Chapter 53
It wasn’t the kind of moment Luca had envisioned. Holding Amber in his arms, her body trembling against his, he felt a grim ache settle deep in his chest. For three years, he had carried the weight of longing for this woman—this fiery, stubborn, beautiful woman who had once been his wife. He had wanted nothing more than to love her, to be the one to bring her joy, to protect her. To be close to her again, even like this, should have felt like a triumph. But instead, it felt bittersweet.
Amber’s request had been clear, her voice unsteady, her gaze pleading. She wasn’t seeking passion or reconnection in the way he was. She was seeking escape. A desperate distraction from the fear gnawing at her soul.
Luca had always known that touching her was unlike anything else. The first time they’d been together, it was as though the universe had rearranged itself, centering on the bond they had created. She had been his everything then, and even now, that connection still burned fiercely in his heart. If tonight unfolded as she was asking, he had no doubt the intensity between them would be just as overwhelming as it had been before. Perhaps even more so.
But he also knew the truth that broke him. Amber wasn’t asking for closeness out of love or desire. She was asking because she was scared—terrified of the looming uncertainty that was her future. Terrified of what chemotherapy might strip from her, not just her body but her sense of self. Cutting off her hair had clearly been a gut-wrenching step, one she had forced herself to take. He had seen how she used to beam with pride at her long, vibrant red locks. They had been her crown, and he had adored them too. The woman before him now wasn’t only physically changed; she was emotionally raw, vulnerable in a way he had never seen before.
This wasn’t about rekindling their romance. It wasn’t about love for her, not tonight. And though the realization stung, Luca was grateful she had come to him with her request. She could have turned to anyone—or no one at all. Yet she had chosen him. That meant something, even if it wasn’t everything he wanted it to mean.
He stroked her cheek gently, watching as her lashes fluttered, and her eyes stayed resolutely downcast. She was bracing herself for his rejection, he realized. Bracing herself for one more blow, one more wound to carry.
But he wouldn’t do that to her.
“Yes, amore mio,” Luca murmured softly, his voice low and steady. His hand slid to her jaw, tipping her face up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. “I’ll give you what you need. But understand this—tonight isn’t just for you. It’s for me too.”
Amber blinked at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She opened her mouth to protest, to argue, but he silenced her with a kiss—slow and reverent. It wasn’t demanding or forceful; it was a promise. A vow that even if this night had begun as a way to soothe her fears, it wouldn’t end with her feeling detached or hollow.
Luca’s eyes darkened as he scooped Amber into his arms, her gasp muffled against his shoulder as he lifted her effortlessly in a bridal style. The way she clung to him, uncertain but unwilling to pull away, sent a wave of heat coursing through him. His grip was firm but tender, as if he were cradling something both precious and fragile.
“Luca—” she started, her voice a mix of protest and breathlessness.
“Shh, amore mio,” he murmured, his lips brushing her temple as he carried her toward the bedroom.
With a deliberate nudge of his foot, the door swung open, and he stepped inside, kicking it shut behind him with a soft thud. Amber’s pulse quickened as she heard the unmistakable click of the lock. The room felt charged, the air thick with anticipation. Before she could utter another word, Luca laid her gently on the bed, his movements fluid but purposeful, as though every action had been carefully considered.
His gaze burned into her as he hovered above her, the corners of his mouth curving into a devilish grin. “You’re not going anywhere, cara. Tonight, I’m making sure you don’t forget how much I love every inch of you.”
Amber’s breath hitched as he lowered himself onto her, his body pressing against hers, the weight of him grounding her in a way that felt both overwhelming and electrifying. His mouth found hers without hesitation, capturing her lips in a kiss that was hot and demanding. He started slow, savoring the softness of her mouth, teasing her with his tongue until she opened for him. The kiss deepened, turning into a heated exploration that left her trembling beneath him.
Luca lingered, his lips worshipping hers with an intensity that left her dizzy. He kissed her upper lip, then the lower, alternating between gentle nips and soothing strokes with his tongue. He sucked lightly, drawing out a soft moan from Amber, which only spurred him on. His hands roamed her body with a hunger that matched the fervor of his mouth, sliding over her silk-clad curves as if he couldn’t touch enough of her at once.
Amber barely noticed when he began unbuttoning her shirt, his fingers deftly working the fabric loose until it fell open, revealing the delicate white lace of her bra. His lips trailed from hers to her jawline, then down to her throat, where he pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses. The scrape of his stubble against her sensitive skin sent shivers racing through her, and she arched into him instinctively, her body betraying her mind’s hesitation.
His hands didn’t stop their exploration, sliding down her sides and brushing against her hips before moving lower. Luca paused for a heartbeat, his fingers tracing the waistband of her trousers. “You’re wearing too much,” he growled softly, his voice rough with desire.
Before she could respond, his hand slipped between her thighs, cupping her through the thin barrier of her trousers and panties. Amber gasped, her hips jerking at the sudden contact. The pressure he applied was maddeningly perfect—just enough to ignite a fire deep within her but not enough to satisfy the ache he’d awakened.
“Still so responsive,” Luca murmured, his lips curving into a wicked smile against her collarbone. “I didn’t forget your weak spots, bella. Seems your body hasn’t forgotten me either.”
Amber twisted beneath him, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts as his fingers moved in slow, teasing circles. His lips descended again, this time finding her chest. He nuzzled against the swell of her breasts before pulling the lacy material down, exposing her hardened peaks to his hungry gaze.
“Perfect,” he whispered reverently, his voice filled with a mix of awe and desire. He took one nipple into his mouth, his tongue flicking against the sensitive bud while his other hand kneaded the curve of her hip. Amber moaned, her fingers threading through his hair as she clung to him, overwhelmed by the sensations he was pulling from her.
Luca couldn’t help but taste them once, before doing it again and again and again, until he was sucking on her pink hard nipples like a crazy man, his palms grasping her breasts from both sides. He could feel her hands on him too, he groaned feeling her hands roaming over his chest as she started unbuttoning it. He let her, but he drew the line when her hands went near his belt. “Not so soon, darling! Not now.” He shook her hands off him. “it’s my time to enjoy first, you will get your prize later.” He shushed her. Before going back to mauling her breasts.
Amber didn’t learn though, she wanted him and she wanted him then, she didn’t want to play anymore games, so her hands went back to his belt, that she unbuckled as he continued to kiss and suck on her skin, but she had barely taken his zipper down when he stopped her once again. Growing very annoyed. “You really need to be taught a lesson don’t you, La mia scarlatta seduttrice.? Humm?” with a grin on his face in a single yank he took off her trousers and in another yank he tore open her panties from the middle, exposing her completely to the cold air, she closed her legs, more out of instincts that shame, but he was having none of that either. “I want complete submission from you kitten, And I am going to get it.” He murmured. He smacked hard at her exposed heat, making her wince in equal part pain and pleasure. "Don't you dare close those legs again, until I tell you to," he growled, his voice deep and commanding. Amber nodded frantically, her eyes wide with desire.
Luca smirked and stood up, his hardness, aching inside the layers of clothing. He walked around to the headboard of the bed and tied Amber's hands to it with the torn pieces of her panties. The fear of getting slapped on her heated core made her keep her legs open.
Luca grinned watching her, like a beautiful art piece he had created. Now, he was going to enjoy this!