15. Chapter Fifteen
15
Sofia
Luca liked kissing. A lot.
Pulling Luca's car out of his parking spot, I still couldn't help but feel stunned. Last night had been...wow. I didn't know what to expect when he asked me to stay, but I certainly didn't think we'd end up making out like teenagers on the couch.
Oh, God, he was an amazing kisser. He started out gentle, barely brushing his lips against mine, but as soon as I leaned into him, giving permission, he grew insistent, kissing me hard, like he was trying to devour me. He was demanding and forceful, and I loved every second of it. It was so unlike him, to be so forceful. But I loved it. And the way he touched me, like I was something precious. I had never felt so wanted, so desired. He took his time, touching me lightly, like he was afraid I might break. It was incredibly sweet and unbelievably sexy at the same time.
I was definitely attracted to him, and the more time I spent with him, the more I liked him. He was smart, funny, and surprisingly sweet. For so long Luca had been keeping everyone at arm’s length—even me—but when he let his guard down, he almost seemed like a completely different person.
Frowning, I turned down the radio. Luca had seemed like a completely different person. After the doctor's appointment, Luca couldn't get away from me fast enough; he'd practically sprinted from the car past the compound's gates. The visit must have really shaken him up, more than he was letting on. Is that what this was—a reminder of how close to death he'd come? Maybe the visit had been a wakeup call. I'd heard of people doing things like that after a brush with death—getting a tattoo, going skydiving…
…Throwing themselves headfirst into relationships.
I couldn't deny that the thought of being with Luca made my stomach do flip-flops. But I wasn't going to let myself get hurt. I couldn't let myself fall for him completely. He was exploring something here, he was still healing, and I couldn't mess with what was going on in his head or the journey he had to take to get to a place where he could be at peace with himself. This was something Luca had to do for himself, and I was just along for the ride. If I could ease the way for him, I would. I could be a good friend, a good companion. But I couldn't let myself fall in love. That would only complicate things.
No feelings. Only fun.
I could do that.
Pulling into the Moretti compound, I parked next to Dante's black Escalade and climbed out of the car. The sun was high overhead, the heat oppressive and heavy in the air. I paused for a moment to check my reflection in the window and try to tame some of the frizz in my hair. I'd pulled it up into a high ponytail, but the humidity had already turned it into a poufy mess.
"Hey," Julian called out as he stepped through the door into the garage. "I didn't know you were coming by."
"I didn't know either," I said, giving him a quick hug before he could stop me. "Aria called and said she was bored, so I came over to hang out."
Julian awkwardly patted my back. He wasn't one for physical affection, finding it distasteful and off-putting. My father had wired him that way. I knew he tried not to show it, but I could tell it made him uncomfortable. In my opinion (and Aria's) he just needed to get laid.
I pulled away, giving him a knowing grin. "I'm sorry, I forgot. Personal space."
"You're fine," he said, giving me a tight smile. Julian stepped back and straightened his jacket, his usual impeccable suit a little rumpled from the hug. "Well, I'm glad you're here. Maybe you can help me talk some sense into Aria."
"What's going on?"
"She wants to invest in a nightclub."
"Is that what the 911 was about? Actually, I think it's perfect for her. She needs something to do." I shrugged, heading towards the house. "Why don't you want her to do it?"
Julian followed me up the stairs. "She's too flighty, Sofia. Owning a nightclub is a big investment and a huge time sink, and Aria doesn't have a head for business. Besides, Dante's going to flip his lid when he finds out."
"So?" I paused outside the door to Aria's room. "It's her money, isn't it?"
"Of course it is," Julian said, sounding exasperated. "But because she is who she is, it's going to be associated with the family. That brings along its own kind of trouble. This is the last thing we need right now."
"What, you're going to forbid her from doing it? She's a grown woman."
"No, I'm not going to forbid her. Dante is."
I scoffed. It was no secret that Aria barely tolerated her brother. "That's going to go over well."
Julian pulled me to the side, ducking his head down to look me in the eye. "Look, Sofia, I know she means well, but this is serious. Talk to her."
"You talk to her if you're so worried about it," I snapped, exasperated. "Stop having everybody else do your dirty work for you, Julian."
"That's not what I'm doing. I just—"
"Save it." I held up my hand, cutting him off. I couldn't deal with him right now. Julian meant well, but he was always trying to control everything. "I'll talk to her. But she's going to make her own decisions, and I'm going to be there for her either way."
