Chapter 34 Katerina
KATERINA
I shake my head harder, not in denial but in self-reproach.
What have I done?
Again and again, I've held him at arm's length, preparing for abandonment instead of fighting for what we could be.
I've been so afraid of being hurt that I've become the one inflicting the pain.
My distrust is about to cost us everything.
“I fought for you. I fought for us." He turns away, heading to the door.
The room suddenly feels like it's collapsing around me. He's leaving again. But this time, it's my fault.
"Luca, wait!" I lunge forward, grasping his arm.
He pauses but doesn't turn.
"I love you," I say, realizing he’s right. He’s given all of himself, and I’ve given hardly anything at all. “I've always loved you."
His body goes still.
"When you disappeared, it nearly broke me," I confess, my hand still gripping his arm. "I was so young, so blindly in love. I kept waiting for a sign, a call, anything. Even after I found out I was pregnant."
He turns, and the pain in his eyes makes my chest clench tight.
"Enzo saved me. Having him gave me purpose." I take a shuddering breath. "I did what I needed to survive. When you returned, all I felt was the pain from when you left. I can’t survive that again and I guess I’m trying to protect myself. But all I’m doing is hurting us more.”
He still doesn’t respond. Is it too late?
"I was wrong not to confront you. I should have demanded answers instead of assuming the worst. I should have trusted what we had enough to fight for it, especially when you’ve been so attentive to me and Enzo. It’s felt like a dream come true but also made me terrified of losing you again."
“You should have trusted me.”
“I know. I've hurt you. I've pushed you away when all you've done is try to reach me. I convinced myself it was safer that way.”
Luca's expression softens slightly, but he remains silent, waiting.
I realize I’m not saying the words he needs to hear. "I love you. I want to be with you. I want Enzo to be with you. I want us to build something real in Chicago, in New York, wherever.”
Finally, I see his features relax. “Are you sure? This won’t work if you still don’t believe in me.”
I nod vigorously. “I’m positive. One hundred percent.” I glance down at my belly before returning my gaze to his. “But there is a condition.”
He tenses, and I understand why.
He’s preparing to hear something that might keep us apart.
I hope it doesn’t.
“One more person needs to come with us.”
Luca's brow furrows in confusion, his eyes searching mine.
"I'm pregnant."
At first, I see confusion in his eyes.
But then, there’s joy. His hand presses against my belly.
"A baby?" His voice is thick with emotion.
"I just found out. I took the test and… I was terrified.” I admit, wanting to be transparent with him from now on. “Not of having another baby, but of doing it alone again. When I heard you talking about Chicago, I thought history was repeating itself."
For a moment, I think he might get angry again, and rightfully so.
I’ve been unfair to him.
Instead, he pulls me against him, his arms encircling me.
His lips find mine in a kiss that's both tender and desperate.
“This time, we get our happily ever after. Enzo, this little one, you and me."
For the first time, I allow myself to imagine a future that isn't shadowed by abandonment or betrayal.
And yet… reality creeps back in. "Luca, you know it's not that simple. The Bratva won't just let me walk away. Even your brother could force me to—”
Luca's confident smile doesn't waver as he brushes a strand of hair from my face. "Alessandro will let you go. I have no doubt.”
"And the Bratva?" I challenge, trying to inject reason into this beautiful fantasy I want so desperately to come true.
"Maksim?" Luca scoffs. "He'll do anything to get me out of New York. Trust me."
The surety in his voice should worry me.
Luca has always been dangerously confident.
Then again, he’s always survived.
"After what happened, I think Maksim is afraid of me." A smug grin spreads across his face.
I laugh, surprising both of us. "Everyone is afraid of you, Luca."
His expression softens, replacing the dangerous confidence. "I hope you're not. And I hope Enzo isn't either. I don't want my son growing up fearing me."
I place my hand on his cheek. "We're not afraid of you. We love you."
This isn’t the first time I’ve said the words in this exchange, but there’s something about it now that feels solid and true.
After holding back my feelings to protect myself, I've finally said what's been in my heart all along.
He must sense it too. "Say it again.” His arms tighten around me.
"I love you," I repeat, savoring how right the words feel after denying them for so long.
