“Did I hear correctly that Alessandro is coming back tonight?”
Looking at Mia, I smiled. She looked delighted by the prospect. “Yes, that’s right.” I suddenly realised why Mia was so eager to share a cubicle with me.
“Whatever it is you did to get him to agree to it, I thank you.”
I smiled. “Don’t mention it. I didn’t have to do anything. I think he just knows I’m not a woman who will take no for an answer. I quickly bent him to my will.”
She looked eager. “How did you do it?”
“I refused to go anywhere today or take part in this masquerade ball later.”
Mia’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wow! Judging by what I’ve heard, that sort of thing never happens with Luca. He is a man not to be messed with.”
I smiled. “Well, I guess he’s finally met someone who won’t take any of his domineering crap.”
Mia giggled. “Yes, the alpha male has finally met his match—an alpha female. Grrr. Sounds sexy!”
We both laughed as I finally managed to hook myself into a dress. “What do you think?” We both turned to stare at the dress in the full-length mirror. It was a simple, elegant, gold dress with a matching gold mask. I thought it was the best out of the five I tried on so far. Not only that, but the mask I was wearing looked just like a cat. I thought Luca would get a kick out of that.
Mia admired me for a moment. “It looks perfect on you.”
Thinking the same thing, I sighed in relief that I didn’t have to try on anything else. “Tell me something, Mia?” I stared down at her as she fussed over my dress.
“Anything,” she said as she carried on fussing.
“Do you really like Alessandro?” Mia stilled for a moment and looked in the mirror. “You can tell me. I won’t get annoyed if you do. You can’t help liking someone.”
Mia bit her lip and looked down at the floor. “Yes, I do like him. When he got fired yesterday, he begged me to come with him—to leave The Castle. I told him that I could never do that to you. My loyalty is with you, not with someone I hardly know.”
I was surprised by that. “He wasn’t angry with you then? With what we did?”
She shook her head. “No. Actually, he was angry at first, but I explained to him that what I did was something I wanted to do—not something I felt I had to do. After what happened, he took time pleasuring me. I’ve never had a man who really wanted to take the time to pleasure me before. I felt cherished—if that makes sense?”
I smiled, knowing all too well what she meant. “It makes perfect sense.”
The start of the evening eventually arrived, and I insisted Luca wait for me whilst I got dressed. I didn’t let him see what I bought … or shall I say what he bought.
All of the ladies were thrilled with their items and couldn’t wait for the evening to arrive. I didn’t think I had ever seen them so pumped about the prospect of sleeping with their clients.
Once I was ready, I opened the door to find Alessandro and Mia looking cosy by the wall. “Clara, wow! Look at you.”
“And look at you!” She looked elegant in her black, feathery ensemble.
“What a pleasure to see you again.” Alessandro smiled and took my hand for a kiss.
I looked over his attire and couldn’t help but admire his physique. “And you, too. You look fantastic in a tux.”
Alessandro smiled. “I just want to thank you for everything you did.”
I waved my hand at him. “Don’t mention it. It was nothing. I wasn’t going to get you into trouble for something I did.”
“Something we all did,” Mia protested.
“Well, anyway. It was done, and it can’t be undone.” I smiled and saw the way both Mia and Alessandro were looking at each other. It would seem they were more than just in-like with each other. That got me thinking. “Alessandro, can you do me a favour this evening?”
Alessandro looked my way and nodded. “Certainly, Clara. Anything.”
I looked at Mia for a moment and smiled. “Can you make sure Mia is kept entertained for the evening?” I looked at him so he would get my meaning. He soon caught on and beamed at me.
“Of course. It would be my pleasure.”
Nodding, I tried to walk past, but Mia grabbed my arm on the way. “You don’t have to do this. I can work.”
I shook my head. “No. I’m not going to make you do anything you’re uncomfortable with. We have already been paid for this evening so your presence alone is the only thing warranted.”
