Chapter 25

Lucky

The suite of rooms is impressive, it’s almost the same size as my entire penthouse back in Manhattan and that is saying something. There is an entrance hall that is all black marble with a white vein and leads to double doors to a gorgeous lounge with tan leather sofa and two reading chairs, an open fireplace made of stone and what look to be Persian rugs on the floor, the oak burnished wood flooring left exposed is polished and gleaming. Floor to ceiling windows look out to the ocean, I open them even though it is much cooler now, but I need the air.

Being around Nico makes me all hot and bothered, and not because I get angry when I see him for what he stands for and this blasted arranged marriage. No, something entirely different. He makes me hot for him. There, I have admitted it. I hold my hands up like an alcoholic in an AA meeting. He makes me feel a desire that I’ve never felt before, my body heats up at the mere sight of him, nothing like I have experienced ever before. I didn’t know that panting for a man was a thing, well guess what? I think it might just be. I practically drool when I see him, despite the words and insane thoughts that can pass through my mouth and my mind, I find him intoxicating with his black hair that sometimes flops in his face, I want to push it back and rake my fingers through it. And don’t even get me started on the intensity of those eyes, and yeah, I’ve seen the way he looks at me, from head to toe, like he is assessing a fine, mature wine.

On my right are two double doors, their crisp whiteness set off beautifully from the duck egg blue of the lounge painted walls. I open one and see it leads to a magnificent bedroom with a four-postered oak bed, covered with a pristine white bedspread, so many pillows I could get lost in them forever, the look is sumptuous and all of a sudden, I do in fact feel slightly drowsy. I go inside, there is a Tiffany blue chaise lounge at the foot of the bed, and something sits on it. A small black case, I move closer and bend down to pick it up, whilst kicking off my footwear. Feeling the coolness of the black marble under my feet sends my feet straight to foot heaven.

Opening the box I can see it’s a mobile phone. Well, I never, he had one for me all along, the bastard, why didn’t he just say that instead of continuing to wind me up? Honestly, I tell you that man drives me insane. How I can feel hot for him and his touch, wanting him so badly yet being so mad and pissed at him, surprises even me.

I flick the slider up and am greeted with a message, Hello Princess. Funny, not. I go straight to the directory and see there are two numbers stored, one is my mother’s the other is Mia’s. Oh. My. Gosh, he knows her number, what else does that man know, I bet he knows my bra size and panty size. It wouldn’t surprise me. A man like Nico Santangelo would know everything about everyone.

I throw myself down on the chaise, it feels good to stretch my legs. Some food and caffeine in my body has thankfully stopped me feeling quite so groggy, it’s a kind of lingering feeling. I press on Mia’s i.d. It rings three times.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Mia. It’s Lucky.”

“Oh. My. Fucking. God. Where the hell are you? What happened? Are you okay? What did Nico do to you? Someone tried to shoot him today, they say he was shot.” I chuckle. “What is so funny, this isn’t funny, Lucky. You were practically kidnapped by the heinous bastard.” She causes me to laugh out loud, it feels good to laugh, I can’t recall the last time I did.

“He isn’t shot, but someone did try to pop him. Whilst I was with him.” I hear her take a sharp intake of breath, but I continue not allowing her to interrupt. “He drugged me onboard a flight to where I have no fucking idea, but it’s some kind of sprawling mansion, he calls it his safehouse, and it overlooks the ocean. So, fuck knows where I am.”

“Shit, Lucky. Are you okay?”

“I’ve been better, a bit groggy but nothing like earlier.”

“Is he behaving? Is he being decent to you, or has he hurt you?”

“No, he’s been nothing but a gentleman, well except drugging me on board a flight and taking my old mobile and destroying it so I can’t be traced. Is this showing a number at your end?”

“Nope.”

“Figures, he doesn’t want anyone to know where his place is, it’s for our security and protection, apparently.”

“That makes sense, Lucky. I mean you could have been seriously hurt. Fuck, you could have been killed.” It’s only now that the enormity of it all hits me. I feel tired and overwhelmed. It’s all hitting me at once.

I hear a knock on the door. “Wait a sec, Mia I have to get the door.” I stand up with heavy legs and go open the door, the mobile still in my hand.

“So, you found it then. Good. See, I’m not a total cunt. Now that’s on a timer for each call. Make sure you say what you need to say, it’ll cut off at any minute.”

“Mia,” I go to say and then the call ends. “Jeez, how did you even know I was on the phone?” To be honest, I am way too tired to spar with Nico Santangelo anymore tonight. My legs begin to buckle, he deftly picks me up sweeping his strong arms under my legs and carries me to the bed. He removes the mobile from my hand, slides it shut and places it on the vintage French looking side table by the bed.

“You need sleep, Princess. Let me undress you and tuck you into bed.” I am drowsy and feel like I’m going to fall asleep any second. Undress me, sleep, bed. The words all sound suddenly wonderful, I don’t feel I could resist even if I tried. Did he drug me again, maybe the coffee? Unless it’s just the whole day and being shot up catching me up or the after effects of the drug.

“Undress myself, go.” I manage to tell him.

“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re exhausted, anyone can see that. Now be quiet will you for once in your life, you little brat.” He eases off my pants, exposing my legs and my panties, I hear him take a sharp intake of breath. Gently he moves me so I am in an upright position, careful to keep an arm around me and begins to tug at my top until he gets it over my head before he eases the oyster, silk sheets to one side and covers me with them.

“Goodnight, Princess.” I watch as he walks away, too stunned to say or do anything. Where the fuck has my tongue gone, why am I not fighting and clawing back? Why did I even allow him to undress me, this is very not me. I am a fighter, I am an independent, strong, fierce woman. Yet, there was something almost touching about the way he took care of me. It's the first time in my entire adult life that anyone has taken care of me in such a soft and gentle way. I watch his broad shoulders and back as he closes the door behind him and turn my head, wondering what the fuck just happened to me.

It’s not like I’m unconscious, I’m compos mentis and I have to admit, I liked the way he said goodnight Princess. Nico Santangelo it would appear has a softer more genteel side, but this could be bad, right? If anyone thought for a moment that he had feelings for me, they would use that against him and I Lucky Gianluca will not be Nico Santangelo’s Achilles heel.