Page 66 of Hard Lessons

Serena had never doubted that.

“Then I’d have fucked him out of you. Taken you all day every day for weeks... months. Like this... just... like... this, to get rid of him.”

Serena didn’t even try to hold off as a delicious climax contracted her internal muscles. It was near violent the way it rushed through her.

Luca came too. A loud, animalistic cry accompanied his pounding. She took him, took it all, as her vision fogged and her pulse roared wild in her ears.

He hauled her onto his cock and her wrists dragged against the rope. It was so tight, digging into her wrists, and the friction was hot.

“Fuck,si... Serena!”

The flesh and bones on her wrists hurt while her pussy still convulsed and she rolled through her climax. Her fingers tingled and ached.

“Shit!” Suddenly he released her throat. “Mio amore... I’m sorry.” He scooped his arm beneath her, lifted her forward, still holding her back to his chest. The pressure released on her wrists. His cock, now still inside her, was buried deep. “Fuck. I’ve hurt you.”

She hissed out a breath as blood rushed to her fingers. It felt like they were being stabbed with pins.

“You okay?” He was breathless, his words shifting the hair around her ear.

She didn’t answer; she was still pulsing through her orgasm.

“Serena. It’s okay. I’ve got you.” He began to withdraw, slowly.

She was aware of every millimeter of him leaving her.

When he was out, she collapsed, belly first, onto the bed. A sob gurgled up from her chest; it seemed to get caught in her throat.

Quickly he released the rope then scooped her close. He tangled his legs with hers, wrapped one arm around her and held her wrists with his free hand. He rubbed over the red marks there. “Shit, I didn’t mean to mark you here.”

Serena didn’t reply. A shiver went up her spine and spread down all of her limbs.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I always will have. You’re safe.”

She closed her moisture-filled eyes and breathed in his scent. Despite his actions, being in his arms, in bed with him, was like arriving within safe walls. She could see that now. This was where she belonged. Yes, her lover was crazy, but he was crazy about her. And yes, she knew he was wild and dangerous, but she could handle it. She could handle him and was probably the only woman who could.

* * *

Luca held Serena’sdelicate body close. Her arms and legs were slender, her torso slim against his. And her skin, it was so perfectly soft and smooth and it smelled so good. It always smelled so good.

Just another reason for him to be mentally beating himself up.

He’d pushed her too far. Those marks on her wrists.

Taking her to her limits had always been his intention after her bad behavior. Not only was he curious to know what they were, she also deserved to find out.

But he’d overstepped the line. Something he was too familiar with. Something that had gotten him into trouble too many times already in his life.

He stroked the back of his knuckle down her arm and over the pale, fragile underside of her right wrist.

What if I really went too far? Really hurt her? Did something I couldn’t undo...

He swallowed, not willing to imagine a world without Serena Ricci in it. That wasn’t a possibility. It wasn’t happening. He’d kill anyone who...

He squeezed his eyes closed and pressed his lips to the top of her silky hair.

She was shaking a little, small judders going up her spine in little waves.

He reached for a blanket and pulled it over them, settled her close again. “You’ll soon warm up.”

---