Luciano the driver/bodyguard, had the rear passenger door of a black Mercedes opened, waiting for them at the corner of the intersection. His face was impassive as Luca carefully deposited her inside the car. Once she was comfortably settled, he went to the other side of the vehicle and climbed in beside her. The door closed with a muted thunk.
His crisp cologne, so familiar, wafted in the closed confines of the car. She wanted so badly to lean in. Inhale him.
“Take us to the hospital.” His eyes were taking a catalogue of her cuts and scrapes.
“No. I’m fine.” She rolled her arms and scanned other body parts. Nothing broken. Her fingers had a slight tremor, but it was just a reaction to the harrowing events. “Just a bit banged up, but I’m okay.”
“I insist. I want a doctor to take a look at you.”
“It’s nothing that a first aid kit can’t take care of. Really. I’m good.”
Luca seemed to have an internal struggle, but then he relented gruffly, “Alright. But you tell me the minute something starts to bother you.”
You’re bothering me, but I’m afraid the doctor won’t have a cure for that.
“I will.” She leaned between them and took his hand. “Thanks for catching me.” She tried to release it, but he held on to her.
“You gave me a fright.”
“I gave myself quite a fright, too.” She chuckled, trying to deflect the sudden tension in the car at his raw pronouncement.
Now that the drama over her fall and rescue had abated, Sabrina was able to take in his attire. Her breathing constricted. He looked elegant and dapper in a grey coat, the kind that was cut off at the waist and curved to tails at the back. His shirt was white but his tie and waistcoat were also grey, as was his finely striped trousers. Only a lock of hair falling across his brow, dislodged in the act of rescuing damsels in distress, marred his perfection.
But maybe not. She stooped low and pulled on the hem of his pants.
His socks were in a paisley pattern of aubergine and silver this time.
She straightened. Grinned. “You never disappoint.”
“I do my best,” he replied solemnly.
Sabrina was done with skirting the issue. In a roundabout way. “Why aren’t you at the wedding?” Why are you here?
“I was. I learned about Eleni’s visit and grew concerned. What did she want, strega?”
“You,” she answered starkly, then laughed at the sheer outrageousness of the Greek woman’s visit. “She was willing to pay me a huge amount if I kept away from you. Can you believe it? Like I was a gold digger she could pay off…” Of course he could believe it. The evidence was in the yacht, inside the boxes. And she had damned herself in his eyes with the letter.
His brows met together. “Did she hurt you?”
“No. Why would you think she’d hurt me?”
“Eleni is,” he paused, and Sabrina knew he was trying to find the right words, “a bit territorial.”
“Territorial?”
“Just stay away from her.”
“You’re fond of warning me off people, Luca.”
He winced.
“Aren’t you going to ask me if I accepted the money?”
“You didn’t.”
Joy blossomed in her heart. Had he finally realized she wasn’t the kind of person the media made her out to be?
“I saw the torn check in the salon.”
“Oh.” She averted her gaze, her heart plunging in disappointment.
He cupped her chin and tilted her face up to meet his. “And the things I gave you. The clothes, the shoes, the jewelry.” He caressed the angle of her jaw with his thumb. “Why did you leave them behind?”
“I didn’t want any of them.” When would he believe her? She gazed straight at him, hoping he could see her heart in her eyes. “All I wanted was you.”
She didn’t receive any warning. Strong arms hauled her on top of firm thighs and then she was being ravaged. A hand gripped her hair and she let it. His mouth plundered hers and she let him. Fingers played between her legs and she let them.
She was his. To do with as he pleased.
And he was hers too.
She clutched his thick, dark hair, nipped on his lower lip, licked the abused flesh. He leaned back against the seat, settled his hand on her waist, and let her do as she willed.
“The driver,” she said.
“Don’t worry about it.”
She twisted her head and saw that the glass divider between the driver and passenger had turned opaque.
“You have trust issues, strega.”
