He shimmied it up my body and said, "Yeah, well that's because he knows I'm not going to try anything and as stunning as you are, you're not turning my head."
We both laughed as Dom pulled the zip up on the back of the deep blue dress before helping me into a pair of nude heels.
It was New Year’s Eve and Luc's house had been relatively quiet since Christmas. He went to work as usual and, in the evenings, he walked me through people we were likely to encounter at the party. Families I should avoid and others that were close friends. The Diazes were as good as blood. Romanellos couldn’t be trusted. We were on shaky ground with the Salvador family, but we would remain cordial. I had so many names and faces swimming in my head that I hoped I wouldn't confuse people.
Dom turned me around so I could look at myself in the mirror and I felt my cheeks color. Dressed in a silk gown that split up my thigh and with the diamond choker and designer bracelet nestled against my skin, I almost didn't recognize myself. I ran a hand through the loose curls and suppressed a sigh. I would make a point to tell Luc this would not happen often. It felt far too removed from who I was. Or was this who I was becoming?
"Are you ever going to help me pick something out that covers me up?" I asked, pulling the dress at the slit.
"We've got to show off what the good Lord gave you," Dom told me simply.
I snorted a laugh and Dom helped me walk down the stairs to where Luc waited in the hallway. I swallowed hard as I caught sight of him in his tuxedo, adjusting the cuffs slightly. I was hit with the overwhelming sense of just how lucky I was.
"You clean up well, boss," Dom said with a nod as we reached the bottom of the stairs.
Luc looked up to give his thanks, but his eyes fell on me and the words were lost. The blush spread across my cheeks and down my neck.
"Hope you both have a good night." Dom kissed me on the cheek and grabbed his keys before leaving the house. The moment Dom left, Luc pulled me close to him. I tripped over my heels and crashed straight into his chest, but he kept me upright.
"You need to keep your hands to yourself," I said with a laugh, looking up at him.
I could see the desire pooled in his eyes. It was a look that I had quickly become accustomed to as I found the more time we spent together, the more insatiable Luc became. It was a look that made me think we could skip tonight’s event and bring the new year in together with a more private party.
"I have no intention of making promises I can't keep." His voice was husky and low, and his eyes traveled down my body, making my heart beat faster in my chest and causing a warmth between my legs.
"Luc, we'll be late," I told him. No matter how badly I wanted to stay here alone with the man who had taken over my life, we were expected, and it wouldn’t do anything for Luc’s reputation to skip it.
He didn't seem to care as he pinned me up against the door and pressed his lips against mine. Luc's tongue slipped into my mouth as his hand found the slit in my dress and I hooked a leg around his hip. When Luc pressed into me, I could feel how he had already started to grow hard and I let out a pleading moan.
Luc moved his kisses to my neck and up to my ear where he whispered, "We're going to be late, princess."
My eyes shot open and I looked at him. "You're not being serious."
"We can't turn up late," he told me.
"You... just..." I ached for him and he had just toyed with me.
"If we make it through tonight you can have whatever you want."
My frustration rose to the surface as I tried to pull my leg away from his hip, but Luc held it in place. I pushed at his chest. "Who says I'll want anything from you tonight?"
A smirk came to his face and his eyes darkened as the hand that held my leg traveled underneath the silk fabric. Times like these reminded me that Luc was a predatory creature. He had been raised to hunt and kill and I would forever be his prey. His fingers traced the edge of my lace underwear and I trembled at the touch. I let out a gasp as Luc's fingers dipped beneath the lace to brush against me.
"I told you you’re a terrible liar..."
He removed his hand and pecked me on the lips. I hit his chest again, and Luc let out a rumble of laughter before unpinning me and helping me straighten out my dress.
"Later. I promise," he told me.
Once we pulled up at the Moretti estate, a large cream house with sprawling grounds, Luc helped me out of the car. I had been in awe of Luc’s home when I had seen it, but the Moretti household was a mansion. A mansion that was filled with people who were all highly skilled and dangerous, and I had to hope that I wouldn’t cause an issue by saying the wrong thing. The thought made me fidget with my dress, but Luc took my hand in his, forcing me to stop.
"You're nervous," he said. It wasn’t a question but a statement.
"I can't help it." I had told myself it was just a party, but I knew it was more than that. It was a test to see if I fit with Luc and into his world. Judgement for how I moved and interacted among this circle would either cement a welcome or leave me as fodder for gossip about when Luc would leave me.
"I promise you; it'll be fine." Luc leaned down and kissed me.
"Put him down," Dante's voice sounded out. "You don't know where he's been."
