Page 74 of Knights Game

“If you can pull together anything that may assist him, do it,” he replies, completely unaware of just how much these things mean to me. He has changed my life.

I mean sure let’s park everything else for now.

“It would mean going home. Are you sure I’m allowed?” I say petulantly.

“Now, now, don’t make me bend you over.” Something flares in my stomach as his eyes darken; he takes a sip of champagne and watches me. “You look beautiful.” He says after a beat. “Tonight is going to be…difficult.”

“How so?”

He grabs my hand and pulls it towards his crotch. “Because looking at you in that dress makes me rock fucking hard.” My hand rests on his straining cock, and just because I’m feeling bold I squeeze, trying desperately to hide the bite of a smile as he hisses and nostrils flare.

“Layla.” His tone is clipped. “Don’t start what you can’t or won’t finish.”

“Who says I won’t finish it?”

“Sunshine.” He groans. “You’re killing me.” He leans over quickly; his hand wrapped forcefully around my head and pulls me to his lips.

“I’ll pass the compliment on to Roman. I must say he has quite the taste.”

His hand wraps around the front of my neck and he pushes me back suddenly. “Don’t say another man’s name when your lips are on mine, sunshine.” He slams his mouth back onto mine. He thrusts his tongue into my mouth, but I don’t submit, my tongue lashes against his as we kiss violently.

“Stay close to me tonight.” He whispers against my mouth, “Do what I say.”

“Yes, dear.” That gets me a bite of my lip in return.

I yank back, licking my throbbing mouth. “Ouch. That was unkind.”

“The sooner you realise I’m unkind the better. I mean what I say when I say I’ll protect you as much as I can—”

“Let me guess, I can’t protect you from me, blah bullshit blah. Yes, Luca, I know.” He grips my throat and tilts my head. “I would say I’m scared. But I can’t tell you how much your throttling me turns me on.”

Something’s changed this afternoon. I’ve come to the realisation that Luca doesn’t have control. He has proved to me and the world that I’m his weakness.

And me being his weakness, gives me something.

It gives me power.

26

Layla

I’ve drunk two glassesof champagne already as Luca, sensing I needed the Dutch courage and filled my glass as soon as I’d finished the first.

“Ten minutes, sir,” the driver says over some sort of intercom.

“Fuck.” I gulp down more champagne.

“Slow down, sunshine, you do actually need to be coherent for this evening.”

“Spoil sport,” I mutter, the nerves building in my stomach. “So, tell me about tonight.”

“Gala dinner, very boring.” He waves his hand dismissively. “There will be lots of tedious small talk, men having pissing contests, the leaders of our company there.”

“When you say company, you mean mafia empire right?” I say, air quoting.

“Yes, Layla, the mafia kingpins of London will be there tonight,” he deadpans. He reaches over and squeezes my cheeks, his eyes boring into mine. “Which is why you follow my lead, you stay by my side, and you try to keep your pretty mouth shut.”

“Ah, the arsehole’s back. Nice to see you again, Mr Knight.”

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