Mia squeezed my arm and smiled. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.” I carried on my journey, feeling a little good about myself. In fact, I was feeling really good. I knew tonight would be the night for me and Luca. I could feel it. I was going to seduce that man if it was the last thing I did.
Looking down from the top of the stairs only cemented that idea. Luca was at the bottom, and he stared up at me like I was the only woman in the house. Our eyes locked for a moment before he leisurely took in the sight of me. I made sure I was wearing my mask before I came down—just to add to the effect. He knew straight away it was me, though.
Luca’s smile spread wide as I took to the stairs. When I neared the bottom, he said, “My lioness has come to join me.”
“I thought you would like it,” I purred.
“Like it—it looks phenomenal on you. My God, you’re one sexy cat.”
I chuckled. “Thank you. You’re looking rather dashing yourself.” And he was. He, too, was wearing a tux, and he looked about a million dollars in it. He didn’t just command a room; he bellowed sex appeal through it.
Kissing me on the cheek, he lingered. “The guests are starting to arrive, but I’m starting to regret arranging it all now.”
“Why?” I asked astonished.
“Because I would much rather be upstairs, peeling this beautiful dress off you.”
I shuddered as he trailed his fingers down my arm. One single solitary touch, and I was his. I knew I was kidding myself. Luca was right; I had been his from the start.
“I’m going to get the word out.”
I frowned. “What word?”
He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “The one that tells every horny fucker in this place to keep away from the prowling, sexy lioness. She’s off limits.”
I smiled as he pulled his head back to meet my eyes. “Oh she is, is she?”
“Yes. Do you need help remembering? I can always offer you a refresher. My cheeks flushed with the intensity of his words. “Yes, please,” I whispered.
“Oh, Clara, what am I going to do with you?”
“I’m sure I can think of something.” I raised my eyebrow at him and winked.
“Stop it, Clara. I only have so much restraint.” I laughed, thinking that he had too much at times. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Yes, please. That would be lovely. Champagne if there is any.”
Luca left and took the time to look around. The place was already filling with people. Some I recognised, and some I didn’t. The ones that knew me smiled a hello, and the others just looked at me like I was a shiny new plaything. They needed to get that out of their heads. Luca was right about one thing. I was off-limits, but only because I always had been—not because he was saying I was.
“Clara, you look exceptionally beautiful this evening. I’m guessing that must indeed be you underneath that mask?”
I looked to my left and spotted Matthew walking towards me. “Yes, Matthew. How are you this evening?”
“I’m very well. Glad this bug business has finally been cleared up. I’ve been eager to see Melinda again.”
Instinctively, I looked around the room to see if I could try to spot her. “I can’t see her as yet, but I’m sure she will be joining us shortly.”
“Clara, your champagne.” Luca placed a very possessive hand behind my back.
Matthew smiled at Luca. “Mr. Belatoni, how nice to see you. I didn’t realise you frequented here.”
“Oh, I
don’t. Clara and I are partners.” Luca smiled, but I could tell he meant more than business.
Matthew frowned. “I never knew of this.”
“I’ve been a silent partner up until recently. I’ve been very eager to get to know Clara and this fantastic business she runs. She has been doing extremely well.” Luca patted my bottom, and I very nearly punched him one. I knew what he was up to, and he had better damn well make sure he dove for cover once we were alone. The condescending little prick!
Matthew smiled. “Yes, she has. She looks after us all very well.”
Matthew meant this quite innocently, but it didn’t stop Luca from growling a bit in my ear. I had to fight the chuckle that was all too eager to leave my lips.
“So, how do you two know each other?” I asked, thinking it best to change the subject.
“Mr. Belatoni has been a great support to the local area. I sometimes wonder what I’d do without him.”
I smiled sweetly. “Oh, that’s nice.” Luca heard the sarcasm in my voice and excused us for a moment.
“Carry on, dear chap. So nice to see you both. I shall hunt down the lovely Melinda.”
