“Bad,” Luca agreed, his eyes turning cold.“However, he’s not as ruthless as I am.”He set his coffee down.“Understand this, Ava.Under my protection, no one will hurt you.They wouldn’t dare.”
She stared at him, her mind whirling as she saw the truth in his eyes.There was no doubt that Luca was powerful, ruthless when he needed to be.And as much as she hated to admit it, she could see that he was offering her something no one else could.Protection, security.Her business, her dream, could survive this, but at what cost?
“Will you protect me and my business while I consider your offer?”she asked, her voice steady despite the swirl of emotions inside her.
Luca’s expression softened just slightly, the tension around his eyes easing for the briefest moment.He nodded.“Of course.Why don’t you come back here tomorrow and we can discuss terms?”
Ava hesitated, her eyes locking with his.“Terms?”
Luca’s lips curled into a small, confident smile.“Yes, Ava.Terms.Don’t worry.We’ll make sure they’re fair.”
He glanced up when someone knocked on the door.A moment later, a man stepped in and Luca nodded and stood up.“We’ll negotiate an agreement that is amenable to both of us.”His assistant stepped forward and handed something to Luca.He took the leather bound tablet, flipped it open, read through whatever information was there, then nodded sharply at his assistant.“Two minutes,” he said, then returned the tablet.
The man departed as Luca turned to Ava.“There’s just one thing I’d like you to consider while contemplating my offer, Ava,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“This,” he replied, pulling her gently, but firmly into his arms.Ava wanted to argue.She really did!It was her right to decide if she wanted to be kissed or not.
However, that wasn’t how it happened.Luca pulled her into his arms, his hard, muscle-packed body hot against her suddenly chilled skin.She opened her mouth to argue, but he was already kissing her.His tongue teased, his teeth nipped, his hands molded her against his body.And Ava was lost!The unexpectedly sensuous kiss had her moaning, her arms wrapping around his neck as she unconsciously pressed closer.
Unfortunately, he pulled away before Ava was ready.He held her in his arms for another moment, keeping her steady.Ava took a deep breath as he kissed her forehead, then walked away.
Chapter 4
Avacouldn’tbelievehe’djust walked away.
The moment his mouth had touched hers, her entire body had jolted like she’d been hit by a current.Her lips parted in pure shock, a startled gasp caught in her throat, her brain stuttering to process what was happening.For a heartbeat, she froze, wide-eyed, the world narrowing to nothing but the pressure of Luca’s lips against hers.
Then—heaven help her—she’d kissed him back.
Her fingers drifted upward in disbelief, brushing her lips as if she needed proof they were still there, tingling, swollen from the heat of him.Not only had Luca kissed her, but she had answered him.That realization made her heart race wildly, though it wasn’t guilt or regret burning through her—it was something far more dangerous.
Ava blinked rapidly, breath shaky, trying to steady the chaos inside her chest.But all she could feel was the molten heat that lingered on her mouth, spreading through her body.She hadn’t meant to respond.She couldn’t have meant to respond.And yet, her traitorous body had betrayed her completely, answering his kiss with a hunger she couldn’t deny.
The soft clink of silverware shattered the silence, snapping her head around.“Ma’am, are you finished with breakfast?”
She spun toward the voice, pulse still pounding in her ears.For a wild second, she half-expected Luca to stride back in and claim her lips again.Worse, some reckless part of herwantedhim to.The thought left her swaying inside, off balance, her defenses slipping.
But she didn’t even like the man, right?She didn’t want to be anywhere near him.
“Ma’am?”the waiter repeated, polite but insistent.He stood by the door with military-straight posture, hands clasped neatly behind his back.“I can come back later if you need more time.”
Ava blinked at him, her mind still spinning so hard she could barely remember where she was.Her gaze dropped to the untouched plate in front of her.Waffles.Her favorite comfort food, the one thing that usually grounded her.Maple syrup, golden and sweet… and here she was contemplating breakfast when she could still taste Luca Bernardi on her lips.
Ridiculous.
No—this wasn’t about food.This was pure, maddening sexual frustration, clawing at her, trying to trick her into soothing herself with sugar instead of acknowledging the truth.If she let Luca in—if she gave him any room at all—he’d unravel her completely.She’d end up spoiled, soft, probably a hundred pounds heavier and still begging for more.
Her lips curved despite herself.If I could have waffles every morning… maybe it would almost be worth it.
The thought snapped her back to the present with a jolt.She gave her head a small shake and turned to the waiter.“No, thank you.We’re done with the food.”
Still, her eyes lingered on the waffles with a flicker of longing, her stomach giving a small, traitorous flutter.She could ask him to box them up, take them back to her office where she could eat them in peace.It wasn’t as though she’d ever been allowed that kind of indulgence growing up.Her mother had dismissed anything sweet or comforting as frivolous, unhealthy, a luxury Ava didn’t deserve.
But before she could open her mouth, the waiter was already clearing the table, whisking the dishes away with impersonal efficiency until every last trace of temptation disappeared.
Ava remained rooted to the spot, her feet glued to the carpet.The weight of Luca’s kiss—the memory of it—still burned on her lips, hot and forbidden.Irritated with herself, furious at her own lack of willpower, she forced her body to move.One step.Then another.Until she was out of the office.
