Chapter 23 - Emma
“What are you thinking about?” Luca asks as he drives through the now-awake streets of Miami.
I inhale deeply before answering. “About how the first meal you ever bought me was a Sonic burger. Remember that day?”
“Of course I do,” he smiles. “But why think about that now?” His hands grip the wheel, eyes shifting between the road and me.
“Because now you treated me to lobster.” I laugh. “Your life has changed a lot.”
Luca places his hand gently on my thigh, mimicking what I did at the restaurant earlier, giving it an affectionate squeeze. “Let me guess… You enjoyed the Sonic burger more than the lobster?”
“Yes!” A laugh bursts from my chest. “How did you know?”
“I know you, Em. Fancy things don’t impress you.” Luca flicks the turn signal, and suddenly, the city fades behind us. The streets shrink, sidewalks become neater—his neighborhood. We’re close to his place.
“So why’d you pick that restaurant? None of my coworkers knew which fork to use out of the six options.” I grin, picturing Sam analyzing the table setup.
“I didn’t mean to make anyone uncomfortable,” he says quietly, thoughtfully. “I just remembered it had one of the best sunsets in Miami. I wanted you to experience it.”
He presses a button on the roof of his car. As we pull into his driveway, the garage door opens. The mansion glows with soft ground lights, and palm trees gently sway with the ocean breeze.
“I sent Lauren, like, three photos,” I chuckle. “It really was beautiful. Thank you.”
He turns off the engine and looks at me, intense.
I don’t ask what he’s thinking; I’m a coward.
I’ve always been able to read Luca like glass.
He wasn’t expressive with most people, but with me?
His thoughts used to pour out. These looks terrify me because they hold everything—desire, intensity, possession.
That pull we always had. It’s too easy to fall.
“I’ve been fantasizing about having you in my bed all day,” he whispers, brushing my cheek.
I swallow hard, fighting the spell. “Even during the meeting?”
“Especially during that meeting.” He kisses me softly, briefly, and then steps out of the car without another word, leaving me stunned.
I follow him before he can open my door.
“That was my job,” he protests.
“I have working legs and arms, so…” I shrug playfully.
Luca studies me, then grabs my hand and leads me inside.
Without a word, with tension crackling in the air, he guides me upstairs. As the bedroom door opens, anticipation builds. I walk straight to the balcony where I once watched him—like some storm god by the sea—and inhale the salty air.
He appears behind me seconds later, hands braced on the railing, caging me in.
I feel his forehead rest on my shoulder, his breath hot and fast. “No woman turns me on the way you do.” His hands slide to my waist, pulling me back against him—letting me feel him.
“No one ever brought me to my knees but Emma Green.”
I tilt my head, baring my neck. He claims it instantly, his mouth greedy. His hands cup my breasts as he groans into my skin.
“Lamb…”
“Yes, Gargoyle?”
The waves crash behind us, a wild rhythm to match the tension building inside.
Luca spins me to face him and kisses me with pure, raw need. I match his pace, hands gripping his back, hungry. “I’m going to worship your body all night. Are you ready for that?”
“Yes.”
He doesn’t wait. Grabbing my hand, he leads me back to the bed and is on me before I can catch a breath, tearing off my clothes.
Still wearing his briefs, he presses against me, creating a friction that burns. His moans are right at my ear, his hands tender on my face.
There’s something glinting in his eyes—a thought, a memory—but it vanishes when he trails a hand between my legs. “Already ready for me, lamb?” he teases.
I glide my hand over his cock, rock-hard under my palm. “Not the only one, apparently.”
“Nope. Feel what you do to me?” He covers my hand with his.
I nod, licking my lips.
He watches that movement like a man starved. “Enough foreplay,” he growls. He shoves my panties aside and sinks into me. “Fuck…” he groans into my neck. “So damn good.”
“So—” I gasp, the words fading as pleasure takes over.
His breath turns primal. My body separates from my mind, overwhelmed by every wave.
“Luca…” I whimper when he flips me and grabs my hips with that commanding grip.
“Always loved you like this—on all fours, so open, so mine.”
His thrusts are forceful yet attentive. My whole body reacts. The orgasm hits me like a truck. He quickens. “Jesus, lamb… you’re squeezing the life outta me.”
My eyes shut tight. My toes curl.
Then he stops—shuddering—emptying into me as his mind floats somewhere else.
We collapse.
His fingertips graze my spine, over and over, while my head rests on his chest, fingers drifting lazily through his chest hair.
