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“Is she okay?” Scarlet appears at my side, glowing with a beaming smile, though there’s a hint of panic in her eyes.
“Are you?” I counter, not wanting to share Lexi’s personal business.
Scarlet’s smile gets tight. “I think I’m going to head home soon. I miss Molly. It’s a unique feeling like I’ve been separated from a piece of myself.”
Something deep inside pulses as if trying to persuade me to find Luca and throw myself at him right now, to forget about my whole waiting thing.
“Love like this… It makes a girl want to sing.” She laughs, seeming intoxicated, but I don’t think it’s from drinks or anything else. I think it’s from love. “I’m happy for you, Ruby, and I’m happy for Luca. You two have found a rare thing.”
“It seems the Marino family is blessed,” I say. “Both the brothers experienced something few people ever will.”
Scarlet nods. She knows exactly what I’m talking about.
When my phone vibrates, I snatch it out of my purse. You look so beautiful. The way you laugh, the way you smile, the way that dress hugs your body and highlights all the best bits—all your curves and your thickness.
A fluttering dances through me as I look around the party, unable to find Luca. Are you watching me? I text, then turn to Scarlet. “Sorry, I’m being rude.”
Scarlet laughs. “Trust me, I know what it’s like to be addicted to texting your man. No apology needed.”
Look up, he replies.
I look up to find Luca standing on one of the balconies above the function room. He leans against the railing, dashing in his suit, his hair slicked back from his face. Even from here, I can read the intensity in his eyes, just like when we were at the museum and he guided me into that private room, his hand between my legs. Or at the hotel with his mouth, his tongue pressed against me, burning, teasing.
Are you trying to make me act inappropriately at a party? I text.
Scarlet touches my arm. “I’m going to find Elio.”
Luca looks at his phone and then looks at me, smirking. I don’t know anything about that, but you’re making my mouth water, Ruby.
A blush spreads across my cheeks, down over my neck. I can feel the heat traveling all over my body like it’s tempting me to do something reckless and out of character.
I want to make you feel good, I tell him.
Hmm? How would you do that?
My heart pounds so freaking hard. People walk past me at the party. Lexi is with Mom and Dad and Luca’s parents. Maybe she can see me and Luca making eyes at each other and has decided not to disturb us.
By taking you, Luca, all of you.
Don’t tempt me, he replies, and I swear, I can hear his savage breath all the way down here. That’s impossible, but much of what we share is, so what’s one more thing?
I lick my lips, the warmth expanding in my belly. Luca has been through so much and has done so much to make this city a better place—no, to defend me. He did make the city a better place, but that was a byproduct. The reason he stormed in there, outnumbered, risking his life, was because he couldn’t stand the thought of another man looking at my body. It’s because Luca owns me, and I own him.
Tempt you to do what? I text.
We’re in a hotel, Ruby… I’m sure you can put it together.
I stare across the party at him, my heart hammering. The nerves still cling to me. They try to wrench me down into the dark, into the world of self-doubt. For some reason, I think of the love in Scarlet’s eyes and voice when she talks about Molly.
Maybe I need you to explain.
I thought you were the mature one? he texts, and when I stare up at him, he starts typing again. There’s something hungry in how he moves, his whole body tight like his muscles will erupt from his sleek suit jacket. The longer he types, the faster my heart hammers.
I need to take you somewhere private. I need to tear off that beautiful dress and reveal your even more gorgeous body underneath. I need to kiss you, spank you, own you. I need to slide my hand between your legs and rub your clit until your virgin pussy gets all wet for me, and then I need to claim you passionately, deeply, over and over and over.
After reading the message, I look up to find that he’s disappeared from the balcony. What the heck? Is he really going to send all these burning flames through me just to pull a disappearing act?
I begin typing out a message. Where did you go?
Then he appears at my side, staring down at me with his jaw clenched tight, his temples pulsing like he’s barely holding himself back. He leans down, wrapping his arm around me.
