Page 40 of Ruthless King
He cracks his knuckles and fury surges across that handsome face, sharpening his features. “I wanted to.” He drags his thumb across my bottom lip, and a tremor roars through me at his touch.
That air thickens again as our gazes remain entangled for an endless moment. If he only tipped his head forward another inch his lips would capture mine. I hold my breath in anticipation, battling with the knowledge that I want this. I want his mouth on me. Everywhere.
There’s something in that dark gaze, something hidden deep beneath those pools of onyx. I try to grasp onto the feeling, but it withers away until there’s nothing left but that look, those eyes boring into me.
“Instead of killing the lowlife,” he finally says, releasing my lip, “I decided to make an example of him. Now, everyone will know that you are under my protection. If anyone so much as looks at you the wrong way, I’ll kill them with my bare hands.”
I swallow hard. Without truly knowing this man, I understand he’s not trying to impress me with his threats. I feel the certainty down to my core. He would really do that and more because he believes I do belong to him.
And as fucked up as it is, a swell of exhilaration blooms at his words. At the idea of not being alone anymore.
He hitches his thumb over his shoulder, taking a step back and signals toward the hallway. The overwhelming tension dissipates, and I finally release the breath I’ve been holding and sag back down on the bed. “I’m going to get dressed. I have a conference call in half an hour.”
“You’re not going into the office today?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, I thought I’d work from home. Someone has to make sure you stay out of trouble. I can’t have you all scratched up for the big Heart Ball next week. What’s the point of arm candy if it’s all banged up?”
I shoot him the middle finger, and the tense set of his jaw softens until it melts into a smile. Luca smirks a lot, but a smile, a true genuine smile on the man is devastating. I dart into the bathroom to keep myself from staring like a silly fool.
Dio, one night in this man’s arms, and I’m starting to forget that I’m actually a prisoner here. A prisoner in a gilded cage, captured by a man who makes my body thrum and my heart sing.
CHAPTER19
ONE NIGHT
Luca
Stella sits by the window, her dark hair aglow beneath streaks of mid-day sunshine. The scent of calla lilies strewn across the stark penthouse mixes with her intoxicating natural fragrance. She’s got her luscious lower lip snagged between her teeth as she flips through the pages of her Economics textbook, and I’m jealous, fucking jealous of those pages because I want her fingers on me, envious of those teeth because I wantmymouth on that full, pouty lip.
Fuck. It hasn’t even been a week since Stella blew back into my life, and already I can feel the shift. Like the ground beneath me isn’t quite as steady, the black not so black and the white ten times brighter.
Tomorrow is the big Heart Ball, and the true test to determine if this arrangement will actually work. So far, it’s been nothing but headaches and blue balls. The hint of a smile creeps across my mouth as her image on the monitor consumes my vision. I spend every night watching her like apazzo. She hasn’t touched herself again, not since that night. I keep waiting, waiting for her to sink her fingers inside her sweet pussy and moanmyname.
My cock instantly hardens. I shift uneasily and reposition the laptop across my legs.
Instead, every night she just crawls into bed wearing my t-shirt and sleeps like a fucking angel. Like she doesn’t have a care in the world. How is it possible? As much as she complains about being a prisoner, she’s adjusted quite well to her new life. She doesn’t even seem scared of me anymore.
I’ll have to do something about that soon. I can’t have her getting all comfortable here. Despite how good she looks in my home. This is strictly business and only temporary. Maybe if I repeat it enough, it’ll get through my thick skull.
My phone vibrates on the side table, and I shake my head out to dislodge the all-consuming thoughts of Stella which have taken permanent residence in my mind. “Hello?” I growl.
Stella’s head spins toward me, likely unnerved by my tone.Good.
I mutter a curse at Albie before gritting out, “Fine, let him up.”
When I slam my phone down, Stella’s gaze is still intent on mine. She scoots to the edge of the chaise lounge, still nibbling on that lip. “Who’s coming up?” she finally asks.
“Dante.”
Her dark brows knit together, a flash of recognition brightening her irises before it dissipates completely. “Who’s that?”
“My brother.”
Her pretty pink lips screw into a pout, and even though I’m no mind reader, I know exactly where her thoughts go. To the brother she lost. Too bad my brother is nowhere near the man that Vinny was or could have been.
Her mouth opens again, and I know she’s going to delve into the past, something I cannot deal with right now. The shadows are too dark, the memories still too raw.
“Keep your mouth shut when he gets here.” I immediately regret the sharpness in my tone, but it’s too late to say anything else.