Julian sighed, rubbing his forehead. "That's all I ask, Sofia. Believe it or not, Aria respects you. You buckled down and finished your degree, and now you're a successful businesswoman on the upward trajectory. I'm so proud of you."
My cheeks burned at the compliment. If Julian knew how I'd lied, how far I'd fallen, or what I'd gotten myself into, he'd never forgive me. My brother held himself to a strict set of moral standards—ironic, given his position as a mafia capo—and he held everyone around him to those same standards. The only person who seemed to be excused from his scrutiny was Dante, for some reason, but I suspected that was a matter of pragmatism rather than Julian's approval. There was no changing Dante.
And if Julian ever found out how Luca had betrayed the family for Emilia, he would have a coronary.
"Thanks," I mumbled, looking down at my feet. Julian patted my shoulder awkwardly, then took a step back.
"Well, I'll leave you to it. I'll see you at dinner."
He started up the stairs, but I called after him. "Hey—have you seen Luca?"
"He's at the range with Dante." The compound boasted a full-sized gun range in the basement, as well as a boxing ring, weight room, and fully stocked bar. The Morettis enjoyed their creature comforts, and the compound reflected it. "They've been down there all morning. I'd leave them to it, though, a gun range is no place for you, Sofia."
No place for a lady, he might have added. I tried not to roll my eyes at my brother's old-fashioned misogynism. "I won't, but I was just wondering...did Luca seem all right to you yesterday? He's been kind of...off lately."
Julian's eyebrows furrowed. "Actually, he did get into a fight with Dominic yesterday. Dante and I had to break them up."
"Wait—Dominic is back?" My stomach twisted. That was never good news. Dominic was an unpredictable bully, and he'd almost gotten Luca killed two years ago. "What happened?"
"No one knows. Apparently, Dominic was in the middle of a shouting match with Luca when Dante and I walked in."
"About what?"
"Dante didn't say, but it can't be good. Luca's been having a rough time lately. I don't blame him for getting upset. But we can't let that kind of thing happen again. We need to present a united front. The family isn't in the best shape right now, and we have to keep up appearances for the sake of the family."
I wanted to scream at him that I didn't give a shit about the family, I gave a shit about Luca. He'd almost died, he was still hurting, and Dominic coming back into the picture was only going to make things worse. But I knew how Julian would react to that, so I bit my tongue. My brother held his position with great honor. It was his whole world. The family was everything to him, and I'd never seen him prouder than when Lorenzo named him a made man. Julian wasn't going to drop his principles to help me, or anyone else for that matter.
"I know." I gave him a small smile, trying to smooth things over. "Or course you're right. I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"No, it's all right," he said, returning the smile. "I understand you're concerned about Luca. I am too. But he'll be all right. He just needs time. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
He climbed up the stairs and disappeared, leaving me standing in the hallway.
My walk to Aria's set of rooms was long, but only because I was dragging my feet, going over last night with Luca. This hot and cold routine with him was giving me whiplash. Something else was driving his emotions, but a confrontation with Dominic didn't seem like it would be enough to push Luca over the edge. Still, there were the rages, the mood swings. The depression. He'd always been even tempered, but his brain injury had changed all that. Maybe this was just another episode.
Or maybe it was something more.
Aria's door was closed, so I rapped on the wood and called out to her. "Ari, it's me."
"Come in!"
I turned the knob and pushed the door open. Aria was perched on the edge of the bed, surrounded by papers, hair in a messy bun and glasses perched on her nose that somehow made her look more chic than I did after an hour prepping for a date. She held a pen in one hand, and she waved me over with the other.
"Get over here girl, I'm buying a nightclub!"
I laughed and hurried over to her, shoving the papers away so I could sit down next to her. "Julian told me. Congratulations."
Aria rolled her eyes. "As if he'd approve."
"He didn't. I'm supposed to talk you out of it."
"Ha!"
"I'm not, of course."
"Sure you're not, because I want you to invest with me. I've already found a spot--it's perfect, Sof. Just wait 'til you see it. You're going to love it."
