Page 54 of Killing Emma

I tap Luca’s shoulder, and he turns his head to glance back at me, before turning off into a small parking lot along the beach. It’s so early that no one is out, so the beach is desolate, and we’re just as alone as we were out in the wooded hills.

He parks the bike, and then turns to me, flipping up the visor. “Yeah?”

I follow his lead and flip mine up as well. “I have somewhere I want to show you. I didn’t realize how close we were to one of my favorite places.” He studies my gaze, and I realize what I’m asking—and what it might sound like. “And there are no cameras, and the cleaning crew that keep up with it won’t be there…”

“Your family’s beach house?”

I nod, not sure why I’m surprised he knows. “It was my grandmother’s then my mother’s, and I haven’t been there since she passed away.”

He takes a deep breath, holding my gaze. “I can’t take you there. More than likely there’ll be eyes on it.”

“Can’t you tell somehow?” I reason, my heart sinking in my chest. “I just want to show you my favorite place.”

His expression shifts to one that I can’t read. “I’m sorry, Little—Emma.” He doesn’t use the nickname, and part of me wonders if it’s because I told him Manny said it. “I can’t risk you being seen right now.”

I nod. “Maybe someday then.”

“In twenty-nine days, I’ll take you straight there,” he says, his eyes flashing with emotion. However, before I can dissect it, he flips the visor back down and whips out of the parking lot, taking off in the direction we came.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Luca

I throw around the idea of taking her to the beach manor her family has owned for generations, but I know it’s a bad move. I can’t risk anyone seeing us. A motorcycle ride is a risk, but our faces are covered, and I needed it just as much as she did. However, the disappointment of letting her down has nothing on the impact of her words.

I just want to show you my favorite place.

Me. She wants to show me, and while I don’t feel worthy of such a feeling from her, it’s a fucking honor. And it’s got my emotions out of whack. I’ve tried to kill this woman twice, she was nearly assaulted on my watch, and I violently murdered my partner in front of her.

And she still wants me.

She clings to me as I take off down a side road, knowing it leads to a lookout point unfamiliar to most—and on private property that I own. I’ve never built anything there, but when it came up for sale, I had to have it. Just for the fucking lookout.

Emma clings to me as we bounce down the gravel driveway to the gate. I punch in the code, and it opens. I’m sure she’s wondering where we’re going, and while I can’t risk taking her to her favorite place, I can show her mine. I follow the driveway out of sight from the road, and park at the end of it.

I cut the engine and put the kickstand down before removing my helmet entirely. I wait for her to do the same, but she hesitates. I leave her there, carefully climbing off. I take in the sight of her there on my bike in her tight fucking jeans and white T-shirt. She looks like my version of heaven…

And I suddenly need her.

I reach under her chin from behind her. She startles but relaxes as I unsnap the strap, loosen it, and then remove her helmet. Her breath catches as my free hand glides down her thigh.

“Where are we?” She tips her head back to look up at me.

“Somewhere no one will see us,” I rasp as I lean down over her, resting my forehead on her shoulder and breathing in the scent of her. I set the helmet on the ground beside us. My lips find the flesh of her neck and I kiss her.

And she freezes. “Luca… I don’t…”

“I’ll make him go away,” I murmur into her. “Just give me a chance.”

“For a man who had no manners when we first met, you suddenly have a lot of them.” She says it teasingly, but it doesn’t hide the nerves in her voice.

“Would you rather me be the big bad wolf? You wanna run?” My fingers glide to front of her jeans, unsnapping them.

“No, no running,” she breathes out. “Just make him go away.”

Oh fuck. Her words send the thrill of a challenge through my body, and I unzip the denim. “No one will ever have you like I do,” I growl into her neck as my fingers dive beneath the black lace. I bought every fucking scrap of the clothing she has on, and I feel powerful as I reach her center.

A whimper leaves her lips as I slide between her, coating my fingers with her arousal. I know she wasn’t wet when Manny touched her—if he even made it all the way where I am. But because he tried, this is going to be my final fuck you. I dive a finger inside of her.

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