“I’m a work in progress.”
“So am I.”
It was as much admission as they were able to make at the moment. Sabrina would have to be satisfied for now. But at least it was a start.
She unbuttoned his pants, worked on the zipper, and freed him. He groaned when her hand closed around his shaft.
He reached for the button on her shorts as she began stroking him.
“Do you have protection with you?”
His hands stilled. He muttered an oath.
She increased the pace of her stroking and slid down his lap. “Don’t worry about it,” she echoed his words.
“Strega, it’s fi-” his words ended on a groan as she took him in her mouth. Sabrina saw him watching her with a heavy-lidded gaze. She reached down and felt the slickness between her legs.
“Are you touching yourself?” His voice was slurred with pleasure.
She bobbed up and down on his shaft in assent.
“Cazzo!” His hands were clutching the edge of the seat, the veins between his knuckles standing in relief. “I’m close,” he warned. “Pull out.”
She didn’t.
He came almost immediately, his hips bucking as she refused to let go. Sabrina flicked her nub, taking in as much of his essence as she could until her own release slammed into her, making her pull away at last for fear of accidentally biting him.
She sagged against the wall of the car door, spent. Luca was no better. He was breathing heavily, his arms flung limply by his sides.
The musk of their coupling was undeniable in the closed confines.
“I hope this isn’t a rental.”
A corner of his lip kicked up. “It isn’t.”
She staggered to her knees, knelt between his legs, and grasped his clothed thighs. “Thank God.”
He finally moved, plucking a silver handkerchief from his breast pocket.
“Let me.” She grabbed the silk cloth and wiped him off. He was amazed that he was beginning to stir again under her fumbling attempts to clean him up.
He snagged her wrist. “I think that’s enough,” he said hoarsely.
“But I still have to-”
“We’ve arrived.”
Sabrina glanced out of the heavily tinted windows. They were at the marina.
“Oh.”
They put themselves to rights.
Antonia hurriedly went in search of the first aid kit without question when she saw Sabrina’s disheveled state.
They were back in the skylight room and she was sprawled on the couch while Luca played doctor. He had divested most of his clothing except for his white shirt, rolled at the elbows, his underwear, and socks.
“That was a famous street you went tumbling down in.”
Sabrina grimaced when the antiseptic Luca was applying smarted. There was a rather big abrasion on her elbow.
“If you’re going down, might as well go down big, right?” she said glibly.
He paled around the mouth. He didn’t appreciate her humor. “It’s not nicknamed the ‘Jack and Jill street’ by tourists for nothing.”
“I’m glad I didn’t break my crown.”
He stopped rubbing the gauze on her knee. “Don’t make light of it. You could have been seriously hurt.” He was very thorough with his inspection.
She shivered at the recollection. “I know.” If not by that street, then by those two unsavory men. “At least th
ey got nothing from me,” she added without thought.
His head whipped up, his expression going from solicitous to alpha in a flash. The glint of battle darkened his eyes. “They?” he rumbled ominously.
A sliver of inappropriate thrill went up her spine at his display of protectiveness. “Just common street criminals.”
His shoulders seemed to grow broader, his visage darker. He held himself still, looking as if he was trying to regain control. “What in God’s name were you doing in that area?”
“I was looking for a place to stay for the night.”
His mouth tightened. He capped the bottle of antiseptic. “Coretta is crawling with pickpockets. It’s not the safest place in Seirenada.”
“My screaming scared them off.”
“You scared me.” He was looking at her so intensely that she fought the urge to squirm. His features rearranged into the charming, polite mask he often presented to others.“It’s a good thing I’ve heard you screaming before to have recognized that it was you.”
“What? I’ve never screamed around you before.”
“There was that time in the media room…” A corner of his lip kicked up teasingly.
Luca had said it was soundproof so they were free to make some noise. She rolled her eyes. Jerk.
