Chapter Four

His body froze against mine.

"What did you say?" 

Luca's voice lost its silk and became steel.  Every word came out precise and controlled, as every word was deciding my fate. 

I hooked my feet together behind him, keeping him close to me while I spoke. 

"I know what you did last night, Luca," I whispered seductively into his ear.

He broke from my embrace and backed up into the room. Surprise sharpened his features before his gaze darkened.

"Who are you?"

"I am exactly who I said I was." I crossed one leg slowly over the other.

"What were you doing up there last night?"

"Entertaining a party.  Exactly what you said I was doing."

"Well then -"

I cut him off with a tilt of my head.  He was fearful, and exactly where I wanted him.

"What? Did you think I didn't exist until you found me on the floor?  That before that moment, there was no Sienna?"

His expression barely changed, but somehow the room felt colder.  I could feel fear creeping up my chest, but I pushed it back down. Luca went quiet in the way powerful men do before they destroy something.

"I wasn't in the Velvet Suite last night.  What proof do you have that it was me?"

He was right.  I let my lips form into a smile. Panic clawed at my throat while I searched for a believable lie.

"Oh, I have proof." I managed to finally say. "Enough proof to destroy you.  If I wanted to, that is."

He inhaled through his nose, the only sign that his temper had reached a boiling point.

"So what do you want then? Money?"

His voice sharpened slightly, the first crack in his composure all night.

My knees weakened as I slid off the vanity and began to slowly stroll over to him.

"Oh, Mr. Moretti, I am looking for something more than money."

My heart began to pound.

"Then what are you after?"

"You."

I walked in a circle around his body, letting my fingers drape across his muscular form.

"I have only ever wanted to be famous, Mr. Moretti.  This kick line girl act is only the beginning.  I want you to make me famous."

He laughed and strolled away from me.  I felt a sort of relief as he walked away, as if I was out of the immediate danger zone. 

"All you want is a better spot in the show.  Fine.  Done. Now leave me alone."

"I'm not done yet," I call after him as he tries to leave the room.  

Luca stopped in his tracks, and my heart skipped a beat.  I held the power in this room.  He answered to me now.  He didn't turn to face me, but the fact that he didn't leave means I am winning this power struggle.

"What then?"  His tone was flat.

I took a shaky breath in and out, thankful his eyes were not on me right now. 

"I need you to pretend we are together."

He didn't react at all.  No sound. No movement.  

"Here's the deal.  I know that by telling you what I know, you'll want to have me killed.  It's not like it's something you wouldn't consider doing."

He snapped his head in my direction, but still didn't speak. 

"I need to keep you close, so I know my life isn't in danger.  Also, the attention I'd get from the press for being the girlfriend of Casino heir and Las Vegas royalty Luca Moretti would be great for my future career."

I could see his wheels turning.  I knew Luca must have been smart; smart enough to think he could get away with murder.

He finally turned to face me, and I saw a man unraveled.  Just a minute ago he was the very vision of suave sophistication.  Now he looked like dangerously close to unraveling. He took slow steps towards me, one hand extended.

"Where is this proof that you have?" The desperation in his voice was clear.

My stomach dropped.

"Now, you didn't I'd actually bring it, did you?"

Internally I heaved a sigh of relief.  It was a good cover for now, until I actually found some proof to bring to him.

"So let me get this straight."  He said, pacing around the floor while he spoke.  "You saw what happened between me and Don D'Caputo. And now you want me to be your boyfriend in exchange for your silence."

Well, when he put it like that it sounded dumb.

"I want you to make the world think you my boyfriend, so the rest of the world will start to fight for my attention too."

Something dark flashed across his face.  Before I could respond, he rushed towards me and grabbed me by the waist with one hand.  He moved me a few steps back with ease and pushed me up against a wall.

I tried to struggle, but between his strong hand and the weight of his body pressed against me, I wasn't going anywhere.  I felt my character drop and fear creep through my body.

A murderer was holding me against the wall.

A murderer was angry with me.

"I want you to know something." He said quietly in my ear.  His hot breath sent shivers down my spine. "I am the last person you want to make an enemy of, and even if I am pretending to like you out in public, I will never actually care about you."

I squirmed underneath his hand.  He pressed his leg up against mine to make me stop.

"I will never love you, no matter how much you want to believe I do."

His face was close to mine.  His lips hovered dangerously close to mine.

"You will be famous, I'll make sure of it.  And then I will watch you crumble in the weight of that world.  This city will eat you alive without me.  And I'll enjoy every second of it."

I tried to use my hands to push him off me.  He instead grabbed both of my wrists inside his free hand and pushed them up above my head.

I was trapped.

He was trapped.

He smirked, eyeing me up and down while I was pinned against the wall.  

Suddenly, his lips crashed against mine in a kiss full of anger and possession.

My back pressed cold against the wall.

I could feel his leg move while connected with mine.

His hand explored my waist.

His tongue explored me with dangerous confidence.

The longer our lips stayed tangled together, the more the line between fear and desire blurred. Every subtle movement of our bodies sent another wave of heat through me. 

When he pulled away, his eyes narrowed.  He stormed for the exit, shouting as he left.

"Tomorrow morning.  8 am.  Room 6701."