Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Luca
S he was una nottambula , a night owl.
I should’ve known this about Valentina, considering her profession. Most everyone in the restaurant business kept odd hours. But I wasn’t prepared for how much energy this girl had at one o’clock in the morning. I didn’t dare suggest going to a club for the fear that she would agree.
Though I was exhausted, I didn’t complain. Yes, I was jaded, a hardened criminal, but how could I not indulge her? It was clear she hadn’t stayed in a hotel this luxurious before, nor had she ever ordered room service. Her delight at the ability to summon a grilled chicken sandwich, french fries, and a hot fudge sundae in the middle of the night had been adorable.
Now I was wearing a hotel robe, eating greasy food and watching a mindless reality show on the television—all because she wanted me to.
She licked her spoon, then pointed it at me. “Admit it, you like this show. ”
“It’s terrible.” A bunch of young and dumb people were on an island together, and the only point I could see was that they were trying to fuck each other. “They need to go on a tv show to get laid? Dai, Valentina.”
Her foot pushed against my leg. “It’s not about getting laid. They’re looking for love .”
I rolled my eyes and withheld my opinions.
“Would you go on one of these shows?” Her eyebrows rose dramatically. “What if it was Mafia Island, where they put a bunch of mob bosses together? You could compete in challenges like racketeering and blackmailing. Or who has the prettiest mistress.”
I shook my head. “Your imagination, it is incredible.”
Her attention returned to her sundae, but her brow wrinkled as her mood seemed to darken. What was she thinking about? “What is it?” I asked gently.
“Do you hurt people, Luca?”
“Yes.” There was no use lying about it, and she deserved as much truth as I could give her.
“Do you feel bad about it when you do?”
“We all make choices, Valentina. I’ve learned to live with mine. There is no other life for me than this one.”
“But . . . the people you hurt, they deserve it, right?”
I knew what she was doing, but I could not have her romanticizing me or my life. “I do what needs to be done to get what I want. Always.”
She peeked over at me. “That’s harsh.”
“The world is harsh, no?”
“Aren’t you worried you’ll be killed? Or one of your sons?”
“If that is meant to be, then I can’t stop it. I have prepared my sons, raised them to be strong men. But no one escapes this world without pain and sorrow.” I’d lost family members, friends, and Valentina lost her mother to a terrible disease. Yet we kept going. Life was not for the weak .
The metal spoon scraped on the ice cream dish as she finished her dessert. She peeked over at me. “My father is in the mafia.”
I hid my surprise. It was a fact I already knew, but I was shocked she was confiding in me. “Here in New York?”
“No, in Italy.”
“Oh? I don’t recall any Montellas.”
“He has a different last name. Segreto.” She studied me. “Flavio Segreto. Do you know him?”
While I hadn’t encountered Segreto personally, I certainly knew of him long before Rossi forced me into this mess. I kept my voice even as I answered, “I have never met him, but there are many of us spread out over Europe. It’s not as if there is a Mafia Island where we drink and party together.”
She gave me an adorable half smile that twisted something in my chest. “Maybe not, but you kind of wish there was, don’t you?”
I took the ice cream bowl from her and put it on the tray resting on the bed. Then I leaned over her, my body half covering hers. Bending, I nibbled at her lush lips. “If there was, I know who would win the prettiest mistress competition.”
Her arms twined around my neck. “I’m not your mistress, Luca.”
I kissed her throat, making sure to cover every millimeter of her soft skin. Then I bit her earlobe. “Are you sure?”
“Y-yes,” she said, her voice wavering.
“You might want to rethink your answer. There are perks to being a mistress, fiore mio.”
“Sex is not a perk.”
We would need to disagree on that. I spread open her robe and ran my hand along her side, over her ribs, and up to her breast. I cupped her and massaged the plump mound. Blood pulsed in my groin, then along the length of my shaft, getting me harder with each heartbeat. I didn’t know what it was about this girl, but she made me feel like a fucking teenager, desperate and horny.
I dipped my head and tongued her nipple. The little whimper she gave made me even harder, and my skin began burning as I heated up. The damn robe had to go.
Rising up on my knees, I shrugged out of the heavy piece and tossed it to the ground, leaving me naked. Valentina dragged her hands over my chest, exploring. “Hmmm. You are so sexy. You know, for an old guy.” The teasing smirk she wore instantly made me think evil thoughts about her mouth.
“Old, is it?” I straddled her body and dragged my dick through the valley of her breasts. “Push them together,” I ordered. “Smother my cock with your tits.”
Using both hands, she pressed the mounds in to surround my dick, and I rocked my hips gently, shoving my cock between her breasts. Cazzo, that was fucking hot.
