CHAPTER 8 (LUCA)
866 Words
I instinctively cover myself at her comment about cutting off my d**k. She laughs—and damn, her laugh sounds angelic. Soft, real, and completely unexpected. I shake my head, trying to keep my cool.
“No, nothing like that,” I say, still recovering. “Umm… what if we put in the agreement that if I cheat, you can leave me—no questions asked. And you get full control of your family’s business.”
She tilts her head, considering. “That might work. Though I can’t promise I’ll react before leaving.” She flashes me a wicked little smile.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“Learn to keep it in your pants, Ricci.”
God, this woman.
Spitfire. That’s her new nickname.
“So… is that a yes then, Spitfire?”
“It’s a maybe,” she says, shrugging. “I need to think about it a little more. And did you just call me Spitfire?”
“Sí. That’s your new nickname. And I can work with a maybe.”
She pauses. “Luca?”
“Sí?”
“Is there anything else you want from this?”
I hesitate. “Well, I mean… the families coming together is good. The new income, the protection…”
“I meant from me.”
Oh. Damn. “Sorry. This is new to me too. If this can be a real relationship… that’s all I want.”
She looks down at her hands, her hair falling into her face. I can’t read her expression.
“GreenLee, did I say something wrong? Did I upset you?”
She whispers something so quietly I almost miss it. “What if I can’t make you happy?”
I sit up straighter. “Happy? Sweetheart, your fire and spirit—if you don’t lose that, I’ll be happy.”
“That’s not what I meant,” she says, glancing around the room.
“Then what did you mean?”
She groans. “God, you’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?”
“I guess so…” I raise a brow, watching her cheeks flush. She’s blushing.
Damn, she’s adorable when she blushes.
“I mean… in the bedroom. I’ve never… I’m a virgin.”
A virgin?
Okay, Luca. Hold it together. You’ve got this.
I haven’t been with a virgin in ten years. But that doesn’t mean she can’t make me happy. It means she’s teachable. It means she’s mine to protect.
Just don’t screw this up.
“You mean you’ve never…?” I trail off, unable to finish the sentence.
She rolls her eyes. “No, I’ve never had s*x. Honestly, I can’t believe I’m talking to you about this. But here we are. The most I’ve ever done is make out with someone.”
She looks down again, hands folded in her lap. Her fiery side is hot—but this sweet, vulnerable side? It’s even sexier.
I reach out and gently lift her chin with my finger, holding it there until she meets my eyes.
“Tesoro, you being a virgin doesn’t mean you can’t make me happy.”
“Really? I’m nothing like the others you’ve been with.”
“No, you’re not. And that’s exactly what makes you better than all of them.”
I move my hand from under her chin and cup her face. She leans into it—just slightly—but enough to make my heart stutter. I thought she’d pull away.
“Where was this guy downstairs?” she teases.
I laugh. “Well, like my s*x life, I’ve got a reputation as a badass mob boss too. If you want this… you’ll be the only one who sees this side of me.”
Who am I right now?
I’ve never talked to a woman like this—except maybe my mother.
She’d be proud.
“I’ll think about it,” she says softly. “When do you and Uncle Sal need an answer?”
“No rush. We’ve got time. Let’s say… by next Friday?”
She nods.
“Luca?”
“Sí, tesoro?”
“Maybe you can come with me tomorrow night? I need to check on the clubs.”
I smile. She wants to spend time with me.
“Of course. I know you run them. I’d like to see it. It shows me you’re really thinking about us.”
“Good. Be ready by six. We can stop and get something to eat—or order from the kitchen at Reds.”
“Sounds like a date.”
She blushes again. “Umm… okay. Well, I need to study a little more before bed. I’ve got two math tests and a zoology lab tomorrow.”
“Of course. Goodnight, GreenLee. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
She leans closer, and before I can react, she kisses me on the cheek.
I smile, stunned. I want to kiss her back—but I don’t want to push. So I stand, take her hand, and kiss it gently with a wink.
“Sleep well, Spitfire.”
And with that, I turn and walk out, closing the door behind me.
- Writer
