Page 60 of Luca
Luca was on the phone, dealing with a staffing issue at one of the restaurants he oversaw. I leaned back, relaxed, and let my mind drift to what was next—tonight. I had spent the entire morning battling my nerves as I faced my nemesis, Elizabeth Traynor, in court. But now, the rest of the day stretched ahead like a promise.
The city streets blurred as we drove, each familiar landmark passing by unnoticed. I was too lost in my own thoughts, anticipation buzzing in my veins. Tonight was ours. No morethreats, no more shadowy fears lurking at the edges of our lives—just Luca and me, together, celebrating his freedom. A smile tugged at my lips as I thought about my secret surprise for him. The dinner I had planned—a quiet, intimate meal at the estate, in the summerhouse amid the vast gardens, hidden away from the outside world.
I had spent hours planning it all, ensuring every detail was just right. The caterers had been sworn to secrecy, the wines handpicked to match Luca’s favourites, and the summer house would be transformed into our little sanctuary, away from everything and everyone. I wanted it to be perfect because he deserved perfection. We had been through so much together recently, and he had been my rock—taking care of me, looking after my needs, spoiling me, and keeping me grounded. Now it was time for me to take care of him and spoil him in return.
My pulse quickened thinking about my outfit. A black silky dress that clung to every curve, elegant yet provocative. High slits that hinted rather than revealed, and delicate lace that played peekaboo in all the right places. I could already picture the way Luca’s gaze would darken when he saw me in it, the heat that would flare between us before the night had even truly begun. It was bold, daring—exactly the kind of statement I wanted to make.
Tonight was about showing Luca how much he meant to me. I needed him to know how glad I was that he’d persisted, not giving up on me. That after all the denials and rejections, all the hurt I must have caused him, and the changes that took place; I was finally, totally and completely all in. How could I not be? My Mr Sexy Kisser was the guy I never knew I dreamed of.
We’d fought so hard for this—battled through lies, threats, and the weight of his lifestyle pressing down on us. I wanted him to feel just how fiercely I was his, how much I loved him. Because I did. That thought settled around me as comfortably as hiswarm embrace. So much had changed in me. The phrase “rocked my world” didn’t quite capture what Luca had done; he’d stormed in like a tempest, dismantling my carefully constructed ice walls and replacing my fears with fierce devotion. He lit a fire within me, awakening a desire I hadn’t known existed, and taught me that love could be a beautiful chaos—both frightening and thrilling in equal measure.
As Vlad navigated the familiar turns leading us back to the estate, I caught a glimpse of myself in the car’s tinted window. I looked excited—alive. I couldn’t wait to get back, to throw off the weight of the day and lose myself in Luca’s arms.
Dinner first, followed by slow, sensual dancing. I envisioned teasing him with my body, his hands tracing every curve as if committing each line to memory. And then… the rest of the night stretching ahead, limitless and ours alone. I imagined how his hands would feel on my skin, the rough scrape of his stubble against my neck as he pulled me close.
I’d even had a makeshift bed set up for us, complete with new toys to explore: fluffy cuffs, a blindfold, and chocolate spread. I bit back a giggle at the thought of what I could do with that, and what I hoped Luca would do. I could almost feel those sexy lips, that amazing tongue enjoying my offerings. My body reacted with a shudder.
Luca glanced questioningly down at me, and I reached up to kiss his neck. His face broke into a wide grin, his eyes sparkling with understanding. He tried to act unaffected as I stroked the top of his thigh, but the bulge in his pants and the slight hitch in his breath—the only signs he was—betrayed him while he continued his conversation with the employment agency about hiring additional staff. I smirked, knowing I was playing with fire and desperately hoping for it to consume me. The Ice Queen had captured the Player, and the Player had melted her heart.
As the estate’s iron gates came into view—towering and formidable yet somehow welcoming now that the worst was behind us—my pulse quickened. Luca still had some work to do, and I’d promised to pick out baby items with Gracie, but tonight couldn’t come soon enough.
I was determined to remind Luca exactly why he had fought so hard—for this moment, for us. Because now, there was nothing standing in our way, and I was finally ready to confess my love.
