Chapter 24 "Ours "
They were still in the garden, grass stains on their clothes, water drying in the sun.
Luca tugged Elena back down to the bench, his large hand swallowing hers.
“Play with me now,” he said, voice half-command, half-plea, like a big child who couldn’t bear losing her attention again.
Elena raised an eyebrow, but the corner of her mouth twitched.
“Fine, Mr. Jealous.”
They played rock-paper-scissors.
Round after round.
Luca lost every single one on purpose, of course.
His massive fist always a fraction too slow, always the wrong choice.
He didn’t care about winning the game.
He cared about the way her eyes lit up, the way her laughter spilled free like birds taking flight every time she beat him.
That sound her happiness was worth any defeat.
She noticed halfway through, eyes narrowing playfully.
“You’re letting me win again.”
“Guilty,” he admitted, pulling her into his lap.
“I’d lose forever if it keeps that smile on your face.”
Inside, fear gnawed at him.
Letting her go on that trip tomorrow felt like handing his heart to fate.
But her joy?
He couldn’t disobey it.
Not when it made her shine like this.
Eventually, he stood, lifting her effortlessly.
“Enough games,” he murmured, carrying her back inside, up the sun-warmed stairs to their bedroom balcony overlooking the endless blue sea.
He settled into the wide lounger, pulling her between his legs, her back to his chest, arms locked around her waist like he could keep the world out forever.
“I’ll miss you,” he said, voice low, nuzzling her neck.
His hand slid up, cupping her breast, thumb brushing her nipple through the fabric.
“My melon.”
Elena gasped, swatting his hand, cheeks flaming.
“You shameless creature!”
He chuckled, pressing a soft peck to her shoulder.
“Only for you.”
Okay… do you want anything for the tour? He aksed
She twisted to look at him, eyes sparkling.
“Wait no, I need things. Where’s my phone? I have to shop!”
Luca reached into his pocket, handed her his sleek black phone without hesitation.
“Here.”
“But it’s yours,” she protested.
He kissed her temple.
“Ours. Everything I have is ours.”
Elena’s heart did a slow, sweet flip.
She snuggled back against him, opening the shopping app, scrolling with excited little hums.
Sunscreen “high SPF, I burn like paper”.
Polarized goggles “for the views”.
Cute hiking shoes.
Breathable tops, a light jacket, a ridiculous sun hat with butterfly embroidery she had to have.
Luca worked on his laptop balanced on the balcony rail security routes for tomorrow, drone schedules, guard rotations but his eyes kept drifting to her.
The way she bit her lip in concentration.
The soft “ooh!” when she found something perfect.
The way she leaned back into him without thinking, trusting his arms to hold her.
Every few minutes, she’d tilt the screen.
“This one?”
He’d nod, kiss her neck.
“Perfect.”
She ordered it all to the villa express delivery, his card.
When she finished, she tossed the phone aside and turned in his arms, straddling him, hands framing his face.
“I love you,” she said, serious now.
“Even when you’re an overprotective caveman.”
Luca’s hands settled on her hips, thumbs stroking.
They spent the rest of the day tangled in each other, time blurring into a golden haze of laughter and touch.
Breakfast melted into lunch on the sun-drenched balcony, the tray forgotten as they fed each other strawberries juice staining their fingers red, lips brushing in stolen kisses that tasted of sugar and salt.
Her laughter echoed over the endless blue sea, bright and unguarded, a sound Luca chased like a man addicted.
In the garden, they played more ridiculous rounds of rock-paper-scissors on the grass, blades tickling their bare feet.
Elena’s cheeks ached from smiling, her eyes sparkling every time she “won.”
Luca let her, of course his massive fist always a heartbeat too slow, always the losing choice.
He didn’t care about victory.
He cared about the way her joy lit the world, the way it healed something cracked inside him.
Dinner was candlelit on the terrace flickering flames dancing in glass holders, pasta twirled lazily around forks, rich tomato sauce bursting with basil.
Wine poured slow, deep red reflecting the stars just beginning to prick the velvet sky.
His hand never left her thigh, thumb tracing slow, possessive circles under the table, a silent promise that the night was far from over.
Later, under a canopy of stars, they made love on the wide lounger gentle this time, reverent.
Skin to skin, moonlight silvering their bodies, every touch a memorisation.
He mapped her with lips and fingertips, whispering her name like a prayer against her throat, her breasts, the curve of her hip.
She clung to him, tears of overwhelming happiness pricking her eyes, because tomorrow she would step into a world that wasn’t his shadow, and tonight he loved her like he was giving her wings.
Sleep found them wrapped together, limbs entwined, hearts beating in perfect sync.
The sea whispered lullabies against the cliffs below.
4:03 a.m.
Elena’s eyes snapped open.
Excitement buzzed under her skin like a thousand tiny sparks, electric and unstoppable.
The tour.
Her first tour.
She couldn’t lie still; her body vibrated with it.
She looked down and shook her head, a fond, breathless smile curving her lips.
Luca slept deeply beside her, mouth latched softly around her nipple, warm and possessive even in dreams.
One large hand cupped her other breast, thumb resting over the peak as though guarding it.
His dark hair fell across his forehead, the scar softened in moonlight, making him look almost boyish peaceful, hers.
Carefully, reverently, she eased out of his hold, replacing her body with a pillow.
He frowned in sleep, arms tightening around it, murmuring her name in a low, needy rumble that made her heart flip.
She kissed his forehead, lingering, then slipped from the bed, pulling on his oversized black t-shirt.
The fabric swallowed her, brushing mid-thigh, carrying his scent like armor.
The excitement was too much.
She grabbed her phone, padded barefoot to the balcony, cool marble kissing her soles.
The sea stretched endless below, stars fading into the first blush of dawn.
She texted Sriya:
WAKE UP!!! IT’S TOUR DAY!!! 🌄🥾
No reply.
She called.
Sriya answered on the fourth ring, voice thick with sleep and exasperation.
“Elena… for the love of God, it’s four in the morning.”
“You forgot!” Elena whisper-shouted, bouncing on her toes, wind lifting her hair. “We’re going on the tour today!”
Sriya groaned dramatically, sheets rustling.
“I know, you lunatic. We leave at nine. I’m trying to sleep so I don’t look like a zombie next to your glowing self. Please, go back to bed before your mafia husband wakes up and murders me for this call.”
Elena giggled, unable to stop.
“Fine. But I’m too excited to sleep.”
“Then count sheep or something. Love you, crazy. See you at nine.”
Click.
Elena turned, phone still in hand, grinning at the horizon like it was the first day of the world.
Strong arms slid around her waist from behind.
A hard, familiar chest pressed to her back.
Hot breath on her neck.
“Very excited, ha?” Luca’s voice was gravel and sleep and danger, lips brushing her ear.
“That you left your husband alone in bed?”
Elena shivered, half-laugh, half-moan, leaning back into him.
She knew that tone.
Punishment was coming and she couldn’t wait.
He spun her gently, pinned her against the balcony rail, the sea wind cool on her skin, his body scalding.
“Bad girls who sneak away get consequences, butterfly.”
"I need to punish you Baby Lucas spoek in her ear.."
To be continued...