Page 9 of Twisted Knight

She nodded with a small smile. “That’s a way to put it, but honestly Dom is the best but don’t tell Luca; he might get jealous.”

I laughed. “With the way you talk about him? Not a chance, the man is clearly the love of your life.”

“That’s good to hear.”

I looked up, startled at the deep masculine voice coming from the side.

I tried my best to keep my surprise in check at seeing Cassie’s husband leaning against the kitchen’s threshold, his hand buried in his suit's pants pocket.

His appearance was striking to say the least. He was a tall, wide man, with scars that made him look dangerous and somehow, despite the friendliness of his smile, I suspected he was just as dangerous as he looked.

“Wife,” he said commandingly but the softness of his eyes and her blush showed the obvious game between these two.

“It’s not what you think,” she replied, holding a Timbit between her thumb and forefinger.

“Uh-huh.” He walked toward her with a grace I didn’t expect, keeping his eyes on her before leaning down slowly and wrapping his mouth around her fingers to steal the Timbit from her.

It was nothing overly special and yet it looked so intimate, so erotic, I felt as if I was intruding.

“Thief…” she breathed, flushed as he let go of her now empty fingers.

He straightened up and gave me a playful wink as he chewed on the sugary goodness.

“It’s nice to finally meet you in person, India,” he said, standing behind Cassie, wrapping a protective, possessive hand on the side of her neck as she leaned her head against him.

I didn’t think they realized it themselves, but they were clearly connected, fitting in to each other in ways we wanted but rarely got.

“You too, Luca. Your house is beautiful. Thank you for inviting me.”

He chuckled, rubbing his thumb up and down the back of her neck. “Don’t thank me. I’m pleased you could come. It will ease my mind the days I have to go to the city to know you’re here with this food smuggler.”

“Technically I’m not the smuggler,” she said, laughing and looking up to meet his eyes. “Plus, you did that to me.” She pointed to her belly with fake indignation.

“I don’t remember you complaining about making them.”

“No… but the extra eating is on you.”

He cocked his head to the side, pretending to ponder this for a minute. “That’s utter shit but A plus for originality. Good attempt.”

“Thank you!” She beamed, still looking up at him.

He leaned down and pecked her lips before concentrating on me again. “I’ll see you for dinner and try to rein her in tomorrow while Dom and I are away.”

Cassie rolled her eyes, but I could see the genuine concern in his eyes.

“Will do!” I promised, having no idea how to rein in this cute little woman who apparently had the power to bend everyone to her will.

He looked at his watch and sighed. “I’ve got a call in a bit. Be good, okay?” he asked Cassie.

“Always.”

He shook his head with a small smile before leaving the room again.

“He is very…” Protective? Powerful? Charismatic? Overwhelming? I was not even sure of what to say.

Cassie smiled, brushing her fingers against her lips as if she could still feel his kiss. “Yeah, he is. Men like him are a different breed.”

“Men like what?”

---