Chapter 38

Luca’s POV

I guided her down the stairs towards the front door and out to the limo that was waiting. Cal opened the back door when he saw us approaching. “A limo?”, Mara asked quietly, quirking her eyebrow at me. “Bambina, I think you tend to forget who I am”, I said, feigning hurt, as I guided her into the back seat by her hand. I couldn’t help but watch her legs as she did so. “I do”, she uttered, as she disappeared into the limo.

“Was I not supposed to hear that?”, I teased quietly into her ear, after I slid in beside her. She looked at me shyly. “I do forget who you are. In my defense, it’s easy. You’re not what they think you are”, she defended herself, and me too, I guess. I smiled softly at her comment. “Only to you”, I whispered, honestly. Only, she sees any good in me. Hell, even I can’t. I’ve done horrible things that I’m not proud of. Things that I fear she would leave me for if she ever knew the truth. Yet, she still sees a light in me that I can not. And truth be told, she most likely sees her own light reflecting within me. Not my own.

“Luca”, her sweet voice penetrated my thoughts. My eyes came into focus, and I realized I was just staring at her lips, blankly. My eyes came up to meet her, “Yes, gattina (kitten)?”, I arched an eyebrow at her. “Are you okay?”, she whispered softly, taking me by surprise. I sat a little straighter and smiled softly. “Yeah, baby girl. I’m okay. Why do you ask?”, I questioned, as I pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Mara leaned into my touch. “You just looked like you were lost in your thoughts. And you didn’t look happy about it”, she mentioned softly, a gentle pout forming on her lips. I ran my tongue over my bottom lip, pulling it slightly into my mouth, as I studied her. Damn, how does this woman know me so well?

“I was lost in my thoughts, yes. I’m sorry. It wasn’t maddening, only confusing”, I explained. “What were they about?”, she asked sweetly. Her innocence shines like a bright beacon in her hazel eyes. I grinned, “You. You are a puzzle to me, Marabella. This book has many missing chapters and scenes if you’re not reading it on [* . You make my mind fog up, makes it hard to think clearly”, I admitted to her. She smiled shyly as she placed her hand on my chest, her face tinting a beautiful pink, once again.

“I know the feeling. But, I can’t be that complicated of a puzzle, right?”, she quirked an eyebrow at me. I chuckled as I closed the distance between us, and enclosed my lips over hers, taking her by surprise. It seems her mind likes to get jumbled around me as well. Which is good, in my opinion, because it means that it’s not one-sided. She is just as affected by me as I am her. Mara’s hands cupped my neck, just above my collar.

Her lips brushed mine tenderly as my fingers closed around the flesh on her hips. Mara’s breath stuttered as she pushed her body closer to mine. Every part of me gladly accepted her body against mine. I crave it. I want her so badly, that I am beginning to lose my fucking mind. I know that, because of the way my hands search her body, testing her boundaries.

Long moments passed between our kisses before I finally pulled back to rest my forehead on hers. I reached my hand up to cup her cheek and used my thumb to gently stroke her swollen lips. “Fanculo, bambina (fuck, baby girl)”, I uttered breathlessly. My door opened, interrupting our moment. “We are here, sir”, Cal said, his back to us, as he stood next to the car. “Come, piccolo, it’s time”, I said, sliding out of the car and holding my hand out for Mara to take.

Her hand gently slid into mine, resting only on a small portion of it, reminding me of how small her hands are, compared to mine. I watched her movements as she climbed out of the back of the limo. Her dress split at the slit, showing me all of her thigh. I bit my tongue to keep from groaning out loud. Fuck, that’s sexy. I can’t wait to get my hands on her.

Mara’s eyes grew as wide as saucers when she saw the size of the rec hall we were about to enter. It was about the same size as our home, just a lot more open than mine. However, more parties are thrown here than at my house, which I prefer. Which is why I don’t understand why mother wanted to host the after-party.

Mara’s hand tightened around mine, before she started to pull against me. What the-? I turned to look at Mara to find her face drained of all of its color. “Mara, baby girl, what’s wrong?”, I asked, concernedly. Her eyes swept around the many faces that stood outside of the hall at that moment. “I can’t be here, Luca”, she uttered, shaking her head.

“Why?”, I asked, also sweeping my eyes over the faces in the crowd. “I know the majority of these men”, she said nervously. Jealousy flared in my chest, “How?”, I asked sharply, turning to look at her head, on. My body had already moved to pin her against the side of the limo. Mara could tell what she said made something ugly come alive inside of me, because her eyes turned to me in fear, before they softened, in understand. “My mom owes them money, or owed. I don’t really keep track of their status anymore”, she explained softly, placing her hand on my chest, over my heart.

The envy that gripped at me so quickly, slipped away with the same gusto, only leaving guilt in its wake. I know she is a virgin, I know her social status in this world, and I know what kind of girl she is. I should never have assumed she knew any of these men sexually, which is right where my mind went. Now, I feel like a total fucking ass.