She handed me a couple of papers—blueprints, I realized after a moment. Aria continued talking a mile a minute, but I zoned out as I studied them. They were for an old firehouse in the North End, just off the waterfront, that had been converted into a dance club. It had been on the market for years, and while it looked a little rough around the edges, it was in a prime location. The building was big, with an exposed brick facade and plenty of open space. It needed some work, but with the right vision and the right team, Aria could turn it into something spectacular.
"So, what do you say?" she asked, eyes bright with excitement. "Are you in?"
I laughed. Aria had the personality of a golden retriever mixed with the tenacity of a pit bull. Bubbly, impulsive, and vibrant, but when she sunk her teeth into something, it was for keeps. Aria always got what Aria wanted. The consummate mafia princess. The polar opposite of her brother Dante. Sometimes it was hard to believe they were related.
"I can't, Aria. You know I would if I could, but I don't have the money to invest. And besides, Julian might actually murder me if he found out. I'm supposed to be talking you out of it."
Aria smirked. "Oh, really? Since when do you do anything Julian tells you? Let's not forget about your secret double life that he knows nothing about."
"And I'd like to keep it that way. Luca's covering for me as it is."
"Ooh! Luca. How's that going?" Aria flopped on the bed, her chin perched on her hands, all talk of her new business endeavor forgotten. As the resident matchmaker and gossipmonger of the family, Aria could not resist a juicy story. I remember when I had the freedom to be concerned with those kinds of things.
"I don't know," I sighed. "He's...weird. Moody. One minute he's hot, the next he's cold. And then, just last night, he came home looking really preoccupied, like something was wrong. But when I asked him about it, he practically jumped me. We ended up making out on the couch for like, an hour."
"Wow. That sounds...hot?"
"It was. In kind of a sweet, adolescent way."
Aria made a face. "Just how every guy wants to hear his foreplay described."
"No, no. I'm not explaining it right. It's like..." I had to pause a moment to gather my thoughts. "Kissing him, it's like...it's slow and achingly sweet, but it's also the kind of kiss that incinerates you from the inside out. He's good, like, really good at it, but it also feels like he's never kissed anyone before and he's going slow because he doesn't want to miss a single thing. When Luca kisses me, he devours me, one breath at a time. Learning everything. Feeling everything. Like I can really feel him there, all of him behind that kiss, nothing left on the table."
Aria stared at me, eyes wide. "Holy shit."
My laugh sounded a little hysterical, even to my ears. "I swear, I've had sex that's felt less intimate than one of Luca's kisses."
Aria's face softened. "Oh, Sofia. You have it bad, don't you?"
"Yeah, I think I do."
"Have you told him yet?"
I shook my head. "I don't think it's a good idea. He's got so much to figure out, and I don't want to push him. Or scare him off."
I didn’t want to tell her that we’d decided to keep things casual, because I wasn’t sure of it myself. Everything between us so far had just been so…intense. Casual didn’t seem like an option. But I was worried about Luca getting hurt, especially after Emilia, so I had agreed to his proposal, even though it felt like a part of me was rebelling against the thought.
"Are you kidding me? If I had a man who could kiss me like that, I'd marry him tomorrow. You should tell him."
"Aria, I can't. What we have now...it works. Luca's still recovering from what happened two years ago, and I don't want to hurt that in any way. That includes messing with his head by throwing all my messy feelings onto him. He's still figuring himself out. I just want to be there for him in any way I can. I'll take whatever part of Luca he feels ready to give, but not a scrap more. I will not push him again."
"Sofia, I get it, I really do, but this isn't healthy. You're sacrificing your own happiness to make him comfortable. And if you're not careful, you'll lose your heart in the process. You're going to get hurt."
I shook my head. "I won't. I'm being careful; I know this relationship for what it is. Something to take one day at a time."
"Okay. If that's what you want, I support you. Just...be careful. Please."
I gave her a wry smile. "Since when are you the one telling me to be cautious?"
Aria shivered. "You're right, that felt gross. You do you, boo. Have wild adolescent make out sessions with Luca, just make sure you give me all the deets when you too finally bang. Cool?"
I smiled at my friend. "Cool."
"Great. Now, let's head downstairs and get a drink—I'm well past wine o'clock."
I gestured to the documents on her bed. “What about your nightclub?”
“Eh, I’ll get around to it. Come on.”