He rose, rewarding her a view of his muscled thighs. “Much as I’d like to make you scream and let your eyes roll back in pleasure, we’d better move it. We have a royal wedding reception to attend.”
“Wh-what?”
“I’m not leaving you here alone. Not after what happened,” he said, his voice harsh. “Do you still want to go?”
She couldn’t see his face. He had turned away from her, depositing the antiseptic bottle on a night table by the bed.
“A simple yes or no would suffice.”
Somehow she knew what he wanted her answer to be. Sabrina’s chest tightened painfully because she realized she couldn’t give him what he was asking of her. She had come so far. “Yes.”
His back lengthened and his shoulders went taut, as if he was shoring up his resolve. Then he faced her. His eyes were bleak. “I thought so.”
Luca had never been more frightened in his life than when he saw Sabrina hurtling down that street. He hadn’t told her of a tourist who had drunk too much alcohol, lost his footing, and tumbled all the way down to the intersection to be run over by several cars.
A gruesome image of Sabrina’s broken body kept intruding on his thoughts.
Eleni’s visit was another matter for concern. He had made Sabrina a target by her association with him. He was pretty certain she wouldn’t attempt another visit, but still he couldn’t be sure. He’d never know a moment’s peace if he didn’t know where she was every minute she wasn’t with him. He had no choice but to bring Sabrina to the reception. He had to keep her safe. In doing so, he’d be breaking his word to Markos.
“What is the exact nature of your relationship with Markos?” he asked brusquely.
She startled. “Wh-what?”
“In your letter, you addressed him as Mr. Konstantinos.” He laughed, but it was devoid of humor. “Is it a sort of kinky endearment?”
“Kinky?” she repeated blankly.
Dio! He didn’t really want to know, but the compulsion was too powerful to resist.
“Did Markos get his kicks when you addressed him so formally?” Now he was imagining his friend and Sabrina engaging in some boss-secretary role-playing. Acid flooded his gut.
She was still looking at him blankly, her brow furrowed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Luca.”
He raked a shaking hand through his hair. Enough! Stop torturing yourself.
Tonight, he’d put her in the path of opportunity. He’d swallow his pride. He’d make her choose between him and Markos. Markos must have mattered to her. Still mattered, most probably, if she had plotted and schemed her way to see him once again.
But he was never going to be someone’s choice by default. Someone’s rebound lover. He was going to give her the opportunity to pick between him and Markos. Tonight. Even if what all he wanted to do was handcuff her to him and throw away the key.
He had to make sure the other family members were not about, though. Especially Mrs. Konstantinos. What he would be doing was against his friend’s wishes, but he would protect the family from any unpleasantness. Markos, however, was more than capable of hearing a former lover out.
In his gut, he knew Sabrina would not make a scene. How he had lumped her together with Markos’ other bimbos, he couldn’t imagine. Why Markos had chosen to let her go was another thing he couldn’t fathom. The man was a fool.
Still… “You are not to approach Markos in the reception until I tell you to.”
That didn’t sit well with her, judging by her small frown.
“That’s my condition, strega. Take it or leave it.”
She nodded. “I promise. Luca, I-,” she started hesitantly then shook her head. Then restarted, “It means a lot to me, that’s all. Thank you,” she said simply.
It meant a lot to her, seeing Markos again. Her statement was like a punch to Luca’s gut.
By the end of the night, there’d be only one man who could claim her. He hoped he would be that man once and for all.
Chapter 17
Should she tell him?
Sabrina debated with herself as she got dressed, donning the gown that had been one of Luca’s purchases for her. He had left her alone to get ready after Antonia had discreetly knocked to inform Luca that his suit had arrived. Apparently he had been wearing a morning suit to the wedding and had to change into formal evening attire.
There was no time for Luca’s driver to fetch her things from the villa. They didn’t want to arrive too late to the affair. As a result, she still didn’t have her contact lens solution with her. She blinked to moisten her eyes. This was the longest time she had gone without removing them.