Nodding politely, it wasn’t long before I felt the very firm grip of my arm. “Another one of your puppets I take it? Who do you not have control of?”
“You it would seem,” he growled. “You’re being unruly.”
I laughed and patted his bottom. “Stop worrying your pretty little head about it, darling.”
I tried to walk past him, but instead he picked me up and started dragging me to the nearest toilet. “Put me down; you’re causing a scene!”
“You’re obviously in need of that higher dose you spoke of—another booster, if you will.” Luca spanked my bottom, and the sheer shock of it silenced me. “That’s better!”
The fucking twat!
Once in the toilet, he locked the door. The heat and desire in his eyes were flaming like never before. “How many times do we have to go through this?”
I giggled. “What are you going to do? Fuck some sense into me?”
Luca shook his head. “There’s just no taming you is there?”
I threw my hands up. “At last, the pennies have dropped!”
Luca’s stride towards me was purposeful. He reached the back of my head with his hand and pulled me to his lips. He was forceful and unrepentant. He was asserting his authority the only way he knew how.
Pulling away, he placed his hand underneath my dress and trailed it along my thigh. I couldn’t help the moan that escaped me. Every touch—every feel of him on my skin—had the flames within me burning hotter than the sun. No one had ever made me feel this way before.
Closing my eyes, I took a moment to savour the very firm grip of his beautiful, strong hand.
“Look at me, Clara.” It was an order. I didn’t comply. Luca’s hand wandered through my lace panties where his finger soon found my clit. I moaned again. “Clara: Look. At. Me.”
The command somehow heightened my awareness, and I, in turn, responded to him quickly. My eyes met a very smug Luca. “There,” he said, stroking my clit. “You can do as you’re told after all. I knew getting us reacquainted would work.”
I was angry at his words and with myself. I’d let myself down. The anger somehow amplified the knot now building in my stomach. The touch of his fingers gently sliding over my hard, wet clit was forcing my body to take action.
“Luca,” I moaned as his torturous strokes became more prominent.
“Who do you belong to?” His commanding words and his pulsing fingers were all too much to bear. I was going to blow soon, and we both knew it. “Answer me!”
Without meaning to, the words just flew out of my mouth in a barrage of ecstasy: “Luca, Luca, Luca!” He growled in my ear, and I came apart at his touch. I was practically screaming with the euphoria of this wonderful orgasm.
Letting me calm a little, Luca pulled his hand away and held me in his arms. It was almost as if he was soothing a savage beast, but then again, I was around him. Despite my protests, it felt good to be in his arms. I had never felt what it was like to feel protected—to feel safe. It was kind of a strange word to say about Luca. He wasn’t safe by a long shot. I wasn’t stupid; I knew what he was and what he could be capable of. I just never felt scared in his presence at all. Even when he became angry, I instinctively knew he would never hurt me. That’s something I had never felt or had with anyone. My parents made sure of that.
Just as I thought my breathing was calming, Luca began a torturous trail of kisses down my neck.
“I could take you now. You don’t realise how hard I am for you. Hearing your orgasms alone makes me want to come so hard. You don’t know what you do to me.”
“Do it!” I commanded. I wanted him so badly and couldn’t understand why he was holding back.
“Not here. Not like this. In bed and after all of these horny fuckers have left.”
Giggling at his choice words, a smile formed on his beautiful lips. “I told you I could get you to say it.”
I abruptly stopped giggling and looked at him fiercely. “I never said anything.”
“Oh, yes, you did. I asked who you belonged to, and you screamed my name. Luckily, the walls around here are thick because I think everyone within a thirty mile radius would have heard who you belong to by now otherwise. Not that I mind. I want every fucker to know who you belong to. That way, they can keep their slimy hands off you.”
I sighed a little. “I was under duress when you asked. I was very near to my climax, and it just slipped out.”
Luca shook his head with an amused smile. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re mine, and you know it. Do you need another refresher already?”