The Moretti Compound boasted a full bar in the game room, stocked with every type of alcohol imaginable, including a wine cellar whose occupants were worth more than the mansion itself. The game room itself was lavishly appointed with leather furniture, a billiards table, and an extensive entertainment system, including a big-screen television and surround sound. It used to be one of my favorite spots in the house, when I had time for such things.
Aria made a beeline for the bar, and I followed along behind her, but before she could pour me a drink, a voice called from the door.
"Sofia."
I froze, my hand tightening around Aria's. All the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Dominic Moretti stood in the entrance to the game room, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on me with a smarmy grin on his face. His gaze roved over me in a way that made my skin crawl.
"What the hell are you doing here, Dominic?" I asked, turning to face the man standing in the doorway.
"I’m back. Thought your little friend Luca would tell you," he replied, taking a few steps into the room. "I haven't seen you around much lately."
I didn't like the way he was looking at me, and I crossed my arms over my chest defensively. "I've been busy."
"Oh, yeah? Doing what?"
"Working. Something you would know nothing about."
I started to turn away, but Dominic grabbed my arm, pulling me around to face him. I could feel the heat of his palm through the sleeve of my blouse, and it made me shiver.
"You don't know a single thing about it. Check the headlines, babe. I've been working up one side of Boston and down the other." Dominic's lewd gaze drifted down to my chest. "You need to watch your mouth, Sofia. You don't want to piss me off."
His grip tightened on my arm, and I pushed against him, but I couldn't break free.
"Get your hands off me," I hissed. "I'm not kidding, Dom."
Dominic pulled me closer, so close I could smell his breath. "Or what, Sofia? What are you going to do?"
"I'll scream."
Dominic laughed. "Oh, I'd love to hear you scream."
"That's enough," a voice said from the doorway.
Dominic and I both turned to see Luca standing in the entrance to the game room, a murderous expression on his face.
"Let her go, Dominic," Luca said, his voice low and dangerous.
Dominic released me, but not before running his hand up my arm in a lecherous caress.
"Back off, Luca," Dominic warned, glaring at him. "This doesn't concern you."
Luca crossed the room in three long strides, positioning himself between me and Dominic. "I said, back off."
Dominic laughed. "Or what, Luca? You gonna hit me again? Go ahead, your buddy Dante isn't here to hold you back this time."
"I don't need anyone to hold me back."
"That's right, because you're nothing. You're nothing but a washed-up, has-been capo. You don't even have a crew anymore." Dominic jerked his chin at Luca's trembling right hand. "You can't even hold a gun, can you? You're useless. Pathetic ."
Luca exploded into motion, throwing himself at Dominic with a feral growl. Tackling Dominic to the floor, he landed two solid punches before Dominic managed to get his bearings. They wrestled for control, but Luca was bigger and stronger, even despite his infirmities, and he soon had Dominic pinned beneath him, his hands around Dominic's throat.
"Luca, stop!" I screamed, trying to pull him off Dominic. "You're going to kill him!"
Dominic bucked his hips, trying to throw Luca off, but Luca just squeezed harder. Dominic's face was turning a dangerous shade of plum. Aria and I stood frozen in the corner; I'd never seen Luca this way, and I didn't know what to do.
Suddenly, Julian and Dante rushed into the room, pulling Luca off Dominic.
"Jesus, Luca, what the fuck?" Dante hissed as he struggled to hold him back.
Julian knelt down next to Dominic, who was coughing and sputtering on the floor. Rolling to his knees, Dominic glared up at Luca, rubbing his neck where Luca's hands had been.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a misunderstanding, right, Luca?"
"Fuck you, Dominic," Luca growled, his eyes still fixed on him. "Don't ever come near Sofia again, or I swear to God, I will kill you."
I stepped forward, placing a hand on Luca's chest.
"It's okay, Luca. He didn't hurt me," I said softly.
Luca's dark eyes met mine, and I saw the anger there. But there was also fear and worry. "Are you sure?"
I nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. He was just being an asshole, like always."
Julian looked between the two of us, concern etched on his face. "What the hell just happened? Sofia?"
"It's nothing," I assured him, not wanting to cause more of a scene than we already had. "I'm fine."
"Sofia..." Julian began, but I cut him off.
"Julian, please. Not now."
Julian sighed, clearly not happy, but he knew better than to push me. He turned his attention back to Dominic.
"You need to leave, Dom. Now."
