Page 257 of Mine Again
Said powerhouse strides over once he’s finished with Luca and Aldo, his eyes locked on Mia as if there’s no one else in the room. A cocky grin plays on his lips as he takes her hand, lifting it with deliberate care, and brings it to his mouth for a slow kiss across her knuckles.
Mia yanks her hand back like it burned, a flush creeping up her cheeks.
“I’ll see you tomorrow for our engagement photos,” Maximo says, amusement glinting in his eyes.
Mia blinks. “What engagement photos?”
Wow, Maximo really isn’t wasting any time.
“Not your sister’s, obviously,” he says, tilting his chin toward me. “She’s already married, or so we’re told. I mean ours, Mialina. Our engagement shoot.”
Mia grimaces. “Isa just got back.”
“Exactly. And we had a deal.” Maximo’s gaze locks on her, challenging her to defy him.
Mia’s lips curve into a dazzling smile that’s far too sweet to be real. “I’ll be there.”
Maximo throws his head back and laughs, the sound booming through the room, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Oh, my little rebel. We’re going to have so much fun together.”
He presses a kiss to the side of her head before strolling out, leaving Mia fuming.
“Argh, I hate that man,” she huffs, stomping out of the room, pointedly in the opposite direction of Maximo.
“Mia,” I call after her, but she doesn’t slow.
It’s obvious she doesn’t hate him. That’s what bothers her most ofall. This is going to be interesting.
Luca’s hand finds mine, steady and sure, and he draws me gently against his side.
“We’ll catch up more tomorrow,” he tells my family. “Right now, Isa and I both need a shower and rest.”
No one argues. My mother presses one more kiss to my cheek and Luca’s before letting us go.
Luca leads me through the house, upstairs and toward the guest room he’s been using.
For the first time in days, I believe we might finally be able to breathe.
Chapter Ninety-Nine
Luca
Ikeep Isa’s hand locked in mine as I lead her through Maximo’s mansion to the room I’ve been using since he and I reached our agreement.
We both need a shower and sleep. The past few days have caught up with us, and we’re both exhausted. My body aches, my mind drags, and every system is ready to shut down the second I let it.
Then, once we’ve recovered, I’ll reclaim her properly.
No clothes between us, no frantic need to shove her against a wall just to feel her, to prove we’re both alive. I want to take my time with her, drawing it out, savoring every moment.
Already, my body is lighter with her back at my side. Even the room seems different from how it was when I left it in the early morning hours, ready to destroy the Jackal once and for all.
My eyes never leave Isa as I close the door and turn the lock.
I strip off her clothes, piece by piece, my hands steady though my chest burns. Then I shed my own clothing, my focus fixed on her the entire time.
We stand there in silence, naked, drinking each other in.
