Fling

by Sara Fawkes

  “To own my own House someday,” she said, and he didn’t miss the excitement in her voice. “I’d do just about anything to create my own designs. But I still have a lot to learn.”

  He touched the buttons lining her dress, and the air around them suddenly seemed charged. Luca groaned low because he had to have her again. It wasn’t just a want. It was a need.

  “What do you want, Luca?” she asked.

  “I already have everything I want,” he said, but didn’t miss the tightening in his gut because on some level he knew that wasn’t true. He’d grown up without a real family of his own and never thought he wanted or needed one. Until just then.

  She touched his scar. “Luca, tell me how this happened.” His heart pinched because, unlike the other women in his life, Josie showed real interest in him as a person. It threw him off his game and confused the hell out of him. He raked his hand though his hair, fully aware that he’d never dealt with these kinds of emotions before.

  Even though he’d never spoken of that fateful day, a day that had him close himself off and guard his heart from everyone but Antonio, he opened his mouth to tell her, but a sound at the door had him turning.

  Speak of the devil. . .

  “Excuse me, Josie,” he said, and stepped inside his suite to cut Antonio off before he reached the balcony.

  Antonio glanced past Luca’s shoulders to see Josie taking in the view. “Looks like I’m here right on time.”

  Luca felt his gut clench, and he gave a shake of his head. “Not tonight, Antonio. And not with her.”

  Antonio arched a curious brow and gave a slow, knowing shake of his head. “You sure you know what you’re doing, amigo?”

  For the first time in his life, Luca had no idea what he was doing. From his teen years on, every move he’d made had been planned with careful precision, but the second Josie had entered his life, she’d turned his world upside down without even trying.

  “Luca,” Antonio began, his tone in lecture mode. “What makes you think she’s any different? That she isn’t just doing whatever it takes to get ahead?” He shook his head. “I mean, come on. She fucked you in the office, so you’d sign off on the lingerie deal.”

  Luca fisted his hands. “Don’t talk about her like that. And she didn’t fuck me to get the deal. She fucked me because she wanted to, because she wanted me.”

  “I hope you’re right, Luca. I really do.” Antonio turned away, but before he left, he said, “If she really is the one, you’d better damn well be sure she is who you think she is. You’ve been stabbed in the back before.”

  Luca watched him go but could feel his anger melting. There was no way he could stay mad at Antonio. His friend only had his best interests at heart, and considering the greed they’d often witnessed in the self-indulgent women they associated with, he couldn’t fault him for that.

  “Is everything okay?” Josie asked with bright-eyed innocence when he came back.

  “No,” he answered.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He fingered her clothes, desperate to have her in his arms, his bed. “You’re overdressed.”

  With that, he gathered her up and took her to his master suite, where he spent the remainder of the night making sweet love to her. It was well into the wee hours of the morning when they both fell asleep.

  Luca woke before her and couldn’t help but smile as he watched her sleep. A long time later, her lids opened, and she blinked up at him.

  “Good morning.”

  “Good morning,” he said, and dropped a kiss onto her mouth. His gaze panned her face, and he knew when it came to her there was no way he could ever assuage the need inside him. He’d had no idea there’d been anything missing from his life and had never let his guard down until he met her. Something about her loyalty to her boss, her trust in him, and the way she took such profound joy in his touch rejuvenated him. He’d closed himself off to others for so long that he’d forgotten to take pleasure in the little things, forgotten what living was really all about.

  She gave him an odd look. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  A wave of tenderness stole over him. “Like what?” he asked, his mind going to Antonio’s warning. He clenched his jaw because his friend had to be wrong. He just had to be. Josie was sweet and innocent, and she made him feel wanted, needed for the man he was, not for what he could do for her.

  “Luca, are you okay?”

  “I’m okay,” he said.

  “Good, because you’re kind of freaking me out.”

  Luca laughed and drew her to him. Her hand went to his face, and her touch was so soft and gentle as she traced his ugly scar that an invisible band tightened around his heart.

  “You never did tell me what happened.”

  He wasn’t sure what possessed him to open up to her, perhaps it was the honesty in her eyes, or the emotions she’d awakened him in. Either way, all he knew was that he wanted to talk to her, and not just on a superficial level. He wanted to get to know her better, and God help him, he wanted her to know a side of him he’d never showed others.

  “I was in a fight.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

  “My mother left when I was just a kid, and my father lost himself in the bottom of a bottle.”

  “Luca, I’m so sorry.” She looked at him with sadness and understanding, not pity, and for that he was grateful.

  He gave a humorless laugh. “I was glad my father drank. When he was sober, he used to beat the hell out of me.”

  Her hand tightened over his. “Did he do this to you?”

  “No. I left home when I was thirteen and started hanging out in a gang. I thought those guys were my friends. I trusted them.”

  She nodded, encouraging him to talk.

