14. Emilia
It seems strange, feeling sad after waking up to a brilliantly sunshiny morning, lying in what has to be the most comfortable bed imaginable.
We’re going home tonight. The clock is ticking. I wish I could always be like this, just the two of us, without any family drama or danger hanging overhead. Things are so much simpler when we are alone together.
The sunshine streaming in through the French doors isn’t enough to wake Luca, sprawled out on his back with his face turned away from the glass, one arm thrown over his head. This is not the first time I’ve woken up by his side, so it doesn’t seem right that the sight of him takes my breath away and makes me feel all warm and needy, deep in my core. No matter how many times I see him like this, I can’t get used to it. The finely chiseled abs, the thick shoulders, and the bulging biceps. I want to trace the letters inked across his chest just to test the firmness of the muscle underneath, but it’s more important to let him sleep undisturbed.
I’m starting to understand how I fell for him in the first place. He”s a different person when he isn’t acting all growly, possessive, and obnoxious. When he lets the mask drop and allows me to see his humanity, I like who I see—someone who’s thoughtful and determined to give me everything I want. He’s intelligent, too, and more than once, it”s struck me as almost sad that all that intelligence is wasted on his family business. He could be something on his own if he wanted, but I don’t think it would be possible for him to break away. Given the chance, I don’t think he’d want to, either.
I can’t look at his life through my eyes and expect him to see things the way I do when we were raised in two different worlds. Deep down, when I listen to the voice in my gut, ignoring the noise around us, I sense goodness in him. Sure, there are moments when the not-so-good and the downright ugly outweighs it, but at his core, he’s decent. He loves his family, adores his mother and sister, and practically worships his father. He would do anything to protect the people he loves.
So what if I don’t agree with the methods?
I’m not blind, and I’m not stupid. I know exactly what I’m doing as I lie here cocooned in blankets so soft, it’s unreal. The entire room is glowing the way Luca’s skin does in the morning light, and I have no doubt that’s coloring my thoughts, along with the persistent throbbing between my legs after spending most of yesterday going crazy on each other. Like we’re making up for lost time, which I guess we are.
I’m rationalizing my feelings, letting myself fall for him again. Maybe it’s inevitable, the way he likes to describe it. Like we’re meant to be, a force of nature, something there’s no denying. It would be like trying to defy gravity. Could it really be that simple?
He mutters something in his sleep, shifting a little, and the blanket draped over his midsection slides further down over his rippling muscles. His enticing happy trail leads my eyes downward, and it’s all I can do not to lick my lips. This is not me. I don’t lust like this.
Yet here I am, holding my breath as I lift the blanket away from Luca’s hardening dick. It twitches a little as I watch. He groans softly, turning his head from one side to the other, with his eyes still closed and a soft snore emanating from his parted lips.
I can’t help it. He is the living, breathing symbol of desire. He does something no one ever has done to me. It’s like I’ve stopped thinking. All that matters is being close to him, touching his body, begging him to touch mine.
Slowly, I push myself up on my knees, then lean down to guide his swollen head into my mouth. There’s something almost wicked about it, and by the time my tongue sweeps along the ridge, wetness pools in my pussy.
His throaty groan only adds to my growing arousal. “Oh, shit,” he whispers, groggy. When I look up at him, I find him looking down at me, dazed but clearly enjoying the treatment. “Did I die and go to Heaven?” he mumbles before falling back against the pillows.
All I can do is chuckle, slowly fucking him with my mouth, taking my time. I want him to feel everything, every moment of it, every inch of my tongue running along every inch of his rigid cock. I could live on the sound of his pleasure, the way he whispers as I work him.
“Fuck, yeah, that’s it,” he whispers, his breathing going fast when I increase the pressure. “You’re so good to me. You’re so good to my cock. Suck it, baby.” There’s a helpless edge to his voice, and I love it. I want to hear him beg me for more. I want to render him helpless, at my mercy.
