Luca: Try dodging Marcello again, and I’ll take you over my knee and spank your ass until it’s raw.
I switched the ringer to vibrate, shoved the phone into my pocket, and smiled at the women who stopped in front of us. A beautiful woman in her late fifties extended her hand to me. She had long blonde hair that spilled down her shoulders, wearing a cream cashmere dress that stopped midway down her calves.
“I’m Savanna Cormac,” she beamed. “We never got the chance to speak at the Midsummer Night’s Dream masquerade ball.”
“You’re Sonny’s mom.” I shook her hand, noting the similarities between Savanna and her son.
“I see my son has made an impression on you.”
I smiled. “Sonny’s a real charmer.”
“That he is.” She cupped my shoulder and turned me toward the woman beside her. “Alexandrea, we’ve been waiting for you to take over for Blair. This is Moira Battle.”
I shook her hand. “Drake’s mom?”
She glowed at the mention of his name. “We’re all very excited for a change in command.”
“I’m Clarice Marshall,” a woman in her sixties said as she held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Cole Marshall’s grandmother.
Before we got in another word, Blaire stood at the front of the ballroom and tapped a knife against her champagne glass. “Can I have your attention?”
Heads snapped in my grandmonster’s direction. Those loyal to Blaire hovered around her. Others floated throughout the room as if they were unsure where they should go. I had no intention of taking the Belles away from Blair.
Another message from Luca buzzed in my pocket, then another. He was keeping secrets from me, so he could wait until after the meeting.
After Blaire talked about the Founders’ Ball for twenty minutes, she begrudgingly introduced me to the Belles. I shook at least two dozen hands, attempting to memorize their names and faces. We drank champagne and exchanged formalities about my family and Luca.
Several flutes of champagne later, the alcohol had gone to my head. I needed a minute alone to gather my thoughts. Leaning into Kali’s shoulder, I whispered that I would be right back. Then I rushed out of the ballroom, desperate for a break. As I crept down the hallway, I rounded the corner. And before I slipped into the bathroom, someone clutched my shoulder from behind and shoved me inside a dark room.
Luca
Alex panted against my hand. She desperately tried to escape my grip as I pushed her into a dark coat closet and locked the door. I felt my way into the room, my cock digging into her ass. She struggled to break free from my grasp, and I held her tighter. I pressed my lips to her ear, reveling in her fear.
“When I text, you answer. This is not the time for games, baby girl.”
She sighed as I lowered my hand from her mouth. “Luca, how could you do that to me?”
“It’s just me. But it could have been one of my enemies.”
“I hate you,” she whined.
“No, you don’t.”
She only hated her feelings for me.
“Turn on the light, Luca!” Alex spun around and pounded her fists against my chest. “You know I hate the dark and small spaces.”
I shook my head. “Was I not clear?”
She inched backward until her ass hit the wall. “Clear about what? You think you own me, but you don’t.”
I could have reached for the switch on the wall, but I loved the way she clung to me, her fear getting the best of her. She never liked enclosed spaces. And even though she’d told me she wasn’t afraid of heights, I knew the truth.
A lot of things terrified her, me most of all.
“I don’t want to own you.” I slid my hand to the side of her face, stroking her soft skin with my fingers. She leaned into my touch as I knew she would. “I want to protect you.”
“Tell me what’s going on. Where have you been this week?”
Alex raked her nails down my arms so painfully slow my cock sprung to life. With that, I fisted her hair between my fingers and pulled her mouth to mine. I pried her lips apart with my tongue as if my life depended on her next breath.
I could not lose her.
She was a part of me.
The light to my dark.
I would risk my life for hers. I would do anything to keep her out of harm’s way.
She stole her lips from mine. “Tell me the truth, Luca.”
I rested my forehead against hers and clutched the side of her face. “I won’t let them touch you, baby. You’re my queen. And if you’d stop playing games, I want to make you my wife.”
“If I’m so important, why don’t you treat me like I matter?”
“I’m not a good man.” I massaged her jaw with the pad of my thumb. “But with you, I try.”