“Go, Stella,” Luca grits out.
I shoot thebastardoa narrowed glare before spinning on my heels. I march off the dancefloor, lifting my chin to keep my pride intact after being dismissed like a dog.Cazzo, I will never survive this. This man’s mercurial temper is enough to send me to an early grave. As I search for the damned ladies’ room, I’m cursing myself for allowing Luca to touch me the way he did when we danced. AndDio, I wanted it so bad. If Dante and that Caroline woman hadn’t shown up, I’m fairly certain I would’ve had an orgasm from rubbing against his hard cock in the middle of the crowded dancefloor.
Merda, I’m a disaster.
Meet me in the women’s bathroom in five minutes. I’m not done with you. Luca’s words echo across my mind as I traverse the grand ballroom and finally spot the gilded restroom sign. What does that even mean? Is he pissed I introduced myself as his girlfriend or was that threat something else entirely?
A tremor rolls through my body as his hands ghost along my hips, hugging my ass, and those lips ….
Stop it! I blink quickly, but I’d have to carve those images out of my mind with a knife before they ceased to exist. Pushing through the bathroom door, I nearly barrel into a familiar blonde.
Ugh. Shit.
Caroline eyes me, her deep green irises scanning over every inch of my designer wardrobe. I pull my shoulders back, refusing to be intimidated by the woman. Sure, she probably bought her own Jimmy Choos and Dior purse, but she has no idea my new ridiculously expensive accessories were a gift from Luca.
“What?” I bark.
“Classy…,” she murmurs. “I’ve never seen you at one of these events. What did you say your last name was?”
“I didn’t.”
Her lips screw into a sneer as she flashes pearly white teeth. “How do you know Luca?”
I internally curse him for not letting me create a backstory before we arrived. “Old family friends,” I blurt. I have no idea where that came from, but it’s probably true. MyNonnowas the don of all of Manhattan back in the day. He must have known Luca’s father. “How do you know him?” I counter.
“We fucked once. And you know Luca—one time is all you get. Right?”
My brows knit, a hint of an emotion I refuse to name settling in the pit of my stomach. She must read the confusion on my face because a wicked grin stretches across her face. “Oh, I get it. You haven’t fucked him yet. Now, this makes more sense.” She leans against the vanity, her smile growing. “I’m going to do you a favor and warn you to stay the hell away from Luca Valentino. He has all these rules when it comes to screwing: no kissing, no face-to-face, and most important, only once. He’ll fuck you senseless, leave you craving him like a drug, but he’s unbendable. And he sure as hell doesn’t date. So do yourself a favor, little girl, run far away before he ruins you.”
I stare at her, completely numb. All the words tangle in my throat, my brain on overdrive. I shouldn’t be surprised by what she’s said. It seems every bit in line with Luca’s controlling character, and still, it hits me like a freight train. My heart stalls, my ribs suddenly too tight. I can’t drag in a breath fast enough.
“Trust me, sweetie, you’re not his girlfriend, and you never will be.” With that, she twirls on her stilettos and marches out.
The moment she’s gone, my knees give out and I barely make it to the upholstered bench along the wall before I crumble. Heat burns the corners of my eyes, and I hate that her words could have that effect on me. Because that only means one thing … one thing that I refuse to accept. I’m falling for my captor.
The bathroom door whips open, and Luca fills the entryway, his overwhelming presence sucking all the air from the room. He slams the door shut, and the click of the lock cuts through the thickening silence. Blazing dark irises fix to mine, and he stalks toward me.
CHAPTER22
A LION IN THE LADIES ROOM
Stella
I shrink back on the chaise and bump the mirror behind me as Luca stalks closer, a lion focused on one thing: his prey. Piercing irises raze over me, and a shudder roars up my spine. That single, feral look leaves me completely exposed, bare before him.
He stops only inches away, his legs nearly brushing my knees. I draw in a breath to slow the thundering beats of my heart. His expression is lethal, but I can’t tell if it’s anger or lust burning through those midnight irises.
The same is true for me. My mouth is dry, pulse skyrocketing, but heat flares between my legs. The familiar ache from our dance returns, pulsating below.
He steps closer and forces my legs apart. The rip of expensive fabric has my heart kicking against my ribs. “My dress!” I cry. Of all the things to say at that moment, it’s the only thing that comes out.
“I’ll buy you a new one.” A mischievous grin curls his lips as he bends down, eyes smoldering. His hands close around my thighs, and he spreads them another few inches apart. I gasp at the sound of another rip. He glances down at the indecent tear, and fire surges down my belly. If he bends any further, he’ll have a front row view of my sheer, lace thong and everything hidden beneath.
He licks his lips andMadonna mia, it’s so sinful and sexy, I chomp down on the inside of my cheek to keep myself from tangling my hand around the back of his neck and dragging that mouth to mine. His fingers sear into my flesh, and every ounce of restraint teeters on the edge. I need to focus on Caroline’s warnings because I know if I let this happen, we can never go back. And I need to know if she was telling the truth, and only the smirking asshole in front of me can confirm that.
“Wait…,” I murmur, my voice rough and way too needy.
He crouches down further bending his knees, hands digging into my heated flesh. He’s too close now, another inch and he’ll get an up close and personal of all of me. His nostrils flare, and he breathes in deeply. “Mmm, you smell delicious, princess.”
