14. Luciano
Luciano
She fell asleep three hours ago after crying for a solid forty-five minutes in my arms. I can’t bear to wake her or move her off my lap.
She belongs here. With me. I’ve spent forty-three years moving through the ranks.
The day I was born I was already in, slotted to be a future leading member of the De Luca dynasty.
I’ve always taken it seriously. Focused on my work and status, yet right now, the only thing that feels important to me is Fallon.
My father told me that one day I would meet a woman and I would know she was mine.
I never believed him because, no matter how many I met, I never thought twice about them.
Until her. And now, I feel like I’ve met the other half of my soul.
I can’t explain it. As much as it scares me, Fallon is meant to be mine.
She said she needs to think about a relationship with me, and that’s fine, but she is mine whether she knows it or not.
And after I’m done with the meeting with the Morettis, the Sicilian mafia, tonight, I’ll be focusing on my hit list of men who dared to touch her. I don’t care how long it’s been, they will pay for their sins and they will pay dearly.
My men left hours ago after moving the last of her belongings into the apartment, so I’ve been sitting here in silence, listening to her soft breathing, while my mind has been going nonstop.
I still have so much to learn about Fallon. All her likes and dislikes and things that trigger her. And I will, in time, know every single thing about her, but until then, I will make her feel safe and cared for because I suspect she’s never experienced that in her life.
As much as I’m against hurting women, part of me wants to find her mother and make her pay for everything she put Fallon through. It’s no wonder she hates men and struggles with trusting people.
It’s dark outside by the time she stirs in my arms. I stay still, not wanting to startle her while she comes out of her deep sleep.
“You always smell good,” she murmurs.
Smiling to myself, I lower my lips to the top of her head and inhale through my nose. “You do too, princess. Sweet like candy.”
“How long did I sleep?”
“A few hours. You needed it.”
She takes a slow, deep breath, her fingers fidgeting with the buttons of my shirt. “I’m sorry I cried.”
“Don’t ever apologize for letting your emotions out. I’ll always be your safe place to do that. Good or bad.”
“I never cry.”
That will change. I have a feeling Fallon has been holding in her tears for far too long. If I have to paddle her ass with a wooden hairbrush to get them to come out, I will.
“How do you feel now?” I ask while I rub up and down her back.
“Lighter, actually.”
“Good.”
My phone vibrates on the couch. When I look at it, I inwardly groan. Fuck. I have to get going soon so I can make it to the airport on time.
“How does a shower sound? While you’re in there, I’ll make your bed so you can go back to sleep.”
She doesn’t answer right away, but finally she moves to sit up and look at me, her emerald-green eyes still tired.
I don’t think she gets enough rest, and that’s something I will control once she becomes mine.
Because Fallon will be mine one day. I have a feeling I’m going to have to be patient, which isn’t exactly my strong suit, but for her, I’ll try.
“You’re going to make my bed?” she asks with a look like she doesn’t believe me. “Have you ever made your own bed?”
I smirk, warmth spreading through my chest. “As a matter of fact, I have. I also cook and clean. Does that shock you?”
“Kind of. I figured you’d have a whole staff of people who take care of your every need.”
Her fingers slip between the buttons of my shirt, touching my bare skin. A shock of electricity runs through me, and my dick surges to life again.
Jesus.
I’ve never struggled with my arousal like this. Fallon makes me feel like I’m a young man again with as often as my cock gets hard for her.
Ignoring my desire, I stroke her hair away from her face and try to focus on our conversation.
“I have a housekeeper who comes in daily to do stuff around my house and keep my fridge stocked. But when I’m home, I like to prepare meals for myself.
My mother made me learn how to cook as a child so I could take care of a wife one day in more ways than just financially. ”
She smiles softly. “That’s refreshing. I’ve never known a man who can cook.”
I chuckle and gently lift her off my lap, setting her on her feet. Then I rise and take her hand. “Glad that pleases you, princess.”
When we walk into her bedroom, she stops and looks around, the city shining through the massive windows.
