Page 11 of Silent Night With Luca

FOUR

Fiamma

Power’s out here. I’m not going to be able to get out of this place tonight. My new plan is to butter up Luca tonight and see if I can get him to loosen up some for tomorrow. Have fun for me and let’s touch base tomorrow! LYLAS

I put my phone away after texting Arianna. Now that we have no power, I know there is no getting out of this so I might as well make it fun. “Okay, you going to play with me or what?”

I shuffle the cards, watching Luca from across the table. The candles flicker in the dim light, casting shadows over his face, making him look even more brooding than usual. The tension between us has eased slightly since we got back, but it’s still there, simmering beneath the surface.

“You know, the only game I really know how to play is poker,” he says, stretching back in his chair with his hands behind his head like he’s the king of the world.

I can’t help but smirk. Poker, huh? Well, two can play at that game. I stare at him for a moment, and an idea sparks. A reckless one, but isn’t that what I do best?

“Alright then,” I say, sitting back in my chair. “Let’s make it interesting.”

He raises an eyebrow, glancing up at me, clearly not buying whatever I’m about to sell. “Interesting how?”

I let the silence linger for a moment before leaning forward, meeting his gaze head-on. “Strip poker, then.”

For a second, his face stays completely unreadable, like he’s trying to decide if I’m serious. Then, his expression hardens. “You’re kidding.”

I shrug, trying to keep my tone casual. “What? Afraid you’ll lose? Or, you got a small dick you don’t want me to see?”

His jaw tightens, and I can see the battle going on inside him. He knows he should say no. Hell, I know he should say no. But we’re both hot-blooded, and the air between us feels thick enough to snap.

He leans back in his chair, arms crossed. “Isn’t this what got you in trouble in the first place?”

“What, poker? No, I don’t play a lot of poker.”

“No, smartass. This flirting shit.”

“I’m not flirting with you. Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just suggesting a way to make a cold night with no power a little more fun. Don’t take life so seriously.”

“You have no idea what you’re getting your getting yourself into.”

I smile, holding his gaze. “Try me.”

For a second, I think he’s going to walk away, but then he grabs the cards and starts dealing again, his gape locked on me. “Fine,” he says, his voice low. “But you’re going to regret this.”

The first few hands go by quickly, and I’m already down my sweater, but I still have my shirt on. He hasn’t lost a damn thing, of course. But I’m not worried. The thrill of the game, of pushing his buttons, makes the whole thing worth it.

A few more rounds, and I’m losing—badly. My shirt’s gone, and I’m down to just my bra and jeans. Luca’s still sitting there, fully dressed, that same unreadable expression on his face. It’s infuriating how calm he is.

I glance down at my cards, biting my lip. One more round. That’s all I need. I’m determined to beat him at least once.

But I don’t.

He lays down his hand, and I know I’m done for. I grit my teeth, trying not to let the frustration show as I unhook my bra, my tits hanging out like a pair of ornaments on the tree. The cool air hits my skin, and I catch Luca’s gaze flicking over me for just a second before he looks away.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” I mutter, gathering the cards.

Luca reaches over, his hand brushing mine as he takes the deck. The touch sends a jolt through me, and for a moment, we’re both still, the space between us shrinking. I can see the conflict in tension in his face—the part of him that wants to stop, to be responsible, and the part that wants something else entirely.

Without thinking, I lean forward, closing the distance between us, and press my lips to his.

It’s not soft or gentle. It’s heat and fire, a spark that ignites the second our mouths meet. He hesitates for just a moment, but then he’s kissing me back, his hand sliding up to the back of my neck, pulling me closer.

The chair scrapes against the floor as he stands, and before I know it, I’m pressed against the table, his body against mine, his hands gripping my waist. Everything about him is hard, controlled, but there’s something underneath that—something raw.

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