A slow, possessive smile spread across her lips. “I am?”
“Uh huh.” I reached for her and pulled her onto my lap in the steamy water. “And as long as I’m wearing this and you hold the key, we are unbreakable, angioletto.”
She straddled my hips and twined her hands behind my neck. “I love that,” she whispered.
I brushed the damp hair over her bare shoulders and skimmed my lips against hers. “I know this isn’t where either of us wants to be, and I know I can be an ass sometimes who doesn’t always think before he reacts, but I promise you that I will always love you. You were right. You are the only family that matters to me. And I won’t forget that again.”
She rested her forehead against mine. “You didn’t forget. You just got... distracted.”
My heart warmed. She always knew just what to say to make me feel better. I didn’t think it was possible to fall more in love with her, but I did. I did right there in those hot springs.
“That is not a distraction I want to repeat. But you...” I tugged her more tightly onto my lap, letting her feel my erection beneath the water. “You are a distraction I am happy to get lost in all over again.”
She groaned and opened her mouth, drawing me into a blistering kiss. And just when I was frantic for more, she rocked the world right out from under me when she whispered, “Show me. Show me just how much I can distract you, mio marito, amore mio, vita mia.”
My husband, my love, my life.
I’d never been more moved by six simple words. And as she kissed me and I lost myself in her, I knew anywhere with her was exactly where I was meant to be.
5
Natalie
I didn’t want to let Luc leave me the next morning.
After a magical night at the hot springs, he’d brought me back to the cottage and we’d slept wrapped around each other. By morning, I was rested and relaxed, and every time I felt the key move against my chest beneath my shirt, I smiled and remembered the things Luc had said to me last night.
Things weren’t perfect—not by a long shot—but I had faith they would get better. That together, we really would be okay.
I reluctantly kissed him and let him go in the afternoon, though. Luc had told me that while I’d been upstairs with Ariana last night, he and his father had talked.
His father had appointed someone else as CEO at Covet, which meant we were not going back to New York as we’d both hoped. They were meeting this afternoon to discuss Luc’s future with the family business. And although Marco was with him and I was confident Luc was safe, I was not at all thrilled with whatever role his father was going to make him take on.
I found Felicity late in the afternoon. Her housekeeper had let me in and told me she was working in her study. She was on the phone when I stepped through the double doors, but waved me in when I was about to turn around and leave.
“Yes, that sounds good,” she said into the phone, pointing toward the couch for me to take a seat. “Exactly what we need. I’ll have James wire you the money. We’ll be in touch.”
She hit End on her phone, dropped it on the antique desk, and swiveled my direction. “I was wondering if I was going to see you today.”
“Couldn’t sit still down at the cottage. This is a great office.”
“Thanks.” She glanced up and around the two-story room with dark wood paneling and bookshelves that ran all the way to the ceiling with rolling ladders. Every shelf was packed with old books and treasures. “Marco built it for me. A miniature version of the library back home.”
I’d only been in the library at her family’s castle in Scotland once, when I’d been looking for Luc. It had been nearly three times this size but I could easily tell this was patterned after that. “Marco is a very special man.”
“Yes, he is.” She rose and moved to a shelf where several bottles of wine were hidden. “Of course, the first time I met him, I thought he was Spanish.”
“You did?”
“Yep. He was good at faking his accent. I was totally hot for him.” She poured the wine and came back with two glasses of red. Handing me one, she sat beside me and tucked one leg under her. “Then I found out he lied and conned me, and I quickly changed my opinion.”
I nearly spit my wine out. “Dear God, is that part of the Salvatici playbook or something?”
Felicity grinned. “It’s entirely possible. Though Marco quickly learned the error of his ways.”
I leaned back and sipped my wine, enjoying her story, unable to stop worrying at the same time.
She reached out and squeezed my hand. “Marco’s not going to let anything happen to Luc.”
“I know. If they were planning to hurt him, they would have done it last night.”
“Exactly.” She tipped her head. “So, what’s bugging you? Marco said you and Luc worked things out.”
“We did. I’m just... nervous about what his father is going to want him to do. Being the supportive wife is one thing. Being supportive when you know he’s being forced to participate in illegal activities...”
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think he’ll start there. Antonio is smart enough to know that Luc will balk at anything too nefarious to start. My guess is whatever job he gives him will be masking something else. Much like his role at Covet.”
“Great.” I frowned and lifted my wine to my lips. “So he’ll be doing nefarious things but pretending to be doing legal things.”
She laughed. “Think of it this way. The more Luc learns about the behind-the-scenes activities, the easier it will be for him to change them when he takes his father’s place.”
I lowered my wine and stared at her. “That could be years.”
“Possibly. Hopefully not.”
I looked down at my wine, hating how our life together was being dictated by others.
“And the parties and rituals?” I asked warily.
“He’ll go, reluctantly, as expected, and he won’t participate, like Marco. None of that has changed, Natalie. Luc’s deal with them did not specify he was required to participate.”
I breathed a little easier with that knowledge, though I still didn’t like the idea of him attending any of those gatherings, with or without me.
Pushing the thought aside before it could depress me, I looked over at her. “Speaking of nefarious activities...”
Her eyes narrowed. “Yes?”
“I need something to keep me busy. This is the first time I haven’t been employed since I was fifteen. If I have to sit around, waiting for Luc to come home every day, I’ll go batshit crazy. I don’t suppose there’s any chance you need help? With your nefarious activities?”
“You want to work with me?”
I nodded. “I saw what you did for Sela.” Sela was the young woman who took care of Luc’s house in the tropics. She had also once served as a kitten under the control of House Salvatici until Felicity had helped her escape this nightmare. “You’re making a difference. I can’t help Luc with his House, but I can help people like Sela and Dante.”
She considered for a moment. “You were very helpful with Dante. And Luc, actually. A lot of the girls we relocate are traumatized and injured. Most of the guys I work with don’t have that calming presence. If you’re serious, I can definitely use the help. Though you have to keep in mind it can be dangerous.”