Page 32 of The Mafia’s Fiancee

Luke was a man of action, and he preferred to have a strategy. I saw how effective that mentality was now, and I realized how much it had to be frustrating him to be hiding and waiting for answers. He seemed to enjoy my company all the same, but he was likely more aggravated than I was, stuck without a chance to strategize and be prepared.

Once we reached the hotel and got into the room, he heaved out a sigh and caught me watching him.

“You okay?” he asked, checking me out and searching for a problem.

“Yeah.” I nodded and tucked my hair behind my ear. Running for safety wouldn’t traumatize me. Shooting my father’s guard didn’t mess with my head.

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

I shrugged and sat on the bed. “You like to strategize.” I lifted my hand in a vague gesture. “Planning how to get away and executing those plans to a tee.”

He smirked, but it seemed more like a cocky smile. “And you like to follow plans. We work well as a team.”

I tipped my chin up to maintain eye contact as he walked closer. “It just made me wonder if you would ever consider being the boss of the Rossini family.”

He hadn’t made a definitive comment about his newfound identity as the Rossini heir. Like it or not, he was a mafia prince, a rival and peer to Antonio. Even though he’d asked me many, many questions about mafia family structure and the hierarchy, he had yet to present an opinion about what he wanted out of this life that was hidden and kept from him.

“Once Marlo is gone...” I said.

“Which could be soon, with how sick he looked,” he finished for me.

“What if that’s what Jimmy’s waiting to tell you? What if he’s trying to collect intel and shape it so he can prepare you to take over after Marlo dies.”

He shook his head, pensive and annoyed. “Then why wouldn’t he tell me about Marlo sooner? Why wait until he’s on his deathbed?”

I laughed once dryly. “To protect you? If the Marcheses or my father knew you were Marlo’s son, you’d be a threat to their plans of taking over.”

“Or...” He rubbed his chin and sighed. “Or, what if Jimmy’s been hoping he could take over the Rossini family once Marlo dies?”

“How do you figure that?”

He shrugged. “I can’t. But it’s an idea that came to me and I can’t shake it off. What if he wants the power and—”

“Then he would’ve had you killed, Luke. Years ago. He wouldn’t have taken you under his wing at all and trained you to fight.”

Defeated with that obvious line of thought, he nodded. “Yeah. I considered that too.”

“I’m not trying to shut down that possibility. But it seems less likely.”

“It does.” He looked me over, calming with a softer expression as he eyed me on the bed.

Just like that, my blood heated with desire. I was new to this. I’d only been introduced to sex three weeks ago, but I was amazed by how swiftly he could turn me on with only a heated look.

“I don’t want to focus on that now, anyway.” He stepped closer, cupping my cheek and then spreading his hand back to grip the back of my neck. “You’re my priority.”

“You want to focus on me?” I asked, feeling bold to tease him so freely. I grasped the hem of my shirt and pulled the garment off.

“Yeah. I’m going to pay attention to this.” His lids lowered as he watched me shimmy my shorts off, removing my panties with them. “To you,” he growled as I hurried to undo my bra.

Feeling his wicked gaze on my naked body was a caress I’d never tire of. I wanted him to look. I loved knowing I was the woman who could have this kind of power over him. To make him lean closer and crawl after me as I scooted back on the bed.

“Starting right here, Emmalina.” He captured my ankle, the one that had healed. Halfway on the bed, he stopped and lowered his face to my pussy.

“Please, Luke. Please.”

He grinned, looking up at me as I leaned on my elbows, watching him. “What did I tell you about begging?”

I smiled, falling in love with him all over again with his reminder that I was never expected to submit. Not to him. We were partners, mutually in charge.