Page 71 of Dare To Love Me
“Who is she Luca? Have you slept with her?” I could hear the hurt behind her cool persona.
“No. I have not slept with her.” I was actually offended. “I wouldn’t touch her if she was the last woman on earth. She is crazy to the core.”
“You let her get away with calling me a slut and a whore.” Anger drowned her words.
Closing the distance between us I placed my hands on her shoulders and turned her so I could look her in the eye. She refused to meet my gaze. Cupping her chin I gently lifted until she was forced to look at me. “I was protecting you.” She narrowed her eyes.
A sympathetic sigh escaped me. “Look Becka, Serena has been obsessed with me for years. She is bat-shit crazy and dangerous. She gets off on pain, mentally and physically. I cause pain when I have to; she lives for it. She once asked if she could watch me kill someone. It didn’t even have to be a rival. It could have been a totally innocent person for all she cared. She is sick and twisted. The fact that her father runs the overseas banking under Arianna’s father is the only reason she gets away with the things she does.”
“What does that have to do with me defending my honor? That should be your job anyway.”
“You’re right. But if she knew the truth Serena would see you as a threat, and I don’t know what she would do. There are too many variables happening right now for me to focus on her. It’s just until she goes back to Italy after the wedding.” I let my eyes and voice turn dark. “If she was any other person, I would have cut out her tongue with pleasure.”
Becka’s mouth pinched in consideration. “And if she calls me that again?”
“I will handle it in another manner.”
Her throat bobbed at my meaning. Then she nodded. “That’s if I don’t beat the shit out of her first.”
That had me smiling. I had no doubt Becka would wipe the floor with Serena. “Of course.” She smiled back.
I reached for her and when she didn’t pull away I tugged her in close, hugging her tight. She wrapped her arms around my waist melting into my chest. “I told Arianna you could stay with her tonight.” Now I was disappointed I’d agreed. When I had, Becka and I had been at odds. “Is there anything you need?”
“No,” she said, adjusting her head on my chest, snuggling harder into my warmth. We were both soaked and the air in the study was chilly. My hands moved up and down her back to warm her. “My dress, shoes and undergarments are here. Can you just make sure my violin and tablet make it to the venue?”
“I can do that.”
I wanted to comment on the incredibly sexy moment we shared at the fountain. The sexiest, most passionate moment of my life up to date, and every bit of it had to do with the woman in my arms. But, I knew it was forever ruined by Serena’s interruption. My nostrils flared at the thought of her.
One day, Serena would get what was coming to her.
A knock sounded at the door. I released Becka, crossing the room in angry strides. Another interruption.
“What?” I barked, yanking the door open.
“Sir, Mr. Dellucci asked me to bring you both a change of clothes.” The butler handed over a freshly pressed suit and dress.
“Thank you.” I took the clothes and shut the door.
“I will find another room to change in,” I said handing Becka the dress and undergarments. I wasn’t going to force her to get naked in front of me. She probably felt violated enough by having someone walk in during our intimate moment with her legs spread. She was still shy and I wanted her to know I would not take our moment as an invitation to rush her.
“Ok.” She agreed hesitantly.
“I’ll see you out there. Lock the door behind me. I wouldn’t want to end up having to kill someone because they walked in on you. Only I get to see that. And I’m sure it’s a hundred times better than what I have been dreaming of every night.”
Her cheeks flushed, then she ducked her head. “I doubt that.”
Is she serious?
I tipped her chin up and met her eyes. “You are beautiful, Becka. No woman has ever made me come close to blowing in my pants at the very sight of her on the verge of coming.” Her eyes went wide.
With that I pressed a quick kiss to her lips and left the room before I changed my mind.
* * *
Guests were filing out to leave by the time we made it back to the party. It had started to get dark outside by the time all the guest had gone.
Matteo kissed Arianna goodbye like a starving man eating his first meal in weeks. They kept their level of intimacy low in public, but in front of people they trusted, their love and passion were obvious.
Becka and I stood to the side trying not to stare.
Matteo finished sucking Arianna’s face, smacked her on the butt and turned to me. “Kiss her and let’s go brother. Before I have to drag Arianna into a room and make her scream for the whole house to hear.” Arianna smacked him playfully on the arm, her face turning red.
I chuckled at Arianna’s shyness, remembering when she practically raped Matteo in the back seat of my SUV when I drove them home a few months back. Of course Arianna had been so waisted she didn’t remember stripping almost naked and tearing at Matteo’s clothes while straddling him before he could get her subdued. Matteo threatened to cut my nuts off if I ever mentioned it.
Matteo glared at me, reading my thoughts.
I chuckled again, then leaned down to press a soft, lingering kiss to Becka’s luscious lips. She accepted with a deep inhale through her nose. Flashing her a smile, I turned for the door feeling the loss from not having her at my side.