Cara's pov
We stared at each other, the silence stretched and loud and crammed the car, making it infinitely smaller. I couldn't even bring myself to blink, every muscle and bone in my body was frozen in time.
"I love you, bambina." Luca said again.
Shut the front door.
My body functions resumed chaotically like a gear that had been inactive for years, my heart pumping wildly and my lungs full of air.
I began to shake my head. "No, that's- that's not right. Made men don't fall in love. You said it yourself; only duty matters in your world."
Luca's thumb was caressing my jawline. "Apparently I was wrong." He said, his tone as gentle as his touch. "Which is humbling because I'm never wrong"
I didn't laugh at the obvious joke, I was not in the mood for jokes. I didn't even know what I was feeling at the moment. My head was clogged with swirling thoughts, my heart squeezing with fear and expanding with joy.
It was a mess.
This was something I'd dreamed of since the moment I realized I was in love with him but now he said it I didn't know how to take it or believe it. A small part of me even panicked, the part that was afraid of losing his love now that I had it the minute he learns of my past. The minute he discovers I wasn't the woman he thought me to be.
"Cara, look at me." He commanded in a rough whisper.
I lifted my eyes to meet his full of a new type of emotion, the kind that one in love possessed. My lungs closed in on itself, the pressure so building so rapidly it made my eyes shimmery with tears.
Luca Salvatore was in love with me.
The signs hit me one by one. His feral need to ensure I was safe, his detailed understanding of my quirks and personality, the way he'd softened over time… I was such a complete fool not to have recognized any of it.
He had been in love with me before I even fell for him. I wanted to run across mountains and scream with joy.
His head dipped down, his lips skimming over mine, rousing goosebumps on my skin. "It drives me crazy not knowing what is going on in that head of yours." When I remained silent, he added, "tell me what you're thinking."
I closed my eyes as he kissed my eyebrow. "I'm just… in awe."
He was now nibbling my neck. "Tell me more." He rumbled against the sensitive skin.
I fought hard to catch my breath. "I can't help but wonder why."
He pulled back to look at me, his eyes narrowing. "Why I am in love with you?"
"Yes."
"You're the single most amazing thing I've ever known. Is that enough reason?"
God, I was so happy I could fly. "Who knew you were the smooth talking type."
He kissed my nose. "You bring it out in me."
I tilted up to kiss him, desperate for the taste of him. But he pulled out of reach, his eyes scanning my expression.
"Are we good now? Am I forgiven?"
I'd forgiven him for a while now, probably since the moment he cleared things concerning Valentina but I wasn't going to be easy on him.
"Halfway." I said before pressing my lips to his.
The kiss turned vicious almost immediately, Luca taking ownership of my mouth with a familiar ease. I let him kiss the life out of me.
When we broke apart to catch our breaths, I asked, "What happens next?"
Luca cupped the back of my neck, drawing me in until there was no space between us, the softness of my chest pressing against the hardness of his.
"Declaring to all who need to hear that you're mine is what I'd have done but the idea of that scared the shit out of you."
He was right, just the thought of him telling his family about us had my pulse racing wildly.
But then again, did I really want to continue being his little secret? Did I really want him to pretend like we were nothing when we were amongst other people? Did I want other women to think that he was still available?
It was one rocky situation. I've never really resented my mother for marrying Manuel–I focused my hatred on the retired godfather instead–but right now I felt a strong sense of the feeling. If only she wasn't married to the older Salvatore, Luca and I would have a chance to be together in all sense.
Knowing I couldn't give the answer we both wanted to hear, I skipped it over. "Wouldn't doing that make me the top target of your enemies?"
"I'd never let anything happen to you bambina."
"You can't guarantee that."
His eyes turned black. "Yes, I can. Any man that comes after you would be a dead one, whoever he is."
He looked and sounded so powerful, so convincing and absolute that there was nothing else to do but believe him. A twisted part of me liked it even, the image of him being my very own executioner, ready to kill for me. I should be jarred but it, scared but it had the opposite effect on me. It was how I knew I'd finally lost it.
Or maybe I'd always been like that and he helped unveiled that side of me.
