LUCA (You Will Be Mine) (The Sicilian Mafia Series Book 1) (14 page)

Crashing back in his seat, Luca’s body screamed in disappointment. “You obviously still have a lot to learn.”

I pointed at my chest. “Me? You’re talking about me?”

“Yes, you.” Luca gazed out of the window, not once turning to look at me.

I could have bitten back—I wanted to bite back—but I just couldn’t find the energy. If I was being honest with myself, I was deeply upset that my body was screaming for an orgasm which had never come. I could actually feel the tears welling; I was so consumed by it.

I didn’t though. I never would. I was determined, even now, to not back down. Clara Murphy was not a quitter, and in my growing lucidity, I realised I was proud of myself for not giving in to him. I was one person that never would.

The minute the car stopped, I was reaching for the handle and opening the door. I wasn’t hanging around waiting; I was still too pissed at Luca for that.

“Clara, where are you going?”

“I’m going to the bar to get a drink.”

I was halfway through the door when I felt a yank at my arm. Spinning around, I glared at him. “Let. Me. Go.”

“Wrong answer, amore mio.” Before I knew it I was being hauled over his shoulder again.

“Luca, you piece of shit, put me down.”

“Not happening, bella.” He spanked my bottom causing me to yelp.

“Did you just spank me?!” I screamed.

Luca chuckled. “You behave like a child, you get treated like one.”

“You fucking spanked me?”

He spanked me again. “And I don’t care for language or for that tone of voice either.”

“What the hell!” I had never in my twenty-six years of life been treated in this manner by anyone. Other than my father of course. The difference was when my dad spanked me, it was out of spite and anger. Luca was doing it as a way of showing me who he thought was boss.

Once we were back in my room he placed me on the bed and stared at me. I couldn’t tell from his look whether he wanted fuck me or spank me again. Maybe he wanted to do both.

“I’m not going to talk to you until you’re calm and sober.”

“How dare you imply that I’m drunk?!” I hiccupped at just the right time to prove his theory.

Damn it!

Luca raised a cheeky eyebrow and smiled. “You want to run that by me again?”

“Why are you so determined to be this barbaric, cavemanic, prehistoric animal?” I hiccupped again.
Oh boy!

“Cavemanic?” He was still smiling.

“Yeah, ‘cavemanic.’ You think you can control me. I can’t be controlled. How about you do as you’re told and finish off what you started in the car?”

Still smiling, he waved a finger at me. “Not happening tonight. I want to hear you say the words. Until then, you can stew in your little tower. There’s a lot to be said—especially after the stunt you pulled tonight—but I won’t discuss it with you until the morning.”

I couldn’t believe it when he turned around and headed out the door. I was momentarily frozen, wondering whether what just happened had truly happened. As soon as I realised it had, I picked up a pillow and threw it at the door in frustration.

I flopped down on the bed and realised soon enough that no matter what I tried, Luca would always have the upper hand. I hated it with every fibre of my being, but it still didn’t change that fact.

With a frustrated sigh, I settled down, resigned to the reality that I was here now, and there was nothing much I could do about it. I knew Luca’s leaving me alone like this was his way of teaching me a lesson. Instead of getting angry, I put some music on and proceeded to get ready for bed. He wanted me to get angry, but I refused to give him the satisfaction.

Releasing my body from my dress and shoes, I ventured into the bathroom to get ready for bed. The whole time I was getting ready, I was taken up by memories of Luca’s hands on me. No matter how much I didn’t
want
to think about it, I still
did
think about it. He was fast becoming an addiction I couldn’t shake. Despite my intellectual protests, my body yearned for his touch. He was certainly right about that. It did scream for him. It was screaming for him right then.

Stripping myself completely bare, I slipped into my lovely sheets and settled myself into my plump pillows. I wanted sleep to find me quickly just so I could stop feeling that ache.

After a few minutes of tossing and turning, my body finally granted my wish.

I woke to the sound of drumming. The noise was loud and booming. I turned over and moaned at the uneasy feeling in my head. Oh dear… This is the morning after the night before; it’s no wonder I feel like shit. I think a decaying corpse has decided to make my mouth its resting place. Why am I being punished like this?

“Good morning, beautiful. How’s your head?”

Opening one eye, I found Luca staring down at me with his smug, “I told you so” look.

“I’m fine,” I said through gritted teeth.

Luca laughed. “Even now, you’re determined to lie to me—to fight me.”

“Then why don’t you just give up and let me go?”

Luca looked at me like I had just said the most preposterous thing in the world. “You know that’s not going to happen.”

Pulling myself up a little, I soon regretted it and moaned my disapproval.

“Here, I got you some tablets.” Luca sat on the bed and handed me some pills. I took them both as no matter how much I wanted to go against him; it would be stupid of me to ignore the party inside my head.

I downed them both with the glass of water Luca had in his other hand. He was being gentle with me now, and even though I hated him, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit grateful.

“Thank you.”

Luca smiled and stroked my hair. “You’re welcome.” I smiled back and took a deep breath. “Can I talk to you about yesterday now?”

I moaned. “Do we have to?”

Luca laughed. “No, I suppose it can wait. I’ll leave you for another hour or so and then bring you up some breakfast, okay?”

“Okay. That would be nice.”

