Chapter 83 CLAIM HER ONCE AGAIN
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AUTHOR’S POV
Adeline stirred, warmth cocooning her as she slowly blinked awake. The soft sheets clung to her bare skin, the lingering scent of him still embedded in them, wrapping around her like a second embrace.
She exhaled quietly, stretching slightly before her gaze drifted toward the figure standing by the dresser.
Luciano.
He had just stepped out of the shower, his damp hair slicked back, water droplets clinging to the sharp angles of his face.
Even freshly showered, he carried an edge of danger, his presence filling the room with something dark and possessive.
He was already dressed—black tailored slacks, a crisp white button-down, the top two buttons left undone, exposing the hint of a tanned, sculpted chest.
His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, revealing strong, veined hands as he adjusted the expensive watch on his wrist.
Adeline watched him, too entranced to look away.
The way he moved—slow, controlled, precise—made her stomach tighten. God, he looked unfairly good.
Every inch of him screamed power, authority. But more than that, there was an unmistakable tension in his posture, something heavy in the way he carried himself, like a man who had too much on his mind.
Her lips curled into a soft smile as she let her gaze linger.
Luciano must have felt her stare because he smirked without even looking at her.
“You’re awake,” he mused, finally turning toward her. His sharp, dark eyes locked onto hers, his smirk deepening as he tilted his head slightly.
“And staring. A little too much.”
Adeline immediately flushed, quickly looking away.
“I—wasn’t staring,” she mumbled, fingers clutching the sheets.
Luciano let out a quiet chuckle, stepping closer.
“You were.”
Adeline pouted, her face heating. God, he was impossible.
He leaned down, pressing one knee onto the bed, bracing a hand beside her head as he hovered over her, his voice dropping into a low murmur.
“You like watching me, don’t you?”
Her breath hitched. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating in the best way.
She swallowed, gathering her thoughts.
Now or never.
“Luciano…” she whispered, hesitating for a second before finally speaking.
“I need to leave.”
The Shift
The air changed instantly.
Luciano’s smirk vanished.
The teasing glint in his eyes disappeared, replaced by something unreadable, something dark and volatile.
His fingers twitched against the mattress before he slowly pulled back, standing to his full height.
“No.”
His voice was firm. Final.
Adeline sat up fully, gripping the sheets around her.
“Luciano, listen to me—”
“No,” he repeated, sharper this time. His entire body was rigid, his hands curling into fists as his jaw locked. His voice dropped into something cold, deadly.
“You’re not leaving.”
Adeline exhaled, already expecting this reaction.
“I have to,” she said softly but firmly.
“I need to handle this myself.”
Luciano let out a slow, deliberate breath through his nose, restraining himself. His hands flexed at his sides like he was barely keeping his rage under control.
“What exactly do you think you’re going to handle?”
Adeline met his gaze, her heart pounding.
“Charles.”
Luciano stilled completely.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.
“You think I’ll let you go to him?” His voice was dangerously quiet.
Too quiet.
Adeline swallowed, choosing her words carefully.
“I want to be with you, Luciano. But I need to do this first. I need to settle this. I need—”
“No, you don’t.” His voice was sharper, cutting through her resolve like a blade.
Adeline exhaled shakily.
“Luciano—”
“You’re mine.”
His voice was lower now, possessive, borderline obsessive.
“And I will not let you walk into the hands of a man who wants to rip you from me.”
Adeline’s heart clenched at the raw intensity in his tone. God, he was furious.
She reached out, grabbing his wrist, pulling him closer.
“Come here.”
Luciano hesitated, his body vibrating with tension. Then, slowly, he stepped forward, standing between her legs as she sat on the bed.
She reached up, fingers brushing against his face before pulling him down.
Her lips met his, soft but firm, kissing him with every ounce of reassurance she could give.
Luciano groaned against her mouth, his hands immediately coming up to cradle her face, his grip possessive, desperate. He kissed her back, deeper, harder, claiming her, pouring all his frustration into the way his lips moved against hers, the way his teeth grazed her bottom lip before he pulled back just slightly, their breaths mingling.
She pressed her forehead to his, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You’re not dangerous to me,” she murmured. “And you helped Vladimir. I can’t forget that.”
Luciano exhaled sharply, his eyes flickering with something almost pained.
He knew she wouldn’t back down.
And he fcking hated it.
His hands dropped to her waist, gripping her tightly, his thumbs pressing into her soft skin like he was trying to ground himself.
“I need to claim you again.”
Adeline’s lips parted slightly, her breath catching.
Luciano’s hands slid up her body, fingers tracing every inch of exposed skin before he tipped her back onto the bed, his weight pressing her down, his mouth capturing hers in a deep, feverish kiss.
A kiss that told her exactly what he couldn’t say.
He would never let her go.
A Different Kind of War
Luciano devoured her.
His lips crashed against hers, his body pressing her deeper into the mattress, his fingers curling around her wrists, pinning them above her head.
His grip was firm, dominant—reminding her exactly who she belonged to.
She gasped softly against his lips, arching into him, heat coiling in her stomach.
Luciano growled lowly, breaking the kiss only to trail his lips down her neck, his teeth scraping against her skin as his breath fanned over her.
“You drive me fcking crazy, Adeline,” he murmured, voice husky, nearly feral.
“Talking about leaving when you know damn well I won’t let you.”
Adeline whimpered softly, her head tilting back as his lips reached her collarbone.
“You’re mine,” he whispered, his tongue flicking over her pulse point before sinking his teeth in just enough to make her shiver.
“And I need you to remember that.”
She did. God, she did.
Luciano pulled back slightly, his dark eyes burning into hers. His voice dropped into something dangerously low.
“I’ll let you fight your war,” he murmured.
“I’ll let you take your revenge. I’ll give you the blood you want, the victory you crave.”
His thumb brushed over her lips, his gaze possessive, unwavering.
“But when it’s over,” he said, his voice dark and absolute,
“you come back to me. You come back to my bed. You come back where you belong but before that, let me claim you once again”
Adeline swallowed hard, her heart racing, her lips parting to respond—
But Luciano didn’t let her.
His lips crashed against hers again, stealing whatever words she was about to say, stealing her breath, stealing everything.
And Adeline?
She let him.