Page 31 of Wrestling With Love

“I can take care of myself,” she muttered as he easily lifted her off the hospital bed.

Luca didn’t bother answering. There was no point. She could argue all she wanted, but she was in no condition to be alone, and he wasn’t about to let her walk out of here like nothing had happened. Her weak shoves against his chest were barely a nuisance as he carried her with ease, ignoring the irritated glare she shot his way.

The nurses gasped but made no move to stop him as he strode through the automatic doors and straight to the waiting car. Lenny was there, his gaze serious but soft on her. He opened the door for them and Luca set her down in the seat, and she immediately crossed her arms, scowling.

“This isn’t necessary, Luca.”

Luca smirked, taking his place right beside her. “Yeah? Well, I don’t care.”

Luca’s penthouse was nothing like the world Diamond came from.

The moment they stepped inside, she took it all in—the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, the sleek, modern furniture in muted tones of gray and black, the open-concept design that made everything feel even larger than it already was. Warm lighting softened the sharp edges, but it still screamed power, wealth, control. It was the kind of place that belonged to someone untouchable. Someone like him.

Diamond stood near the entrance, a bandage on her forehead, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge how exhausted she looked. Luca locked the door behind them, tossing his keys onto the marble counter.

“You live here alone?” she asked, voice laced with skepticism.

“Yeah.” He loosened the top button of his shirt. “Why? Expecting a house full of bodyguards?”

“Wouldn’t be surprised.”

Luca smirked. “I like my space.”

Diamond’s gaze flickered around the room again. There was no clutter, no personal touch—except for the faint scent of leather and something distinctly him. It felt like a fortress. Cold, controlled. And yet, for some reason, she didn’t feel out of place.

“Come on.” Luca nodded toward the hallway. “You need rest.”

She scoffed. “I’m fine.”

He raised a brow. “You’re staying here. So my rules.”

She muttered something under her breath but didn’t argue when he led her towards his room. And as she stepped inside, sinking into the ridiculously soft bed, she let herself admit—just for a second—that maybe, just maybe, being here wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

The first thing Luca did was force her to rest.

Diamond, of course, resisted. She claimed she was fine, that she could manage, that he was overreacting. Luca ignored her. When she tried to get out of bed, he simply folded his arms and stared her down until she huffed and lay back against the pillows.

When she refused to eat, he placed a plate in front of her anyway.

“Not hungry,” she muttered, crossing her arms.

Luca leaned against the counter, unmoving. “Eat.”

She scowled at him. He didn’t budge. Five minutes later, she was eating, grumbling under her breath.

“Pain in the ass,” he muttered, shaking his head.

She smirked through a mouthful of food.

It went on like that for two whole days—her pushing back, him refusing to let her win. If she was in pain, he made sure she took her meds. If she tried to do things on her own, he was there before she could even argue. She didn’t admit it, but he caught the way her shoulders relaxed when she realized she wasn’t alone. He had bought her countless clothes, all her essentials, each and every item of her diet chart was stocked to the brim. The cook was ordered to make everything fresh and full of protein.

Luca had shifted to ‘work from home’ mode and was balancing work and Diamond pretty well.

And through it all, the chemistry between them never faded.

Luca was careful, but not distant. When he helped her sit up, his hands lingered just a little longer than necessary. When she winced from a sudden movement, his thumb brushed over her knuckles, a silent reassurance. And sometimes—when she least expected it—he would lean down and press a small, fleeting kiss to her forehead.

She never said anything about it.

---