It isn’t long before his hips start working, and his urgency makes me pull back with his disappointed groan ringing in my ears. The groan is cut off when I straddle him, dropping the blanket from around me so he can run his hands over my bare skin. I shiver when the head of his cock brushes my aching clit, and the sensation is electric enough to make me grind my hips, running his dick through my dripping slit until we’re both breathing heavily.
“Fuck me,” he growls out, fingers pressing against my hips before dragging over my thighs. “Let me feel that tight pussy wrapped around me.”
All it takes is a slight adjustment for his head to line up with my entrance, and I release a guttural moan as I impale myself on his rigid dick. The angle is exquisite, and already, little shocks of pleasure rock me with every stroke. I rest my hands on his chest for leverage, then let myself go, focused on the delicious friction.
“Look at you.” He takes hold of my boobs, pinching the nipples, squeezing my flesh until I whimper my approval. “So fucking sexy. Ride my cock, baby. Put on a show for me.”
And I do, my hips rising and falling before grinding against his pelvis. I open my eyes to find him staring down between us, watching as he disappears inside me again and again.
He wants a show? I’ll give him a show. “Holy shit,” he growls out when I lean back and prop myself up on his knees. This angle is even better, my head falling back as another guttural cry tears its way out of me when his head rubs my G-spot.
“Fuck!” I shout, working faster, chasing the high that’s just beyond my reach. “Fuck, yes! So good!”
“Are you going to be a good girl and come on my cock?” He punctuates the question with a thumb against my clit, rubbing it in short, rapid strokes that take my pleasure and make it explode. I can barely hear his commands over my high-pitched gasps. “Come for me. Be a good girl and come all over me.”
“Luca! Oh God! I’m… I’m…” When it hits, I don’t have it in me to speak. I can only cry out in complete abandon and fall against his chest, dazed and weak. Luca takes hold of my hips and works me up and down his shaft until he slams me down with one last groan and brings a satisfied smile to my lips.
His breathless laughter stirs me from my happy haze. “Holy shit,” he groans out, and I lift my head from his chest, sighing at his tender kiss. “Where the hell did that come from?”
I lift a shoulder, smirking. “Maybe I’ve turned over a new leaf. It’s all your fault for looking so good while you sleep.”
His arms close around me, holding me tight against his chest. “Remind me to look that good every morning.”
* * *
“I wishwe never had to leave.” I squeeze Luca’s hand a little tighter while we wander through the shopping village after a dinner so enormous that I’m not sure I’ll ever eat again. But I am happy—full, a little buzzed from wine, and with a man I’m falling for a little bit more every day. A man who is so handsome, I almost can’t stand to look at him sometimes. I don’t know what to do with all that beauty.
“Same here,” he agrees. He’s smiling, happy, and lighthearted, making it easier for me to feel the same way. If only things could always be this way.
“That doesn’t sound ungrateful or anything, does it?” I ask. “I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful.”
It doesn’t seem to bother him that Bruce and Vinny are trailing half a block behind us. He comes to a stop, which brings me to a stop along with him, then cups my chin with his other hand. “Are you kidding? If we could stay here for the rest of our lives, I wouldn’t complain. I love seeing you here. I love being able to leave everything behind us.”
Not everything, it seems. Just as he’s about to lean in for a kiss, he straightens. His eyes were so soft and loving a moment ago, but now they go narrow as he stares at something over my shoulder across the street.
“What is it?” I start to turn, but he stops me and shakes his head.
His eyes are nearly hidden by his lowered brow by the time he mutters, “Let’s go.” He looks back at the guards before nodding slightly toward whatever caught his attention. From the corner of my eye, I see Bruce crossing the street while Vinny remains watchful behind us as we continue our walk.
It’s all wrecked now. Luca’s entire demeanor has changed. He’s gone from holding my hand to grasping it almost painfully tight. We were walking a minute ago. Now, he’s almost dragging me along with him.
A chill runs down my spine before I whisper, “What’s wrong? Did you see something bad?”
