Chapter 5 #2
His nose crinkles, but he doesn’t so much as flinch. “You made my point.”
I lift my arm, snarling as if I’m going to hit him on his chest, and he grabs my wrist, staring at me, daring me to hurt him.
“That’s such an insult, saying someone hits like a girl.”
Luca falls back against the bed, forcing me to lie back with him, my wrist tethered to his hand. He pins my hand above my head.
“Try to hit me now,” he growls into my ear. “I dare you.”
My insides flutter with electricity as I struggle against his grasp. My free hand swings out, and while I don’t intend to hit his chest, I do make it look like I will, and he grabs my free arm, rolling us so I’m fully at his mercy.
“Nice try.” He tsks and there’s a mischievous smile on his face.
I haven’t seen that look, that flare of heat, in days, and it warms my cheeks.
“See, you and Ashton both hit like a girl.” He keeps me pressed against the bed, his body just inches from mine, the heat melting off him and flowing onto me, warming every inch of me to my core.
“Do you really want to talk about your best friend when we’re doing this?” I lean in, my lips brushing against his. I crave his touch, his breath, his warmth.
His mouth moves hungrily against mine in a frenzy, but his hold on my hands never loosens.
Luca climbs above me, straddling my hips, his weight sinful and making me delirious as he grinds himself into me.
“Fuck, yes.” The words spill out before I realize my mistake.
We’re not alone.
“Dada,” Zeke’s voice chimes out, and I feel his little body clamber onto the mattress, the bed dipping with his swift movements.
Zeke is about ready to join in the little party, and he moves to climb on Luca.
Luca is quick, releasing his grasp and rolling away as I yank Zeke by the waist, keeping him out of Luca’s reach.
It only seems like more of a game to Zeke, squirming and laughing. “Dada!” he chants as he throws his arms and tries to escape my grasp.
This is why Ashton had been so eager and helpful with Zeke.
Luca sits up, making sure Zeke can’t tackle him while I wrestle my little monster and plant his feet firmly on the floor.
It won’t be long until he chases after Luca again, wanting cuddles and to climb up on him.
I run my fingers through my tangled hair, realizing that I was the last to know of Luca’s injuries. “Ashton knew. What about Nova? Did Liam know too? Is that why he insisted that we take you to urgent care?”
Luca grimaces as he stands, and I carry Zeke with me, hoping that maybe some sense has been knocked into my husband and he’ll listen to me to see a doctor.
He moves to the couch and plops himself back down, clearly in agony. “There’s nothing anyone can do for cracked ribs.”
Shit.
“Maybe we should wrap your chest, wouldn’t that help offer you some support?”
“Does it matter?” Luca forces the corners of his lips to turn upward. “I can’t play hockey. Not tonight. Not for the rest of the season. I’m out.”
“But this didn’t happen during a game.” I size him up. “This happened when you were working for Dante.” It’s the only thing that makes sense, although I don’t understand why Liam had been quite so forceful about Luca’s health, unless he knew or suspected something was wrong.
Luca presses his lips together. “Right again, love.” He stretches his legs out, resting his feet on the coffee table. “I’ll heal, but no more hockey this season.”
“I thought you’d be more upset.” I’m surprised that he’s taking it rather well, considering the situation.
Luca Ricci wants to play hockey professionally. His dream is to be a household name, a star player for the NHL and out of his father’s clutches.
“Did you see a doctor at your father’s house?” I hope that’s the reason he’s pushing me back with not sending him to urgent care, although I can see where having to explain the bruises might be problematic.
“I’m disappointed that I can’t play the rest of the season, but it’s one game. Once they lose tonight, it’s over. And they’re going to lose without me.”
There’s the ever-cocky Luca I know and really, really like.
Okay, maybe even love.
But we’re not there yet.
Married.
But neither of us has said that word. It’s not like we married out of love.
Luca married me to protect me.
“You still never answered me about whether you saw a physician at your father’s home.”
Luca raises an eyebrow. “I was hoping you forgot. No, I didn’t let anyone see my bruises. Ashton was there when it happened. Liam doesn’t know, but he suspected something when he and Nova came up that night.”
His words catch me off guard. “What? Liam and Nova came to your parents’ house? When?”
“Friday night. I guess you were in bed.”
I don’t remember them leaving, but I went to bed early after Zeke was asleep. The next morning, neither of them was around, but I didn’t think anything of it.
Luca smiles and laughs. “Turns out, we both saw something we didn’t want to see.”
