Ava didn’t answer at first.But after a long moment, she spoke in a voice so soft, it almost broke him.“Just don’t ever do that again,” she murmured.“Don’t force me to watch you put your life in danger, Luca.I can’t…” She trailed off, but the meaning was clear.She couldn’t lose him.
Luca squeezed her tighter, vowing to himself that he’d never be the cause of her tears again.He’d do whatever it took to protect her, to protectthem.
"I won't," he promised softly, kissing the top of her head as he held her close."I swear it, Ava.Never again."
She wasn’t finished.Pushing out of his arms, Ava began pacing again, her voice growing louder with every step as she detailed the series of events.She described, in exasperating detail, how he had been knocked unconscious, thrown into a car, kidnapped, and locked in a cage—only to be nearly shot at close range!She gestured wildly as she spoke, emphasizing every horrific moment she recounted.
What Ava didn’t know—and what Luca would never tell her—was that he’d been in similar situations before.Over the years, his rise to power had been riddled with challenges, many of them violent.Luca had never killed anyone out of malicious intent.Every death he’d been involved with had been the result of someone attempting to destroy what he had built—someone trying to take what was his.And even then, he’d done everything in his power to avoid killing.He preferred other methods: threats, reputation destruction, taking down their businesses, or forcing them out of political office.These were far more effective ways to control his territory.If the person survived, they would often become loyal to him, either out of fear or respect.Luca had mastered the art of persuasion, and he knew how to bend people to his will.
But now, with Ava in front of him, livid with rage, he realized the one thing he hadn’t accounted for—her.She was furious not because of the dangers he faced, but because he had placed himself in them, and she suffered the consequences.
Finally, he couldn’t take her pacing and her feistiness.He had to have her.Again!Ava was just too…gorgeous with all of her righteous anger on his behalf.
So, he set his empty glass on the coffee table and stood up.Walking over to her, he continued to listen to her furious lecture about how he should never put himself in danger again and kissed her.
There was a long silence as he kept kissing her, feeling the anger drain from her.He knew she was done when she pressed closer, fitting her soft breasts against his chest and her hips pressing against his.
Exactly where he wanted her to be.Or almost.
He bent down and lifted her into his arms.Immediately, her legs wrapped around his waist and he headed for his bedroom.This was where he’d wanted to make love to her the first time, and with a ring on her finger, but hell, that didn’t matter now.Ava loved him.And damn, if he didn’t adore every stubborn bone in her body!
Kicking the door closed, he set her feet on the floor, then stripped her clothes off.Luca didn’t have the ability to finesse anything just now.Her anger over the past twenty-plus minutes had been all the foreplay he could take.
After she was completely nude, he started walking backwards, kissing her, teasing her body as he stripped off his own clothes.All the while, he led her to his bed.She tumbled backwards, landing on the soft mattress with a squeak of surprise, and Luca followed her down, lifting her legs over his shoulders as he spread her wide.With merciless determination, he licked and teased, sucked that nub while he slid a finger in and out of her tight heat.He didn’t want to go slow.Not this time.He needed her.He needed to hear her cries of release and feel her body tremble after she climaxed all over his hand.
It took less than two minutes before she was arching against his mouth, her fingers tangling in his hair.
But that wasn’t enough.Without letting her legs drop, he shifted, sinking into her heat.When her muscles clenched around his shaft, Luca looked down at Ava, seeing the look on her face that told him she was right there with him.
While Luca gripped her hips, she held onto his arms as she took every thrust, lifting her hips to meet his own.Every thrust brought him closer and he reached around her legs, rubbing his thumb against that aching nub.She whimpered at first, but when she reached over and placed her own hand on his, guiding him, showing him what she needed, he nearly lost it.That was so hot!His feisty woman demanded her pleasure and he wanted to give it to her.He wanted to give her everything!
When she finally climaxed again, Luca released his control, as his own orgasm washed over him.He wasn’t aware of his hands gripping her hips, but he was aware of her cries as she rolled her hips in time with his thrusts, prolonging her pleasure.He tried to help her, but he was too caught up in his own.
Afterwards, he collapsed against her, burying his face against her neck.Breathing heavily, he rolled to his side, as he pulled her close.
“I didn’t answer you earlier,” he said quietly, his voice rougher than he intended.“About my parents.”
He didn’t look away from her, but something in his expression hardened.
“My father left when I was six.Just… walked out.No fight.No warning.One day he was there, the next he wasn’t.”His jaw tightened.“My mother tried.She worked every job she could find.Double shifts.Night shifts.I barely saw her.And then when I was ten, she left too.”
He let that sit between them.
“I didn’t go into foster care.No one came looking.I figured it out.Learned fast.”A faint, humorless breath escaped him.“You don’t survive in this city by being soft.”
His gaze flicked toward the window, toward the Strip he now owned in ways his father never could have imagined.
“I ignored your question because I hate them,” he admitted.“I resent what they made me endure.The hunger.The fear.The feeling that I didn’t matter enough to stay for.”His eyes came back to hers, steady and unflinching.“I built everything I have because of that.Because I will never be powerless like that again.”
A pause.
“I don’t talk about them,” he finished more quietly.“They don’t get to take up space in my life.Not anymore.”
She stilled, her eyes softening as her fingers came up, curving around his cheek.“I’m sorry.”
“Marry me,” he rasped.
Her eyes shifted from concerned to… her laughter was unexpected.
