Heartless Savage

by Terri Anne Browning

  As soon as she had her six-week postnatal checkup, one of my final dreams was going to come true. I already had plans, and Shaw was going to help me make sure nothing went wrong.

  I was at practice the afternoon Violet went to the doctor. Shaw went with her to help with Love Bug, and Jenner drove them into Nashville. But as soon as they were done, Shaw texted me to let me know everything was set. I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle being away from Love Bug all night, but I’d worry about that later. I needed some serious alone time with her beautiful momma.

  Grabbing my gym bag, I practically sprinted out of the locker rooms as soon as practice was over and jumped into the driver’s seat of my car. Anyone would have thought the hounds of hell were chasing me with how fast I drove to the Westin.

  I checked in and then hurried up to the room to make sure everything was in place. I’d called ahead and made sure they took care of everything, but this was too important not to double-check that it was absolutely perfect.

  My palms sweating, I fixed a stray purple rose petal so the heart someone had made on the bed was straight. I dimmed the lights and then took another quick shower before ordering room service. There was no way I was going to make it through an entire meal with Violet, not yet, but I’d get her some fruit to snack on for afterward.

  By the time there was a knock on the door, I was sure my heart was going to explode, and I had to remind myself to take things slow before I opened the door. Swallowing hard, I pulled the door back, only to have all the air get pushed from my chest at the sight before me.

  Violet stood there in a simple purple dress that hugged her curves and showed off the tops of her amazing tits. The hem of the dress ended at midthigh, and the white heels she was wearing made her legs look like they went on forever.

  I wanted those legs wrapped around my hips as I fucked her against the door. Wanted her hands in my hair and her tits in my mouth as I pounded into her until my balls emptied every drop of release I’d been storing just for her into her tight little pussy.

  Pink filled her cheeks as she stood there waiting for me to finish running my gaze over her from head to toe. “Shaw said you would be here,” she murmured, her teeth sinking into her plump bottom lip. “Then she just left me in the lobby. I’m pretty sure she and Jenner kidnapped our love bug. And I don’t know if I should be thankful or freaking out that neither you nor I are with her right now.”

  “Sh-she’ll be okay for a little while,” I choked out. The sound of my raspy voice made Violet shiver, and I couldn’t take it another second. Biting back a growl of pure need, I grabbed her by the hips and picked her up. “Baby, I’m sorry. So sorry. I tried to be patient. I wanted this to be perfect for you, but I’m seriously about to lose my mind.” I kissed my way up her neck before devouring her lips. “Please don’t hate me. I’ll make it up to you, I swear. But I just fucking need you so bad right now.”

  Her fingers were butterfly-soft as she stroked them over my head. She arched her neck, giving me better access to the sensitive skin just under her ear, and I knew I was about two minutes away from blowing in my boxer briefs. “I’m okay with things moving fast, Luca,” she said with a breathy little moan that made my cock leak onto my thigh. “I think this is long overdue, don’t you?”

  Swallowing my sob of need, I kicked the door shut and carried her into the bedroom. She had about three seconds to see the pretty purple rose petals arranged in a heart before I was laying her on the bed and following her down.

  Now that I had her in bed and I could do whatever the hell I wanted to her—touch, taste, lick, and fuck any part of her without anyone to stop me—I didn’t know where to start. I kissed her until my mouth hurt before leaning back and pulling my shirt over my head.

  Violet was panting, trying to catch her breath, her mouth swollen and pink from my kisses as she scooted back on the bed with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “I got an IUD today,” she informed me.

  “Ah, thank fuck.” I watched as she pulled up her dress, and I nearly swallowed my tongue as her glorious body was exposed to me inch by inch.

  Her stomach was almost completely flat again, with a few stretch marks showing where she’d carried Love Bug. Her tits were overflowing from her white nursing bra, and her skin was flushed a pretty pink with arousal. As she tossed the dress aside, leaving her in nothing but the bra and matching cotton panties, I knew I’d never seen a sexier sight in my entire life.

  Wrapping my hand around the base of my cock through my pants, I cut off circulation until the damn thing calmed down a little before I exploded right then and there from just looking at her.

  Violet got on her knees and pushed her hair back from her face as she licked her lips hungrily. “Luca, the past is going to stay in the past. Starting right now, there is no one except you and me. I don’t want any ghosts coming between us, ever.”

  “I agree, babe. No one, not one fucking person, is going to tear you away from me again.” I reached for her with shaking hands. “Even though I know you loved Remington, I’m going to wipe him from your mind when I sink into you. Understand?”

  “That’s not what I meant,” she whispered. “I wasn’t even thinking about Remi.”

  That gave me pause. “Then what did you mean, babe?” I asked as I reached for her.

  “I meant…any woman you’ve ever slept with.”

  “I had one drunken night that ruined everything,” I told her honestly. “There hasn’t been anyone else.”

  “R-really?” she gasped. “Not even—”

  “They weren’t you, Vi,” I breathed against her ear as I lowered my head to kiss her shoulder. “I wasn’t about to fuck up again. Even if you weren’t mine, I couldn’t do anything that might cost me a second chance.”

