Page 46 of Luca’s Magic Embrace

He regretted that the wolves at Rowan’s mansion had escaped them. Interrogation would have yielded critical information about their true purpose in causing a war. Sköll had insinuated that he was there because of Kat, but it could have been a ruse. He wasn’t even certain Sköll knew Jax or was in his pack. He could have been lying to protect another wolf.

His thoughts turned to Samantha as he dug into the ice box and located a bottle of champagne. She was a feisty little witch, and actually a little scary now that he’d seen her powers. Petite and fair, she’d stolen his heart. He rolled his eyes in disbelief and laughed to himself. All these years he’d been so insistent that he’d never fall in love again, let alone with a human. When he reflected on his young love for Eliza, he realized that he’d never been in love with someone as deeply as he loved Samantha.

Fearless when faced with the unknown, she stood her ground. And she was smart as a whip, amazing him with her knowledge of cryptic code breaking and how she reveled in the challenge. Samantha had never backed down to Léopold either. When he was captured, she’d risked her life with the ancient vampire just so she could find Luca. Strong-willed. Beautiful. Intelligent. His.

Luca’s thoughts drifted to their lovemaking and how passionately she had embraced the experience. He loved watching her climax, letting go of her inhibitions. He grew long and firm thinking of how she’d taken him into her mouth, teasing him endlessly. She trusted him, a vampire, to take her to places she’d never gone before. Remembering the sight of her tied to his bed sweetly moaning and writhing in pleasure, he smiled. Lascivious and loving, she brought him to a new level of felicity that he’d never known in his long life. He couldn’t imagine what life would be like without her. It wasn’t just the bonding. It was everything about her. He loved her more than life itself. He wanted her here, building a life together. Forever.

A broad smile broke across Samantha’s face as she felt Luca’s strong arms encircle her waist and a kiss to her ear. She turned in his arms to face him and smiled. God, she loved this man. The sight of the gorgeous male took her breath away. Shirtless, he wore white cotton drawstring pajama pants and padded around barefoot. He was confident and comfortable no matter his surroundings. Over her shoulder, she noticed the champagne and glasses he’d set on the glass end table.

“Hmmm…champagne? So early in the morning?”

“Yes, darlin’. This is New Orleans,” he drawled. “Think of it like mimosas without the orange juice.”

“Well, when you put it that way, how can a girl refuse?” She gave him a flirty smile, turning around to face him.

“That’s what I’m counting on. But before we toast, let’s get rid of the remains, shall we?” he suggested. “Would you care to do the honors?”

“Nothing would make me happier.” She carefully opened the packet, and turned it upside down. Red, gray and black ashes floated downward, falling gently into the sea.

When the pouch was fully emptied, Luca raised a knowing eyebrow at her and held up a lighter. “Just to be on the safe side.”

“Just to be on the safe side,” she agreed as she watched him light the bag on fire.

Tossing the lighter aside, he pinched the end of the sack and held it up to the air to burn. Devoured by flames, he cast it into the waves.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see that thing gone,” she sighed.

“You and me both,” he concurred. “Now for something really important, a toast and a proposition.”

“A toast sounds wonderful. But a proposition? Sounds cryptic, but then again, I do love a good mystery.”

“Ah, but you are good with puzzles. First, the toast.” He held his flute to hers. “To finding more than just an amulet. To finding you, Samantha…the love of my life.”

“And to finding you. To us,” she countered.

Clinking glasses and then taking a sip, Luca took her slender hand in his and led her over to the open-air deck bed. He pulled her onto his lap and held her.

Samantha’s cheek rested on his bare chest. The masculine scent of him piqued her desire. She wanted to make love to him again over and over. Sensing he wanted to talk, she resisted the urge to slide her hands down into his pants. Instead she caressed his chest and played innocently with his flat nipple.

“You are making me lose my train of thought, you naughty girl,” he groaned at her touch. His arousal grew, but first, they needed to talk.

“Samantha, look at me.” He placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head toward his.

“Yes,” she said lazily.

“I told you about Eliza. She was my first love...long before I was turned. I was only a young man when I met her. When we were attacked that night and she died, I was devastated, just filled with rage. I swore never to love again. And for all these years, it’s been fairly easy to do. In truth, I never met anyone who could make me feel. Sure, lust is something that comes and goes like the wind. But finding someone, someone like you; it is rare.” He absentmindedly rubbed her palm with his thumb.

“What I’m trying to say is that I want you here with me. Not just now, but forever. I know this must seem sudden, but I can tell you that I am certain of my feelings for you. I want you as my wife. I want a family. I want a real home, not just a museum full of antiquities. Please. Stay here with me,” he whispered as his words trailed off.

Samantha regarded him for a minute, stunned by his proposal. Her heart bloomed at the prospect of spending her life with Luca. She placed her hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. “Yes, I’d love to stay with you. I know we haven’t known each other very long, but over the past few weeks we’ve been through more than most people have been through in a lifetime. And now, I can’t imagine my life without you. I don’t think I ever really knew what love was until I met you. And I never knew what it meant to have a man love me back. There is only you. I am yours.”

Luca gathered her red locks in his fingers and drew her soft, pink lips to his. He gently kissed her, slowly, deliberately. Savoring the sweetness of her mouth, his tongue found hers. She opened willingly, intoxicated as he sought to send her into ecstasy.

Samantha’s blood raced in anticipation of his touch. She wanted all of him now, and couldn’t hold back the urge to strip him naked and take what was hers. Sensually releasing his lips, she rose off his lap and straddled his legs. Leisurely, she untied the belt to her robe. As the panels revealed her skin, she seductively peeled the fabric down her shoulders and let it pool at her feet. Standing bare before him, she smiled as he tried to reach for her hips.

Luca marveled at the way her ivory skin glowed. She was a magnificent creature. The blonde highlights in her curls reflected off the sunlight and flowed over the soft, ripe swell of her breasts.

Flipping her hair aside, she exposed her pebbled pink tips. Flush with arousal, she held his hands firmly to her hips, teasing him, driving him mad with desire.