Page 54 of Ruthless King
“So everything Caroline said was true…”No kissing, no face-to-face, and most important, only once. My head spins, and suddenly, there’s not enough air in the room. My lungs constrict, and I search non-existent pockets for my inhaler.
“Caroline?” he barks. “What exactly did she say to you?”
“I told you I saw her in the bathroom last night before you came in. She confronted me.” I’m panting now, every breath labored.
Luca must notice my panic because he mutters a curse, then he’s on his feet searching my drawers as I struggle to drag in a breath. “Where is your inhaler?”
I point at the nightstand, forcing my manic pulse to slow. He darts across the room and nearly knocks the little side table over when he jerks the drawer open. Leaping over the bed, he places it in my palm and steadies me, those strong hands closing around my shoulders.
“Breathe, Stellina, breathe.”
I bring the inhaler to my mouth as hot tears prick my eyes. I hate looking weak, especially in front of him. Especially after what he just said. I take two quick puffs and toss the little cannister back onto the bed.
Luca stands in front of me, still holding me steady. Tiny beads of sweat line his brow, and his own chest is heaving. His mouth is still shiny from my arousal, lips swollen.
My stomach churns.
“I’m sorry,” he mutters. “I never should have started this. It’s my fault. Lines are getting blurred, and it’s not fair to you.”
“No, it’s not,” I spit. “Why are your fucking rules so important anyway?”
His gaze drops to the floor. “They’re all I have.”
“Caroline was right.Sei un vero bastardo, Luca Valentino.” I shrug free of his hold, grab my towel and dart into the bathroom. I slam the door with such force the entire wall shakes.
* * *
Luca
Porca miseria. What the fuck is wrong with me? I’ve been standing here like an idiot staring at the bathroom door for an entire hour. Stella never emerged. If it wasn’t for the occasional muttered curses that seep through the door, I would’ve been certain she’d found a way to escape somehow. Clearly impossible.
What has this woman done to me? One week in my home and I’m ready to throw out every single rule just to be with her. My lips crave hers, my dick so fucking hard it aches to burrow inside her until I can’t tell where I end and she begins.
I’m obsessed.
After she overheard my conversation with Dante last night and stormed off, I thought about her all night long. I watched her on the cameras, every twitch, every sigh. I almost raced into her room and climbed into her bed again when she murmured my name in her sleep.Myname. Was she thinking about me between her legs in the bathroom? It wasallI could think about. Hell, I’d been up so damned early, I’d gone all the way to Little Italy to buy thosepasticcinifromNonna Maria’s as penance. And she hadn’t even tasted them because she was so angry at me.
For telling Dante she meant nothing to me.
A fucking big ass lie.
Dio, she meanseverything.
If I give into this, nothing will ever be the same. For either of us. She has no idea what she’s getting into. I’m the reason for one of the hearts tattooed across her chest. I’m not so completely caught up in my own world to ignore her pain. Though she hasn’t admitted it, I know those hearts are for Vinny and her mother. Already, I’ve put her in danger. Now that the Red Dragons know she’s mine, they’ll try to use her to get to me. Bo saw how I reacted last night. If he’s too stupid to notice, his father most definitely is not.
I stomp out of Stella’s room, making extra noise just so that she hears. I don’t want her to spend all morning trapped in that bathroom. Besides, I need to check in with my lawyer, Jones, to ensure he’s destroyed all versions of that video of me pummeling the shit out of Bo Zhang.
Bastardodeserved it and so much worse.
When I reach my study, my gaze lands on the note taped to my computer screen.Dante.
Fratellino,
No worries, Jones and I took care of your little Bo problem. I hope you took care of yours and got the girl out of your system. You’ve worked too hard to risk what you have for a hot piece of ass. Remember that. And you’re welcome.
Dante
“Stronzo,” I mutter and crumple up the note. The last thing I need is Stella finding it. I sink into my desk chair and stare at the screen, but all the words blur together. Clara was finally able to reschedule the meeting with the commissioner for tomorrow. That would be a huge win, and a big blow to the Chinese Triad. A few more key moves and they’ll be out of my territory for good.
