Lucca's Lust: The Luminara Series Book 3 (38 page)

My stomach twists in fucking knots. It all makes sense, but I think about her suffering right now, she is trying to be a martyr and hide it. My poor baby has been in pain all her life, emotionally and physically, and yet she still wants to put others first. Then I feel a sudden stab in my gut as if I am about to vomit.
Her scars.

“The scars on her back, she never got them trying to run away or by being in an accident, did she?” I ask, holding my breath and clenching the edge of the sofa.

I am not sure I even want the details, but I guess it helps me understand Lexi better. If she does want to tell me, I will be less likely to set fire to the fucking world.

“No, she didn’t. But those are details you need to speak to her about when she wants to tell you.”

My jaw twitches, pulse frantically beating, head throbbing. I hold the sofa in an ironclad grip, fierce fury seizing every muscle in my body.

“Lucca … I trust you’ll look after her and care for her the way she deserves, but if you break her heart or hurt her, I will personally come after you and put a bullet right in your head. Clear?” he says nonchalantly, as if he gives out death threats randomly on a daily basis. He probably does.

“Clear. Cameron, I can assure you, there is no one on earth who can look after, love, and care for your sister like I can.” We both stand, and I pat him carefully on the back. I notice he is toned, well-conditioned, and in good shape, but I still tower above him, my shoulders broader, chest bulkier, and biceps almost double the size.

“Good. And one last thing …” He casually leans back on his heels, hands shoved in his short pocket.

“Yeah?” I lift my brow, waiting on another stealth warning.

“Don’t underestimate her. She may appear volatile and weak, but trust me when I say this; she has more guts, drive, and strength than anyone I know. She saved us. Lexi might run away from her fears, but when her instinct kicks in … Fuck, she knows exactly what she needs to do. She will do anything to protect the ones she loves, even if that means putting herself in danger. ”

I think about it. Lexi ran outside when she saw me for the first time because she thought I was stalking her. She tried to run away after she thought I was kissing Fran. Then she ran on Sunday night straight into the dark of the night in an unfamiliar place, bleeding, injured, sick, and distressed. She ran right onto the main road without considering the traffic, but she thought she was running to safety. She was fearless.

I thank Cameron but do not press any further with questions because it is too fucking difficult hearing about the reality that my girl was beaten and abused. He has also given me a lot to think about.

Jasmine was beaten up. I saw it for my own eyes, but she never had scars like Lexi, and her situation was completely different. As much as Jasmine’s life was fucked-up, and that Irish boyfriend of hers was beating her, it was nowhere near as sinister or brutal as Lexi’s horrendous past and what I imagine she has gone through.

And I love her. I love her so much it hurts. I love her so much it blinds me.

I love her so goddamn much it consumes me.

I hate what she has gone through, and I hate that she is in pain.

Cameron leaves me alone in the study as I tell him I have some work calls to make, but I need time to cool down and think straight. After making a quick call to Suzanne, I head back outside.

Lexi refuses to go in the pool, but I assure her I will redress her feet. Then it hits me.
Her scars
. God, she is so self-conscious of them she will not even go in the pool in front of our guests. Convincing her, I beg.

“No, no, baby. That is nonsense. These people are your family and best friends. You should not be ashamed. No one will even bother or notice. Your beauty outside and in is far too attractive, and that is all anyone sees, trust me.” I trace my hand over her collarbone, up her neck, and hold the back of her head so our foreheads touch. I need her near to be sincere and honest.

“You don’t need to say that,” she whispers, her hot breath skimming my lips.

“Come on, Lexi. Please, do this for me. You cannot hide anymore. You need to believe me, believe in yourself. You are stunning, baby … trust me.” I close my eyes and draw my fingers up the inside of her thigh, reminding her just how attractive and enticing she is. She shivers under my touch and smiles against my lips before I kiss her sensually, my lips lingering on hers a little too long.

The reality of Cameron confirming that Lexi was brutally tortured by a monster, who was her father no doubt, is enough to emotionally scar me inside, and I hate that she feels insecure. I perish to think how daunting it must be for her, but I know one reality for certain: She is beautiful. Her scars do not tarnish her stunning body or looks one little bit.

I take more natural candid pictures of Lexi when she does not know and even ask Hazel to take some of Lexi and me together for the photo library I am building for her.

Drying off after our pool fun, Lexi curls up on a lounger facing the sun and dozes off for a little while. I knew she would tire very easily so soon after her hospital ordeal and with her medication, but I also know that today has been great therapy for her. I just wish we were naked together, cuddling while she slept in my arms under the sun, but there will be plenty of time for that.

