Chapter 19 Luca
Luca
Axel was a genius. I shouldn’t have been surprised when he explained how he’d gone about methodically planning and preparing to purchase enough stock to give him the controlling interest in Covington Hotels.
But I was even more enamored with his brain as we sat under the veranda by his new pool.
He’d explained it so eloquently that I understood, meaning I had to have missed something.
“That’s why you chose Brooklyn.”
“Part of the reason. I wanted the opportunity to play in the NHL, and Brooklyn seemed like a good fit. Decker was already here, and it allowed me to handle both things simultaneously.”
Amazed, I shook my head. “Two years.”
“Yes. I’ve enjoyed the process more than I thought I would. More than just the end result. Watching my money grow and knowing what the outcome was going to be was quite fulfilling.”
“You had to have capital to start, right? Did you make that much playing hockey?”
The grin on Axel’s face was diabolical. “The money was good, but I left my trust fund untouched for years. I was determined I would never use a dime of his money. But what better way to use it than to ruin Mason’s tormentor?”
My mouth fell open again. “When are you going to tell them?”
“The board meeting in December. All they know is that an investment company has been purchasing small blocks of stock. I plan to tell Mason next weekend when they arrive for the weekend.”
“What are you going to do with the hotels?”
“Leave them as they are right now.” He reached over and took my hand. “You’ve inspired me to consider some philanthropic ideas to help people who need it. I want to reinvest in my new home. And I want your ideas.”
“My ideas? I don’t know anything about what you’re about to do.”
“Maybe not. But you know what people need. And Edith’s apartment building could sure use a facelift. Like another I’ve seen.”
We went back to our dinner as I mulled over how enticing the prospect of helping people could be.
From what I knew, people with money ruled the world and rarely did anything to help anyone but themselves.
Now he had even more money than I thought, and it was going to take me some time to wrap my head around it.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I tried to smile and finish my food, but I’d lost my appetite. And I wasn’t fine. “I’m just processing all this. That’s a lot of information.”
He narrowed his eyes and studied me. It was difficult to read me, and he did it well. “Everything is perfectly legal. There’s no corruption here.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m sure. I trust you.”
“Then what’s the problem, love? I can see it written on your face.”
I wasn’t sure how to put it into words. “I know how you feel about your father. But why the hotels?”
He looked at me and spoke softly. “Because I made Melinda a promise two years ago at Maddie’s wedding. And I intend to keep it.”
My eyes bugged out. “What was it?”
“That I would ruin her,” he said as if it were no big deal.
I put my food down. “How are you going to do that?” I could hear the quiver in my tone.
Axel reached out again, knowing I needed reassurance. “I’m going to take away the two things she cares about most. Money and status. And I’m going to enjoy doing it.”
“What about your sisters? Won’t it upset them?”
“This is going to sound harsh, but I can’t worry about them.
They have their own stock that I would never try to acquire.
They will have a say in everything going forward with Covington.
This is solely targeted to Melinda. I’ve already arranged for all Covington holdings to go to them should something happen to me.
They saw the way she treated Mason and have told me stories that simply provided fuel to the fire.
She knew about Mason and me before we were born, and insisted on going through with the wedding to punish my father for daring to love someone else.
Their marriage was a business arrangement and served as a punishment to everyone involved.
She’s ruthless and equally diabolical. I’m simply giving her a taste of her own medicine. ”
“What goes around, comes around. Some people have to learn the hard way.”
“Exactly. And I’m coming for her.”
I was ready to leave the topic behind for a while, so I changed the subject. “When are you moving in?”
“Tomorrow. I’ll bring all my things over. The furniture will be delivered and set up first thing in the morning.” He leaned in. “Why don’t you take the day off and come join me?”
“The real world doesn’t work like that. Some of us have to work,” I teased. “There’s also no one to cover for me. Susanna is on vacation.”
“Then come over afterward. I’ll be here waiting for you.”
When he pulled up to my apartment to drop me off, he wasn’t happy. “Go grab your clothes and come back to the apartment with me.”
“I can’t. John and I have to pay bills tonight. September rent will be due in a couple of days.”
“Let me give you some money.” He reached for his wallet, but I stopped him. “No. I’ve got it taken care of.”
Axel frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. You’ve done enough.”
“But I can do more. I want to do more. There’s no reason for you to live like this when it’s not necessary.”
I exhaled and held my tongue. Reminding myself he didn’t mean it the way it sounded. “I know. But you need to chill out. I’ve got it.” Leaning over, I kissed him to shut him up. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Climbing out of the car, I headed into my building.
Part of me wished I’d given in and gone home with him.
Take advantage of the limited time we had.
But I had things to do. It was going to be difficult enough when hockey season started, and I couldn’t forget that I needed to protect myself.
Axel was already deeply embedded in my heart, no matter how much I wanted to deny it.
The following evening, Axel met me at the door with a heartbreaking smile that sent electricity through me. “I thought you’d never get here.”
He pulled me inside and pressed my back to the door. Cradling my face, the look on his face almost scared me. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” he said, gently running his fingertips over my jaw. He peppered soft kisses along my jaw and down my neck.
