Page 50 of Ruthless Truths
“Why does it matter?” he counters, remaining still as ice, giving nothing away.
“Because it does. To me.” I do my best to keep my voice strong, but it doesn’t seem to make a difference.
He steps closer once again, towering over me, but I refuse to back down or cower. “That doesn’t mean you get to know why. Haven’t you learned by now that I do what I want?”
Before I can respond, to vent my fury at his arrogant comment, he swiftly turns and exits the room. I contemplate following him, ready to voice my opinion, but I stop myself, thinking better of it.
If he wants to goad me like that, I won’t take the bait. Luca Monroe can fuck off if he thinks he can continue to treat me this way.
Fuck off all by his lonesome.
22
LUCA
Sleep eludes me. I didn’t intend to be cruel to Olivia again, but I also didn’t think that I was going to receive a text from Damon telling me that there’s an actual price on Olivia’s head.
He’s already working on solutions to make sure the compound is as safe as possible, and I intended to tell Olivia that she needed to be more careful when I came back to the apartment, but seeing her already upset…
She was only supposed to be someone I bid on and never saw again. A temptation I wouldn’t have the opportunity to act on. Her beauty and innocence, a fleeting attraction that I would eventually forget.
Yet, with her here, learning how strong she truly is while still just as innocent as I assumed, she’s also not afraid of what lies within the shadows. It’s a combination that seems to be my undoing.
I’ll never tell her, but the more she fights back, the more I want to drop to my knees and worship her. It’s not that I don’t believe she should have that sort of control over me. It’s more that the consequences of allowing myself to truly care that much could be more than I’m willing to pay.
Letting her all the way in and losing her would ruin me in ways I know I’m not prepared for.
Titan put a hundred-thousand-dollar price on her head. That sum won’t attract anyone I can’t handle, but it’s enough to draw the attention of foolish individuals who believe breaching our sanctuary will be effortless.
The need to hold her close to me and make sure nobody can ever harm her intensifies, but for now, I settle for lightly brushing onyx strands of hair away from her face as I watch her sleep soundly next to me, no longer separated by the mountain of pillows that seemed to dwindle every day until just last week when she began sleeping at the head of the bed.
My staring goes on for much too long, and I’m nearly ready to roll over and close my eyes when she lets out a small moan. I tense, searching her face for any signs of pain in case she’s having a nightmare. But instead of crying out in fear, her hand reaches across the bed, caressing my chest as she mutters my name so softly that I know it can’t be anything bad.
My dick instantly hardens, and there’s no sleeping for me now. I place my hand over hers and move it slowly up her arm. She practically purrs under my touch, and I know there’s going to be no holding back on my part.
She doesn’t get to have all the fun in her fantasies.
I reach out and pull her onto me, her warmth melding with mine, igniting a fire that nearly consumes me. As I stare at her angelic face, I know I’m so fucked, but I can’t find a reason to care any longer.
Her eyes flutter open, a small crease forming between them. “Luca?” Her voice, gravelly and enticing, heightens my arousal.
“You were dreaming about me,” I say as a statement rather than a question.
“A much nicer version of you,” she replies, and I can’t help but grin.
“Is that what you dream of, Raven?” My hands slide over her ass, pressing her closer until she gasps. “Anicerme?”
Just when I think I have her right where I want her, she tries to roll over. “One who doesn’t treat me like shit would do.”
My hold tightens until I’m certain she can’t go anywhere. “It wasn’t my intention to dismiss you earlier.” My words have her eyes widening.
“Then what were you trying to do?” she challenges.
“To not burn the world for trying to take you from me,” I say earnestly. “It’s not easy accepting you into my life, Raven. If I do, I won’t be able to lose you. Not without consequences that will shake the foundations of this town to its core.”
She doesn’t look the least bit scared, which turns me on even more. “What would you do if you lost me?”
Her question makes my body shake with a soft chuckle. Her pleasure seems to thrive on my potential rage, another unexpected aspect of this woman.