My brow pinches, and I run my fingers along the back of his neck, knowing I can touch him at least one place that doesn’t hurt.
Okay, hopefully there are two or three places under his clothes.
His head turns toward me, a faint, lazy smile playing on his lips, relaxing into my touch. “I walked in on Ashton and Nova completely naked.”
I choke on his words, coughing. “No way. She wasn’t worried her parents would find out?”
Luca grins that boyish smile that makes my heart flutter. “She should have been worried. I could hear them going at it. I swear I thought Ashton was cheating on her, and I stormed into the bedroom and saw a lot more of the two of them than I ever wanted.”
Chuckling, I smile as Luca turns to face me, the grimace forced behind a natural smile. “Nova called Ashton to wish him a goodnight, and the reception was shit. They exchanged a few broken apart words, and she insisted Liam drive her to my parents’ house.”
“Why didn’t she wake me?” I really wish Nova was around for me to ask her, because even though I didn’t need to be there with Zeke, I am feeling a bit left out, the last one to know.
Luca reaches for my hand, holding it in his and bringing my palm to his lips, planting a chaste kiss on my bare skin. His breath is warm and sends tingles down my arm. “You had Zeke. She wasn’t going to bother you. I’m okay.”
“Are you? What happens next time, when your father orders you to do something dangerous?”
Luca tenses for a brief moment; it’s fleeting, but I see it. The tautness reaches his shoulders, and I lean in, pressing a soft kiss against his skin.
“Don’t worry about me.” Luca forces a smile, his eyes shining, but there’s something else behind that smile that makes my stomach unsettled.
“How can I not worry? You’re covered in bruises, Luca.” I untangle our hands and gently graze his skin, my fingers stroking along his arm, soft and gentle like the caress of a breeze. I don’t want to hurt him or startle him. While we were playing rougher earlier, my intent was never to hurt him.
“These are nothing.” Luca glances down at his clothed chest. “You should have seen me when I woke up on Saturday morning. I could barely move out of bed.”
Inhaling sharply, my fingers wander over his leg in a soothing motion before moving toward the inside of his thigh.
Luca hangs his head, his eyes falling shut as his lips part and soft heavy breaths come pouring out. “If you keep doing that, we’re going to have to hire a babysitter because I don’t want my son to see the things I intend to do to my wife,” he growls.
My breath catches in my throat. My fingers stall for only a fraction of a second before I resume their touch, wanting to explore him.
I want to see all of him.
Marked.
Scarred.
Bruised.
We can heal together. I can help him heal if need be. At the very least, I can make him forget the pain for a few minutes and take him somewhere else, mentally.
His fingers move to my jaw, tilting my chin to reach his lips as he captures my mouth in a kiss that makes my insides flutter. He holds me to him, commanding, rough, and exactly what I need.
Rough is good.
Rough is fun.
Rough makes you forget all of the shit happening in your life, which is what we both very much need.
But I don’t want to hurt Luca.
I let him take command, accept that he’s the one in control as he slides his fingers inside the waistband of my pants and his fingers do that thing that makes my toes curl.
“Luca,” I rasp, my eyes momentarily closing, and then I rest a hand on his arm. “Zeke is here.” We can’t do this, as much as I want to, as much as I crave intimacy with Luca.
The front door swings open, and Nova stalks in, a smile on her face, and then her eyes widen when she catches a glimpse of Luca’s hand between my thighs, his fingers inside my pants.
“Mind taking the kid with you to the bedroom?” Luca doesn’t even remove his hand. His fingers tease my folds apart once again, with Nova in the room.
I smack Luca’s arm, my grip growing tighter on his biceps as he teases me with his fingers along my pussy.
“Oh, my gosh!” Nova covers Zeke’s eyes and carries him with her down the hall. “You two owe me, big time.”
“Whatever you want. Name your price. It’s yours!” Luca shouts as she shuts her bedroom door. “Perfect timing.” His eyes shine as he captures my lips with his.
His breath is warm, his fingers tease me, touch me, caress me, as I inch closer. I want to sit on his lap, but I’m afraid of hurting him. Knowing I have to be careful and actually being careful right now are two different things. My senses are heightened, but I’m not exactly alert.
“Should we take this party to the bedroom?” I suggest.
Luca’s stare floods me with warmth.
“I’d rather fuck you right here on the sofa.” He tilts his head slightly, glancing me over. “God, you’re so fucking beautiful with that flush spread across your cheeks.”
My face is heated and now flaming with his compliment. “Thanks,” I whisper and can’t help but feel embarrassed. I’m not used to taking compliments.