“Grace wanted to humiliate me. She looked really happy when I found you.”

“I bet,” he said. “She’s a fucking rat trying to humiliate a queen. She’s nothing.” Wow, he was furious. And I couldn’t help but feel schadenfreude toward Grace.

“How did she react when you told her that you couldn’t see her anymore?”

He was silent. I tensed. “You promised you wouldn’t see her or other women again.” My voice shook and I tried to pull away from him but he held me fast. Had he lied to me? I couldn’t believe I’d believed him, couldn’t believe I’d let him touch me there, and actually touched him in turn.

“I did, and I won’t. But I didn’t talk to Grace. Why should I? I don’t owe her an explanation, just like I don’t owe a fucking explanation to the other sluts I fucked.” His body might have been made from stone he was so tense. I wanted to believe him. He grabbed my chin between his thumb and index finger and tilted my face around until I was looking at him. “You are the only one I want. I’ll keep my promise, Aria.”

“So you won’t see her again.”

“Oh, I will see her again to tell her what I think about her little stunt.”

“Don’t.”

He frowned.

“I don’t want you to talk to her again. Let’s just forget her.” I could see that he didn’t want to forget. “Please.”

He exhaled, then nodded. “I don’t like it, but if that’s what you want…”

“It is,” I said decidedly. “Let’s not even talk about her anymore. Pretend she doesn’t exist.”

Luca lifted his hand and rubbed his thumb over my lower lip. “Your lips are too fucking kissable.” I ducked my head to hide my pleased smile.

“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” I said.

“More bad news?”

“Well, I guess that depends on your viewpoint. I want Gianna to visit me. School doesn’t begin for another two weeks and I miss her.”

“It’s been only a few days since you saw her.”

“I know.”

“Where would she stay?”

“I don’t know. Maybe in our guestroom?” We had three of them on the lower floor of the penthouse.

“Your sister is a major pain in the ass.”

I gave him a pleading look.

“How about a deal?” he said in a husky voice.

Nerves fluttered in my stomach. “A deal?”

“Don’t look so nervous.” Luca smiled sardonically. “I’m not going to ask you to sleep with me so you can see your sister. I’m not that big of an asshole.”

“No?” I teased and he slammed his lips against me in a kiss that sent lightning sensations all the way down to my toes.

“No,” he said against my lips. “But I’d like to explore your body.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Like how?”

“Tonight, I’ll try to be home early from the meeting at the club and I want us to soak in the Jacuzzi for a bit and then I want you to lie back and let me touch you and kiss you wherever I want.” He licked my ear. “You’ll love it.”

I parted my lips in surprise. This was moving way faster than I’d thought it would, than I thought it should.

Luca must have seen the uncertainty in my expression because he slipped his hand between my legs and pressed the heel of his palm against my clit over the fabric of my panties. I bucked and let a moan slip out before I could stop myself. God, this was ridiculous. This was what happened when you were forced to live abstinent for so long.

“You like this, Aria. I know you do. Admit it.”

He pressed harder and I jerked against him. “Yes,” I gasped out. He moved his palm slowly over me, sending spikes of pleasure through my body. “Don’t stop.”

“I won’t,” he said, nibbling my throat. “So do you let me have my way with you tonight? I won’t do anything you don’t want.”

I wasn’t even sure what I wanted right now. Except for Luca not to stop what he was doing with his hand. I would have promised him anything in that moment. “Yes.”

He increased the pressure on my clit and suckled at my throat, then flicked his tongue over my collarbone, and I exploded.

Luca kissed me below my chin before pulling back with a smirk. Once I came down from my high I needed to figure out a way to balance the power between us. He wanted me more than I wanted him. I was sure about it. I needed to take advantage of it.

I rested my forehead against his shoulder. “So can I call Gianna and tell her to buy plane tickets?”

Luca chuckled. “Sure, but remember our deal.” His phone buzzed on the nightstand. He picked it up. “For fuck’s sake, Matteo, what now?”

I pulled back. Luca got up and began pacing the bedroom, completely naked. “We’ve got his back. I won’t let another fucking restaurant go to the Russians. Yeah. Yeah. I’ll be ready in thirty minutes.” He flung his phone on the nightstand.

“I’ll have to talk to the owner of a restaurant chain.”

“Okay,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment.

“Call your sister and tell her she can come. And I’ll be back in time for dinner, okay? I have a few take-out menus in the kitchen. Order whatever you want.” He leaned down and kissed me. “Let Romero take you to a museum or something like that.”

Fifteen minutes later, he was gone, and I was left with my doubts. How could I have agreed to his deal? Because I loved the pleasure he gave me. Why not enjoy it? Maybe I would have to live without love, but that didn’t mean I would have to be miserable.

Gianna was ecstatic when I called her to tell her she could visit. I didn’t tell her about the deal. I couldn’t talk about something like that on the phone, or ever. I knew she wouldn’t approve of me giving in to Luca so quickly.

***

As promised, Luca was home early. I was incredibly nervous. I’d chosen a beautiful yellow dress and set the table on the roof terrace. Surprise flashed across Luca’s face when he found me outside.

“I thought we could eat here?”

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in for lingering kiss. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. “I ordered Indian food.”

“I’m hungry for only one thing.”

I shivered. “Let’s eat.” What would Luca do if I told him the deal was off? I took a seat. Luca watched me with intensity. Eventually he sank down on the chair across from me. There was a gentle breeze that caressed my skin and tugged at my hair.

“You look fucking sexy.”

I started eating. “Romero took me to the Metropolitan today. It was amazing.”

“Good,” Luca said with a hint of amusement. Could he see how nervous I was?

“What about the restaurant owner? Did you convince him that the Familia will protect him from the Russians?”

“Of course. He’s been under our protection for more than a decade. There’s no reason to change that now.”

“Sure,” I said distractedly, taking a gulp of the white wine.

Luca put down his fork. “Aria?”

“Hm?” I nudged a piece of cauliflower on my plate, not meeting Luca’s gaze.