The food, delicious.
The champagne, enticing.
The company, sinful.
I’m ready for him to claim me.Now.I need to feel Lucca pounding between my legs as he pins me to the bed.Our tongues tangling and fighting for dominance in my mouth, knowing full well I will always submit to my dark and dirty kingpin.
God.
The mafia.
A kingpin.
I never would have guessed.I bet Sabrina and Janet were aware, though.
Lucca can be intense, but with me, it’s in a different way.An overwhelming, obsessive way that keeps me guessing what he wants, while knowing everything he desires.
I’m not completely stupid.I realize he does bad things.Has hurt people and will continue to do so.Recognizing that I have no bearing on that part of his life makes it easier to focus on the here and now, so I allow happiness to invade my turbulent thoughts, along with the chilly air and falling snow, while the tree is lit up, and the cheers ring through the audience.
Leaning into Lucca’s side, he pulls the thick blanket higher up my body, ensuring I don’t suffer a moment's chill from the winter evening.Turning into him, my cold nose causes him to groan as it touches the warmth of his throat.
“This was beautiful, Lucca.Thank you for the evening.”Kissing the pulse in his neck, I flick my tongue out, earning another groan from him.“I’d like to go for drinks now.It’s getting a little too chilly for my liking.”He will lose his mind when he sees the dress, and I’m skeptical whether we’ll leave our hotel room once it’s on, but I’d like to try.I find his protective streak fascinating.
His eyes snap down to mine as he directs our driver to head back to the hotel a few blocks away.Nothing else is spoken between us as we trot along, stopping only for lights or pedestrians.
When we arrive, Lucca exits first and tips the man handsomely before helping me down.Keeping me close to his body with a hand across my back, he leads us inside, where a bellman holds the door for us.The lobby bustles with the number of winter events going on this evening, and I feel Lucca tense beside me as he starts moving faster.
Alarmed, I study his face and notice a tick in his jaw as his eyes roam the room, never allowing anyone to get too close to me.
“Lucca?”
He grunts but doesn’t look down.Something he saw has captured his attention, but he continues on.The elevator opens as we approach.People exit, and he quickly rushes me to enter, preventing anyone else from boarding with us.
“Sorry,amore.”Could he be any more perfect?Apologizing before I can scold him for being so rude to others who were waiting too.
“Can you explain what’s going on now?”
He grunts again, but no answer is forthcoming as he takes out his phone and starts typing.
“Preston and a couple other men will be joining us this evening,” he murmurs.
The doors slide open, and we walk out before I can muster up a protest.The entrance to our suite is a few feet away when Lucca pauses and shoves me behind his back.
“What’s going on?”I peer around him, seeing nothing, but he seems on edge, and in turn, that ignites my fear.“Please tell me,” I whisper, and hook my fingers in the belt loop of his trousers.Lucca retrieves his keycard and gun as we move forward.“You’re scaring me.”Tears blur my vision as the door opens, and he ushers me inside.
The quiet snick of the closing door sounds like a grenade going off next to us, but Lucca slides the second bolt and the chain across, then finally turns to me.He cups my cheeks in his warm hands and tilts my head up so he can get a good look at my face.The hard glint in his eyes softens as he leans forward and brushes his lips across my forehead.
“I’m sorry,mia amore, I didn’t intend to frighten you in this manner.”Exhaling harshly, he finally explains.“I saw someone in the lobby that has been both foe and friend over the years, and I allowed my extreme caution to make my decisions.”
“Are we safe?”That’s all that matters to me.
“We are.”He doesn’t appear to believe that.“Go change.Preston has switched the club we’re going to.”His eyes graze down my body, caution replaced by heat.
“You’re sure?”I don’t want to go out if it means he might get hurt.
“Positive.”
He unzips my coat, removing it from my body, and takes my hat and gloves as well.Smiling at him, I do as requested and head to the bedroom where my dress hangs in the closet.
