25. Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“You no longer work for me.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then stop acting as though you’re responsible for her.”
“I’m not staying because I’m responsible for her.”
Luca’s gaze meets mine.
“I’m staying because she asked me to come.”
The distinction reaches deep inside me.
Dad says nothing.
Neither does Bran.
I open the study door and walk out.
Luca follows.
I don’t realize how violently I’m shaking until I reach my bedroom.
The door strikes the wall when I push it open.
I close it behind us and turn the lock.
My chest rises too quickly.
My hands refuse to remain still.
Dad has controlled pieces of my life for years.
Where I went.
Who protected me.
Which scandals needed managing.
I fought him, but usually only until the conflict became inconvenient.
Tonight, he attempted to give away my future in front of a ballroom full of witnesses.
And I finally said no without leaving room for him to reinterpret it.
A knock sounds before I remember Luca is already inside.
He stands near the closed door, watching me.
The intensity of his gaze makes the enormous room feel small.
My childhood bedroom has changed over the years, but pieces of the girl I used to be remain everywhere.
The first guitar Mom gave me rests on its stand beside the desk.
Old photographs fill one shelf.
A faded concert poster hangs inside the closet door.
Luca looks around as though he has entered a private museum devoted to the woman I was before he allowed himself to want me.
“Where are they?” I ask.
“Bran returned to Cassie.”
“And Dad?”
“Speaking with Adrien and the Belcourts.”
“He sent you to calm me down.”
“No.”
I narrow my eyes.
“He told me to speak with you.”
“That sounds suspiciously like an order.”
“I stopped taking his orders this morning.”
The reminder settles me.
“You really resigned.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to.”
Luca removes his hands from his pockets.
“I needed to speak with my mother. Then Francis. I needed to make sure I was leaving for the right reasons.”
“And were you?”
“Yes.”
He takes one step closer.
“I didn’t resign only because I love you.”
“I know.”
“I resigned because I don’t want to inherit the rest of my life.”
Another step.
“I want to choose it.”
His gaze holds mine.
“And I choose you.”
My eyes sting.
“That’s my line.”
“You used it well.”
I laugh once, but it turns into something close to a sob.
Luca reaches me in three strides.
His hand cups my cheek.
The calluses on his palm feel more familiar than anything in this house.
His thumb moves gently beneath my eye.
“You shouldn’t have had to do that.”
“Do what?”
“Defend us alone.”
“You were there.”
“I should have spoken sooner.”
“I didn’t need you to speak for me.”
“I know.”
His other hand settles at my waist.
“But I will always stand beside you.”
I lean into his touch.
The anger inside me begins transforming into something hotter.
Something that has been waiting since he crossed the ballroom.
“I missed you.”
Luca’s eyes move slowly over my face.
“So badly.”
“Three days felt excessive.”
“I know.”
“You communicate terribly.”
“I know that too.”
“You could have called.”
“I should have.”
I curl both hands into the front of his shirt.
“But you came.”
“You asked me to.”
“And if I hadn’t?”
“I would have come anyway.”
The answer comes without hesitation.
My heart turns over.
“Did you miss me?” I ask.
Luca looks at me as though I’ve asked whether he needs air.
“I could barely breathe without you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The words no longer sound impossible coming from him.
They sound like mine.
I pull him down and kiss him.
Luca catches my waist.
The first contact is almost gentle.
Then three days of distance collapse.
His mouth opens over mine.
His tongue meets mine with a desperation that sends heat racing across my skin.
I grip his shirt and pull him closer.
His hands travel over my back, waist, and hips as though confirming I’m real.
The kiss becomes rougher.
Hungrier.
I taste champagne on his tongue.
I pull back slightly.
“How much have you had?”
His breathing is heavy.
“One tequila shot and half a glass of champagne. Hours ago.”
“I had less than one glass of wine.”
His forehead rests against mine.
“You’re sober?”
“Painfully.”
“And you want this?”
“I want you.”
I kiss him again.
“Now.”
Luca’s control snaps.
He lifts me.
My legs wrap around his hips.
His hands grip my ass while he carries me toward the bed, our mouths never separating.
He lowers me onto the mattress and follows.
The sapphire gown bunches around my thighs.
Luca kisses my jaw and throat, moving toward the sensitive place beneath my ear.
I fumble with his belt.
“I need you.”