“Like…” I murmured incoherently. “Like I mean something to you.”
He pulled back, then kissed me tenderly before resting his forehead against mine. “Don’t you know by now? You don’t mean something to me, Luca. That’s too vague. You mean everything to me.”
My heart thundered in my chest at his words.
Even the thought of entertaining forever was terrifying, yet I couldn’t help but wonder if this was what life with him could look like.
As he kissed me deeply, I stupidly dreamed about coming home to him every night.
Would it always feel like this? Like every touch was the first spark from a match that was guaranteed to set me on fire.
Resting my hands on his chest, I pushed him back. “I want to see your house.”
He growled and nuzzled into my neck. “I want to see you naked.”
I burst out laughing. I wanted that too, and if he didn’t stop lighting me up, the first time we were intimate might be against this door. And that’s not what I wanted. “All in due time, babe.”
Axel pulled back and stared into my eyes. Breathing deeply, I ran my hand along his face. I love the way he smelled. “Show me your house.”
I got a tour of his newly furnished home. The house was more intimate at night with low lighting that created a cozy atmosphere. Every room looked like something out of a magazine. It was absolutely beautiful yet intimidating as hell. Even the kitchen was fully stocked in a moving-day miracle.
“What do you think? Did we make the right choice?”
“Are you serious? It’s beautiful, but it’s not my opinion that counts. What do you think?”
Axel scanned the room. His face lit up as he looked back at me. “I love it. It’s so bright and airy. Big but not overwhelming. Perfect for two.”
It was the reminder I needed that one day he’d live here with the person he wanted to spend his life with. Someone more worthy than me. But I was going to hide my head in the sand for now. “Did you unpack everything?”
“Almost. I didn’t have everything shipped over. Only the essentials. I left some things in my London apartment for when I go back. But the office hasn’t been touched yet.”
“How did you furnish this so fast?”
“Madison and her crew of minions.” He went to the refrigerator and took out two bottles of beer while he described how she’d done it so quickly.
He’d only be around a couple more weeks before hockey started and everything changed.
It played like a broken record in my head, over and over, reminding me this wasn’t real.
“Here ya go, love. You like this kind, right?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
Axel pulled me closer and feathered kisses down my neck. I tilted my head to the side to give him better access. Closing my eyes, I breathed him in. Toffee and bourbon. “Did you hear what I said?”
He turned until we were face-to-face. I had no reason to feel sad, but I did.
Axel could see through me. “Are you okay?”
“Of course. Just a long day.” I forced another smile I didn’t feel. “What were you saying? I zoned out.”
Axel looked me over, assessing my face and demeanor.
I was worried he would see that I was probably, maybe, most likely falling for him against my better judgment.
We’d agreed to be each other’s first choice, and that was it.
I tried to be grateful for the time I had, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel this way about someone again.
Someone I couldn’t wait to see at the end of the day. Someone I could love.
“They’ll be here next weekend. Mason’s season doesn’t start until the middle of September, like mine, so they’re coming to visit.”
My smile felt fake as I tried to look excited. The end was coming faster than I expected. “That’s really great.” I must not have been convincing enough. Axel looked at me like I’d just lied to him.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” he asked as he reached for the elastic band in my hair and slipped it free. “What are you overthinking?”
I loved it when he took my hair down and massaged my head.
Never thought I would, but I did when he did it.
“Nothing,” I said, holding on to his hips.
We were leaning into each other, and I could feel his hardness trapped between us.
I shifted my body to move my erection away, but he wouldn’t allow it.
“Don’t move away. I like knowing you feel the same way I do,” he murmured, shifting his hips to touch me again. “Even if it won’t lead anywhere. Knowing you want me is enough.”
He was respecting my boundaries, but I wasn’t sure I wanted that anymore.
I couldn’t imagine feeling like I could both fly and crash to the ground with anyone but him.
When he slid his tongue along mine, I forgot the world around us as I drifted into sensation and pleasure.
Safety and strength. Passion and pain, all while wrapped in his arms. I’d been running my entire life, but I didn’t want to run from Axel.
Being with him was the safest I’d ever felt, but also served as the greatest risk to my heart.
Sometimes love wasn’t enough. It hadn’t stopped my mother from leaving me, and it wouldn’t stop Axel.
But for now, I could hold onto him and dream.
“Stay with me this weekend,” he said into my neck. “You can have any room you like. I won’t pressure you for more. But my free time is dwindling, and I haven’t had enough time with you.”
My pulse raced, and I couldn’t get close enough. There was no one I wanted to be with more than him. “What if I want to be in your bed? With you?”
Axel pulled back to look at me. “What are you saying?”
My eyes filled with tears that I couldn’t control. “I believe you’re the one I’ve been waiting for, and I’ve possibly made the biggest mistake of my life.”
He held my face in his hands. “What have you done, love?” he whispered. That term of endearment was going to do me in. If I were to crash and burn, better now than later.
“I’ve fallen for you. And when this is over, it’s going to kill me.”
The conviction in his voice almost erased my doubts. “You’re mine, and this will never be over.”
“Then take me to your bed, Axel, and make me yours.”