  “Well, naturally we all turned to crime. One day, my best buddy and I robbed a man. We hit the jackpot, and we left the guy in pretty bad shape.” He paused, cringing as he thought about it, and even though Josie’s eyes told him she wasn’t judging him, he went on to say, “I know. Not my finest moment.”

  Gentle fingers that felt like a soothing balm stroked his face. “What happened, Luca?”

  “My buddy, a guy I considered family, decided he wanted my share of the loot and pulled a knife on me. Antonio stopped him seconds before he stabbed me in the back.” Luca cupped her hand, and brought it to his mouth. “The commotion spun me around, and I took the knife to the face instead of the back.”

  “You could have died.”

  “That’s right. If it weren’t for Antonio, I wouldn’t be here today.”

  “Was he in the gang, too?”

  “No. Antonio was on the streets, but he survived by doing under-the-table work for a guy who owned a department store. Antonio came across us one night when he was cutting down an alleyway on his way to work.” He exhaled as he dredged up old, painful memories. “You see, Josie, Antonio didn’t just save my life. He saved me.”

  “I had no idea.” She paused for a moment, and said, “I can see why trust is so important to you.”

  “Antonio is family, and I trust him implicitly. He’s always had my best interests at heart, just like I have his,” he said, which once again had him thinking about his friend’s warning.

  “What about the man you robbed? Was he okay?”

  “Yes.” Luca smiled, her question showing him how much she cared about others. “Years later I went and found him and we made amends. He and his family are doing just fine today. In fact, you know his son.”

  Her eyes widened. “I do?”

  “Charles.” Her mouth fell open, and he said, “I kept in touch with the family over the years and when Charles was looking for work, I hired him. He’s a great employee and a great man. Warm emotions passed over her eyes, and he felt his heart hitch.

  “You’re a good man, Luca.” She dropped a soft kiss onto his mouth, a kiss so full of passion and tenderness it had everything inside him reaching out to her. “How come the world doesn�
�t know this side of you?”

  “Because life has taught me to be careful about whom I trust.”

  “Is that why you don’t have a family? Because you never let down your guard?”

  “Let’s just say most of the women I know have certain expectations of me, and most have more interest in what’s in my wallet than in me.”

  “Maybe you should associate with different women.”

  He grinned, realizing everything about her felt so right, in his heart and in his head. “Maybe you’re right.”

  His thoughts trailed to Antonio. If Luca was going to bring Josie into their inner circle, so they could all become a real family, then he’d have to show his friend—his brother—that she was genuine, that he could trust and believe in her the way Luca believed in her.

  And he knew of only one way to do that.

  Chapter Eight

  JOSIE FINISHED PUTTING the final touches of makeup on her eyes while her mind revisited her night with Luca. When he’d taken her to his bed, she knew she’d begun to feel deeper things for him, and when his touch turned more emotional, less physical, some small part of her brain whispered that he was feeling the connection every bit as much as she was. Then, when he opened up to her, sharing private details of his life, ones he’d never shared with anyone, it confirmed that something more important really was happening between them.

  Her heart raced a little faster, hardly able to believe she was falling in love with a man like Luca. But in two days, she’d be leaving this resort and had no idea what that meant for them. Would life simply go back to normal, each of them going their own ways, or would Luca want to take this fantasy into the real world and make it a reality?

  Josie thought more about the amazing man who controlled every aspect of his life, even sex. While she enjoyed their games, and loved how he dominated her in the bedroom, she now knew it was that control that protected him from getting hurt. There was so much more to Luca than met the eye, and now that he’d let his guard down with her, she wanted to get to know him on a deeper, more emotional level. If only she knew what he wanted.

  She recapped her gloss and glanced at her watch. While they’d barely left each other’s side since she’d arrived, Luca had slipped out early this morning, informing her he had business to take care of. Now she was waiting for Charles to collect her, to bring her to Luca’s suite, where she couldn’t wait to lose herself in him again, couldn’t wait to see if they had a future together.

  The knock at her door had her pulse leaping. She grabbed her handbag off her bed and opened her door, to find Charles waiting for her.

  “Mr. Mancusi would like to see you in his office.”

  That gave her pause. Their business was concluded, he’d said he’d faxed the contract to Renee already, so why would she be going to his office? She followed Charles down the long staircase, and after he opened Luca’s office door and waved her in, she found herself face-to-face with Luca, his steely guard firmly back in place.

  Unease moved through her stomach when he said, “Have a seat, Josie.”

  Josie walked across the floor and lowered herself into one of the wingback chairs, nervousness growing heavier inside her.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked.

  Instead of answering, he sat up straighter in his chair, and asked, “If I asked you to do something that makes you uncomfortable, something like letting me take you to the dungeon, then shackling and whipping you, what would you say?”

  Without hesitation she said, “I would say yes.”

  He cocked his head. “Even when it’s a part of the lifestyle you would rather not explore?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I have complete trust in you. You’re my Master, and I know you only have my best interests at heart and would never do anything to hurt me.”