“Oh, yes, please!” I winked. “You can help me to remember over and over and over again. In fact, I think it’s high time I returned the favour and gave you something to remember.”
I went to touch him, but Luca grabbed my hand. “Not here. Not now. You called my name, and later you will be begging me to make love to you.”
To let him know I wasn’t impressed, I gave him an undignified huff. “Clara Murphy does not beg—for anyone!”
Luca’s eyes lit up with fire. The caramel colour was darkening by the second with every frustrated breath he took. “We shall see about that later. For now, we have guests, and we need to make sure all of them are happy.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “You were the one who dragged me in here, remember?”
“Yes, but that’s because you can’t behave yourself. You seem calmer once you’ve had an orgasm.”
“What the hell? Oh, never mind!” I raced to the door and flew it open in time to find four sets of eyes staring at me. I immediately blushed.
“Clara Murphy, what have you been doing in the toilets? I thought it was our responsibility to take care of clients.” Belinda’s cheeky grin was infectious.
Luca huffed behind me. “I’m not her client, though.”
“What are you then?” Samantha asked.
I smiled at that and immediately turned to Luca, awaiting his answer. I was going to enjoy this.
I thought he was going to get flustered under the pressure, but all he did was button up his jacket before responding. “She’s mine and no one else’s.” He smiled politely at all the girls, nodded his head, and then turned to leave. Meanwhile, my mouth had dropped nearly to the floor in shock.
“What the hell was that?” asked Rachael.
Feeling a little flustered by his words, I found it difficult to string a sentence together at first. “Erm, he… Oh, for fucks sake! He’s an arsehole!”
“You’re telling me!” Rachael looked a little peeved about the whole thing herself. Belinda, Samantha, and Melinda, however, had the most amused smiles on their faces.
“It didn’t sound like you felt that way about him in there.” Belinda pointed to the toilet, and I blushed.
I felt mortified. “Was I really that loud?”
“Only
from out here. I don’t think anyone else out there heard you. A lot of people saw him drag you away, though. I think everyone got a kick out of that. We all followed you here because we wanted to make sure you were okay. By the sounds of it, you were more than okay.” Belinda winked.
“We’ve all been dying to know,” Samantha asked excitedly, “what’s he like in bed? Obviously good by the way you were screaming his name.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know yet.”
“What?” the four of them exclaimed in perfect unison.
“He’s prepared to give me Luca-boosters—also known as orgasms—until I relent and give in to him. Once I tell him I’m his, he will ‘make love to me’ as he puts it.” I made sure I put my fingers up in air quotes to emphasise the point.
“I can’t see you ever doing that,” Melinda said.
“He’s learning that, but he doesn’t give up.” I sighed for a moment and looked at Melinda’s new red dress. It complimented her beautiful dark hair and stunning blue eyes. “Melinda, I had a very eager Matthew looking for you earlier.”
She smiled. “Really? I’ll go look for him.”
“You’re okay with that, are you?”
She looked confused. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”
I was getting paranoid now after so many girls had just left, or started relationships. “You and Thomas.”
She waved her hand. “Ah, that was nothing. Just a bit of sex to help pass the time. He was good, though.” Placing her hand on my arm, she gave it a little squeeze. “I must get going. Can’t keep Mr. Broadmore waiting.” She winked and marched off.
“So, you and the Italian wannabe gangster have really been hitting it off.” Rachael didn’t sound too enthralled by the idea.
“Oh, shut up, Rachael,” Belinda said. “You’re just jealous no one’s giving you orgasms like that.”
“I’m sure I can find someone who will.” Rachael huffed and went on her way.
“What’s with moody-guts?” She seemed off to me, and I wanted to know why.
“I think she thought maybe you two were just having a bit of fun. It seems more serious than that now, and I don’t think she likes it.”
“But I never—”
Luca - You Will Be Mine (Sicilian Mafia #1) Page 12