“I’ll never be able to thank you properly for helping me with this place. It’s so beautiful.”
As she takes it all in, the only beauty I notice is hers. As much as I know to be patient, I’m struggling to keep my hands off her.
“Knowing you’re in a safe place and happy here is all the thanks I need.” I pull her back toward me so I can wrap my arms around her from behind. “I don’t know the specifics of your past life yet, but from here on out, I’m going to make your future the best I can for you. You deserve it, princess.”
Fallon laughs softly and tilts her head back to look at me. “I feel like you already think we’re dating.”
Smirking, I arch an eyebrow. “Aren’t we?”
She rolls her eyes and turns to face me, her arms snaking around my neck. “I told you I need time to think about it.”
“I know. And I’ll give you that, but until then, just know I consider you mine until you say otherwise.”
Her green eyes sparkle as she runs her fingers along the nape of my neck, sending sparks through me once again. “You’re persistent.”
“When I know what I want, I go after it. Relentlessly.”
For a long moment, we stare at each other, saying nothing, yet it feels as though we’re saying so much.
Fallon is scared of being hurt, and with what I know of her past, I understand that.
On paper, I can already tell she’s been through hell, and that’s just what Cassian found.
Part of me dreads discovering the full details of her life.
I have a feeling I’ll be going on a killing spree when that happens because no one who hurt my girl, past or present, will survive my wrath.
Slowly, I lower my face to hers, giving her time to pull back if she wants to. The smell of vanilla and cotton candy fills my senses as I get closer. When she doesn’t try to stop me, I close the gap between us.
Her nails dig into my neck, and I press my lips to hers.
My hands run up and down her back, holding her as close to me as possible while I kiss her.
When she opens her mouth, I don’t hesitate to explore her with my tongue.
It only takes a second before she does the same, moaning quietly when I rub my palm over her ass.
She nips at my bottom lip, and that’s all it takes for my gentleness to disappear. With a hand under her ass, I lift her from the ground, her legs immediately wrapping around my waist. I kiss her harder and deeper, dominating her mouth with mine.
I lay her down on her bed, hovering over her, our lips still connected, her hands roaming up my chest and shoulders. My cock is rock hard, and she knows it because she squeezes me closer, grinding her warm pussy against me.
Fuuuuuck.
She’s going to kill me.
When I finally pull back, we’re both breathless, staring into each other’s eyes.
“Wow,” she whispers. “I’ve never been kissed like that.”
Her honesty makes me chuckle as I drop my mouth to her neck and press a gentle kiss there. “Yeah, well, you’d better get used to it, princess. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot you do with me that you’ve never experienced before.”
I flex my hips slightly, my cock painfully hard. “Has a man ever made you come before, baby?”
She shakes her head, her eyes full of disappointment and shame. “No. They’ve never even tried.”
Irritation prickles at my neck, and I have to force myself not to get angry; it’s not her fault that the men she’s been involved with were all pieces of shit.
“When’s the last time you made yourself come?”
When her cheeks turn pink, it only spurs on my arousal. I have a feeling she’s been just as needy as me these past few days while we’ve been dancing around this attraction I know we have for each other.
“Tell Daddy,” I urge.
Fallon closes her eyes, and I allow it for now. She might be feeling shy at the moment, but that will change with time.
“Last night,” she whispers.
I flex my hips again, a small moan slipping from her swollen lips. “What were you thinking about when you touched yourself last night, princess?”
She refuses to look at me. It’s adorable, but I want to see those pretty emerald eyes of hers, so I cup her chin in my hand and gently squeeze. “Look at me, baby. Tell me what you were thinking about.”
I’m pretty sure I already know, but I want to hear it from her. I want her to admit it out loud so maybe she’ll start to accept that she’s mine.
“You.” It comes out so quiet that I barely hear it, but I know what she said and so does she.
“You were thinking about me when you played with your pretty little pussy?”