“Open,” I said, shuffling my knees forward. I aimed the head of my cock at her lips. “Get me wet.”
She opened her mouth and I rubbed my crown over her slippery tongue. “More.” I don’t know which one of us said it, but I slid in deeper, feeding her my length, until she was sucking me down eagerly. The sight of her pretty lips wrapped around me, not to mention the tight suction . . . madre di dio. It was perfect.
I kept going until she gagged. Saliva pooled over my shaft and my balls squeezed. I eased back slightly. “That is what I want. Nice and wet, piccolina. Again.”
We repeated this a few times until I was coated in spit. When I pulled out and moved away, she whimpered and clawed at my thigh. “No, Luca. Come back.”
It was tempting. I liked a girl who was eager to suck on my dick. “In a minute. I’m going to fuck your tits first.” I put my drenched cock between her breasts. “Squeeze me.”
Biting her lip suggestively, she pushed the mounds together, and warm, soft flesh encased my cock. Fuck, that was nice. I started moving, dragging my length through the slick channel. It didn’t feel as good as fucking a woman’s pussy, but there was something about the visual of this woman’s tits swallowing me up that got me off. “Pinch your nipples,” I ordered as I moved my hips. “Make yourself feel good.”
She did as I asked and her eyelids fluttered, a moan rumbling in her throat. I answered with a groan of my own. This girl was so beautiful, so responsive. I was crazed, feverish to have her again. I braced my hands on the headboard and rocked, the underside of my shaft rubbing her sternum, my foreskin and her spit allowing me to slide easily.
Then she lifted her head and stuck out her tongue, giving my crown a swipe every time I moved forward. My gut cramped as pleasure arced through me. Merda! How did she know exactly how to drive me fucking out of my mind?
I moved faster, a man possessed. “Are you eager to taste my come, bella? Keep licking me. Show me how much you want it in your mouth.”
Her eyes flicked to mine. “Please, Luca.”
I couldn’t wait. The orgasm was building, undeniably close. Rising up, I angled toward her lips. “Circle the root in your fist. I want to fuck your mouth.”
She wrapped her fingers around my base and I slid my shaft into her hot wet mouth. I didn’t hold back, thrusting into her face, my balls slapping her fist. Her hand kept me from hurting her at this angle. Next time I would show her how to take me all the way in, deep into her throat.
Her free hand cupped my ass, guiding me, and her fingernails dug into my skin. The sting arrowed through my balls and I rocked faster, fierce need coiling inside me. Then her fingers wandered into the crevice between my cheeks and the idea that she might play with my ass was like a shot of white-hot lightning to my groin. I was lost. Come shot out my dick, my hips stuttering as my muscles tightened. She sucked me, moaning as I poured into her mouth, and I nearly blacked out. This girl, madonna .
When I was drained, I withdrew and dropped onto the bed beside her. “Fuck, Valentina.”
“That was fun.” She cuddled up next to me. “Do you think I’d win the Whose Mistress Gives the Best Blow Job competition on Mafia Island?”
My mouth twitched at her choice of words. She was coming around to the idea, which pleased me very much. “Without a doubt, piccolina.”
“That’s good. Do you know which competition I’d like to see?”
“Which one?”
“Which mafia boss gives the best head.”
Without missing a beat, I rolled her over and settled between her legs. “If there is still any doubt, then I had better show you right now.”
Valentina
“Let’s go shopping.”
I finished applying a second coat of mascara and glanced over my shoulder. Luca stood there, already dressed in a dark suit and looking good enough to eat. I was tempted to climb him like a tree and never let go.
But the restaurant was reopening tomorrow. It was my responsibility to see that everything was ready. “I need to get home, Luca.”
“This afternoon. First, I am taking you shopping.”
“You don’t need to do that. And I really need to get to the restaurant as soon as possible.”
He came toward me, his eyes never leaving mine in the mirror as he approached. His big body sealed to my back, while the marble counter pressed into my hip bones. My mouth went dry. Even though we had sex again in the shower this morning, I still craved him. Would I ever get enough ?
His hand wrapped around my throat and he leaned down to kiss the soft spot behind my ear. “Who makes the rules, fiore mio?”
The words in his deep voice? Pure sin.
A full body shiver went through me. “You do, Luca,” I whispered.
“That is my girl. Now, finish getting ready so I can take you shopping and spoil the fuck out of you.”
“How long will it take?” I needed to let Roberto know when I would return.
He eased back and slapped my ass. “As long as I fucking say. Hurry up, woman.”
