Cara's POV
Luca's expression didn't soften at my apology; if anything, his jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and pain. He looked like a man holding himself together by sheer force of will, and for a fleeting moment, I wondered if I'd broken something in him that couldn't be fixed.
My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach at the thought of it.
"Sorry," he repeated, the word like venom on his tongue. "You're sorry…" He moved closer, his movements slow, deliberate, and terrifyingly controlled; a sharp reminder that beyond being my lover, he was a dangerous man. He leaned down, his face mere inches from mine, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Tell me, what exactly are you sorry for? To wake up and find you gone? To read that pathetic excuse of a note and realize you thought so little of me-of us-that you'd just disappear? Do you even understand how much you mean to me?"
"I didn't mean-"
He cut me off, raising his hand and I swallowed. "Cara, I was losing my mind! I thought you were dead. Every second you were gone, I imagined the worst. And then, when I finally found you, you were being dragged away like a sacrificial lamb to god knows where! I swore to protect you. At least let me keep that promise."
His words struck like blows, each one landing with precision, forcing me to confront the full weight of my actions.
I opened my mouth to speak, but he didn't give me the chance.
"You don't get to do that to me," he said, his voice quieter now but no less intense, the words cutting deeper than any knife ever could. "You don't get to rip yourself out of my life like that and act like you're doing me a favor. You don't get to decide what I can handle."
Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision as I reached for him, my hands trembling. "I thought I was doing what was best for you," I said, my voice breaking. "After Manuel…I didn't want you to lose anyone else because of me."
He flinched at my words, his eyes closing briefly as though he was trying to block out the pain, but he leaned into my touch, closing the distance between us even further as he rested his forehead against mine.
"You don't get to decide what's best for me, Cara," he said, his tone heavy with emotion. "You think I don't know the risks? You think I don't know the danger? I don't care. I'd face it all-hell, I'd face worse-if it meant keeping you safe. But what you did…" His voice cracked again, his hands shaking as he reached out, his fingers brushing against my cheek, wiping away a tear. "What you did scared the living shit out of me, tesoro mio. Do you understand that?"
The tenderness in his touch, the vulnerability in his voice, shattered whatever defenses I had left. "Luca…" I whispered, my voice thick with tears.
His thumb traced the line of my jaw, his gaze searching mine. "I love you, Cara," he said, the words raw, unfiltered. "Do you even know how much? I would burn this city to the ground for you, and yet you thought I'd be better off without you. You thought I'd just…move on?"
I shook my head frantically, the very idea unbearable. "I didn't think you'd move on. I just-I thought it was the only way to keep you safe."
He shook his head. "Safe," he repeated, his hand reaching out to do the back of my neck as he kissed the trail of tears that trickled down my cheeks. "And who'd keep you safe? You were running straight into danger, leaving me blind and helpless to protect you. Let me do my duty as your lover to protect you from even death itself. You're the entire world to me, tesoro mio. Without you in it, I'd find a way to take myself out of it, That's how much you mean to me."
My heart stuttered, my lower lip trembling… There was a seriousness in his eyes so raw and pungent, it hurt to look him in the eyes. "Y- you don't mean that."
He only laughed humourlessly, raking a powerful hand through his tousled hair, a dark look in his eyes. "Pull this stunt one more time and find out for yourself if I mean it or not."
"No, I won't." My answer was immediate, desperate.
Luca stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he leaned forward again, his hands cupping my face with a gentleness that stole my breath. His voice low and steady. "I just need you to promise me one thing."
"Anything," I whispered, the word escaping before I even had time to think.
"Promise me you won't run again," he said, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart ache. "No matter how bad things get. No matter how scared you are. You stay. With me. I cannot live without you, mi amor."
I nodded, my tears falling freely now as I placed my hands over his. "I promise."
For the first time since he'd entered the room, his shoulders relaxed, the tension easing ever so slightly. He pressed his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my skin.
"Good," he murmured. "Because I'm not losing you again, Cara. Never. I'll keep fighting for you as long as this life permits me."
His lips found mine in a kiss that was as desperate as it was tender, and I gasped in relief, more tears streaming down my cheeks at the realization that I'd missed him terribly.
Luca groaned, tearing his lips away from mine just as quickly as he'd kissed me and when I stared at him in confusion, he shook his head, his entire body taut with what I quickly realized was restraint.
"You need to rest."
I shook my head, my heart pounding hard in my chest, my hands shaking with need as I clutched his shirt. Every cell in my body was alive with desire. I felt like if I didn't have him, if I didn't communicate my need to him, I might explode.
I reached out and gripped his thigh, my smile widening when he hissed and grabbed a fistful of my hair, pulling me to him until we were chest to chest.
God, I'd missed him so much. I was so foolish to think that I'd have been able to survive being without him.
I pulled at his buttons, stroking his naked chest that pounded with the force of his heartbeat. I stopped just below his lower abdomen before making my way back up.
"Don't be a tease, Cara" He murmured against my mouth and I let out a moan at how his voice sent a delicious feeling down my spine.
I drew back to gaze into eyes that sucked me in. "But you like it, don't you?"
His reply was a grunt of approval and at the small sign of agreement, aching fire poured into my veins. "Touch me," I begged. "Touch me before I lose it."
I gasped when his hungry mouth descended on my neck, devouring my skin and leaving marks of pleasure. "You and your orders." He murmured against my skin as he pushed me into the bed, parting my legs like the Red Sea, "What did I tell you about that mouth of yours?"
"I don't remember. Remind me, Luca."
"Beg me, bambina. You haven't been a good girl lately."
There was a time where the thought of begging Luca would have left me absolutely mortified, but I was too gone for this man. I'd do even worse if he asked me to. I'd do anything for him.
"Please." I whispered, my eyes locking with his so he could see just how eager I was for him, how much I wanted him to possess me and fill me up in a way only he could.
I saw it when his restraint broke, felt it in how his grip tightened on my exposed thigh as he pushed my dress up and discarded my panties in one beat.
Shoving my legs wider, the only warning I got before his tongue brushed against my clit was a ragged breath. My lips parted in a gasp, my hands moving into his hair as he continued to lick and suck, his teeth making my toes curl as he nipped at my sensitive bud.
"I missed you so much" he whispered against my pussy like a starving man, his voice was so desperate, so full of raw emotion that I whimpered.
"I love you." I responded, hoping he could hear just how sorry I was and how much I meant it.
His response was to slip his fingers into me and I gasped as he continued the sweet torture, moving up my body to capture my lips in a kiss while he continued to finger me.
My fingers pulled relentlessly at his hair, pulling him closer as I rocked against his hand, matching him thrust for thrust. Each movement sent shivers of pleasure through my entire body and all I could whimper was his name.
His free hand tightened against my hip as he kissed me senseless, his mouth moving lower to my throat and leaving a blazing trail along my collarbone, neck and shoulder. Between kisses, he whispered, both in English and Italian, his voice doing indescribable things to my mind as I tightened around him.
I needed release-needed it desperately. "Please," I choked out, barely able to form the words, "I need…"
I couldn't finish because his thumb found my aching clit and my eyes rolled over as a fresh wave of ecstasy to crash over me.
"Luca," I mewled, barely able to think, "if you keep doing that, I'm going to-"
"Do it," he growled, his voice rough and commanding. "Be a good girl and come for me, baby."
And because I would always be his good girl, I did.