"Whatever," Dominic muttered. "I was just trying to have a little fun."
Dominic brushed past Luca, bumping his shoulder hard as he went.
I watched him go, my heart still racing from the confrontation. When he was gone, I let out a shaky breath, trying to calm myself down. Without a word, Luca took me by the hand and led me from the room, his grip gentle but firm, even though I could still see the tension in the set of his jaw. Down the hall to a seldom used receiving room. Then the door closed behind us and Luca was pulling me into his arms.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, his voice soft and concerned.
"I'm fine, really. I just...I wasn't expecting to see him here, and he was being such a jerk, and I..." I trailed off, the events of the past few minutes finally catching up with me. My hands were shaking, and my heart was still racing. "You can't do that, Luca."
His head jerked back, and he frowned. "What?"
"You can't let yourself get that angry. Getting into a fight with Dominic. He could have really hurt you," I said, my voice wavering. "I know you were trying to protect me, and I appreciate it, but you have to think about yourself. If he had hit you in the wrong place, if you had hit your head, you could've..."
Died. Luca could have died.
I broke off, tears stinging my eyes at the thought. During his recovery, the doctors had made it very clear that another blow to the head could easily kill him.
Luca's mouth opened and closed, his single good eye searching mine. Then he closed the distance between us with startling ferocity, and he kissed me.
This time, the kiss wasn't gentle. It wasn't slow. It was hungry and passionate and possessive. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, and I melted into him, my body responding to his touch. The kiss sent shivers through my body, and I clung to him, my heart pounding in my chest, and I let myself get lost in the feeling of his mouth on mine. The world around us fell away, and for a moment, it was just the two of us, alone in this room. In this moment.
When Luca pulled away, he cupped my face, looking down at me with an intensity that made me tremble.
"I can't lose you, Sofia," he said softly. "Not again. Not when I just found you. Dominic is not going to take you away from me."
Then his mouth was back against mine, hard and claiming.
My breath caught in my throat as he pushed me up against the wall, his strong body pinning me in place. He nipped my lip, sending a shockwave of sensation through my body. My hands clutched at his shirt, desperate to get closer, to feel more of him.
His tongue swept through my mouth, teasing me, and I could feel myself growing wet in response.
He broke the kiss, his hot mouth against my throat, sucking hard. I moaned, my hips arching into his. He moved lower, leaving a trail of fiery kisses along my collarbone. This was so different before, so different from Luca's careful exploration. This was aggressive and possessing. Desperate.
I felt a rush of power at the thought that he couldn't hold back, that his need was too great. His hands slipped beneath my shirt, sliding up my sides until his fingers closed over my breast through the lace of my bra. I gasped at the sensation, my nipple tightening under his touch. His thumb grazed the hardened peak, and I felt a jolt of pleasure run through me. Luca raised his head, his gaze meeting mine as he repeated the motion, slower this time.
"Sweet Jesus," he groaned. "Sofia..."
It seemed to spur him on, and I felt his hips press against mine, his hard length throbbing insistently against me. With a low growl, he yanked at the top of my dress and my breast spilled free. Luca ducked his head, capturing the taut bud in his mouth. Heat streaked from my nipples in a fiery burn straight to my core, making me shudder and writhe in his grasp.
I gasped, my back arching into him, pressing myself closer to him as I clutched the back of his head, holding him in place. His other hand came up to my other breast, kneading and pinching, drawing sharp gasps and whimpers from me. God, I had no idea it could be like this. No one had touched me this way before and I was spiraling, losing all sense of reality as I floated in a haze of want.
I slid my leg up his thigh, hooking it around his hip. Pulling him closer, grinding my pelvis against his. Luca's cock was straining against his zipper, throbbing and insistent. And big.
My head was spinning, overwhelmed by this possession...and by how badly I wanted him. Needed him. I rocked into his hardness, feeling him throb in response.
Shoving my dress up to my hips, Luca parted my thighs. One finger traced a light path up my inner thigh. Teasing, stroking the sensitive skin until I quivered. Sliding his hand higher, his fingers found the lacy edge of my underwear, playing across the damp material.
A muffled moan escaped my lips as his finger slid under the fabric, brushing against my heated skin, seeking the very spot where I needed him most. Instinctively, I canted my hips forward, urging him on.