His response is immediate.
He pulls me closer, wincing slightly as his injured chest takes pressure.
I catch the flash of pain across his face even as he tries to hide it.
"You're still healing," I chide, gently pulling away.
Luca's eyes darken with desire, and he pulls me back against him, his mouth hovering just above mine. "I've been shot before," he murmurs, his breath warm against my lips. "I know my limits."
“Even so—”
“You’re the best medicine.” His lips slide down my neck as his hands move to cup my breasts.
“Luca, the doctor—”
“Dr. Katerina, please fix what ails me.” He takes my hand and presses it over a substantial erection.
I can’t deny that I need his touch, but…
“Only you can heal me.”
And only he can heal me. "Lie down.” I guide him toward the bed. "Let me take care of you."
His smile turns wolfish as he complies, easing himself carefully onto the mattress.
I straddle him carefully, mindful of his injury, and begin unbuttoning his shirt.
My fingers trace the edges of his bandage, then move downward to his pants.
He reaches for me, but I push his hands away. “If I’m going to heal you, you need to be still. Let me do this.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
I lean over, pressing my lips to his, soft at first, then deepening as his grip tightens.
My hands frame his face, holding him to me as though he might disappear again.
When I pull back, his eyes are filled with wild desire. I feel powerful knowing I can affect him this way.
"Let me show you.” I tug his pants and boxer briefs down. “How much I love you.”
His breath catches as I take control. I wrap my hand around his hard, long length and stroke slowly.
"Stay still," I order when he tries to reach for me. "Let me worship you for once." I trail kisses down his chest, careful of his bandages. His muscles tense beneath my lips, his breathing growing ragged as I move lower and lower.
"Katerina," he groans, his voice strained when I take him in my mouth. His fingers tangle in my hair, not controlling but steadying, like he needs the anchor.
I take my time, savoring his taste, the way his body responds to my touch.
The powerful Luca Dante, undone by my lips and hands.
“Fuck… yes…” He arches up, his head tilting back as he surrenders to me.
I pay attention to his breathing, to his dirty words, adjusting my speed and pressure to his growing need.
“Ride me,” he demands.
I resist, worrying I’ll hurt him, causing a setback in his recovery.
“God, I’m close… fuck me… Katerina… I need your sweet pussy.”
I’m unable to deny him what he needs. I quickly undress.
He watches me, his hand stroking himself as I do.
I find it wildly erotic and for a moment, I want to watch him pleasure himself.
“Fuck me,” he says again.
I straddle him, trying to be so careful of his wound. I take him in, and both of us let out a long sigh.
It’s like a healing, as my heart mends back together as our bodies and souls merge.
“Yes, baby… more…”
I grip his hands as I give free rein to my own needs and ride him. I rock back and forth. Rise up and then slide down.
“Luca.” His name escapes my lips as pleasure builds.
“Come, baby… come on my cock… oh, fuck… I’m coming…”
His hips rise to meet me as he arches back and lets out a feral groan.
I’m right there with him, as the sweetest sensations rock through my body, radiating out to my cells.
We come undone together and it feels more than physical.
It feels like the final barriers to our love, namely me, have completely crumbled.
I am fully, completely, irrevocably his.
I curl against his uninjured side.
“Just so we’re clear, I'm never letting you go again. You, Enzo, this little one.” His hand slides over my stomach. "You're my life now."
I tilt my head to look at him, finding his eyes serious.
"I'll protect you with my last breath," he continues. "No one, not the Bratva, not my family, not anyone, will ever hurt what's mine again."
Guilt lances through my gut again that I’d let my fears nearly ruin what Luca and I have. “I’m sorry—”
He presses a kiss to my lips, silencing me. “No. No more apologies. We move forward now, Katerina. Forward into the life we’d always planned.”
I nod. “Alright.”
“I promise you won’t regret choosing me. You have my undying love. My complete heart and soul.”
I press a kiss to his lips. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I rest my head on his shoulder, savoring this moment, wanting to remember it forever.
Finally, after all these years, Luca and I have found our way back to each other.
This time, we’ll have our happily ever after.
And this time, it will last forever.