Chapter 9
Luca
I leave the house, but I don’t go far. I can’t bear to be apart from Perry, plus it wasn’t safe to leave while those men are in town. My pumpkin needs someone looking out for her, and no one is better for that job than me.
I sit on the ground, leaning against a tree, my eyes locked on my house for any sign of movement. I saw Perry go into the office earlier, but she hasn’t come out since.
Is she thinking about me? Does she miss me?
Movement catches my attention, and I stiffen when I see the black sedan creeping down the road toward my place. I know instantly that it’s the same men from yesterday. They must have spotted her and run my license plate.
Shit. I thought I had more time before they tracked her here.
I’m up and on my feet as they pull into my driveway and park beside my Jeep. Moving stealthily through the trees, I plan my attack strategy as the three men climb out of the car and prowl toward my place.
I emerge from the trees and position myself out of sight but close enough to act as they walk up the porch steps to the front door.
They knock, and I pray that Perry doesn’t answer. Maybe they’ll think she left already and move on.
I’m not that lucky.
My girl swings the front door open. I make a mental reminder to warn her against opening the door without checking who’s on the other side later as I hurry closer.
I see Perry’s smile of greeting wither, replaced by fear as she locks eyes with one of the guys.
“Bryan,” she chokes out, backing away.
“Miss me, bitch?” the man spits.
Rage slams into me. No one talks to my woman like that.
Bryan steps forward, shouldering his way inside when Perry tries to slam the door closed.
“Not going to happen,” I snarl, grabbing him by the back of his neck. I spin, slamming him into the porch railing.
“You fucking whor—”
I slam his face into the wooden beam, cutting off his disgusting words. He drops to the ground. I turn as one of the other men raises his gun and points it right at me. Reacting instinctively, I punch him in the face, knocking him out cold.
I’m too late to stop the third man from pulling the trigger, and I grunt as the bullet pierces my shoulder, but I don’t stop. I can’t. Not until I know that Perry is safe.
I lunge for the man, wrestling the gun free from his hands. Lifting it, I bring the butt down on his head. Blood sprays, covering my face. I bare my teeth, hitting the man again when he continues to fight me, until his limp body sags onto the porch.
Pushing to my feet, I drop into a fighting stance, chest heaving, ensuring all three men stay down. I want to put a bullet in each of them and end this right here and now, but that would mean dealing with the authorities.
I tense as someone slams into my back, whirling around. I relax when I see it’s Perry. She’s crying, her nose red as she wraps her arms around my waist.
“Are you okay?” I ask, scanning her for any sign of an injury.
“Yes,” she sobs. “You’re not.”
“I’m fine,” I promise.
I’m better than fine. My pumpkin is holding me. She’s letting me hold her.
“You were shot!”
“I can stitch it up. It’s not bad,” I assure her.
“What are we going to do about them?” Perry asks, looking at the three men warily.
“I’m going to call the police. They’ll be arrested. They won’t be able to walk away from this.”
She still looks nervous. “I have to go,” she whispers.
I stiffen. “No,” I growl.
“I have to!” she cries. “I can’t bring this trouble to you. I should’ve left days ago. I’m so sorry, Luca.”
“I’m not. I want all of your trouble.”
She gives me a watery laugh as she stares up at me. “You don’t mean that.”
I cup her face, holding her gaze. “I do. I promise you. I want you, Perry. All of you. The good and the bad.”
She blinks up at me, and I can see her trying to decide something as we stare at each other. I figure she’s going to argue some more, maybe even try to leave, and I’m about to sweep her into my arms when she lunges at me.
Her arms wrap around my neck, her soft curves pressing against my body. She leans up on her tiptoes, and then her lips are on mine.
I freeze, my brain trying to figure out if I’m dreaming or if my pumpkin is really kissing me.
She starts to pull back, and I move, wrapping my arm around her waist and holding her to me as I kiss her back.
My lips mold to hers, and I pour all my need, obsession, and love into the embrace. I try to tell her that I want her, that she’s my whole damn world with every stroke of my tongue against hers, every caress of my fingers over her back.
She tastes like tears and something sweet, and I’m instantly addicted.
Perry makes a soft sound against my mouth, and every possessive instinct inside me roars to life. I tighten my hold on her, needing her closer even though there isn’t an inch of space left between us. Her fingers slide into my hair, gripping the strands as she kisses me harder.
Fuck.
I’ve imagined this more times than I can count. I’ve dreamed about her lips, wondered how she would taste and what little sounds she would make for me. None of those fantasies come close to the real thing.
I cup the back of her neck, holding her gently even as my mouth moves hungrily over hers. I force myself to slow down. To savor her. She’s finally in my arms, kissing me because she wants to, and I refuse to rush through a single second of it.
I trace the seam of her lips with my tongue, and she opens for me with a quiet gasp. The first stroke of her tongue against mine nearly brings me to my knees.
Heat burns through me, hotter than the pain tearing through my shoulder.
I forget about the bullet wound. I forget about the men lying at our feet.
The entire world disappears until there’s nothing but Perry.
Her soft body pressed against mine, her trembling hands in my hair, and the desperate way she kisses me like I’m the only thing keeping her together.
Maybe I am.
She pulls back enough to drag in a breath, but I chase her mouth, stealing another kiss. Then another. I can’t stop. Now that I know what she tastes like, I don’t understand how I ever survived without this.
Without her.
“Luca,” she breathes against my lips.
The sound of my name in that soft, shaken voice does something dangerous to me.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur, brushing my nose against hers. “I’m never letting anyone hurt you again.”
Her eyes flutter open. They’re wet with tears, but the fear that filled them before is fading. In its place is something warm and uncertain that makes my heart pound harder than the gunshot did.
“You came back,” she whispers.
“I never left,” I admit.
Her gaze searches mine, and I let her see everything. The need, the devotion, the obsession I’m not capable of hiding anymore.
“I couldn’t,” I admit. “I can’t stay away from you.”
Perry’s expression crumples. For one horrible second, I think she regrets kissing me. Then she cradles my face between her hands and presses her lips to mine again.
This kiss is softer, but it ruins me completely.
I hold her as carefully as I can, my thumb stroking along her spine while she kisses me with a tenderness I’ve never known. Something settles deep inside my chest, a savage, restless part of me finally going quiet because she’s here.
She chose me. Even if it’s only for this moment, she chose me.
A groan sounds behind me, and I break the kiss, pulling back to glare murdderously over my shoulder at the men.
“I’m going to call the police. You go inside and lock the door,” I order Perry.
She nods, and I guide her inside. I grab my phone to make the call, and by the time I hang up, I can already hear the sirens approaching. Bryan groans as he regains consciousness. I punch him again, and he collapses back onto the porch.
My shoulder is screaming where I was shot, but I can’t focus on any of that. Perry kissed me. She hugged me.
She wants me.
I grin like a fool as the cops pull up, and I explain the situation to them. It’s going to be a long ass day of paperwork and questions, but it’s all worth it. I have my girl. I kept her safe.
And I’m going to figure out a way to keep her with me forever.