Chapter 42

Luca’s POV

“I can see why you turned me down now. You already had your sights set on someone else. A bad boy, no less. Maybe I shouldn’t feel offended, yet I am”, an unfamiliar voice interrupted us. Mara tensed, obviously knowing the voice. We turned to face a young man. Confusion washed over me. I had never seen this young man before. “What was so bad about me that you chose him?”, he asked Mara, anger evident in his voice. My eyebrows furrowed and hackles rose. My grip on her tightened with his familiarity with her.

Mara’s hand gripped my side harder as she spoke. “Duke, don’t act like that. It wasn’t supposed to be offensive. I just don’t like you like that”, Mara said cautiously, putting her other hand up in a calming gesture. “Are you fucking serious? You expect me to believe that? You walk around school with your head hung low, because you know what society you belong to. Yet, you have the nerve to walk around this event with your head held high like you belong here!”, the kid named Duke, roared.

I growled as I took a guarded step in front of Marabella. “Watch it, kid. She is my wife. She has more of a right to be here than you”, I warned, my voice deep with disapproval. The kid looked up at me with a daring stare, only serving to piss me off more. “You want the truth? You are a self-conceded, condescending, douche bag, rich kid, who has never worked a day in his life. Enjoy this chapter for free and stay updated with the latest version on *. Don’t miss out, visit it now. Yet, you believe everyone should bow down to you just because you have money. I won’t though, and that pisses you off, you are fascinated by me. But, I’m not. And honestly? I don’t give a flying rat’s ass. You can go find a poor unfortunate soul to fool with your facade”, Mara snapped, as she stepped out from behind me. My arm crossed her waist and hips, stopping her from going further than my side. Her feistiness surprised the hell out of me, yet turned me on at the same damn time.

“Duke, what the hell are you doing?”, an older gentleman asked as he walked up. I know him. What’s his name? Finley? Franklin? “Mr. Barello, my apologies. My ignorant son doesn’t know who he is speaking to”, the man said to me. “You need to keep him under control, before someone does it for you”, I growled. “It won’t happen again”, the man assured me before dragging his son away, who was protesting like a child.

I turned toward Mara and gave her a stern look, making her shrink slightly and give me an innocent look. We need to talk now. I grabbed ahold of her hand and led her back to the dance floor. I roughly pulled her into my arms as we took our positions. “Luca”, Mara whispered, concernedly. “What was that about, Marabella?”, I asked sharply. Mara pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she looked down at my chest. At this point, we had already begun the dance.

“Exactly what it sounded like. He asked me out and I refused. Now he is bitter about it”, she explained softly. “When?”, I growled. My jealousy is thick as it vibrates through my every cell. “Like, two months ago, Luca”, she said, furrowing her eyebrows. The tension started to leave my body. “So it wasn’t while we were married?”, I asked, my voice losing its edge.

“No. I would’ve told you if something like that had happened since we have been together, Luca. I like having someone to talk to about anything. Good or bad. I wouldn’t withhold information from you like that”, she said, hurt laced in her voice. I frowned as I realized what I had just done. I stroked her back as I looked down at her lips. “I’m sorry, bambina. I am coming to realize I can be a very jealous man”, I admitted, ashamedly.

Mara stroked the hair at the nape of my neck. “It’s not jealousy, Luca. Not entirely”, Mara said softly, making my eyes drift to hers. “Then what is it, principessa?”, I asked. “Jealousy is when you are upset about something you can’t have. You are territorial. You’re protecting what’s already yours”, she uttered, never breaking eye contact with me. I smiled broadly, “Huh, I’ve never looked at it like that before”, I whispered.

“So, are you saying that you are mine?”, I asked enthusiastically. Mara smiled, “I’ve been yours, since you laid eyes on me”, she answered. I claimed her lips roughly, putting a stop to our dance. Fuck this fund-raiser, this woman is all I want. My tongue swiped her bottom lip, with no care that we stood in the middle of a crowded ballroom. Mara put a slight pressure on my chest, reminding me that I was taking it a little too far.

I reluctantly released her lips and rested my forehead against hers. “Let’s go have dinner, bambina. Just you and I”, I uttered softly. “What about the after-party?”, she asked softly. I chuckled, “Trust me, piccola. It’ll still be going on when we make it home. So, what do you say?”, I asked, arching an eyebrow at her. She nodded her head, “Yes, please”, she whispered.

I placed a chaste kiss on her lips and took ahold of her hand. I led her to the receptionist, where I quickly wrote a check, then took her out of the building, to the limo. Cal waited patiently for us and opened the back door as we got closer. “Take us to Irving’s”, I commanded, as I helped Mara into the back seat. “Yes, boss”, Cal said, closing the door behind me. As soon as I took my seat next to Mara, I wrapped my fingers around her throat and sealed her lips with mine, once again. This time when I swiped my tongue along her bottom lip, she opened her mouth and allowed me access. My other hand lightly traveled across her chest, making her breath stutter. When my hand made it to her waist, I gripped it firmly, drawing a gasp from her lips. Her hands grasped at my chest for support.

I slowly slid my hand down her waist, to the slit of her dress, grabbing a handful of her thick thigh. Mara whimpered wantonly into the kiss, making me growl and my body move. I laid her down, forcing her with my own body. I pressed my body firmly into hers without breaking our kiss. Mara’s hands traveled up my chest into my hair, but I stopped them. I grabbed ahold of her wrists and pinned them above her head. Mara inhaled sharply as her body wriggled against mine.

I broke the kiss, continuing them along her jaw and down her neck. Mara moaned as I scrapped my teeth across her neck. I pinned her wrists with one hand, so that my other hand could roam her body. “Luca”, my name was breathless as it left her lips. I groaned as I ground my hips into hers. “Mara”, I purred.

My hand slowly slid down her throat and over her breast. Mara’s body writhed against my hand and body. I could feel her heart beating fast against my chest. I caressed her side and hips, dipping my fingers into her soft curves. “Bambina, fanculo (baby girl, fuck)”, I groaned against her skin, as my fingers dipped into the curve of her upper thigh and hip. Mara’s breathing was ragged as she whimpered and moaned.

Fuck, she wants me as bad as I want her. But, I have to remember that she is still a virgin. She’s still innocent and the backseat of my limousine is not a good place to take said innoncence.