He delved deeper, parting me and circling my clit with the tip of his finger, tracing maddening patterns over my sensitive skin, until I was writhing in his grasp, gasping into his mouth as he continued to devour me. The slow friction was agonizing, tantalizing, and my body shook with need, eager for more.
Luca slid one long finger inside me. Then two. I almost exploded on the spot. It had been so long since anyone had touched me like this, so long since I'd felt this way, and I was practically on fire. He curled his finger inside of me, pumping gently, slowly at first, then faster and deeper as I moaned and shuddered against him. Every thrust brought me closer and closer to the edge, every brush of his lips and teeth against my throat a promise of what was to come. And I wanted it. All of it.
All of him.
"Luca," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Please."
"What do you need, baby?" His voice was rough and needy. "Tell me."
"More," I moaned. "Please."
Luca obliged, picking up the pace, driving me higher and higher until I felt myself beginning to fall.
"Don't stop," I gasped. "Luca..."
My words trailed off into a sharp cry as my orgasm tore through me, shattering me into a thousand tiny pieces. I heard Luca mutter something low in Italian, then his lips were back against my ear, whispering softly, soothingly as I came apart around his hand. His thumb flicked over my clit, dragging out my orgasm until I was limp and sated.
He slowed the pace, prolonging my orgasm. Soft, soothing kisses rained down on my neck and throat. When I was aware enough to open my eyes, Luca was looking down at me with a strange, intense look in his eyes.
"Sofia," he whispered roughly, pressing a tender kiss against my swollen lips.
I could see him straining against his zipper, desperately in need of his own release. But Luca didn't move or try anything else. Didn't grind into me or take his own needs into consideration.
"I shouldn't have done that," he muttered, resting his forehead against mine, breathing heavily. "I lost control, I just...Sofia, forgive me..."
My hands fell away from his shoulders, landing on his chest, feeling his heartbeat hammering beneath my palm. He was shaking, a light tremor I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been touching him. Trembling from the effort it took not to keep touching me.
"You don't have to apologize, Luca," I said as I reached down to stroke the erection straining the seam of his pants. "And we certainly don't have to stop..."
A groan tore from deep inside him, and I could feel the tension in his body building. Gently, but firmly, Luca guided my hand away back up to his chest and brought his forehead to rest against mine, his breathing heavy.
"God, Sofia...We can't. Not here," he rasped, sounding almost pained.
"Why not?" I asked breathlessly, chasing his mouth with my own. My hands slipped down his stomach to the bulge in his pants, gripping him firmly.
"Because I want to take my time with you." He tilted my chin up with a crooked finger so I was staring up at him. His expression softened when he saw the desire on my face, a slight smile curving his full lips. "And because you deserve more than a quick fuck against a wall."
I flushed hotly. He chuckled low in his throat and dipped down to brush my lips with his.
"When I'm with you like this, I want to savor every moment."
Gently, he disentangled himself from my embrace, tugging my dress back over my hips and covering me back up. It was a surprisingly sweet gesture, given the fact that just seconds ago his hands and mouth had been all over me.
"I'm sorry, Sofia. About earlier with Dominic," Luca whispered, his voice husky. "I didn't mean to scare you. I won't let anything happen to you. Ever."
"You’re right. You did scare me, and you could've died. All over some stupid fight with Dominic Moretti. You have to take better care of yourself."
Luca's eye never left mine, his expression soft and sincere. "I know. And I will. But there's nothing that's going to keep me from protecting you, Sofia. No one is going to hurt you, not while I'm around."
Luca was like a rock: he was big, solid, and dependable. He was always there when I needed him, which is exactly what he'd been doing my whole life, I realized. Looking after me, protecting me, even when he had no reason to. And the thought of losing him filled me with a fear that threatened to consume me.
"I don't want anything to happen to you," I whispered, tears stinging my eyes once more.
Luca's jaw clenched, a muscle in his cheek twitching. His hand reached for mine, his thumb gently stroking my skin.
"Nothing's forever, even us. We're all dust in the end. But as long as my heart's beating, Sofia, I will protect you. I promise you that." He leaned down, tilting his head, his lips inches from my ear. "And you better go home and get ready, because tonight, I'm taking you on a date."
I felt my cheeks flush, my heart racing at his words.
"A date?" I repeated, my voice barely audible.
Luca nodded, his single eye flashing with an intensity that left me breathless.