23. Kylie
Chapter twenty-three
Kylie
I wake to my alarm, and the faint scent of bacon has my stomach rumbling. My body is so deliciously satiated and sore that I'm almost sleep drunk. I have no desire to move despite my stomach complaining or the fact that I need to get moving if I want to make it to class today.
For the first time, I wish I was the type to skip school, but I can't. It'll eat at me since I already took a year off.
Groaning, I muster the energy to roll over and shut the alarm off on my phone, then roll back, flopping my limbs out like a starfish.
Every muscle hurts. Luca's demands pushed me to my limits, and I wasn't sure if I was flexible enough for the many positions he put me in. Something tells me I need to take yoga classes if I'm going to keep this up.
The man is insatiable. He only ever allowed me to wear his shirt for the rest of the day. I can admit, it proved to make things easier since every time Luca would get a glint in his eyes, all he had to do was raise the shirt and we were trying out another position. I finally asked him if he had a bucket list he was aiming to complete.
He laughed.
After his chuckles abated, he told me he had plans to fuck me every which way that he could and I needed to get on board with the plan .
It took little convincing.
I must have fallen back to sleep because the next thing I know, Luca's sitting on the side of the bed, smoothing the hair off my forehead. "Angel, you need to get up. You have class in an hour, and I want you to eat first."
When his words register, my eyes pop open.
"There's my angel." He runs a finger down my nose, then leans down to kiss me. He straightens and moves his gaze over my body, bringing his hand to my thigh where he runs a finger. I keep my eyes on his face so I don't miss it when his jaw clenches.
"What's wrong?" My voice croaks, so I clear my throat.
His gaze comes back to mine. "You have bruises. I should have been more careful."
My brows dip, but before I can lift my head, he touches my neck. "This bruise, however, I meant." He smirks as my eyes widen.
"Did you … did you leave a hickey?" I screech, jumping to my feet on the bed and jumping off to rush to the bathroom, leaving him chuckling behind me.
As I search my neck in the mirror, Luca calls, "I knew that'd do the trick. You've got fifty-five minutes left. Get dressed and meet me downstairs, pronto."
Whisking my hair into my hands, I turn my head left and right. "I don't see a hickey. What bruise are you talking about?" Then his words register. I let go of my hair, lean my head back, and blow out a relieved sigh. "Ha, Ha, funny guy."
Straightening, I look at my reflection again and my eyes zero in on my thighs. I've got a faint discolored line across the top of both of my upper thighs. I skim my finger over the bruise before putting a bit of pressure on it. It's sore, but honestly, my vagina hurts more. This must have happened when he took me from behind as I was bent over the dining room table.
Man, that was hot and an experience I'll never forget. Luca's made me realize sex can be fun and very satisfying. Feeling smug, I turn on the shower and rush through my morning routine .
It feels like déjà vu again as I head downstairs and pad over to the kitchen to find Luca at the stove flipping an omelet. Except this time I'm walking gingerly, every step reminding me of how often Luca has been inside of me.
My stomach grumbles from the bacon cooling on the island. I snatch a piece and stuff it in my mouth before heading straight to the coffee bar.
I need caffeine stat.
"Would you like a refill?" I point at Luca's cup next to him.
"Please." He twists to place it on the island and smirks as he sweeps his gaze over me before returning his attention back to the stove. "Do you want me to take you straight to school or drop you off at your apartment?"
I ignore his smug expression, since he has every right to it.
"Apartment, please. I need my car to visit with my parents after school." Pressing the button, I lift Luca's cup and sip what's left while mine brews. As I drink, my eyes mourn the loss of Luca's bare back this morning. He's already dressed in a suit, ready for work. I'm finding I love his back dimples as much as his face dimples.
He turns his head to meet my gaze, eyebrow raised. "How long do you plan to stay there?"
I tilt my head, gauging his reaction. When I find only curiosity, I turn to start his coffee next. "Not long." I drop the sugar in my cup and then head to the fridge for some creamer. "Why? Do you have plans for me tonight?" Luca has a variety of flavored creamer and I'm not sure which one I want more this morning, the Hazelnut, or Irish Cream. After a few moments of contemplating, Irish cream wins out. I grab the bottle, then shut the refrigerator door … and scream, the bottle slipping through my fingers and landing on the floor.
"Morning, Little Bit." Gio beams at me. The asshole was standing behind the door, purposely aiming to scare me.
I punch him in the stomach before bending to pick up the creamer. "You ass. How did you even get behind the door without making a noise?" A chuckle behind me has me twirling around .
"You really should be more aware of your surroundings, Little Bird." Rafael says, standing a foot behind me. I gape as he heads to the island.
How did I not hear either of them come in?
Rafael sits on the stool and pulls my plate with my omelet to him and begins eating.
I huff.
Luca shoves Gio toward the island, then brings his hand to the back of my neck and gently pulls me to him. "Angel, they aren't wrong; you do need to be more aware of your surroundings." He kisses my forehead before moving to place two more plated omelets down. Gio snatches the first one.
Disgruntled, I gingerly march to the coffee bar, but Luca latches onto my arm and reels me back in. "I'll get it. Sit. Eat." He gently pushes me onto the bar stool, but I still wince when my ass hits the hard surface.
Gio chuckles beside me. "What's the matter? Is your ass sore?"
I snap my narrowed gaze to Gio, trying to think of a comeback when Luca beats me to it.