If she went without them, Luca would ask questions. She wasn’t ready to answer them. He might change his mind about bringing her to the reception.
After the reception, she would tell him. Hopefully he wouldn’t be angry with her for keeping her secret. They had given her purpose for the last two years.
“Signor Argenti said if you want some help with your hair and make-up?” Antonia had that half-smile that showed she was uncertain if her offer would be taken kindly.
“Yes. Thank you. I’m hopeless when it comes to doing my face and hair.”
Antonia stepped inside the room and gasped when she took a good look at her. “You look lovely, signorina.”
There was a full-length mirror concealed in one of the doors of the closet. She studied her reflection. The gown was a sleeveless slender sheath of blue taffeta. From the décolletage up, it was made of a sheer¸ gauzy material embroidered with tiny clear crystals that winked when hit by the light. It was an Argenti couture gown. She loved it because it matched the blue of Luca’s eyes.
“Grazie, Antonia. The gown makes me feel beautiful.” Perhaps that’s why women were willing to spend thousands of dollars on couture dresses–it did made one feel like Cinderella. Transformed. Magical. Like the night was filled with possibilities.
“Will you follow me please?” the stewardess said.
“Where are we going?”
Antonia smiled. “You’ll see.”
They descended to the lowermost level of the yacht. She followed Antonia to a room. This time, it was her turn to gasp in surprise.
The yacht had a parlor, complete with reclining seats, shampoo sink bowls, and standing hair heater equipment.
Antonia seated her in front of a mirror with Hollywood lights. She had an impressive array of beauty products on the counter. She must have caught her stunned expression from her reflection, because she said, “Sometimes there are fashion shows on the yacht. The models and the guests have their hair and make-up done here. Several professional make-up artists will come on board for the fundraising par
ty, but for tonight you will have to make do with me.”
“Just simple make-up will do.”
Antonia nodded. “Of course. We’ll not hide your beauty under heavy layers of paint. Signor Luca will not like it.”
Sabrina’s cheeks pinkened.
Antonia laughed. “We’ll have no need for blush on.”
Gratefully, her face had been spared from her encounter with the Jack and Jill Street. Antonia had assured her she could cover some of her cuts with camouflage make-up. She had assisted some of the make-up artists before, calming diva models and prima donna guests, sometimes acting as translator.
Sabrina likened Antonia’s job to being general manager of the yacht. She inquired about Alessa.
“She’s at the mainland now with my mother. When there are guests and upcoming events, my mother babysits her so she will not be underfoot. The Argentis are kind employers and they let her stay with us most of the time.”
As she was already dressed, Antonia draped a towel around her neck to protect the dress. She pulled up Sabrina’s hair in a simple upswept do and started immediately on her make-up.
“I’m sorry. I tear up sometimes with eye make-up, so I don’t use it too often.” Sabrina apologized as she dabbed at her eyes after Antonia had applied some eyeshadow.
“I won’t apply eyeliner on your lower lid then. Just the upper for definition.”
In twenty minutes, the make-up was done. But Antonia wasn’t finished yet. She produced a red box. Sabrina recognized the jeweller’s insignia.
“I don’t think I can wear any diamonds. It will compete with the outfit.” She gestured to her crystal-studded chest.
“It’s Luca’s wish. And it’s not for your body.” Antonia moved to stand behind her and lifted the necklace he had given her. The chain was made of fine white gold, and in the center, a cluster of deep blue stones formed a crescent shape. She recognized it as one of his gifts.
Sabrina looked at her questioningly.
Antonia laid the necklace gently at the back of her head and after several deft manueuvers and hairpins, she allowed Sabrina to gaze at her workmanship with a handheld mirror.
Antonia had wrapped the necklace around her bun, the blue crescent of stones laying flat underneath it. It was an expensive and stylish ornament, and it played off her blonde hair wonderfully.
When She Fell for the Billionaire Page 16