  A look she didn’t recognize moved over his face. “You’ve given me your complete trust. What do you want from me in return?”

  “Honesty and loyalty,” she said. “Those two things are very important to me, too.”

  “Have you thought more about the bondage gear and how you can improve the designs?”

  Wondering where he was going with all this, she said, “Yes, but what—”

  “What would you say if I asked you to be the sole designer of our bondage gear?”

  She smiled. “I’d say I’ll let Renee know right away. The team will be thrilled.”

  He leaned forward. “No, Josie. I’m asking you to make the clothes. I’m giving you the opportunity to start your own label.”

  She shook her head and clasped her hands together. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

  “Why not? You want to get ahead in the design world, don’t you? And I’m offering you something that could help you do that. Yet you aren’t going to take it.”

  “That’s right. I work for Renee and would never go behind her back and take a contract that is rightfully hers.”

  “How is it rightfully hers?”

  “I’m here representing her business interests, not my own, and, like you, I take care of the people I care about and would never stab anyone in the back.”

  When he smiled at her, she knew what he was up to. “Are you testing me again, Luca?” she asked.

  With that, Antonio came out from the back room, smiled at them both, then dropped a soft kiss onto Josie’s cheek before he moved toward the door.

  “What was that all about?”

  “Antonio is my brother, and I just needed him to see what I saw.”

  “Ah, I see,” she said, still wondering where this was all going.

  “What I see is my family.” His glance went from her to Antonio, before his brother exited the room and shut the door behind him.

  “Luca—”

  “I’m in love with you.”

  She swallowed, her heart thrumming so loudly in her ears she was sure she’d misheard him. “What?”

  “I’m in love with you,” he said again.

  Air left her lungs in a whoosh as Luca came around to her side of the desk. He knelt in front of her and gathered her hand in his.

  “You brought me back to life, Josie. You’re everything I ever thought you were, and now I want to give you the world.”

  “I never asked for the world. I never asked for anything from you except honesty and loyalty.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “And that, my sweet girl, is why I want to give you everything.”

  “Luca, you’re not making sense.”

  “I want you to be mine, Josie. Mine alone. I don’t ever want to share you again, and I want to help you turn your dreams into realities.” She gave him an odd look. “I want to help you get your own label.”

  She shook her head. “I would never do that to Renee.”

  His smile was so tender, her heart missed a beat. “I’ve already signed and faxed the contract to Renee. I’ll even give her the contract for the gift shop if that’s what you’d like, so this is no longer about her. It’s about you.”

  Overwhelmed by his profession of love and how fast this was all coming at her, she just shook her head from side to side.

  Luca frowned as he watched her. “Even if you don’t agree to be mine, I’m still going to make sure you get your own House and your own label.”

  She blinked the tears from her eyes. “Who said anything about me not agreeing to be yours?”

  A wide smile pulled at Luca’s mouth. “Are you saying—?”

  “I’m saying we need to rethink all this testing.”

  “There will be no more tests, Josie.”

  Her mind raced, and she thought about the sinfully delicious way he tested the lingerie.

  “Well that’s too bad, because I kind of like it.”

  He grinned. “Ah, I see. Now that you mention it, there are a few other things we should probably test.”

  She gave him a playful grin, understanding that fairy tales really do come true. “And that could take d
ays,” she said.

  “Years even.”

  “Honestly, who knows how long it could go on? I don’t know about you, Luca, but I’m willing to go to the bitter end, you know, until both parties are completely satisfied.”

  He laughed, picked her up from the chair, and gathered her into his arms. “Speaking of ends,” he said, before giving her ass a good hard whack.

  When a shiver moved through her. she asked, “Were you always going to sign the deal with the House of Renee?”

  “Of course. Your boss is very talented. It was in my best interest.”

  “Do you always do what’s in your best interest?”

  “Naturally.”

  “Why didn’t you just do it on the yacht when we first met?”

  He exhaled slowly. “I took one look at you, Josie, and I knew I had to have you.”

  She couldn’t help but smile as her heart beat with joy. “Now that you have me, what are you going to do with me?”

  “What would you like me to do with you?” he asked.

  Her grin widened, and she obediently blinked up at him when she said, “Anything you want, sir. Anything you want.”

  About the Author

  A multipublished author in the romance genre, CATHRYN FOX has two teenagers who keep her busy and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed-martial-arts fan. Cathryn can never find balance in her life and is always trying to keep up with e-mails, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. She spends her days writing page-turning books filled with heat and heart, and loves to hear from her readers.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

  TAME ME

  LAUREN HAWKEYE

  Dedication

  For Sara Fawkes, Cathryn Fox, and Chelsey Emmelhainz.

  This project was a blast!

  Prologue

  THE WOMAN TOOK his breath away.

  He knew who she was, of course. Ariel Monroe was a singer by profession, but the tabloids were more interested in her antics than her music.