“Just keep walking.” He doesn’t look at me and barely opens his mouth when he speaks. We’re coming to the edge of the village, after which we turn down the street leading to the beach, then it’s a straight shot to the house.
We’re supposed to leave tonight, so our bags are packed and ready to go.
Except instead of turning right at the end of the block, Luca continues leading me straight ahead. I’m too nervous to ask what the hell is going on. It’s not like I’d get an honest answer, anyway. His long stride means I’m almost jogging to keep up. He doesn’t seem to notice.
Across the street, I see Bruce closing in on a young man dressed in black pants and a puffy coat. He’s wearing a knit hat pulled low on his forehead—no big surprise since it’s pretty cold. From the looks of it, he’s walking while doing something on his phone, and the glow from the screen is visible from a distance.
Suddenly, Bruce takes hold of the kid from behind and shoves him into a narrow passage between two darkened storefronts. Many of the little shops and boutiques in the village close early on weekdays. I guess because it’s the off-season, there isn’t much point in staying open until eight or nine o’clock when there’s nobody coming in.
“What are we doing?” I ask when we suddenly change course, with Luca pulling me across the street. The few pedestrians also out and about don’t pay any attention, though I wonder if they would if I screamed. Is this a scream-worthy situation? I’m not sure, but I’m starting to get an idea I won’t like what’s about to happen. It’s the way Luca’s energy shifted and the fact he has yet to answer my questions about what the hell is going on.
Vinny joins us by the time we reach the dark passage where Bruce has basically pinned the kid against a brick wall with an arm to either side of him. It’s like he’s in a human cage, trembling and wide-eyed. He can’t be more than eighteen years old and has probably never been in a situation like this. “Wh-what’s happening?” he asks, breathless.
Luca ignores the question. “Good work, Bruce.” It’s almost a relief when he releases my hand since he was squeezing hard enough for me to now flex my fingers and wince as blood starts flowing again.
“What is this about?” I whisper while he glares at the kid.
I might as well not be here. There’s no reaction to my question. Instead, Luca nods to Bruce, who wastes no time slapping the kid’s phone to the ground before shoving his hands into the kid’s pockets and pulling out everything he finds.
“That’s my stuff!” the kid protests weakly, like he’s afraid to say anything but has to. He’s terrified, and I can’t say I blame him. This must all seem like it’s coming out of the clear blue.
I’m afraid, too, except I have to say something. I can’t stand here and watch this without trying to end it. “Why are you doing this?” I whisper, tugging Luca’s coat, hoping to get his attention. He only offers a brief scowl, like I’m a pest, while Bruce goes through the kid’s things.
“What, you didn’t think I would notice you?” Luca gets in the kid’s face, looming over him, and I hear the rapid, panicked breathing getting louder. “You were practically attached to us the whole time we were eating dinner, and then you get off your shift as we’re leaving? What, I’m not supposed to notice that? Huh?”
The kid’s mouth falls open before his head shakes almost violently back and forth in denial. “I don’t know what you mean!” He might be trying to scream, but it comes out as a breathy gasp.
Now I realize Luca’s right, that the kid worked at the restaurant where we had dinner. I noticed him walk past with a tray of used plates at one point, but for the most part, I was more interested in Luca than anybody else.
None of that means he’s a plant by the Vitali family. “This isn’t right,” I murmur, grabbing Luca’s arm this time.
“Take her back to the house,” he growls out before practically shoving me into the breathing wall of muscle that is Vinny, almost like I’m an afterthought—something for him to push aside.
“What are you doing?” I ask again when I find my balance, but my questions fall on deaf ears. He doesn’t hear me or doesn’t want to.
“Now. Back to you.” The kid yelps a little when Luca takes him by his coat and slams his back against the wall. “Who are you working for? Who told you to follow us?”
“I wasn’t following you!” The kid is on the verge of tears, his voice shaking almost as hard as his body. “Please, I don’t know what I did wrong! I work for my dad’s restaurant!”
