Page 1 of Inevitable

Prologue

Ashlynn

I stare into his honey brown eyes as he leans over me, soft dark curls falling gently across his face. The midnight dew of the grass soaks into the back of my cotton pajamas but I don’t mind. All I can focus on is how Luca’s hand is gently grazing my face, slowly tracing my jaw line before moving to my lips.

“Mi angelo,” he whispers softly against my lips. “Ti amerò per sempre.” His voice is like silk, caressing me with each word he speaks.

My breath hitches as his mouth slowly descends onto mine. I never seem to be able to breathe when he speaks in Italian. His full lips move across mine, leisurely tasting and savoring me like we have all the time in the world. Unfortunately, we both know that isn’t true. I force myself to break the kiss and sigh. I look up at him as we stare into each other’s eyes, trying to catch our ragged breaths.

He tangles one hand in my long honey blonde hair and runs his fingers through it while we lay in the grass by the pond. The property stretches out over 2 acres of perfectly manicured lawn and gardens and has a custom-built waterfall that trickles into a pond. A gaudy 6000 square foot mansion sits on the front of the property, nothing but the best for Senator Adams. An employee living quarters is set in the back where Luca lives. The pond is our spot though, just ours. Mainly because it is the only place far enough from both of the houses that we can be sure no one will ever accidentally find us.

“Luca,” I breathe. “We need to get back to our rooms. We have been gone for too long.” His soft smile slips away at my words. I watch as his eyes grow sad and conflicted.

“Let me just be with you for a little longer, angelo. I miss you. I am so tired of sneaking around. I want to spend every night with you in my arms and every morning waking up next to you.”

His words coat over me and I close my eyes for just another moment, basking in the effect they have on me. I reach up to cup his face with my hand tenderly. “I want that too, more than anything in the world. But you know why we can’t.”

He is the help and I am the senators daughter. I wish my parents weren’t like that but they just are, they would never approve. My mom might come around, but my father? Never.

He lifts his hand and holds mine to his face a little tighter, like he is afraid I am going to try to pull away. His eyes lock on to mine and I can see a hundred different emotions flickering through the rich color. “Marry me, angelo,” he says softly.

My stomach drops as my heart thunders rapidly in my chest. “W-wait really?” I stutter.

“Of course. You are the love of my life. Marry me, let’s run away. I will take care of you, always.”

“Luca, I am only 16, and you are 19. We can’t. What about our families? Where would we go?”

I hate having to say all of this when what I really want to do is jump up and down and scream yes. He is my forever, I just know it. But I also know it is not our time, not yet.

He looks down at the grass beneath us, heartbroken. “We could do it,” he whispers. He stays silent for a few moments before he looks up to me, new determination flaring in his eyes. “I could do anything as long as I have you.”

I smile up at him and kiss his lips gently. “Forever, my love.”

His gentle smile returns, displaying his perfect teeth and deep dimples. Then he pulls me in for another kiss before wrapping his arms around me and resting my head on to his chest as he slowly strokes my back.

“Luca,” I whisper.

“Yes, angelo?”

“Just be patient. Wait till we can move away together. Then I swear I will say yes.”

He tilts my chin up and smiles sweetly. “I would wait a hundred lifetimes to have you. You and me, we have always been inevitable, mi angelo.”

His voice is soft but also hardened with promise. I stare into his golden eyes and hope that he really means it. I hope that against all odds we can make it and have our happily ever after one day.

A couple more minutes go by before we begrudgingly stand up and make our way back to our rooms. He stops at the side door to the main house before reeling me into his arms. I use this door to sneak out and meet him almost every night. No one ever comes to this side of the house, so it has proven to be the perfect spot to slip away for a few hours unnoticed.

Luca’s hands grasp my hips tightly, fingers digging in like he is afraid I will slip away. I settle my arms around his neck and look up to see him smiling down at me with an adoring smile. His heavy gaze has a way of making me feel like the only person in the world.

“Ti amo, angelo,” he whispers as his lips graze mine.

“Ti amo,” I reply with a soft smile.

He has tried to teach me Italian, but I am terrible at it. Anytime I try he always teases me for my horrible enunciation. He was born in Italy but only lived there until he was 2 before his family moved over to the United States, you wouldn’t know it though. His Italian is perfect.

Luca chuckles lightly at my Italian as he closes the distance between us. I feel his silky lips move against mine and I sigh softly. His tongue brushes against the seam of my lips gently, begging for entry. I tilt my head back slightly to grant him access. His hands move up to cup my face and the kiss soon becomes more rushed and desperate. Luca moves his tongue across mine expertly, devouring me as he lets out a guttural groan that rumbles from his chest.

Before I can return the same passion the overhead light flicks on and the door swings open. We break apart and see my father standing there looking furious. His eyes flick wildly from Luca to me then back to Luca. I see his fists clench tightly at his sides as his nostrils flare like an angry bull. In an instant he charges towards us. Luca pushes me to the side just before my father reaches us.

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