Page 105 of Ruthless King
I wrap my arms around Luca’s neck and smother his words with a kiss. “I love it.”
“Good. Because Mamma is just dying to have us closer.”
I smile against his mouth, the idea of a real family bringing more tears of joy to my eyes.
“It’ll probably be another year or two before the house is complete, but I figured with you starting at NYU, it’ll be easier to live in the city for now anyway.”
My almost fiancé had of course insisted on paying for my next two years of university. A tiny part of me was sad to say goodbye to my dreams of sunny Florida, but I could never say goodbye to Luca. I didn’t like the idea of him paying my way through college, so he agreed to a loan.
How I was to repay it was still unclear. He insisted on sexual favors, but somehow that just didn’t seem fair since I’d be getting just as much out of it as he would.
He kisses me again, interrupting my musings, and I’m immediately swept away in the frenzy. His fingers dig into the hair at the back of my neck as he deepens the kiss. Fire builds in my core as he nibbles on my lower lip and moves lower, sucking on my neck. The man is like a teenager, constantly covering me with hickies. He insists it’s so that anyone who sees me knows I belong to him, but the truth is I was his long before he marked me.
He pulls away to breathe against my lips, “Should we go for a swim?”
“Mmhmm,” I murmur.
Luca sweeps me off the ground and swings me into his arms. I capture his lips again as he blindly stumbles toward the pond. I paw at the buttons of his shirt so that when we reach the crystal-clear lagoon, he’s already half-naked. I pause as my fingers find the date tattooed on his chest. The one he tried so damned hard to keep hidden, but now means so much to me.
He stops when we reach the thick copse of trees, piercing gaze intent on mine as I run my finger over those five tiny numbers. “We’ll always remember him. Together.”
I nod and blink back the quickly forming tears. “Per sempre.” Forever.
His lips find mine, and he kisses me softly. Behind the cover of the thick trees, I undress him and he slowly strips me down until I’m bare.
Cradling me in his arms again, Luca runs across the dock and leaps in. I let out a squeal as the cool water envelops my heated flesh. His lips descend on mine before I can draw in a lungful of air. So I breathe him in, reveling in each nibble, every touch. He wades to the edge of the pond and wraps my legs around his waist. His hard cock nudges at my entrance as he glances at me beneath hooded lids. “I love you so much,” he whispers, fingers digging into my hips. “Ti amo, amore mio.”
I sink onto him with a groan. His cock fills me so completely, my head falls back, and I moan his name. “Luca ….”
“That’s right, baby.” Gripping my hips, he guides me up and down as we float at the edge of the peaceful pond. I press my body flush against his, but it’s never close enough. I need to feel him inside me, next to me, everywhere. I clench around his cock, each thrust of his hips driving me closer to the edge.
“Dio, sei bellissima, amore,” he growls as he plunges deeper.
And I feel beautiful with him. I feel perfect through his eyes. No man has ever made me feel so cherished, so adored. I grind my hips against his, desperate for the friction, for the thrill of the approaching release. I’m hopelessly addicted; I need Luca Valentino like I need air in my lungs, my heart to beat and my soul to live.
Luca Valentino was my beginning, my middle, and is my perfect end.
EPILOGUE
Three Months Later
Dante
I never thought I’d see the day. My little brother with a woman on his arm, a woman he’s so crazy about he’s counting down the days to propose. A twinkle brightens his eyes as he watches Stella talk to her friend, Rose. Luca’s hosting dinner parties now. Another thing I never thought I’d see. He’s already bought a big fat diamond engagement ring too. It’s been at my place for safe keeping. Stella insisted he couldn’t propose until they’d officially dated for six months, and the month she spent as his ‘captive’ didn’t count. And now they were halfway there. I’d even seen my brother’s calendar with thick exes marking down the fateful day.
He's completelyimpazzito.
But damn, happiness looks good on him.
I watch Luca and Stella from across the room as they schmooze with the commissioner and his wife, then move on to the mayor and the missus. Luca was born for this shit. Stella, too, is perfect. Together, they’ll go far.
Me, I’m just lucky they’d forgiven my inexcusable offenses.
It had only taken me four shots to the chest and countless weeks of rehab to prove myself. But I would do it ten times over to save myfratellinoand hisamore. I could be an asshole sometimes, but I still loved my brother and only wanted to protect him. It was one of the reasons I hadn’t assumed my birthright, but that was another long story. I had no intentions of actually forcing myself on Stella that day. I just wanted to scare the shit out of her. Still, it was unforgiveable.
Truth was, I like Stella. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help myself. She’s sweet and good and has been through so much shit, but somehow remains that way. Unlike my brother and me whose souls have long since withered away as a result of our dark pasts.
Stella is Luca’s bright, shiny star. She illuminates all his murky shadows and finds the light. Every day he shines brighter.
