Page 29 of Stolen Seconds

Shock pulsed in my veins at the sight, my heart fluttering against my chest almost painfully, unaware of what was about to happen.

He looked barbaric, blood and sweat dripping down his face and torso. This was worse than when he was in the ring, the craze in his eyes adding to how untamed he appeared.

Adrenaline seeped into my bloodstream, injecting me with the high I craved.

Luca reached me in a few strides, but it seemed I wasn’t his target. He grabbed the well-dressed man by the collar and shoved him to the floor as if he weighed nothing.

All I could do was stare as his fists drove into the man’s face repeatedly, his face becoming distorted and unrecognizable.

I knew I should’ve tried stopping it, but I couldn’t move. The hollowness inside my chest was numb, desensitizing me to the brutal scene in front of me.

Shouting and cheering echoed through the basement, the onlookers fueling Luca’s unhinged behavior with their commentary.

Suddenly, my body jolted, pulling me away from my fixation. Roman came into view, assessing me as if he were checking for any injuries before he went to Luca, trying to tug him off the unconscious man.

“Irina,” Aurora said from beside me. “Are you okay?”

Luca hadn’t budged. And it was near alarming when Ricardo stepped in to help Roman.

What kind of strength did this Italian brute possess?

“I’m fine,” I replied hoarsely. “Why isn’t security stepping in?”

“That’s not how it works here. Come on.” She clutched my arm and pulled me behind her, away from the mayhem.

The aftermath of the rush still lingered beneath my skin, reminding me of earlier tonight.

Tossing and turning, I huffed in frustration. I didn’t know how long I laid awake before the smell of musk hit me and I realized I wasn’t alone.

Musk.

Before I could grab the knife hidden beneath my pillow, a hard body covered mine, thick thighs straddling me.

My heart sank down to my stomach when Luca’s eyes caught mine. The streak of moonlight coming from the window lit the harsh planes of his face, shadowing the intensity of his gaze.

His palm landed on my stomach, the warmth of his skin seeping into me.

I should’ve been scared, knowing what he was capable of. Yet the only thing I feared was his touch. I loathed it and it had everything to do with the sensations it invoked in me.

That rush came back full force and my body buzzed to life, hungry for more of it,needingit.

But why did it have to be him to eradicate that hollowness inside my chest? I didn’t even know the man, let alone want him. . .

“Luca,” I whispered in warning, but my voice came out all wrong.

A deep sound came from the back of his throat as he slid his hand farther up my torso before he paused between my breasts.

I could feel the beat of my heart against his palm.Thump. Thump. Thump.

There were so many questions racing through my head.How did he get in here? What did he want? What was he doing to me?

He put a stop to them as he leaned down, his hand drifting further up until he’d wrapped it around my throat.

I melted into the mattress, trapped beneath him as I searched his eyes. They were manic and possessive. . .

Our noses were nearly touching, our breaths dancing in the space between us.

“Mine,” he rasped, and his lips came down on mine, stealing my breath away.

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