“You have me.”
“Not enough.”
The buckle finally opens.
I push his trousers and boxer briefs down far enough to free him.
His cock is already hard.
I close my hand around him.
Luca groans against my neck.
“Fuck.”
His fingers gather my dress and push it toward my waist.
The slit makes it easy.
He finds my underwear.
The delicate fabric tears when he pulls it aside too roughly.
I stare at him.
“You owe me new lingerie.”
“I’ll buy the entire store.”
“Good answer.”
His fingers slide through the wetness between my thighs.
Luca’s eyes darken.
“So wet.”
“I told you I missed you.”
He circles my clit once.
My hips lift.
“Same rules?” he asks.
“Same pill. Same tests.”
I catch his face between my hands.
“Same yes.”
He positions himself against me.
Then he pauses.
“Tell me.”
“I want you to fuck me.”
The words barely leave before he drives inside.
The first stroke fills me completely.
A strangled cry escapes my throat.
Pleasure and the sharp ache of being stretched collide, sending sparks through my entire body.
Luca stills.
“All right?”
“Yes.”
I lift my hips against him.
“Move.”
His hand closes around the headboard.
The muscles in his arm flex as he withdraws and thrusts again.
Harder.
The bed shifts beneath us.
I grip his shoulders.
He fills me over and over, every stroke driving the lingering anger from my body and replacing it with heat.
“I missed this,” he groans.
His mouth moves over mine.
“Missed you.”
One hand wraps lightly around my throat.
He watches my face.
“Okay?”
“Yes.”
His fingers tighten with the pressure I like.
“Fucking missed this pussy.”
The possessive words tear a moan from me.
Luca catches my legs and pushes my knees toward my chest.
The new angle drives him deeper.
My head falls back.
“Oh, God.”
Sweat gathers along his forehead, darkening the strands of hair brushing his skin.
His green eyes never leave mine.
He thrusts slowly once.
Then again.
Making me feel every inch.
“You stood downstairs and told them you chose me.”
“I did.”
His hips drive forward.
Pleasure bursts through me.
“Say it again.”
“I choose you.”
Another hard thrust.
“Again.”
“You.”
I can barely form the word.
“I choose you, Luca.”
His thumb finds my clit.
He rubs tight, rapid circles while his cock moves relentlessly inside me.
My orgasm builds too quickly.
“Luca.”
“That’s it.”
His voice is rough.
“Come for me.”
The pleasure breaks.
My body arches from the mattress.
I slap one hand over my mouth to contain the cry, but Luca pulls it away and kisses me.
The sound disappears between our lips.
My muscles contract around him.
He fucks me through every pulse.
I cling to him as the room spins.
Before I recover, Luca wraps my legs around his waist and lowers himself over me.
His mouth finds my neck.
His thrusts become harder.
Less controlled.
He pins my wrists above my head with one hand.
The position leaves me completely open beneath him.
Completely his.
Not because anyone gave me to him.
Because I chose to be.
“I love you,” Luca says against my throat.
The words vibrate through my skin.
“I love you.”
His rhythm falters.
I tighten my legs around him and clench deliberately.
A ragged groan leaves him.
“Come inside me.”
His forehead presses to mine.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
I kiss him.
“I want all of you.”
Luca drives deep.
Once.
Twice.
On the third thrust, his entire body locks.
Heat spills inside me as he comes with my name broken against his lips.
The sensation pushes me over the edge again.
My second orgasm tears through me while Luca holds my wrists and kisses me as though he can’t survive the distance between our mouths.
For several seconds, neither of us moves.
Our bodies remain joined.
Our clothes are wrinkled and damp with sweat.
His suit hangs open.
My gown is twisted around my waist.
I have never felt more beautiful.
Luca releases my wrists and brushes his thumbs over the faint red marks.
“Did I hurt you?”
“No.”
I curl my fingers around his.
“I liked it.”
His gaze grows darker.
“You shouldn’t tell me that while I’m still inside you.”
“Why?”
His hips shift slightly.
Pleasure sparks again.
“Because I’m already thinking about doing it again.”
I smile.
“I don’t see the problem.”
Luca lowers himself carefully and wraps both arms around me.
His cock softens inside me while he kisses my neck.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”
I turn my face toward his.
“Good.”
My lips brush his.
“Because I’m not letting you go.”