Page 34 of Silent Night With Luca

Christmas is coming, the snow outside looks like a scene fromMiracle on 34th Street, and I’m lying here beside the man who just helped me take down one of the most dangerous people I’ve ever met. A man who told me to myface that he would use me as a pawn and then kill me when I was no longer useful. If that’s not a strange twist in my life, I don’t know what is.

I glance over at Luca again, my chest tightening in a way that’s both exciting and terrifying. Maybe this is what love feels like, or maybe I’m just finally letting myself admit that I want something more than merely surviving.

I want this—him. Whatever it is we’re becoming, I want to see where it leads.

But first, I really want breakfast.

The sizzleof eggs and bacon fills the air as I move around the kitchen, taking comfort in the simple act of cooking. After everything that’s happened, it feels grounding, normal, almost.

I crack another egg into the pan, the smell of breakfast mixing with the faint scent of pine from the balsam fir in the living room.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps behind me, and before I can turn around, Luca’s deep voice cuts through the quiet.

“Your cooking drew me out of bed,” he says, his voice low and teasing. “Smells amazing.”

I glance over my shoulder, and there he is, standing in the doorway, shirtless, his broad shoulders filling the space. His body is a canvas of ink, tattoos sprawled across his strong chest and arms, each one telling a story I want to know more about. My gaze lingers on his abs, the sharp lines ofmuscle rippling down to his waist, and I feel my heart skip a beat.

God, he’s handsome. Too handsome for his own good.

“Thanks,” I manage, my voice coming out softer than I intended. “I’m just making a little something for breakfast. A girl’s gotta eat.”

Luca walks further into the kitchen, his presence commanding, even though he’s casual. His tall frame seems to take up the entire room, and I can’t help but feel a flutter of something deep inside—something that’s been growing stronger since we first got thrown into this chaos together.

“What are you making?” he asks, leaning against the counter, watching me as I move around.

“Just eggs, bacon, and some toast,” I say, turning back to the stove. “Pretty basic, but the kitchen’s stocked. The Lucianas know how to do holidays right. Whoever put this together really knew how to make sure we didn’t go hungry.”

Luca smirks, his mesmerizing green eyes twinkling with amusement. “Yeah, well, I think you’re underselling yourself. It smells a hell of a lot better than just ‘basic”

I laugh, flipping the bacon. “Breakfast will be ready soon.”

Before I can say anything else, Luca walks up behind me, his hand lightly brushing against the small of my back. I can feel the heat of him, his body so close to mine, and the air between us shifts, thickening with something unspoken.

He leans down, his breath warm against my ear as he whispers, “You know, I think you’re my appetizer.”

I laugh softly, my heart racing as I glance up at him. “Is that right? I don’t think people order appetizers with breakfast.”

He turns me around to face him. His eyes meet mine, and there’s a playful gleam in them, something I want to explore.

The aroma of food is still in the air, but it’s quickly being replaced by the scent of our desire. Luca’s hands are on my waist, his touch sending shivers down my spine. He lifts me effortlessly onto the kitchen counter, the cold marble against my skin a stark contrast to the heat radiating off his body.

“I’m dead serious. I want you now,” he says.

I wrap my legs around him, pulling him closer, our lips crashing together in a frenzy of want and need. His hands tangle in my hair, holding me in place as his tongue explores my mouth, owning it, claiming it as his own. I can feel his erection pressing against me, straining against the fabric of his pants, and I can’t help but grind against him, desperate for the friction.

His hands move down to my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh as he grinds against me, the rhythm matching the rapid beating of our hearts. I fumble with his belt, my fingers clumsy with urgency, and he helps me, freeing himself with a groan that vibrates against my lips.

In one swift motion, he enters me, filling me completely. The sensation is overwhelming, and I gasp, my nails raking down his back as he begins to move. He thrusts into me hard and fast, the sound of our bodies colliding. It’s raw and animalistic, and I can’t get enough.

I cling to him, my legs tightening around his waist as he drives into me, each stroke sending waves of pleasure coursing through my body. I can feel the edge approaching, my orgasm building with each powerful thrust.

“You’re mine, Fiamma,” Luca growls against my ear, his voice a possessive rumble that sends a thrill through me. “Say it.”

“I’m yours,” I gasp, the words torn from my throat as I explode around him, my body convulsing with the force of my climax.

He follows me over the edge, his body shuddering as he finds his release, his face buried in the crook of my neck. “Fiamma,” he groans, the sound of my name on his lips pushing me into another wave of ecstasy.

As we both come down from the high, the shrill sound of the smoke alarm pierces the air. The bacon. I had completely forgotten about it. Luca pulls out of me, and I immediately miss the connection, the feeling of him inside me.

---