Chapter 232: Mine 2
- LUCIANO -
"Mine."
No one word has ever held such significance before. A close second would be "ours" when it comes to business and family. But this surpasses it.
Dex’s question about whether I would be willing to give up the mafia stuff passes languidly through my mind while I have Rory in front of me, just a breath away—the gravity between us blinding me to everything else. I dismissed it so easily when it was posed, this question, but now it’s returned.
Would I give the business up for her? Is that even an option? I’ve never considered it before. It’s always just been life. The role I have to play has always gone without question. And it comes with a tremendous amount of power. How can I give it up when it’s who I am?
"What are you thinking?" She asks, forehead pinched above stormy blue eyes that appear so much clearer than I remember.
Just one night. That’s what has changed everything.
"Nothing, dolcezza."
"You’re lying," she says, those beautiful lips tipping on one side toward a smirk.
"It’s not an important lie," I counter, lifting a hand to her face, caressing her skin, watching the way she leans into it—finding comfort, accepting my touch, turning and pressing a kiss into my palm.
"It’s important if you’re looking at me like that." There’s a smokiness to her soft voice that makes me ache to claim her over and over and over again. Mine.
I run my thumb across her lips and gently push through, gaining entry into that wet heat of her mouth. Her lips close around it, tongue lifting to taste the underside, and then she bites down.
"Ow," I hiss, pulling it back and watching as a satisfied smile takes its place.
"That’s all it takes?" She chuckles.
"I wasn’t expecting that," I chuckle and bend to claim her mouth, but she only allows a short kiss before pulling away.
"You put something in my mouth and don’t expect me to bite it?" Her brows lift in amusement, and I can’t help but groan.
Either she doesn’t realize what she just said or she does. And by the teasing flash of mischief in her eyes, I’m guessing it’s the latter. I’ve never wanted to expose myself to the threat of teeth so badly.
The playful expression fades, and Rory glances toward the door.
"Come on," she says, only a small smile remaining as she grabs my hand and starts walking toward the door. "Let’s get back. I want to make sure Raya is okay."
I tug her back toward me, and the quick, swift movement makes her gasp at suddenly being in my arms. There’s the faintest tremble of her lip and hike of her shoulders that has me sighing and tucking her against my chest and cradling her head, pressing kisses into her hair as reminder that I’m safe.
I may be a violent man, but not with her. Not ever with Rory.
The rigidity in her body eases, and I feel the heavy exhale that’s released.
"Sorry, tesoro," I whisper, chest constricting at the realization that not all demons have been vanquished. It will take time with me. Even though I know there is trust between us, it’s brand new, and her instincts are hardwired for protection.
"No, I’m sorry." Her voice is muffled, but her hands lift to run up and down along my sides, first just her fingertips and then the full soft planes of her palms.
A shiver rakes through me at her touch like a bolt of lightning, electrifying the skin in its wake. Rory lifts her face in surprise, eyes searching for understanding as to this reaction she has caused. Her hands repeat the soft caress, and I growl appreciatively.
"I found the tough guy’s soft spot," she whispers with a smile that draws me to her lips.
"Don’t you realize you’re my soft spot?" I whisper back with a light chuckle. "There’s no need to search. You’re it."
She lifts on her tiptoes, hand curling around my nape to pull me down toward her lips and I go as commanded. Delving into the silk and heat of her mouth, lifting her swimsuit cover so I can feel her—all of her. The slick material gives way to teasing sections of warm skin.
Fuck the pool. Why are we even going anyway? I can’t remember. All that matters is here.
Just as I’m walking us backward toward the bed, there’s the sharp rapping of knocks on the door outside.
"No," I groan, dropping my forehead against Rory’s. "Where can we go that they won’t find us?"
"Who?" She asks, giggling.
"Everyone."
"I’m sure it’s Raya," she says, tugging my hand again. "Come on. Come sit by the pool and let me stare at you. I won’t even make you wear a shirt."
"Make me?" I repeat. "Who’s being bossy about clothes now?"
My dark goddess scoffs, eyes cutting back over her shoulder. "You’ve got so much more going on than me, Luci."
"I don’t know what that means, dolcezza. But if you’re talking about looks..." My eyes take her in—from the delicate curve of her neck all the way down to those long, sexy legs. "You have never been so wrong."
She rolls her eyes. "I know you know how hot you are, Luciano. You don’t need me to tell you."
"But clearly you don’t know how hot you are," I counter, grabbing her hips from behind right before we make it to the bedroom door and bending to kiss her neck. "And you’re wrong. I want to hear you tell me. You think I’m hot, Lorelei?"
Something about me whispering her full first name against her neck makes her suck in a sharp breath.
"Yes," she hisses. "Now let me answer the door."
"I’ll answer the door," I say and kiss her neck once more before finally letting her go only to slip past her. That’s when I see Raya and Dex waiting patiently outside.
"You’re right. It’s Raya. I guess we’re going to the pool after all."
"Were you not planning on it?" She chuckles, walking past me to let them in.
