“Some men would have taken advantage of the situation,” I murmured.
Luca’s jaw clenched. “I’m that kind of man, Aria. Don’t kid yourself into believing I’m a good man. I’m neither noble nor a gentleman. I’m a cruel bastard.”
“Not to me.” I pressed my nose against the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar, musky scent.
Luca kissed the top of my head. “It’s better if you hate me. There’s less chance of you getting hurt that way.”
What had I told him last night when I was out of it? Had I told him I’d fallen in love with him? I couldn’t remember. “But I don’t hate you.”
Luca kissed my head again. I wished he’d say something. I wished he’d say that he…
“You mentioned something Grace said to you.” His voice was casual but tension gripped his body. “Something about fucking you bloody.”
“Oh, yeah. She said you’d hurt me, fuck me like an animal, fuck me bloody when she talked to me during our wedding reception. Scared me out of my mind.” Then I frowned. “I think that guy last night almost said the same thing.”
“Before I killed him, he said one of the women who bought dope from him told him you were a skank who needed to be taught a lesson. She gave him cash.”
I lifted my head. “Do you think it was Grace?”
Luca’s eyes were like a stormy sky. “I’m sure it was her. The description fits, and who else would have an interest in attacking you.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I can’t kill her, even if I want to cut her fucking throat—that would cause too much trouble with her father and brother. I’ll have to talk to them, though. Tell them they need to put her on a fucking leash or there won’t be any more money from us.”
“What if they refuse?”
“They won’t. Grace has been fucking things up for a long time. They’ll probably ship her off to Europe or Asia for rehab or some shit like that.”
I kissed him, but the tension didn’t leave Luca’s body. “I can’t stop thinking about what would have happened if Romero and Cesare hadn’t been there, if that fucker had gotten you out of the club. The thought of his dirty hands on you makes me want to kill him again. The thought that he might have…” He shook his head.
I knew his turmoil wasn’t because Luca had emotions for me. He was possessive. He couldn’t bear the thought that someone might have gotten his hands on me, that someone might have taken what Luca considered his. Resignation filled me. “When Gianna leaves in a few days, you can have me,” I whispered against his throat. Luca’s hands stilled on my back. He didn’t ask me if I was sure. I hadn’t expected him to. Luca had said it himself; he wasn’t a good man.
* * *
Gianna and I had spent the last few days trying different cafés and restaurants, talking and laughing and shopping, but today Gianna had to go back to Chicago. My arms around her were tight as we stood in the departure hall of JFK. Gianna needed to go through security soon, but I didn’t want to let her go. Not only because I’d miss her terribly but also because I was anxious about my promise to Luca.
I braced myself and took a step back from Gianna. “Visit again soon, okay?”
She nodded, her lips pressed together. “You call me every day, don’t forget.”
“I won’t,” I promised. She backed away slowly, then turned and headed for the line at security. I waited until she walked through and disappeared from view.
Luca stood a few steps behind me. I rushed over to him and pressed my face against him. He stroked my back. “I thought we could grab dinner and then have a relaxing evening.” He sounded hungry and excited, but not for food.
“Sounds good,” I said with a small smile. Something shifted in Luca’s face, but then it was gone.
* * *
I hadn’t eaten much; my stomach was already churning. I didn’t want to take any risks. Luca pretended not to notice. He ate what I didn’t. When we stepped back into our penthouse, I headed for the liquor cabinet, looking for some liquid courage, but Luca gripped my wrist and pulled me against him. “Don’t.”
He lifted me into his arms and carried me upstairs into our bedroom. When he set me down on the edge of the bed, my eyes found his crotch. He was already hard. Nerves twisted my insides. He wanted me. I wouldn’t deny him, not tonight.
Luca climbed on the bed and I lay back, my palms flat against the blanket. His lips found mine, his tongue dipping in, and I relaxed under his skillful mouth. This was good, familiar, comforting. My leg muscles loosened. Luca ripped his mouth away from me and sucked my nipple into his mouth through the fabric of my dress. I cupped his head, letting his experienced ministrations carry away my fear. There was an urgency to his kisses and touches that I’d never felt before.
He tugged at my dress and slid it down my body, leaving me in only my panties. He took a moment to admire my body before he moved down and buried his face between my legs, his tongue sliding between my folds over my panties. With a growl, he gripped them and ripped them off, then tossed them away. His mouth was hot and demanding, but too quickly he stopped and thrust a finger into me. Then he stood abruptly and slipped out of his shirt before he removed his holder and pants. His body was taut with tension and his erection harder than I’d ever seen it. The raw hunger on his face sent a spike of fear through me. “You’re mine.”
And then Luca loomed over me, his knees parting my legs and his tip nudged against my entrance. My muscles seized up, and I dug my nails into his shoulders and squeezed my eyes shut. This was too fast. He seemed barely in control. I pressed my face into the crook of his neck, trying to let his smell calm me.
Luca didn’t move, his erection still only lightly touching my entrance.
“Aria,” he said in low voice. “Look at me.” I did. His gaze was hunger mixed with something gentler. I tried to focus on the gentle. For a long time we gazed at each other. He closed his eyes and lowered himself so his body was flush with mine. “I’m an asshole,” he rasped. He kissed my cheek and my temple.
Confusion filled me. “Why?” God, was that small voice mine? Luca was my husband and I sounded as if I was terrified.
I was terrified, but I should have hidden it better.
“You are scared, and I almost lose control. I should know better. I should prepare you properly, and instead I almost shove my cock into you.”
I didn’t know what to say. I shifted and Luca’s erection rubbed over my entrance, making me gasp. Luca released a harsh breath, squeezing his eyes shut. When he opened them again, the hunger was contained. He slid down until his head hovered over my breasts and his abs pressed against my folds. I exhaled at the friction and Luca’s muscles flexed. I could tell he was still on edge.
“You are my wife,” he said fiercely as if to remind himself. Then his fingers closed around my nipples and he tugged at them. I moaned, bucking my pelvis, making my core rub against Luca’s abs again.
“Stop squirming,” Luca ordered, almost pleadingly. He tugged again, and this time I forced myself to stay still, but a moan escaped my lips. Luca’s expression was one of concentration and restraint as he tugged and twisted, twirled and rubbed. I arched my back, practically pushing my breasts into his face, and he gladly took me up on my invitation and sucked my nipple into his mouth. I closed my eyes as he suckled one breast while his fingers pinched my other. He shifted and ghosted his fingers over my ribs, my hips, my sides before his tongue followed the same trail. He bit the skin over my hipbones, then soothed the spot with his tongue. My entire body was on fire, desperate for release.