Chapter 77 BURNING LOVE
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AUTHOR’S POV
Luciano’s lips were relentless, his kisses deep and consuming as he carried Adeline toward the bedroom.
He moved slowly, deliberately, savoring every second their mouths were connected, as if afraid she would disappear if he let go.
His hands held her securely against him, fingers pressing into her back, feeling the warmth of her body through the thin fabric of her clothes.
Adeline’s fingers tangled in his thick, dark hair, pulling him closer, matching his intensity.
Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath uneven as she surrendered to the fire between them.
She felt weightless in his arms, but at the same time, she felt grounded—completely and utterly present in this moment, in his touch, in his kiss.
The bedroom door nudged open as Luciano stepped inside, the soft flickering candlelight casting a golden glow over the space.
The room was small, intimate, with a bed covered in dark sheets that looked impossibly inviting. A few candles flickered on the nightstands, their warm light illuminating the shadows that danced across the walls.
The air was thick with a mixture of anticipation and something deeper—something unspoken, but undeniably powerful.
Luciano lowered her onto the bed with a slow, careful motion, his body never breaking contact with hers.
The moment her back hit the soft sheets, he was hovering over her, his lips still molding against hers, his breath hot and ragged.
His weight, the solid warmth of him, pressed her into the mattress, and she gasped as his cold fingers traced over her waist, sending a delicious shiver through her body.
He pulled back slightly, just enough to look at her, his dark eyes hooded with an intensity that made her breath catch.
He looked almost desperate, his gaze roaming over her face, memorizing every flushed inch of her.
His thumb brushed over her lower lip, his breathing uneven as he whispered,
“I need you.”
Adeline’s cheeks burned, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out. Instead, she cupped his face, pulling him back down to her, crashing her lips against his in a kiss filled with raw hunger.
Luciano groaned into her mouth, his hands sliding beneath the hem of her top, fingertips tracing up her spine before tugging the fabric over her head.
The cool air met her bare skin, making her shiver, but it was nothing compared to the heat of Luciano’s gaze as he took her in.
His pupils were blown, his lips slightly parted as his fingers trailed along her exposed collarbone.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his voice thick with need.
Adeline felt her blush deepen, but before she could respond, his lips were on her again, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck, across her shoulder, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
Her body arched into him instinctively, her fingers gripping his shoulders, pulling him closer, needing more.
His hands roamed lower, tracing the curve of her waist, his touch slow and teasing, igniting every nerve in her body.
She whimpered softly as his lips found that sensitive spot just beneath her jaw, his teeth grazing her skin, making her tremble beneath him.
Luciano smirked against her neck, his breath warm and uneven.
“I remember exactly where you like to be kissed,” he whispered, his voice like velvet, filled with dark amusement and something else—something possessive.
Adeline shuddered as his hands moved lower, expertly unfastening the button of her jeans, sliding them down her legs with an agonizing slowness.
His fingers ghosted over her bare skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.
Luciano sat back for a moment, his gaze raking over her, drinking her in as if she were something sacred.
The hunger in his eyes was undeniable, his restraint hanging by a thread.
With a slow, deliberate movement, he reached for the buttons of his own shirt, undoing them one by one.
Adeline watched, her breath shallow, as he shrugged off the fabric, revealing the sculpted lines of his chest, the sharp definition of his muscles.
The candlelight cast golden shadows over his skin, making him look almost unreal—like something out of a dream.
Her eyes flickered over the ridges of his abdomen, the way his chest rose and fell with each uneven breath. He was breathtaking.
Luciano smirked slightly at her reaction, leaning down until his lips were just barely brushing against hers.
“You’re staring,” he murmured, his voice teasing but dark with desire.
Adeline swallowed, her fingers tracing along his jaw. “Can you blame me?” she whispered.
Something flickered in Luciano’s eyes—something deeper than just desire. For a moment, he didn’t move, just looking at her, his expression unreadable.
And then, without warning, he kissed her again, this time softer, slower, filled with something almost reverent.
His hands slid over her thighs, his touch both gentle and possessive.
He took his time, exploring, teasing, mapping every inch of her skin with his fingertips as if committing her to memory.
His lips moved lower, pressing kisses along her collarbone, down the curve of her shoulder, trailing over the swell of her chest.
Adeline’s breathing hitched, her fingers tightening in his hair as he continued his slow, torturous descent.
Luciano groaned against her skin, his hands gripping her hips as he pressed her further into the mattress.
“I want to hear you,” he murmured, his voice rough with need.
“Don’t hold back.”
Adeline gasped as he nipped at her skin, his touch setting her nerves on fire. Every kiss, every caress was deliberate, drawing out her reactions, making her writhe beneath him.
Her hands roamed his back, feeling the taut muscles flex beneath her touch. She pressed herself against him, needing to be closer, needing to feel him.
Luciano’s breathing was uneven, his restraint slipping with every passing second. He hovered over her once more, his gaze locking onto hers, dark and intense.
“I need you,” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
Adeline’s heart pounded.
She reached up, cupping his face, brushing her lips against his with a tenderness that made his expression soften—just for a second.
“I’m yours,” she whispered.
Luciano let out a shaky breath, his forehead resting against hers for the briefest moment before he captured her lips in another desperate, searing kiss.
And then, nothing else mattered.
The world outside ceased to exist.
There was only them.
Only heat.
Only fire.
Only the sound of their ragged breaths and the feeling of their bodies tangled together, lost in each other, lost in the night.