see ‘em.”
“Just look for the girl with all the piercings,” Vitaly says with a laugh.
Lev groans and gives me another smile before walking over to his wife and immediately wrapping an arm around her.
“I really like your family,” I tell Luka, leaning closer so only he can hear me.
He smiles and kisses my cheek before whispering, “You’ve still got a lot of people to meet, kisa . We’ve barely scratched the surface.”
I laugh and lean into him as he guides me over to another big group of people. As nervous as I still am, I really do like his family. They’re nice and laid-back, and I love seeing who Luka was raised around. I’m glad he’s been surrounded by such a loving family, and it makes me happier than I ever thought possible to know our kids will grow up the same way.
Even though I’m thrilled, it doesn’t stop me from keeping a tight grip on his hand as I start meeting the newest group, scared to death he’s going to walk away and leave me surrounded by strangers.