“Jackson.”
My belly drops, my heart thudding, as I run through the trees. The guards yell from behind me, but my pulse is thumping, my mind clouded.
What if something has happened to him?
But he grins at me from under the shade of a large tree and flops onto his back, rolling in a big pile of muck like he’s the happiest doggie in the world.
“You’re so annoying,” I tell him, but I can’t help laughing in pure relief. “Come on. I think it’s bath time.”
I spend a while choosing my outfit for the date. My best option is jeans which fit a little tight with a billowy white shirt.
Standing in front of the mirror, I run a hand through my hair, and then my finger strays to the buttons of the shirt.
A thrill goes through me as I undo one button, then another.
But in the end, three is a little too much. I go for one instead, so maybe I can tease him a little and ignite his imagination without showing everything.
After grabbing a snack from the kitchen, I return to my bedroom and sit on the end of the bed, wringing my hands in my lap, my heart picking up its pace when I think about Luca.
He’s been gone for hours, but Olga said he was on his way home and that soon we’ll be eating dinner.
Jackson hears Luca before I do, running to the door and pawing at it. My heart floods every time Jackson acts like that, eager to see Luca, as though he has the same instinctual need I do.
Well, not exactly the same.
Luca opens the door, his eyes immediately focusing on me.
He looks so handsome in his silver suit, the same shade as his hair, his top button undone to show his chest muscles. His eyes fix on me, smirk twitching, then he leans down and scratches Jackson behind the ear.
“I missed you,” he says, standing and walking over to me.
“I missed you too,” I whisper.
I’m not sure who initiates the kiss this time, only that it feels impossible to stop once we start.
I moan and wrap my arms around his torso, clawing onto his back, sure I can feel his taut muscles pushing through the material of his jacket.
He makes a deep gruff noise, pushing closer to me.
The only thing that stops us is Jackson’s whining.
We pause, looking down to find him hopping around on his hind legs, eager for attention.
Luca chuckles, shooting me a look. I have to avert my gaze.
I can’t look at him, not when there’s such a strong, sparkling message in his expression.
Or maybe it’s not there. Maybe I’m reading too much into it.
But just then, I could’ve sworn he was looking at me like a husband would to a wife…as if he was saying, Kids right? But I love them more than life itself.
It’s like he’s giving me a preview of what an incredible dad he’s going to make.
“Are you ready?” he asks a moment later.
“Uh, yeah,” I say. “Are we going by chariot…or limo?”
Luca laughs at my joke, even if my voice came out sounding lame as heck.
Taking my hand, he leads me from the room. I grip tightly onto him, wishing there was a way I could explain it all without sounding batshit crazy.
But isn’t this whole situation crazy?
We walk down the hallway, Jackson at our feet, then take a left into the dining room. I was in here earlier for breakfast, but it’s been transformed since then.
I gasp and take a few shaky steps forward.
There are rose petals everywhere, scattered all over the floor. Candles send flickering orange light everywhere, bouncing off the crimson of the petals, giving the room a warm and welcome mood.
Jackson takes a few steps in, cautiously sniffing the petals.
“Do you like it?” Luca asks, walking up behind me, wrapping his arms around my body, and pressing me closer.
I sink back against him, sighing gently, relaxing into his embrace.
This is where I belong, where I’ve always belonged.
Not with Conor, not as something to be traded. Not as a pawn.
No, this, here, with my man.
Blinking away tears, I let out a croaking yes.
“Good,” he whispers, kissing my cheek tenderly, even if I can feel the need making his body hard. “Now, let me be a gentleman. I know I failed before.”
He walks to the table, pulling out my chair and nodding for me to sit.
I walk over and sit down, wiping away the tear in my eye.
“Are you okay?” Luca asks as he sits opposite me.
“Yes, yes,” I say quickly. “I just…this is the nicest thing anybody has ever done for me.”
He reaches across the table, taking my hand, lowering his face, and kissing it softly, one knuckle at a time. Every kiss sends a tingle up my forearm, coiling around me as though he’s making me more and more his with each one.