Chapter 104
ALEX
Luca moved behind me, staring at me in the mirror as I fixed the silky white gown into place.
The paper-thin ceremonial dress barely covered my breasts.
Not like it mattered since you could see my nipples through the fabric.
A slit ran up the length of my thigh. I wasn’t wearing panties because what was the point?
We would undress in front of The Devil’s Knights.
Nerves shook through me. Luca pressed his warm body against my back, and I felt safe, comforted by his touch. He always seemed to know when I needed him.
“Don’t be afraid, mi amore ,” he whispered. “The Knights will do anything for their queen. This isn’t about sex. It’s about them showing their loyalty to you, welcoming you, worshiping you as their queen.”
I spun around to face him. “I’m ready to become your queen.”
“Our queen,” he corrected with fire behind his words and mischief in his eyes.
He led me downstairs, where his brothers waited in the sitting room with Sonny, Drake, Callum, Finn, and Cole. They stopped talking when we walked into the room, holding hands. All of their eyes drifted up and down the length of my body, stripping me bare.
“Let’s go,” Luca ordered.
He placed his hand on my back, led me out of the sitting room, and headed toward the front door. The Knights trailed behind in silence. I could hear my heart pounding as we approached the limousine waiting for us out front. Everyone piled into the limo, and we drove off the estate.
“All of this uncomfortable silence is freaking me out,” I told them. “Someone, please turn on the music and open a bottle of champagne.”
Luca laughed beside me. He told Sonny to deal with distributing the alcohol. Someone hit a button on the wall, and a rap beat floated through the air, ridding us of the awkward silence.
Luca pulled me onto his lap with one hand on my breast and the other between my legs. “Already making my cock hard,” he groaned. “Wait until we get to the temple.”
To torture him, I rubbed my ass on his erection. “Can’t wait.”
We arrived at the marina a few minutes later.
“I got you,” Luca said as he helped me out of the limo.
A chill rolled down my arms. “It’s cold out here.”
Luca slid his arm behind me. “We’ll be underground in a few seconds.”
My dress swept across the ground as we approached the bay. I felt like a Roman goddess, elegant and ethereal, in every way Luca’s queen.
We walked down a flight of stairs past The Founders Club entrance and into the catacombs beneath Devil’s Creek. Salt and the scent of moss floated through the air. With each step we took underground, my nose twitched from my stupid allergies.
At the end of the hallway, Luca removed a skeleton key from his pocket.
He pulled a brick from the wall, inserted the key into a lock, and Marcello helped him open the hidden door.
We rounded one corner, then another, the space dimly lit by lanterns hung on the walls.
It wasn’t as rustic as the catacombs beneath Luca’s house.
Peculiar symbols were etched into the stone walls, lit by lanterns.
I pointed at them as we passed. “What are those?”
“You know how the Freemasons have symbols?” Luca said. “We have our own.”
“Don’t the Masons work with their hands? I can’t see many rich boys hanging out down here to carve symbols into the walls.”
“I take offense at that,” Sonny said with laughter.
“What?” I glanced over my shoulder at him. “When have any of you ever worked with your hands?”
“Please,” Sonny shot back. “I’ll show you how good I am with my hands.”
An excited shiver ran through me because I remembered how good he was last year.
“Looking forward to it,” I said with a wink.
“Stop flirting with my wife, Cormac,” Luca growled.
“She’s ours for the night, Salvatore.”
“C’mon, boys,” I taunted. “No fighting over your queen.”
We stopped in front of double doors with tons of markings on them. The temple was massive, had a high ceiling, and was decorated with lavish decor. Two thrones sat atop a dais at the far end of the room. At the center was a table draped in black and red silk sheets.
I walked into the room with Luca, who led me to our thrones. Luca lifted a black robe from the back of his chair and slipped it over his head. The Knights headed to the right side, changing into similar black cloaks with hoods.
Luca pointed at the golden thrones. “Sit, my queen.”
I did as he instructed, then sat beside me with his hand resting on my thigh.
“How does this work?” I asked. “Same as last time?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “I’ll guide you every step of the way. And after we consummate our bond with the Knights, we will crown you queen.”
I smiled.
Luca lifted an eyebrow. “Does that make you happy?”
I nodded. “Never thought I’d get a coronation.”
“You get more than a crown, baby.”
After the Knights dressed in ceremonial robes, they stood before the dais.
Luca tapped my thigh and whispered, “Follow my lead.”
I rose from the throne and stood at his side. His fingers brushed mine, so I took that as a sign he wanted me to hold his hand. And he did.
We stopped in front of the Knights. Dressed in black cloaks, they kept their faces concealed by the hoods. However, I could have told them apart by their scents.
I knew my Knights.
Luca had been tight-lipped about most of the ritual. He wanted me to experience everything with fresh eyes, with no expectations. But not knowing had only made me more nervous about how this night would unfold.
Luca released my hand and moved in front of me. He shoved my curls over my left shoulder, staring at me with a rare smile. He looked so handsome when he smiled. But how often did he do that? Maybe a little more now that we were officially together.
“My queen,” Luca said, dropping to his knee.
He raised my hand to his lips and kissed my skin, his eyes never leaving mine.
My eyes flicked to the Knights standing behind him, wondering when they would join in his praise.
A burst of heat rushed down my arms as Luca kissed my other hand.
It felt so good to be loved by him. When he wasn’t playing games and lowered his guard, nothing was more beautiful than this man kneeling for me.
Luca rose to his full height. Then he slipped his finger beneath the thin strap over my shoulder. The left side of the dress fell to my belly button. White and nearly see-through, I felt anything but pure in this dress.
I stared at Luca with my heart hammering out of my chest. His eyes were so blue and intense, but dark clouds swam through them. He looked like he wanted to fuck me, then kill me.
Luca stripped away my gown. The fabric gathered around my feet, and I kicked it aside. Even though I couldn’t see their faces, I could feel the Knights admiring me.
Luca turned to face his subjects. “Knights, I present to you, Alexandrea Wellington, your one true Queen. From now on, do you swear an oath to protect your queen, no matter the cost?”
“We swear an oath to you, Alexandrea Wellington, our one true queen,” the Knights said in unison.
Luca turned to me, “And do you, Alexandrea, promise to follow the laws that govern The Devil’s Knights?”
“Yes,” I muttered.
“As our Queen, will you aid The Devil’s Knights in carrying out the laws outlined in the Charter?”
I lowered my head to him. “Yes.”
Luca moved toward a table at the center of the room and lifted a knife. He sliced his finger and let his blood drip into the basin. I moved to his side and grabbed the knife, repeating the process.
I passed the blade to the Knight closest to me. The robe covered his face, but I could tell by his scent that it was Marcello. He always smelled like the sea and fresh linen. Clean, perfect, nothing ever out of place.
The Knights passed around the knife.
“What binds us will destroy us,” Luca said.
The Knights chanted his words.
He looked at me to finish the ritual.
“What binds us will destroy us.”
“And what will destroy us unites us,” Luca said with his eyes on me.
This time, I said the words in unison with the Knights.