Chapter 76
Then his lips closed around her folds, letting the warmth and moisture envelop him. He licked, he sucked, and the sounds she made were like music. He felt her arch, felt the tremors in her body, every subtle quiver a direct line to his own growing need. Each flick of his tongue, each careful suck, was a feast of sensation that tethered her to him completely.
Vee grunted, one hand tangling in his dark hair, tugging lightly. “Luca she gasped, breathless, shivering, needing more, giving more.
Luca could feel her shaking. He pulled his hands away and grabbed her thighs instead, offering solid support, giving her something to hold onto as he lapped at her.
Vee rode his tongue with abandon, unashamed, unreserved, chasing only release. Her hair tumbled down, spilling, her back arching in perfect surrender, and she grabbed onto the headboard with both hands.
“Please… please she moaned, breathless, using his face as a conduit for her pleasure, guiding him, giving him permission to claim her utterly. She arched backward, body trembling, giving him everything she had as her orgasm rolled through her, consuming her, leaving her raw.
Her body shook violently as Luca helped her settle back onto him, holding her with firm hands, letting her feel the strength of him. Then, he kissed her, tasting her, needing her to know how incredible she was, how intoxicating, how utterly his.
“Breaking fast before breakfast. Healthiest way to live,” Luca teased.
Vee’s cheeks flamed, a vivid blush spreading across her face as she tried to hide behind her hair.
“We should… uhm… have breakfast,” Vee said as she shuffled off the bed. Her legs still felt unsteady. She bent to retrieve her shorts, the fabric wrinkled and abandoned and pulled them on slowly.
“Yeah, we should,” Luca replied from behind her.
“I have to call my dad today,” Vee added, forcing herself to keep her tone casual as she tied the drawstring. “Tell him Valentina is safe p>
“Vee p>
“I know,” she said quickly. “No details p>
He let out a slow breath. “Why do you still care about him p>
She turned then, leaning against the dresser, folding her arms loosely over her stomach. Luca stood near the bed now, dark hair still tousled.
“He is my father,” she said quietly. “He was never like this. Not before. He loves us. He has just been making poor choices p>
“Why?” Luca pressed. His eyes never left her face.
“After my mother died, it broke him,” Vee said. “She was… she was his anchor. She kept him together, you know. She was strong like that.” Her mouth curved into a sad smile.
“So you are more like your mother,” he said slowly. “The shepherdess of the family p>
Vee let out a small laugh. “Yeah. Something like that.” Her gaze dropped to the floor. “But Valentina is all I mostly care about now p>
Luca’s brow furrowed. “Who cares about you p>
“Well, I She stumbled, caught off guard. “I don’t need to be cared for p>
“Don’t you p>
“I can take care of myself,” she said, lifting her chin, reflexively defensive.
“I’m sure you can,” Luca replied, stepping closer. “It doesn’t mean someone shouldn’t be taking care of you p>
He reached for her then. His arms wrapped around her, and she felt the truth of his strength, the quiet promise in it. “I will,” he said into her hair. “I will care for you. I will protect you even when you don’t see it. You’ll get the world, Bambola. All you have to do is ask p>
Vee nodded against his chest, blinking fast as her eyes burned. It was absurd. Almost funny in a cruel way. The one person who had ever stopped to ask who cared for her was a man who ordered deaths with the same ease he ordered breakfast. A murderous psychopath, by every reasonable measure.
And yet, here he was, offering her protection as a certainty.
She made up her mind right there. Right then. Tonight, she would stop pretending she was only half in. Tonight, she would beg him to take her completely. Entirely.
Vito was halfway through a bottle of beer, when his front door burst open with a crack. Boots thundered in immediately after. These were angry feet, heavy with intent, scuffing against the worn tiles.
The little dog sprang to life instantly, barking furiously, a shrill, desperate sound that sliced through the room. Vito’s heart slammed against his ribs. He lurched off the couch, beer sloshing over his hand, instinct screaming at him to run.
He barely had time to straighten before a hand clamped onto his shirt. The man was big, thick-armed, smelling of cigarettes. Vito was thrown back onto the couch, the breath knocked clean out of his lungs. The bottle shattered on the floor, beer foaming across the tiles.
Three other men spread through the house immediately.
“Vito Scalese p>
Vito swallowed, throat dry. “Who’s asking p>
The man smiled thinly. “My name is Bastardi,” he said. “And I am sure you have heard of me p>
Vito’s blood went cold. Of course he had heard of Bastardi, the bastard of the Bastione family.
“What do you want from me?” Vito asked, forcing the words out. “I have no business with you p>
The men returned one by one, shaking their heads. No one spoke. The message was clear. Whatever Bastardi was looking for was not here.
The dog kept barking, frantic now, circling uselessly, nails scraping the floor.
“Shut the damned dog up!” Bastardi growled.
One of the men bent, grabbed the dog roughly by the collar, and dragged it toward the door. The animal yelped, legs scrambling, still barking as the door was yanked open and it was tossed outside. The door slammed shut, cutting the sound off abruptly. The sudden silence was worse.
Bastardi stepped closer to Vito, lowering himself slightly so they were eye level. “I have one question only,” he said calmly. “Where is your daughter p>
“Which… which one p>
Bastardi’s brows lifted mildly. “Oh, you have two p>
“Yes!” Vito blurted. Panic clawed up his spine. He had not meant to say it so fast.