I threw my leg over him to straddle him, locking my fingers at the back of his neck as I kissed him again.
Luca palmed my ass and pulled me closer, one hand snaking up and down my back.
I poured all of my love into the kiss, moaning as his tongue prodded into my mouth, demanding and marking. I ravished his taste, needing more.
That need spread across my body like wildfire when I felt his erection press against my core. Control was seeping out of me with impressive speed, leaving a primal hunger.
Holding tighter to his neck, I began humping against his hardness. We both let out a tortured groan at the sweet friction. My panties was soaked now and I was probably making a mess of Luca's pants but I didn't care and it looked like he didn't either. Desire was igniting between my thighs, the fire growing too hot.
"I could come like this." I admitted in a moan, grinding harder against him.
Luca's hand found my breast, roving over the supple flesh roughly. I was suddenly so desperate to have him touch me without my stupid clothes in the way. I ground harder against him, gyrating my hips, crazed for his c0ck.
I nearly lost my mind when Luca began to thrust upwards, meeting my needy humping. I felt the tip of his erection press harder against me and I moved in a such a way that it rubbed against my clit.
"Oh, yes." I moaned, throwing my head back.
"Look at you, all desperate for my c0ck. Did you miss it? So much that you dreamed about it staking you? Pounding into your shamelessly needy cunt?"
Sheesh, that mouth. It was hot and lethal.
"Dream on." I rasped.
We both knew that I had but I wasn't going to admit it outright. It'd make me pathetic. I was supposed to give the image of a scorned woman not a horny bitch in heat pining after the man that hurt her emotionally.
Luca slammed harder against me as if to punish me for lying which was quite audacious considering the situation.
I moaned again, feeling myself edging close, release a couple of seconds ahead. I caught Luca's eyes, they were a raging storm of desire and they were trained on me in the way that sent crackling energy zapping through me.
He was so goddamm beautiful.
I humped faster, moaning as his hand disappeared under my dress and started stroking my inner thigh. They snaked closer to my center, found my clit and flicked it once.
Twice.
Three times.
"That's it baby, come on my pants."
His words triggered me and I came apart, my entire body vibrating as currents of pleasure shook through me. I dropped against him, my teeth clenching and my toes curling. I was scorched clean.
Luca held me tight all through the rippling experience, his mouth breathing hard against mine as I quivered on top of his rock hard c0ck.
We stayed like that for another minute, our hearts thumping in sync.
I'd come with barely any action from him and I did so hard it put my solo pleasure sessions to shame. There was no clearer indication that he owned my body and not even I could give it the shattering pleasure he gave it.
It was almost laughable.
I reached down to stroke Luca, wanting to reciprocate the what I'd so selfishly wrung from him. He jerked into my hands, his dick obviously happy to see me. However he stopped me.
"No." He said sharply, shaking his head like it pained him to. "When I come, I want to be inside you." He leaned into the crook of my neck. "Go pack your things so we can leave."
The promise hidden in his tone was unmistakable and it made my heart dance with anticipation. But…
I shook my head. "I can't leave just like that, I need to inform Diana and hand over the spare key. I especially can't leave without thanking her for her hospitality first."
"Write her a note, send a text, call later. Whichever of the three. As for the spare key, my men will make sure she gets it."
It has only been a hot minute yet bossy Luca was back. And it was embarrassing, but I loved it.
I got off him, my cheeks coloring at the stains I'd left on the front of his pants. He kissed me one last time before letting me exit the car.
I made a conscious effort not to look in the direction of the living statues keeping watch as I basically scurried back to the apartment.
I was over with gathering my things shortly after, the stolen gun securely hidden right at the bottom of my duffel. As I sauntered into the living room, I briefly wondered if Luca even noticed the pistol was missing. If he did, well, he gave no indication.
I quickly penned Diana another note, thanking her for her wonderful hospitality with a vague explanation on why I was leaving. I added a promise to visit because I felt strangely guilty. Giving the cozy place one last scan, I walked out the door.
Luca was holding the car door open when I returned. "Let's go home." He said and my heart tripped.
Let's go home…
Two days ago that word had sounded all wrong but not anymore. Home, it was where Luca was.