“Tell me what happened all these years,” I whisper, eyes closed.
“You’re falling asleep, lamb.” He chuckles.
“I’m not,” I murmur. Relaxed, but alert.
“Well, I went to college, interned in New York, Silas helped a lot… then Dad gave me the Miami branch.”
I lift my head and shoot him a look. He just grins and brushes my hair behind my ear. “Life is more than business. Tell me who you met, what you learned, what made you feel something… that stuff.” I lie across his stomach.
He looks down at me, tenderness softening his face. “Fine. I got into jiu-jitsu after reading about it. Hired a trainer. Daily classes.”
“You already told me that.”
“Then I don’t know, Em. Not much happened.”
“Girlfriends?”
“No.” His eyes dim. Fingers tangled in my hair. “I tried. God, I tried. But I was drowning in darkness. I couldn’t connect with anyone.” He exhales through his nose. “You?”
“Girlfriends? No. Haven’t tried the other side yet, but who knows?” I grin wickedly.
“Don’t get smart.” He tugs my hair gently.
We laugh until I straddle him, hands braced on his pillow.
“I dated this painter once. He called me his ‘muse.’”
Luca groans, rolling his eyes.
“He called all his girlfriends that.”
He scowls. “He wasn’t faithful?”
“No. Caught him with a student.”
Luca’s grip tightens on my hips. “I’m sorry you went through that.”
I lean in and kiss him. But when I try to pull away, he grabs the back of my neck and deepens it. Suddenly, he’s on top of me again. Between my legs. Taking over.
“Don’t waste yourself on anyone else,” he growls, each thrust punctuating his words.
My breath stutters, nails digging into his skin. “I won’t… only you.”
His eyes lock on mine, fierce, unrelenting. “Never give your light away,” he presses, voice rough against my ear.
I shiver, whispering back, “No. Only to the one who claims it.”
A sound jolts me out of sleep and straight into Luca’s bed. He opens his eyes and glances around, still dazed.
“What was that?” I ask, my voice rough, my body still asleep and my mind lagging behind.
“I think it was the doorbell,” he says, climbing out of bed—and flashing me that perfect ass on the way.
I glance at my worn-out, antique watch. The hands point to six.
“It’s six in the morning!” I groan, pulling the covers over my head. Luca peels them down just enough to kiss the tip of my nose.
“I forgot the Sensei was coming. Go back to sleep, I’ll be back soon.”
I want to protest, but then I blink—and I’m out cold again.
When I open my eyes again, the sun is bright. My watch now says seven thirty. I steal some clothes from Luca’s closet, pad to the window, and spot a shimmering, dreadful glare.
“Damn. I need to paint that someday,” I mutter to myself, arms crossed over my chest.
When I find Luca, he’s on the floor of his home gym, tangled with another man.
It looks like they’re locked in a match—legs and arms battling for control.
They groan and strain, until Luca hooks his legs around the man’s torso and the guy taps the mat with his open palm: surrender.
Luca releases him instantly, untangling his limbs, and helps him to his feet.
Somehow, Luca senses me. I don’t know how, but he turns and spots me at the doorway.
“Em…” he says with a grin, walking over and kissing me like we’re not being watched by another man in the room.
“Come on, I want to introduce you to the Sensei.” He takes my hand and leads me to the center of the room. “Sensei, this is Emma.”
“Hi, I’m Luis. Nice to meet you.” His handshake is firm, and he looks to be in his early forties—tall and built like a linebacker.
“Are you okay?” I ask, eyeing the puddle of sweat on the floor.
Luis laughs and nods. “Luca’s getting stronger every day. Actually, today he’s way more focused than usual.”
Luca’s eyes flick to me, and he raises an eyebrow. I laugh.
“Could be,” I reply, looking down, trying to hide my flushed cheeks.
“Nice meeting you, Luis.” Then, turning to Luca, I whisper, “I’m gonna head home, need to change before work.”
“No way. I said I’d take you,” he says, turning his back to me and speaking to Luis. “Mind if we wrap a little early today?”
“Of course,” Luis says, clapping Luca hard on the back—not that he flinches. “See you tomorrow, Luca.”
They bow to each other respectfully, and then Luca grabs my hand and leads me downstairs. I can practically feel the light radiating off him.
He’s happy. And it breaks my heart.
“What time do you have to be at the Great Ideas office?”
“Nine.”
“Well then, take that off. I’m going to fuck you before I drive you.”