I lay a hand on my chest and try to catch my breath. “Yes. Sex workers don’t live like this. They don’t make this kind of money. There was a girl in my marketing class who was a call girl and she was in school to learn how to market herself better. She raked it in, I remember her stories, but this? This is another level. Who is he? Really?”
“I’ll talk, you put on the gown.”
“I’m not making a video with him!” I nearly shout, realizing what this now seems like.
Dr. Rossi tries to cover a laugh. “You’re not here to work. Quite the opposite, Mr. Bianchi is on vacation. As for your question of who he is, I’ll answer that when you’re gowned.”
I do as I’m told, but it’s mostly because I’m in a zombie mode, and I am already here. The doctor seems rational. More than the lackey, Santino. A porn star, Lizzy. What in the hell are you doing here? It’s hard to be surprised as I didn’t know anything about him, but I’m still… scared. A porn star on vacation. Wouldn’t one assume he would go celibate for a week if you fuck for a living? When I’m naked but for the soft cotton medical gown, I call for Rossi. He comes in, toting his worn leather bag.
“Search the Italian royal family next,” he orders, swabbing the crook of my elbow with an alcohol swab.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Is he a prince? Tell me he’s a prince!” Now the shock has taken over and I’m cussing and screaming, and also sort of wanting to call Shay to tell her I told her so.
He nods. “He is. He inherited the wealth. His sex empire is all his own. As you can imagine, finding women who aren’t affected by his wealth and status proves difficult. It’s why when he dates, it’s often like this.”
Rossi tells me he’s about to stick me, but for the first time in my life, I don’t feel when the needle enters my skin. I’m looking at photos of Luca and his beautiful royal family. The juxtaposition of this compared to the search I did before it is black and white. It seems as if while they’re deemed royalty, they don’t really do much of anything except charity events and live a fast and glamourous lifestyle.
“How do they let him do that kind of work? Isn’t that bad press?”
“Have you seen his manhood?” the doctor asks, sticking a bandage on my arm. “Plus, he does what he wants. No one tells him what to do. They’ve grown to accept it, and it’s not as if he has some unrealistic standards and rules to live by. He lives by one. Stand for something or you’ll fall for anything. His dick, quite literally, stands near constantly. That’s his ethos.”
I stay silent as I lay down on the bed and spread my legs as asked, my phone in front of my face as I scroll the millions of entries about him, ignoring the prodding with a speculum. After the doctor finishes taking the swab, he asks when I got my IUD put in place and what brand it is so he can confirm with my doctor back in the states. I’m not surprised by any of the random questions anymore. This seems necessary, and I’m sick with nerves at the prospect of having to meet Luca.
I let the gown fall to the ground when the doctor exits. That’s when Luca walks in. Tall, chiseled masculine. Perfect in every way except in all the morally sound ways women want their men to adhere to. His skin is bronzed, and his gaze is ferocious as he takes in my naked body from head to toe. “Just as I hoped I’d find you.”
I should be horrified that he’s seeing me at my most vulnerable, but how many exposed women have his eyes seen? If the internet has anything to say about it, it’s probably thousands. Luca has confidence I’ve never seen in a man before. His gaze tells me my body is an instrument he is skilled at playing. His tongue skirts across his bottom lip. “I’m still in shock,” I explain, not having anything intelligent to say, I figure I should stick to the truth.
“Rossi gave you the details.” Luca reaches behind a door that must lead to a bathroom and unhooks a silk robe. He tosses it on the bed.
“Details?” I shriek. “You’re some prince turned porn star and that was more than enough details, he gave me a trough filled with manure.”
He cocks his head to the side. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
I ignore his plea for explanation. “Having women get a physical upon entering isn’t the best way to romance, just so you know. Maybe say hello before you force a doctor between my legs.”
His grin is mischievous. “It’s easier this way.”
“Do you do this often? I’m starting to feel a bit like a sex worker myself right now.”
“Oh, sweet Elizabeth. I haven’t even touched you… yet.”
“Answer the question,” I fire back, reaching for the robe and tying it on as his eyes catalog my every movement. “Do you do this often?”
“No. Once a year when I take a holiday.” He steps toward me. “Are you angry? Hungry? How can I please you? No sex until your labs come back, but in the meantime, tell me what you want.”
“A proper meeting!”
He extends his hand. “I am Luca Bianchi. Charmed to meet you.”
When I slip my hand into his, he flips it, and brings it to his lips and places a warm kiss on the center of my palm. “I… I… It’s nice to meet you, Luca. Call me Lizzy.”
He doesn’t release my hand, in fact, he kisses my wrist and flicks his eyes up to meet mine. “How about I just call you mine?”
Chapter Four
The palace by the sea
“IT’S NEAR IMPOSSIBLEfor me to date in Italy. If I’m traveling it’s for work, and I don’t date when I’m working. I take off most of November and December every year. To decompress.”