She rolls her lips in, nods, and finally opens her eyes, uncertainty shining in them. “Yes.”
“Good to know. But guess what?” I reply, a slow, smug smile spreading over my face.
“What?”
I lower myself, so my entire body is pressed against her softness, but I’m careful not to put too much weight on her. “From now on, you don’t get to touch yourself without Daddy’s permission.”
As her pupils dilate, I inwardly celebrate knowing that turns her on, but I also know that Fallon isn’t going to give in easily. She likes the push and pull, and so do I.
Fallon raises an eyebrow. “Who said you’re my Daddy?”
“I guess that’s for you to decide, princess. But once I’m your Daddy, just know, I’m never letting you go. So keep that in mind.”
We stare at each other for a long moment, and I can’t resist the urge to lean down and press a gentle kiss to her lips before I push off her.
“I have a meeting I have to attend in a few hours in another state. That should give you some time to think. Go get ready for bed while I get you something to eat and make your bed,” I say, holding out my hand to help her up.
“You have to go out of town? For how long?” Her eyebrows pinched.
Aw. My princess doesn’t like the idea of me being gone. Is she jealous or worried? There’s no reason to be either. The only woman holding my attention is Fallon, and that’s not going to change anytime soon.
“I’ll be home by morning. It’s a meeting with another syndicate. We go to neutral territory for these sorts of things.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“It can be, but we take precautions and have a lot of security at these meetings.” I wink and stroke her silky hair. I can’t keep my hands off her.
Fallon nods and nibbles on her lower lip.
“Do you want help in the shower?” I ask.
Her mouth falls open, and I take that moment to capture it with mine, pleased when she immediately returns my kiss.
Jesus.
I feel so out of control with Fallon.
I’ve dated women for months and never had this kind of visceral reaction to them.
Her voice. Her warmth. Her passion. Fallon is everything I’ve ever wanted, but I never even realized it until now.
It’s like there’s an urgency to make her mine because I’m afraid if I don’t, she might decide this life is too much.
Not that I would blame her. Being the significant other of a mafia leader is constricting.
And on top of that, I’m a controlling bastard who would want to know every single thing about Fallon.
Her period schedule, her eating schedule, her sleep, who she’s talking to, where she’s going. There would be zero privacy between us.
When I release her lips, I lick mine to get every bit of her taste from them. “Go get in the shower, and I’ll make you something to eat, princess. I’ll help you another time.”
Even though all of me wants to say fuck it and miss my plane so I can spend the rest of the night showing her how she should be treated. Unfortunately, skipping meetings isn’t a luxury I have in this life. Not important ones like this.
“I don’t have any groceries yet,” she says.
“Yes, you do. I ordered some earlier and had them delivered. Your kitchen is fully stocked.”
Fallon’s chest rises as she takes in a breath, her nipples pressing against the loose black T-shirt she’s wearing. What I would give to reach under the thin material and gently squeeze one of her big, perky tits. One day, I’m going to come all over them and make her smear it into her soft skin.
“You bought me groceries?” she asks like it’s an absolute shock that I would do something so basic.
“Yeah, princess. I told you, I want to take care of you. In every single way possible.”
She stares at me for a moment, and I’m not sure whether she’s going to tell me off, but then she shocks me by stepping closer and snaking her arms around my waist.
“You make it so I don’t have to think around you. I’ve never experienced that in my entire life,” she says quietly.
Wrapping her up in a tight hug, I press a kiss to the top of her head. “That’s exactly what I’m going for, princess. Your job as Daddy’s girl would be to obey me and enjoy your life to the fullest, knowing I’ll keep you safe and taken care of.”
She tips her head back to look at me, her green eyes sparkling. “You would really punish me if I disobeyed?”
Keeping my gaze on hers, I give a single nod.
“Absolutely. I would pull down your panties, put you over my knee, and spank your ass. Depending on your crime, it may be with my hand, or with a wooden hairbrush. Or I might ground you or make you stand in the corner like a naughty Little girl, depending on your behavior.”