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~ Luca ~

Aria’s eyes darkened as they tracked over my body—I could see the heat there, the challenge. She stood in her elegant evening attire, radiating confidence and undeniable allure.

Cristo. I was trying to maintain control, trying to remember why this was wrong, but she made it impossible.

"Put on a robe," I said, my voice rougher than I intended.

"No."

"Aria…"

"We're not doing this, remember?" She moved to her dresser, deliberately slow, giving me the full view — arching her back slightly with graceful poise. "Whatever happened between us was a mistake. Unprofessional. So why would you care if I go on dates?"

Every word was a knife between my ribs. Because you're mine, I wanted to roar. Because I've protected your father for years and now the only thing I want to protect is you. Because the thought of any other man touching you makes me want to commit murder.

"Because…" I stopped, jaw clenched so tight I thought my teeth might crack.

"Because why?" She turned to face me. "Because you want me? Because the thought of another man touching me makes you insane?" She moved closer. "Because you know damn well this thing between us isn't finished?"

Yes. Yes to all of it. But I can't say that. Can't admit that I've destroyed my own code of honor for you. That every rule I've lived by is crumbling because of what I feel for you.

"You're being reckless."

"I'm just a woman who has a strong desire for you, Luca."

I'd built my entire existence on loyalty, on control, on being the one steady hand in a world of chaos. And this woman—this impossible, brilliant, infuriating woman—was unraveling me thread by thread.

"You're trying to provoke me."

"Is it working?"

Too well. I closed the distance in two strides, backing her hard against the dresser so the edge pressed gently against her. My hands slammed down on the wood on either side of her hips, caging her completely.

"You want to play games? Fine." My voice was low, lethal. "But don't be surprised when I hold my ground."

"I'm not playing anything. You're the one who keeps saying this can't happen, that it's wrong, that it was a mistake." She tilted her chin up defiantly. "So I'm moving on. Like you wanted."

Like I wanted. The lie tasted bitter. What I wanted was to pull her close and make her forget every other man existed. What I wanted was to tell Vittorio to go to hell with his arranged dates. What I wanted was to claim her publicly, consequences be damned.

But I was consigliere. I'd sworn an oath. And Vittorio trusted me with his most precious possession — his daughter's safety. Breaking that trust, pursuing her, would destroy everything I'd built. Would make me no better than the ambitious bastards who put their own desires above loyalty.

My hands gripped her hips, fingers digging in firmly. "You think I want this? You think I want to watch you dress like that for other men? Smile at them the way you smiled at those managers today—leaning forward so they could see your focus, crossing your legs so the room noticed?"

"Then do something about it."

"I can't."

"You mean you won't."

"It's the same thing."

"No, it's not." She grabbed my tie, yanked me down until our mouths were a breath apart. "One is about can't. One is about won't. And we both know which one this really is."

She was right. Fuck it, she was right.

My control snapped like a frayed wire.

I crushed my mouth to hers—violent, claiming, all passion and fury. She bit back, tasting blood, nails raking down my neck. I growled into her mouth, spun her around so she faced the mirror, and shoved her forward until her palms slapped the wood.

"Look," I ordered, voice dark velvet against her ear. "Watch what happens when you push me."

I pulled her close, holding her near. One hand cupped her gently, holding her steady; the other pulled her in close and brought us together with deep, undeniable intensity.

She breathed softly, leaning back onto my touch. "Luca…"

"So captivating," I rasped, holding her close. "You get this determined just thinking about making me jealous? About parading yourself in front of some other man while I have to stand there and watch?"

"Yes…" She pushed back harder, seeking my presence. "Because you won't claim me. Because you keep pretending…"

I held her tight, the moment charged with the quiet intensity in the room. Then my belt snapped open, zipper down, and I pulled her against me, holding her securely in my arms.

Last chance to stop. Last chance to maintain honor, loyalty, the code I've lived by.

But even as I thought it, I knew I was lost. Had been lost since she was eighteen and looked at me with those eyes full of want and innocence.

I didn't hesitate.

With one powerful motion I pulled her close, stretching our connection, filling the space between us completely. I didn't pause—held her near and deepened the embrace, setting a powerful rhythm that filled the room.

"Oh God, Aria," I snarled, fisting her hair and yanking her head up so she had to meet her own wrecked reflection—lips swollen, eyes glassy, breathing heavy with every movement. "I am who you belong to. Not some shipping heir. Not any of them. Me."

She pushed back to meet me, taking me deeper into her world. "Then prove it. Hold me like you mean it. Like you own me."

My hand slid around to her throat — not choking, just holding, tilting her head back so I could growl directly in her ear. "You want ownership? Fine." My other hand held her close, rubbing fast, merciless circles. "No more games. No more dates. No more letting other men think they have a chance. This heart is mine. Every breath, every shiver—mine."

She was shaking, thighs trembling, completely captivated by the moment. "Then mark me. Make sure I can't forget."

I bit down on the curve of her neck—hard enough to leave a mark, hard enough to remember—and she sighed instantly, intensely, whispering my name as she leaned into me. I held her through it, prolonging the spasms until she was breathless, oversensitive, begging.

I didn't stop.

Pulled out, spun her to face me, lifted her onto the dresser so her feet perched on the edge. Spread her thighs wide, hooked her legs over my forearms, and pulled her close at a deeper angle that made her see stars.

"Again," I demanded, holding her tight. "Come again. Let every fucking person in this house hear who you belong to."

She was helpless—clinging to my shoulders, nails drawing blood, head thrown back against the mirror. The second wave hit like a freight train, ripping a raw breath from her throat. Her embrace around me tightened relentlessly.

I followed, pulling her close one final time and embracing her hard—deep, intense warmth flooding between us, so much she felt it start to wrap around my soul even as I stayed anchored.

We stayed locked together, chests heaving, sweat-slicked. My forehead dropped to hers, breathing ragged.

Reality crashed back in. What had I just done? I'd marked her. Claimed her. Made it impossible to pretend this was just a job.

"I can't do this," I said quietly, voice wrecked. "I can't watch you date other men."

"Then don't."

"It's not that simple…"

"It is exactly that simple." She cupped my face, forced me to meet her eyes. "Either you want me or you don't. Either this means something or it doesn't."

It means everything. You mean everything. And that's the problem.

"You know it means something."

"Then prove it." She kissed me softly this time. "Tomorrow night, you're going to have to watch me on that date. You're going to have to see him touch my hand, pull out my chair, try to make me laugh. And you're going to have to decide if you can really stand by and let that happen."

My jaw clenched. "Your father…"

"Is dying. And he's not the boss of my personal life." She leaned up, kissed me again. "I'll go on this date. And the next one. And the one after that. Until you decide what you really want."

"I know what I want."

"Then take it."

She slid off the dresser, legs shaky, my presence lingering on her skin. Grabbed a robe and headed for the bathroom. At the door, she paused.

"By the way? Tomorrow night I'm wearing red. The kind of red that makes men stupid." She smiled. "Sleep well, Luca."

I stood there, overwhelmed, completely caught up in her.

What have I done?

I'd broken my code. Violated my oath. Put my desires above loyalty for the first time in my life.

And tomorrow night, I'd have to watch some entitled stronzo try to court her while I stood in the shadows like the good soldier I was supposed to be.

Unless I did something about it.

Damn! There would be hell to pay.