“Tonight, then,” he promises when I don’t say anything.
My cheeks heat as I think about what’s to come tonight. Hot, life-altering, mind-bending sex. With the hottest guy I’ve ever met.
Sliding my hands up his chest, I pull his face down to mine. “Okay. Call me when you get off work, and I’ll come over.”
Kian stares down at me, the unreadable expression making me want to squirm.
“Nah, angel. It doesn’t work like that.Youtell me what timeyou’reoff work, and I’ll come get you.”
The butterflies that have been fluttering around in my stomach ever since I met Kian awaken, and my nipples ache.
“My class at the studio finishes at seven.”
He kisses me and tucks a wild strand of my hair behind my ear. “Then I will be here at seven-thirty to pick you up.”
I watch, breathlessly, as Kian slides on a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses and strides back to his SUV, looking like the ever-powerful businessman he is.
As soon as the taillights of his SUV disappear, I go inside to make some coffee, jumping back in surprise when Luciano is standing in my living room, dressed in a crisp black suit with his hair slicked back, waiting for me. His face is still swollen in spots, and the cut near his cheek doesn’t look great, but I’ve seen him look worse. Violence is part of the mafia life. My mother may have kept me away from my father’s side of the family, but she still stayed in all the social circles of the Italian mob.
Luciano’s crystal-blue eyes zero in on me, and I know him well enough to recognize what he’s feeling.Regret.
“I’m sorry, Lace,” he says quietly. “I fucked up, and I’m sorry.”
My chest warms, and I rush to him, his arms open for me as soon as I reach him.
“I just want you to be happy and safe,” he says as he holds me, his chin resting on my head.
When I take a step back, I smile up at him. “I know you do, Luciano. And I love you so much for that. But I have to be able to figure things out for myself. I’ve never had the freedom to do so.”
He stares at me for a long time before he sighs and runs his tattooed fingers through his hair. “I love you, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. Maybe if you would let me give you security, I wouldn’t be so controlling.”
Letting out a huff, I give him an exasperated look. “Luciano Ricci, do you think I haven’t figured out that youstillhave security on me, even though I clearly told you I did not want any. And the fact you think anything will make you less controlling makes me think you might actually be insane.”
Luciano opens his mouth, his eyes sparkling with surprise as he tries to think of an argument.
This man.
I swear.
Sometimes, I just want to hug him, and other times, I want to hit him over the head with his own gun.
Finally, he sighs. “I’m not firing them. I will allow you not to have an immediate bodyguard, but you need people keeping an eye on you. You’re a Ricci, whether you like it or not, sweetheart. Just because you aren’t involved in the family business doesn’t make you exempt.
“I’m not trying to control you,Tesoro. I just want you safe.”
Glaring at him, I shake my head. “That was low. You know I turn into putty when you call me that.”
He chuckles and pulls me into his embrace again. “I know. I’m not above manipulation when it comes to your safety.”
I release him and go into the open kitchen to make coffee.
“I’m heading back to Seattle. I have some business to attend to next week. I’ll return soon, though,” Luciano explains as he joins me and leans a hip against the edge of the counter.
Smiling, I nod. “I’d like that. Although waking up to you in my room… not so much. You’re lucky I didn’t have a gun under my pillow. I’m sneaky like that, you know.”
Luciano bursts out laughing, and it makes me grin wider. It’s rare he shows this side of himself. I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who ever sees it. I hope he’ll show it to a woman one day because he needs someone to lighten him up a bit.
“Right, well, if you didn’t have random men answering your phone, demanding to know who I am, I wouldn’t pop up like that. I had no idea if a human trafficker had grabbed you or something.”
