Page 52 of Lukas

Chapter Twenty-One

If Reina wasn’tthe most adorable and fuckable thing he’d ever seen in his entire life, Lukas didn’t know what was.

They’d had to nix their plans to hit the town once they’d remembered she had shown up in only a trench coat and heels. So, they were cuddled together at one of the two tables inside Lukas’s favorite tiny Chinese-takeout place a few blocks over, empty except for the couple of employees still here this late. Reina was wearing his sweatpants, rolled up to fit, as well as one of his t-shirts, along with her high heels.

Adorable and fuckable.

Christ, watching her slide into sub-space out on his balcony had damn near brought him to his knees it was so breathtaking. She’d trusted him enough to let herself completely go. He understood the magnitude of that and didn’t take it lightly.

And he damn sure would be taking her out everywhere in this town. There wouldn’t be a single soul who wouldn’t know they were a couple.

“You need to know, princess, that once we make this public, that’s it.” He fed her another bite of noodles. “Once you’re in, you’re in. We’ll have to get security on you.”

He could see her brain click on. “What if we break up?”

That wasn’t going to happen. “I’ll probably still have someone following you. At least until I’m sure it’s safe for you.”

She nodded, chewing thoughtfully. At least he didn’t have to explain the nature of his family’s business. She knew—the good and bad parts. She’d grown up knowing.

He reached over and kissed her, couldn’t help it. She was perfect for him. What he’d meant as a light caress of his lips soon had them both breathing heavy. They broke apart, both grinning sheepishly, when they realized someone walking by the window outside had stopped to stare intently at them.

Watching her blush was worth any dislike Lukas normally had for PDA. But he slid a little away from her and went back to their meal.

“I’d rather bypass some of the security and just have you move in with me at the condo.” He stuffed another bite of chicken and broccoli in her mouth, forcing her to chew rather than be able to answer right away. Her eyes narrowed at him, telling him she was onto his ruse.

He smiled.

“You can give all the social norm reasons why we shouldn’t so soon, or you can just accept that it’s what both of us really want and that it’s going to happen eventually anyway. And that we’re never going to fit neatly into social norm parameters anyway.”

“Really?”

“Honey, I’m a mobster and you’re a computer engineer, and we’re both into pretty excessive kinky fuckery. So yeah, not the social norm.”

She smacked his arm, grinning. “Jackass. I meant me moving in.”

He slipped a hand behind her head and pulled her closer. “I want that pretty much more than I do my next breath. That way I can tie you spread eagle in my bed every time you call me jackass.”

“Okay, well, under those conditions, I’m in.”

“Good. I also am going to get a membership for you for Deeper Threat. Normally, there’s a whole process and voting of the founding members and stuff, but I’m pretty sure I can bypass that.” He took a bite of noodles. “Having you out on that balcony tonight just proved you are a perfect fit for the club. I can’t wait to play with you in public.”

He grabbed another bite for her and turned to give it to her, immediately putting the fork down when he saw her face—big tears falling from her eyes.

“Jesus, princess, what is it?” He cupped her cheeks and kissed the tears from her eyes. God, he could not stand to see that distraught look on her face. “Is it the club? You don’t want to go back? We don’t have to.”

“Lukas, there’s something I have to tell you.”

“What?”

She swallowed hard. What could she possibly have to say that was this hard for her to get out?

“That night you first saw me in Deeper Threat—”

Her statement was cut off by the sound of shattering glass as a brick flew through the restaurant’s front window.

Lukas didn’t wait to see what would happen next. He threw his weight towards Reina, pulling them both to the ground and behind another table. He heard her grunt but pushed her head down with his hand, covering her body with his as the second projectile hit the ground a few yards away from them.

Even knowing what was coming, the heat from the bottle bomb was intense as it broke and the gasoline inside burned quickly in the restaurant. The table he’d pulled Reina behind blocked the worst of it—if they’d stayed where they were, they’d have been critically injured—but Lukas still felt the heat singeing his hair and skin.

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