Biting my lip to keep from grinning, I reached for my phone. “I’ll text?—”
The phone suddenly disappeared from my fingers and Luca slipped it into the pocket of his suit coat. “I have already let Roberto know of your schedule. Andiamo, Valentina. You have five more minutes before I drag you out of here.” He walked out and shut the door.
Bossy mafia boss.
I finished getting ready, packed up my things, and stepped out of the palatial bathroom. When I did I found Luca on his phone, speaking in Italian. Though he sounded sexy, he also sounded annoyed and the little divot between his eyebrows was much deeper than usual. Still, it was hot.
When he hung up he started texting rapidly, his mouth turned into a frown. I zipped up my suitcase, asking, “Who are you mad at?”
I didn’t expect him to answer, so I was surprised when he said, “Gabriele. He is a pain in my ass.”
“He looks exactly like you.”
“I know.” Luca put his phone in his pocket and came closer. “He’s nothing like how I was at his age, though.”
“How so?”
He took my hand and we started for the door. “Let’s go. The boys will bring your things to the car.”
“Wait, my purse! ”
“You will not need it.”
“But—”
“Basta, Valentina.” Luca opened the door and tugged me through. We went to the elevator, which was being held open by Aldo.
“Good morning,” I said to Luca’s man.
Aldo gave me a polite nod. “Buongiorno, signorina.”
All three of us stepped into the elevator and it began descending. In the silence I peeked at Luca, who was frowning at the doors. Was he still mad at his son? “What were you like at Gabriele’s age?” I asked him, returning to our earlier conversation.
“Serious.”
“Like, you never went out and had fun?”
“No.”
I stared at his hard profile. He was angry, and maybe before last night I would’ve kept quiet. But honestly, who was this man fooling? I poked his ribs. “Come on. You’ve had two kids by two different women. I think you had a little bit of fun.”
Aldo made a sound like he was trying not to laugh, while Luca turned toward me. The side of his mouth lifted arrogantly as he slid his hand over my hip to cup my waist. “And last night I was doing my best to make it three.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Thank god for birth control. “Don’t forget this morning.”
He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss. “I will never forget this morning. It’s my new favorite way to shower.”
My face heated. Did he always talk like this in front of his men?
Luckily, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Luca took my hand and we strode through the hotel lobby and onto the street. A big SUV waited at the curb. Aldo opened the rear door and Luca helped me inside.
When Luca came around and got in next to me, I asked, “Why aren’t we taking your car?”
“This one is safer. It also has more room. ”
We pulled into traffic. I watched the people hurrying on the sidewalk, everyone moving with a sense of purpose. I used to think, before my mom got sick, that I would move here. I imagined having an important nine-to-five job where I made lots of money and lived in a fabulous apartment.
But when mom was diagnosed I learned what really mattered in life. Like family and roots. I started to appreciate feeding people and running the restaurant. Money was nice, but it wasn’t the end all, be all.
The car turned a corner and slowed. Luca finished texting on his phone and put it away. “We’re here.”
I looked past him and saw where we were going. The Hermès store. My eyes grew wide. This was one of the most famous brands on earth.
He opened the door and got out, then reached for me. I slid across and took his hand. Once on the ground I adjusted the dress Luca had packed for me. “Are we buying scarves?”
“Do you need scarves?”
“No.”
We walked toward the entrance. “Then, no. We aren’t buying scarves.”
“Ties?”
He sighed heavily and opened the door for me. “Get inside, bella.”
The second we walked in the air in the store shifted. It was like every sales person paused to size Luca up, then went on high alert. It was the same way some bartenders claimed they could sense a big tipper from a mile away.
Luca pointed to a young man hovering near the ties. “You.”
The young man dropped the ties and came over. He nodded at me first. “Hello, ma’am. Sir. How may I help you?”
“I called earlier to arrange to buy some purses.”
Was he crazy? Purses here were a bazillion dollars. “Oh, Luca. I don’t need?— ”
“The ones you don’t keep out on the floor,” he said to the salesman.
The man nodded his head. “Of course. You probably spoke to Ms. Dumas, the manager. Follow me.”
Luca put his hand on the small of my back and guided me forward. I lowered my voice and moved closer to him. “What are you doing? This is insane.”
He didn’t respond, and then I lost the chance to argue because we were shown into a back room where a woman waited behind a small counter. She was polished from head-to-toe, the kind of elegant lady who could contour like a pro and never, ever plunged toilets. “Mr. Benetti,” she greeted. “Miss. Welcome. I’m Ms. Dumas, the manager, and I’ll be happy to assist you this morning.”
“Thank you,” Luca said. “We appreciate it.”
We? I wasn’t on board with this outing.