CHAPTER 34
LUCA
SEVERAL NIGHTS LATER – THE FIGHT
As I got dressed for tonight’s event, I couldn’t help but reflect on the past week. Since I’d been exonerated of Julie’s murder had unfolded like a dream, each day brighter than the last, illuminated by Claire’s laughter and the warmth of her love. I found myself waking each morning with a sense of anticipation, a spark ignited deep within me. The weight of the past few months, the danger and uncertainty that had shadowed our lives, felt like a distant memory now. Claire had created something magical in the Summerhouse, a sanctuary where we could finally breathe without the weight of the world pressing down on our shoulders.
Her surprise dinner that night had been nothing short of enchanting. The way she transformed the space—twinkling lights, fragrant flowers, the soft strains of music playing in the background—made it feel as if we were the only two people in existence. I could still recall how my heart raced when she stepped out in that black silky dress, the way it hugged her curves, the high slits teasing with just enough skin to leave me breathless. I’d never seen anyone look more beautiful or alluring.
As we danced, her body moving against mine, I was enveloped by a profound sense of belonging. The kiss she’d given me after her confession—the moment when the words “I love you” finally fell from her lips—was etched in my memory. It was sweet and intoxicating, a promise that she was ready to let me in completely. Claire’s vulnerability, the way her eyes sparkled with joy and tears, made me feel as if I was witnessing the true essence of her—the woman beneath the Ice Queen facade, finally revealing her warmth and passion. In that moment, I knew I wasn’t just holding her; I was cradling her heart, and it felt like the most precious gift I could ever receive.
Each touch, each whisper between us, reminded me of the connection we’d forged amidst the chaos my world had thrust us into. I’d fought for her with everything I had, and now I felt a sense of triumph as I realised she had fought for me, too. From the first moment I met her, the walls I’d built around my heart, fortified by years of loss and heartbreak, that left me unable to form prior long-term attachments to a woman, had crumbled under her gaze, replaced by an unyielding devotion I never thought I could feel. She was my one and only.
Now, as I prepared for the night ahead—a bare-knuckle fight at the Rominov’s private members club, Glitz—I couldn’t shake the glow that came from knowing Claire loved me. It was an intoxicating feeling, like a high that pulsed through my veins, filling me with an eagerness I hadn’t experienced in ages. I’d never been one for sentimentality, but this was different. Claire had awakened something in me, igniting a fire that had long lain dormant.
With one last glance in the mirror, I adjusted my tie. The reflection staring back at me was more than just the enforcer of the Bratva; it was a man reborn, fuelled by love and the promise of a future with Claire by my side.
Little Miss Sexy Ass herself wrapped her arms around me from behind, and we locked eyes in the mirror. What I saw there—the love that now shone so openly in her gaze—filled me with a sense of elation that made my heart race.
Taking a small box from my pocket, I handed it to her. “A small gift to show you how much you mean to me,” I told her, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach.
Her eyes lit up like stars. “A present? You don’t need to give me gifts, Luca. As clichéd as it sounds, your love is gift enough. Every moment with you is a treasure.”
“Still, I wanted you to have this,” I said, leaning in to brush my lips across hers, tasting the sweetness of her breath. “Now, be a good girl and open your gift.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied with a sexy little giggle that shot straight to my groin. I bit back the urge to throw her on the bed and spend the rest of the night exploring that special little kink of hers. Tonight was too important to miss. The fight wasn’t just a show of strength between Vlad and Sean O’Brien; it was a celebration, a signal of the new alliance forming between the Bratva and the Irish Mafia. It was about building camaraderie, about trust.
Claire’s fingers trembled with excitement as she carefully opened the box. Inside lay a delicate silver necklace adorned with a small emerald pendant, perfectly matching her stunning emerald dress.
“It’s beautiful, Luca,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. I clasped it around her neck, my fingers grazing her skin, igniting a warmth that spread through me.
“Not as beautiful as you,” I replied, relishing the moment as her cheeks flushed with pleasure.
She reached up and kissed me, rubbing her body against me in the most delicious way.