Luca left, and I immediately fell back to sleep.

It was a little less than an hour later when I woke up again to find that Luca was not in the room with me anymore. My head was still a little sore, but it was miles better than it had been. I was feeling so much better in fact that my stomach was growling at me in protest.

Thinking it best to make myself a little more decent, I decided to brush my teeth and head for the shower. Once dried, I walked back into my bedroom and was shocked to find Luca sitting at the table with a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. Accompanying that was a glass of orange juice.

Surprised by my nakedness, Luca’s eyes wandered appreciatively over my body, causing my pulse to react. “Please put something over you.”

I smiled a little. “Why?”

“Because I don’t think I can stand another minute of looking at you without wanting to grab you and bury myself in you until you scream.”

My breathing hitched. I could feel the familiar burn between my legs. I was throbbing and wet—and I
so
wanted him to carry out his threat. “I don’t see how that makes a difference to me.”

Luca shook his head. “Clara, please. I want to talk to you about last night, and I don’t want any distractions.”

I could have got angry again, but I was too taken aback by his tone of voice. It sounded very much like he was begging. In mild amusement, I hitched my eyebrow at him.

“Yes, you got me to beg. Don’t look all smug because that’s the one and only time you’ll hear it.”

Walking closer to his seat, I sighed. “Really?” His words were like a challenge to me now.

Turning his head away from me, Luca got up from his chair. He soon returned with a dressing gown and handed it to me. “Yes, really. Now put this on, and come and eat some breakfast.”

I sighed, realising that I wasn’t going anywhere with this. A part of me wanted an explanation anyway. I was still angry with him for leaving me all day without a single word.

For once, I behaved and wrapped the robe around me. The toast and eggs were calling to me anyway. Once seated at the table, I started tucking in with relish.

“Now, tell me why you disobeyed me yesterday?”

My mouth hung open. “Why I diso—”

Luca stopped me with his hand. “Don’t start. Just answer the question.

“How can you say that? You’ve been keeping me prisoner here, and then you left without a word—nothing. I was angry with you for leaving me, and I was angry with you for not explaining to me where you were or what you were doing.”

Luca smiled. “At last we’re getting somewhere.” I shook my head in frustration. He was still determined to get a rise out of me. “You can deny what you feel for me as much as you want, but you can’t deny it to yourself. You cared about where I was.”

“I was angry that you left me here. You seem to keep forgetting that you’re holding me prisoner here.”

Luca smiled. “Who says that you’re a prisoner?”

I frowned.
Did I just hear him correctly?

“Excuse me?”

“You can come and go as you please, within reason of course.”

I laughed. “Are you shitting me?”

“I shit you not. Has anyone here said you can’t go where you want to? All you have to do is ask.”

I shook my head. “That’s the thing. I’m a grown woman. I shouldn’t have to ask your permission.”

“It would seem after last night’s little stunt that you do.”

Bashing my fork down forcefully on the table, I glared at him. “You bastard. How dare you?! I was having a perfectly good night until you came along. I was with my girls, and we were having fun. I wasn’t causing a scene, or being outrageous. It was you who came into the club like a raging bull. It was you who charged his way in and made a beeline for Daniel. It was you who hauled me over your shoulder and dragged me out.”

At the mention of Daniel’s name, Luca growled. “Don’t fucking mention that snake again.”

“Why not?”

Luca banged the table. “Because he’s a fucking rapist!” I stared in disbelief. Did I just hear him correctly? “Yes, that’s right. If you had taken time to notice, then you would have realised that Daniel and Brett are sleazy scumbags. When Daniel bought that drink for you last night he spiked it with Rohypnol. He would have used it to sedate you and then sneak you out to force himself upon you. Once he was finished with you, then I should imagine it would have been Brett’s turn.” The look of murder on his face as he told me was evident.

“I—I—” I didn’t know what to say. I was too lost for words. I wasn’t normally, but this sudden, unexpected news had floored me.

Luca’s face softened a little at my obvious distress. Grabbing my hand, he gently stroked my palm. “I know this is a shock, but no matter what you think of me, my intentions with you are honourable. I was trying to protect you last night. I couldn’t tell you this at the time because you were so full of pent up rage that it would have been pointless.”

Suddenly, I was able to find my voice again. “How do you know this about them?”

“They came on my radar recently when a club owner complained to me about these two assholes calling themselves ‘Daniel’ and ‘Brett.’ Apparently, they’ve spiked a handful of girl’s drinks and then forced themselves upon them. The poor girls haven’t gone to the police for fear that no one would believe them. I was asked to look into it and deal with the problem.”

I stared at him for a moment. “How have you dealt with the problem?”

“I hadn’t had time to until one of my men called me last night and told me they were there in my club.”

“Your club?”

He nodded. “Yes. My club. They had dared to taint my club with their filth. I wasn’t going to have that. I asked the man to describe you to me so that I knew where to find you when I came. When he did, I got suspicious. I demanded that he find out exactly who you were and after a bit of digging they said your name was Clara Murphy.”

I thought for a moment about how that could be, but then I remembered I had to show my I.D. when I asked for drinks.

“How did the barman even remember my name?”

Luca looked angry. “Why do you think? You really think you can look like you do and that nobody will notice?”