Page 42 of Hard Lessons

Chapter Eight

Serena slept in a tightball, her knees hugged in and her neck bent to her clasped hands. It was a deep dreamless sleep, exhaustion claiming her and turning everything black and thoughtless.

So when she woke to find a big, hard body curled around hers and thin cotton curtains patterned with birds—robins and finches—at the window, she lay frozen, trying to piece together the day before and how the heck she’d ended up in this strange room.

It was Luca’s warm breath on her nape that sent events toppling into place again.

She shut her eyes as a tremble wended its way down her spine and sent a wave of awareness over her sore ass. A tumble of memories besieged her—his hands swatting her behind, being tipped over his lap, scrabbling for purchase, begging him to stop, wanting him to fuck her but holding in her shouts and demands for him to do just that. As the heat grew in her cheeks, the anger rushed back, seeming to fill her bloodstream.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he said, tightening his hold on her, his wide forearm dragging her closer still.

The warm flesh of his legs pressed on hers, his chest hair tickled her back.

“What are you doing?” She gripped his forearms. They were over the covers and as she looked at his tattoo again—the smoking skull—another memory flooded back. Then another, and another. Each time she’d clung to him, each time he’d taken her to wondrous heights of ecstasy.

“I’m holding the woman I love, what do you think I’m doing?” He nuzzled her neck.

“If you loved me you wouldn’t have kidnapped me then beaten me.”

He tensed and it was suddenly like being wrapped in a steel bar. “Don’t say that.”

“I’m only stating the truth.”

“As you see it.”

She spun in his arms. Their noses almost touched. His eyelids were still heavy with sleep—something she’d always adored about him in the mornings—and his stubble was thick and black. “So tell me how you see it, Luca.”

“I took what’s mine, you. That’s not news, Serena, you know you’re mine, you promised to be mine forever.”

“Things changed.”

“Not for me.” He paused and ran his hand to her ass, cupped her cheeks gently over the cover. “And also things haven’t changed for you. There’s been no other man in your bed.”

It hadn’t been said as a question so Serena didn’t answer. Besides, other men hadn’t been a thought this last year. There was only one man for her—the man holding her tenderly as the dawn light seeped into this strange Scottish bedroom. It was a confusing whirlwind of emotion; being in his arms was like coming home, but there was also the fight or flight instinct raising its head, shouting at the top of its voice. The need to run, to get the hell away from the guy who’d stolen her away from the new life she’d planned was very real, very much present in her thoughts.

“And Ididn’tbeat you.” He swiped the tip of his nose over hers. “I spanked you for bad behavior, the way my father did my mother, his father before that and going back generations. It’s how it is for the Morrettis.” He licked his bottom lip, leaving a slight sheen there. “But again, not news to you, Serena. I’ve told you before that you’d get a spanking if you stepped out of line.”

“But you never did, not in anger, not like last night.”

“You never crossed the boundaries; no, wait, you never blew away the boundaries in a series of huge explosions then ran off into the sunset so spectacularly. You must see how shocking your actions were now. The way you’ve been running around town this last year is not fitting for a Cosa Nostra woman.”

“Perhaps I just wanted to be anormalwoman. Someone who has nice friends with a respectable job, enjoys art and theater, fine dining and—”

“I have no problem with any of that, but don’t forget who you are in here, at your core.” He released her ass and pressed his hand over her bare chest, right between her breasts. “In here you’re the daughter of Andrea Ricci. Mafiosi is in your blood.”

“So what you’re saying is I’m destined for a future where at any moment my life could turn to shit, because there’s always something going down, some scrape with the law, the barrel of a gun ready to turn my way...yourway.”

He was silent.

“I don’t want that, Luca. I’ve experienced a new way to live, seen people content and relaxed with their lot and high on the love they have for their families. No need to trade in drugs, arms, the constant need for payback and retribution.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying.” He frowned.

“I do.” She cupped his stubbled cheek and lowered her voice. “I really do. I’ve changed, Luca. You need to accept that.”

“Never.” His jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed. “It’s only been a year, and we’ve waited for each other.Nothinghas changed. It won’t, I’ll make sure of it.”

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