Ms. Dumas slipped on a pair of white gloves before reaching into a locked cabinet. She pulled out the most exquisite beige leather handbag, the kind you heard whispered about on social media but never saw in person. Ms. Dumas set the tote on a cloth in front of me and I couldn’t look away. It was gorgeous. With a simple design, the bag was a decent-sized rectangle with small handles.
The other woman flicked the gold clasp on the front and the top flap opened. “Each Birkin bag is made from rare heritage leather and has unique character.” She continued on about the saddle stitching, but I zoned out, my brain trying to wrap itself around what was happening. Who carried a bag like this? I’d splurged on a one-hundred dollar purse once and the guilt drove me to return it the next day.
“Do you like it, Valentina?” Luca was asking me.
I licked my dry lips and saw Ms. Dumas watching me carefully. No doubt she was wondering what I was doing here, too.
Lady, I don’t have a clue.
I didn’t want to seem stupid, so I said, “It’s lovely. Really. But?—”
“We’ll take it,” Luca blurted. “What other colors do you have? ”
My jaw fell open. This handbag cost over twenty thousand dollars. “No, wait! That’s not necessary.”
Luca put a hand on my back, the alpha male signal for, I’m handling this. But I couldn’t let him buy me even one of these handbags, let alone other colors. It was outrageous.
Ms. Dumas carried on like I hadn’t said a word. “We don’t have any others in the store. In fact, I was actually saving this one for myself.”
“Oh, then I couldn’t possibly?—”
Luca squeezed my waist and I quieted. He said, “Which is why we are paying double for it. Show us smaller handbags, then. Clutches, everyday bags.”
With a nod, Ms. Dumas left and I clutched Luca’s arm. My voice was a desperate whisper. “What the fuck? Have you lost your mind? This is too much.”
He shifted toward me and cupped my face in one hand, the other resting on my waist. “I told you I was going to spoil you. What did you think that meant?”
I put my hands on his chest, his dress shirt smooth and soft beneath my fingers. “Honestly? A mochaccino and a chocolate croissant. Maybe some French toast if we were feeling especially wild.”
The scowl he usually wore disappeared and I could feel his big body relax. “You think a lot about food.”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
“Not around you. I’m too busy thinking of ways to defile your sexy body.”
A rush of lust tightened my nipples into painful points and I edged closer to him. “And when you do, I’ll need my strength. Which means I need food. See how that works?”
Luca’s chest shook as he chuckled. “I will buy you french toast, fiore mio, as soon as we finish with the handbags.”
Ms. Dumas returned and I jumped away from Luca guiltily, like we’d been caught planning a robbery and not discussing brunch. He didn’t let go of me, just continued to look amused. Over the next ten minutes he picked out a black clutch, a white coin purse, and a leather and canvas navy tote. I stopped protesting after a while. It did no good because he wasn’t listening.
Finally, he handed Ms. Dumas a credit card and she disappeared. I stared at the row of handbags, my mind spinning. While I loved math, I was scared to calculate the final bill. “This is too much.”
He lifted a shoulder in a casual, yet arrogant way. “I’m rich, Valentina. It’s something you need to accept, capisce?”
It wasn’t only that he was rich. Luca’s money was mafia money. It wasn’t exactly clean. And what did he expect in exchange for all this? I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and lowered my voice. “My mother spent her whole life refusing my father’s financial help. She said his money came with strings.”
Luca slipped his hands in his trouser pockets and cocked his head. “You’ve seen my ‘strings.’ Are you telling me you hated all the orgasms I gave you?”
“No,” I said quickly, glancing over my shoulder for Ms. Dumas. “But I don’t want there to be debts between us. You’re already doing too much for the restaurant.”
“There are no debts or expectations that accompany my gifts. When I first helped you we weren’t sleeping together, so you should believe me when I say I do it because I can. All you need to do is to say grazie once in a while.”
What else was there to say? I could protest, but I sounded ungrateful. If he wanted to drop a mint on handbags for me, then okay. “Grazie, Luca.”
Oh, he liked that a lot. His eyes darkened just like earlier when he pinned me against the shower wall before sliding his dick inside me. He dragged the backs of his knuckles along my collarbone. “See? This pleases me, piccolina.”
“Here you are, Mr. Benetti.”
Ms. Dumas placed a slip on the counter for Luca to sign. I closed my eyes. If I saw the total, I might throw up.
When Luca finished he told the manager to have the handbags boxed up and someone would come by to pick them up. Then he took my hand and strode into the main part of the store. “Now, we go for French toast,” he declared as he held open the front door for me.
“Good—and it’s my treat.”
He ushered me toward the SUV. “I will allow you to buy breakfast.” Then he put his mouth near my ear. “Because maybe then you will not complain when I take you to the jewelry store.”