"Talk about her ass again and I'll pull your teeth out one at a time." Luca's calm tone makes his threat more menacing.
My eyes widen and I look over at Luca. He has his back to us, fixing my coffee.
"Brutal, brother … I love it." Gio eyes me speculatively.
I give Gio a smug smile. He chuckles and turns back to his food. Luca places my coffee down in front of me, then nudges my plate closer. "Eat."
So, I eat and listen to the guys trading barbs. Would it have been like this if I had brothers? A part of me wishes I had this growing up.
I'm still hungry after eating my omelet, so I grab the fruit sitting on the island and instant heat fills my cheeks as it reminds me of yesterday. Glancing up, I find Luca watching me with the right side of his mouth quirked up. I snap my gaze back to my plate, rolling my lips between my teeth, praying my face will cool off before Gio notices and embarrasses me further.
The guys are patient and wait until I'm done eating before Luca asks me if I'm ready .
"Yeah. Let me run and grab my duffle." I hop off the stool to head for the stairs.
"Leave your bag. You're staying the night." He announces as he heads to his home office.
Thrilled that he wants me again tonight, I dreamily continue to the front door. When Luca comes back, Gio and Rafael are trailing behind him.
I'm stooped, putting my shoe on when Luca informs me, "Joanna is bringing clothes for you later today."
Surprised, I whip my head up and then promptly lose my balance. Luca rushes to catch me, then swings me into his arms.
"Oh." Surprised by the maneuver, I attempt to slide my shoe onto my foot while he carries me out to the car. Gio opens the back door for us and Luca sets me down in the backseat. Rafael gets in the driver’s side, Gio in the front passenger seat, and Luca comes around the back of the car to sit next to me.
This feels odd … but in a good way.
When Luca slides in, he hands me a travel mug. "Oh, thanks, babe." When I take a sip, it's made exactly how I love it and I beam as a warm sensation fills me with his attentiveness. When I glance over, Luca winks at me, causing heat to fill my cheeks again. His smile widens.
Gio interrupts our moment when he reaches back to hand Luca his travel mug.
"What? I don't get a thank you, babe?" Gio mocks when Luca takes the mug.
Ignoring Gio's comment, Luca turns to me. "Are you driving your car to your parents or taking an Uber like you did last time?"
My brows furrow. "How do you know about that?"
"Angel, I know everything." He raises his eyebrow.
I huff.
"I'm still deciding."
"If you take it, which I urge you to do, how do you plan to explain?" He brings his coffee up to drink while shifting to face me better.
"All they need to know is that my boyfriend loaned it to me, since my car is beyond repair. They don't need to know you bought it for me until later. Much, much later. I don't enjoy lying to them, but I don't want Dad stressed out right now."
Luca nods. "Understandable." He pauses to tuck my hair behind my ear. "I'm not sure what time I'll finish tonight, so I want you to text me when you're ready to leave your parents' house. I'll direct you where to go."
"Are we going somewhere tonight?" I look out the window to see how close we are to my apartment while worrying about having to be social. As sore as I am, I kinda want to lounge around and maybe study a little.
"No, but I don't know if I'll have you go to my home or office. It'll depend on the time."
When I turn back to him, he's concentrating on his phone.
"Okay." I bite my lip, gearing myself to ask, "What do you do? For work, I mean. I don't think I can fend off my parents' curiosity about you on this trip." I scrunch my nose and shrug one shoulder.
Luca smiles. "I own a real estate holding company. Most of my portfolio is rental investment property, some hotels, a restaurant, and a few clubs."
My eyes widen. "What restaurant? Clubs? As in dance clubs?"
He tilts his head, studying me. "Morelli's—one of my clubs—is attached to Morelli's hotel."
"Oh." I don't know why I didn't make that connection before. I give him a sheepish look, but then ask, "One of your clubs? How many do you have?"
"I've got a couple scattered throughout the city, but that's Gio's domain. He runs them for me."
I feel like he's holding something back, but I leave it be. "Cool." I pick at the hem of my shirt, wondering what else I should know before the mom inquisition happens later. I almost smack my forehead when I realize I haven't asked the most important question. Swinging my gaze over, I catch Luca watching me. The crinkle at the corner of his eyes tells me he's amused. "Uh ..." I bite my lip, a little afraid to find out the answer to this question.
Luca uses his thumb to free my lip. "Just ask, Angel. "
"So … how old are you?" That has all three of the guys laughing. I feel silly it's taken me so long to ask, but I wasn't sure what the protocol was when we first met. I wasn't sure I could even ask. Since spending more time with Luca, I realize he won't care."
"I'm thirty two." He grins, but then it drops when I let out a relieved sigh. "Did you think I was older?" His voice pitches and he jerks his head back, offended.
Gio chuckles.
I glare at Gio before rushing to ease Luca's bruised ego. "No—well, I didn't think you were, but … how am I to know? I mean, you are young for being a real estate mogul. That's the only reason I was worried. And not because you look older." I shrug. "That's all, I swear!
Luca's narrowed gaze eases, so I blow him a kiss. He just shakes his head before turning his attention back to his phone. I catch Gio's reflection in the mirror and give him big eyes. He gives me an amused head shake before turning to look out the window.
Rafael's quiet as ever, but I detect a hint of a smile from the side of his face. I can't figure him out, but I'm determined to make a friend out of him. I turn back to the passing view outside my window as I contemplate how to go about it.