  “Luca…”

  I stroked my fingers down her spine and felt her tremble. “I know we weren’t each other’s firsts like we always said we would be, but we can be each other’s lasts.”

  “I-I really like the sound of that,” she murmured softly. She trailed her index finger down my chest and over my abs. As she explored my body with nothing but that tormenting fingertip, I tried to hold on to what was left of my control. “I’ve always wanted to touch you like this. It hurt me every time you stopped me.”

  “I’m sorry, baby, but trust me, it hurt me just as much.” I caught her hand and lifted it to my lips. I kissed her finger and then sucked it into my mouth, causing her to whimper in need. “I promise you, starting right now, you can touch me whenever and however you want. I will never, not ever, stop you again.”

  “Promise?”

  I grasped each side of her panties and ripped them, causing the material to fall onto the bed between her legs. “I fucking promise,” I growled and cupped her dripping pussy.

  Epilogue

  Violet

  The sweetest giggle I’d ever heard was right outside my bedroom door, and I snuggled deeper into my pillow as I heard her running feet followed by Luca’s heavier steps.

  “Shh, Love Bug. We want to surprise Mommy, right?”

  “Un-huh, Daddy. Un-huh!” she shouted then giggled again when Luca laughed at what she considered a whisper.

  Not two seconds later, the bedroom door opened, and Love Bug ran to my side of the bed. I kept my eyes closed, letting her think I was still sleeping as she waited for Luca to help her up onto our bed. She’d been walking since she was nine months old, and ever since she took her first step, she’d been going at full speed, only pausing long enough to sleep.

  And even then, I’d found her asleep standing up a few times.

  “Mommy!” Love Bug shouted as she started jumping on the mattress beside me. “Mommy!”

  I blinked my eyes open and pretended to be surprised when I saw her standing over me, while behind her, Luca stood with a tray with enough breakfast food for the three of us and juice. “Good morning, Love,” I greeted.

  She threw herself into my arms and smacked a kis
s on my cheek before snuggling against my chest. But as she did, I felt something in her hand and frowned. I hadn’t noticed her holding anything, but she kept shoving something against me and I sat up so I could see what it was.

  Giggling, she offered me the little velvet box again. Heart pounding, I lifted my gaze to Luca, who just stood there watching us, anxiety making his eyes swirl with different shades of brown. “Wh-what’s this?” I whispered, trying to swallow the knot that was suddenly choking me.

  Luca placed the tray on the end of the bed and then lifted our daughter into his arms. “Why don’t you open it and see?” he instructed before Love Bug squished his cheeks together playfully and rubbed her nose against his.

  He was her favorite person in the world, second to no one. Remi Thornton was a spoiled little daddy’s girl, and she knew it. She had Luca wrapped so tight around her finger that the first sign of her tears, and he was ready to murder whoever had caused her sadness. I didn’t even care that she would rather be held by him than me, because I knew she loved me just as much. Daddy was just her favorite of the two of us.

  My eyes lowered back to the little box, and I felt a tear spill over my lashes. Love Bug’s birthday was tomorrow. She was going to be one year old, and I had to admit the past year had been perfect. We hadn’t talked about marriage, but we hadn’t really needed to. Luca and I were together, forever. Everyone who knew us understood that. No one had questioned if we were just playing house or if this was the real thing. All they had to do was look at the three of us together to understand we were a family.

  Fingers trembling, I lifted the top of the box, and two more tears spilled over when I saw the beautiful oval diamond sitting inside. It was nothing like the ring Remington had given me, but that was what made it so special. It wasn’t what I would have ever thought to pick out for myself, yet it was absolutely perfect.

  Luca sat on the bed beside me and placed Love Bug on the floor. “Remember when your parents were here a few weeks ago?” Blinking back tears, I lifted my eyes to him and nodded. “I asked Uncle Shane if I could marry you while they were here.”

  My eyes widened. “I’m kind of scared to ask how that went.”

  He grinned. “It was agony, babe. He made me wait a whole day before giving me an answer. I would have asked you then and there, but the ring was still being made.” He took the box from me and pulled out the beautiful ring. The light caught it, making it glitter like the tears that kept pouring down my face. “I was going to wait. Make asking you something really special, but when it was delivered this morning, I couldn’t. I’ve waited a lifetime to put a ring on your finger.” Taking my hand, he carefully slid it into place. “And I can’t wait another minute.”

  The ring fit perfectly, and when I looked down, it was like it had always been there.

  “Violet, you are the air in my chest, one of the two reasons I get up in the morning. Without you, I would be nothing but an empty shell. I don’t ever want to think of my life without you in it. Please, baby.” His voice cracked, and he brought my hand to his lips before whispering, “Will you marry me?”

  Through my tears, I looked down at his bent head and then to our love bug, who was happily toddling around the childproofed room. These two were my entire world, and I never wanted to imagine my life without either one of them.

  When Luca lifted his eyes to mine, I threw my arms around his neck. “Yes, Luca,” I whispered. “The answer will always be yes.”