Luca leans in until their faces are almost touching. His snarl raises the hair on my neck, and I’m not the one he’s snarling at. “Shut the fuck up,” he grits out before pulling his right hand back. I recoil in horror at the sound of it striking the kid’s cheek, and the sight of it turns my stomach. How can he be so effortlessly brutal, seeming not to hear the kid’s pitiful pleas as he begins to slide down the wall?
“Oh, no. I’m not finished with you yet.” A chuckling Luca hauls him to his feet. “You’re gonna tell me what I want to know. Who the fuck are you? Who are you working for?”
“Don’t!” I plead in the moment between Luca drawing his fist back and driving it into the kid’s face. His weak, pained groan sickens me almost as much as the sound of fist hitting flesh.
“You can stop this anytime,” Luca tells him over the sound of his suffering while Vinny holds me in place. “Just tell me what I need to know.”
“Boss.” Bruce holds out the kid’s wallet. “He lives here. He’s got the same last name as the restaurant and everything. It’s his family’s place.”
“So what?” Luca fires back, wild and vicious. When he turns toward us, I forget to breathe. He’s staring at us like we’re strangers, wide-eyed, like an animal about to attack. “What, Vitali wouldn’t hire somebody local? I told you to get her out of here!” he barks at Vinny, and I recoil when his gaze lands on me. He’s a stranger again, someone I don’t want to know, someone who would beat a stranger without stopping to wonder if he’s making the right choice.
The kid slides to the ground, and his head lolls like a ragdoll when Luca shakes him, growling in his face. “Answer me!”
“We’ve got to go,” Vinny insists, close to my ear. He holds my arm tight, but I barely feel it.
“Let go of me.” I yank my arm away, and Vinny is smart enough not to take hold again. “Luca, you have to stop this,” I plead, inching closer to where he now stands over the half-conscious boy. Luca did this without hesitating. He hurt this innocent kid.
He swings around when I draw near, hitting me with a death glare that makes me fall back a step. Like he pushed me without lifting a hand. “Don’t you fucking tell me—” He realizes at the last second who he’s talking to. I am not the enemy. Still, his teeth are bared when he mutters, “Don’t tell me what to do.”
The intensityof his glare pierces my vision once again, only this time he”s wielding a hammer over a bloodied man slumped over in a chair. Oh God. That night we first crossed paths when I went to his nightclub. I recall trailing after him into his office, where...
Oh God, I feel nauseous.
“Somebody’s gonna call the cops,” Vinny predicts, cutting through my memory. He leans out onto the sidewalk and looks back and forth. The man might as well hold up a blinking sign telling the whole town something bad is happening here. “We’ve got to go.”
That seems to get through to Luca, who can’t help but spit on the kid before he checks out the sidewalk the way Vinny did. “Let’s go,” he barks, taking my hand.
After what I’ve seen and remembered, I don’t want to go anywhere with him. I can’t exactly announce that out loud, though, and my head is spinning too fast for me to speak. I’m actually fleeing the scene of an assault on a completely innocent kid. All the happiness and hope I was basking in only minutes ago is gone, forgotten. The memory of this night has been tarnished forever.
Not only this night, either. Everything. He’s ruined everything. Maybe I should be grateful to him for reminding me of who he is.
“I’m not making the same mistake I did before,” he grunts out as we walk quickly toward the house, where the car waits for us. I’m glad we’re packed and ready to leave. I’d hate to witness Luca paying off a cop to look the other way after what he did. It’s bad enough I have to hold the hand that might have broken an innocent kid’s nose. He did nothing wrong. His only mistake was crossing paths with a man whose temper is molten lava, always on the verge of exploding.
I’m almost glad he’s too busy seething during the ride home to cuddle with me. I can’t stand the thought of him touching me. While I could happily live without his energy stealing the air in the car, it gives me an excuse to sit as far from him as possible.
All I have to do now is figure out how to stay far away from him after tonight.