Before dinner Lexi becomes cranky with Cameron because of the obvious flirting going on between him and Anna. I do not want to interfere just yet because they are both adults and I have already approached him today with probing questions. I do not want to piss him off. I have seen Anna flirt before. Hell, she used to do it with Marco and that never went anywhere, so I am being patient until I need to step in.

Dominic and I have a good heart to heart in the early evening while he helps me to prepare pizzas. We are both sorry we got off on the wrong foot. He seems to have calmed down and now as opposed to being hostile, he is open, friendly, and very down to Earth. He has a good sense of humour too. Cameron and Dominic are both great guys, and I can see myself getting on with them both very easily.

We feast and chat until the balmy night-time air and darkness settles around us. Lexi yawns, so we excuse ourselves and head up to bed. I grab painkillers and meet her in the shower. She is exhausted and can barely stand on her feet, leaning against the tiles for support, her body limp, yawning.

Helping her wash her hair and body all over, I dry her off, get her in bed, kiss every area of her skin, apply some bruise cream to her marks and antiseptic cream on her soles. After putting on her sling, I nudge a pillow under her arm for support and get her comfortable.

Spooning her, I pull her against my chest, swathing my arm around her, peppering light kisses under her ear and on her neck and shoulder. Lexi is beyond tired so there is no way I want her to feel like she needs to have sex with me tonight. My baby needs rest, and I have her in my life now so I can devour her anytime.

“Lucca, thank you for today. I’ve had a great day and I’m so happy to see Cameron. You’re so thoughtful,” she says in barely a whisper before falling into a deep sleep.

“I love you, baby. Nothing bad will ever happen to you again, I promise,” I say, brushing her hair from her face. I am not sure whether she can hear me or not, but it does not matter.

Lexi sleeps soundly but I cannot get the images of someone brutally torturing a child … my girl as a child out of my head. My dream is contorted and crazy bizarre. It is the first flashback I have had in a long time.

I am not sure if it was Cameron taking about Lexi’s nightmares or the thought of her being brutally abused, but it provokes disturbing memories and thoughts in me which have crept into my subconscious.

I wake up sweating, taut, and edgy, in a state of panic. I had vivid, distorted visions of Jasmine lying in a pool of blood, my son on her chest, and Lexi lying on her stomach, naked in Jasmine’s blood, screaming, blood pouring from the wounds on her back. It was a mix of fucked-upness.

Breathing, I rake my fingers through my hair and reach for Lexi. She softly moans and turns to face me, burying her head against my chest. I wrap my arm around her and breathe deeply while slowly stroking her hair and back until I am calmer.

She is safe.

She has not left me.

I have her.

It is early. The morning light just breaks through the shutters on the windows, shining over the white silk curtains. Once I am calmer and content that Lexi is with me and safe, I leave her sleeping, grab my fitness clothes, and go outside on an almost two hour run to clear my head. The thought of her being harmed and tortured disturbed my sleep last night, and I need to exert some frustrations.

I break an intense sweat, pounding the dirt track until I take a narrow path winding all through the nearby olive groves. I cover the whole perimeter, running in a weave through the symmetrical paths of the groves.

Listening to loud music, surging with adrenaline, I quicken my pace. Normally I would run like a beast every other day, between conditioning and weight training, but Lexi has been keeping me busy and satiating my needs. Today is the first time I have needed this exertion.

I need to release my tension this morning because of that scary fucking nightmare that ripped through my dream, and I was worried that Lexi would pick up on it when she woke up. She would know I was alarmed and panicked, and I do not want her worrying about me. Running back uphill towards the farmhouse, the dream still taunts me.

My son.

Gabriel.

Angel.

I know later I need to meet with some contractors at my parents’ and look at an apartment block I bought in Pienza, so it might be the perfect opportunity for me to go to my son’s graveside. I don’t expect Lexi to come with me because she is on holiday, has her friends and Cameron with her, and it would be too depressing for her. I need to go alone and say my own prayers.

Reaching the house, I lean over gasping, trying to get my breath back. I hear clanging and clinking from the kitchen and find Lexi bent over with a bag, picking up empty beer bottles from last night.

I tell her to leave it, and fuck, I am distracted with the little getup she has on. As she is bent over, I get the perfect view of her ass in those little cock-teasing sleep shorts she has on. Fitted to the globes of her sweet ass, they leave little to my imagination.

Wrapping my hand around her waist, I pull her up and around, hissing through my teeth at the sight of her sexy, round tits under her tight vest—no bra so her hard nipples are visible through the thin fabric. Jesus.

Dripping with sweat, fuelled up, and surging with energy from my workout, I pull her against me, my boner pressing against her tummy. She lets out a soft moan, threads her fingers in my hair, and pushes her chest forward while I claim her mouth with a predatory kiss.

She licks a droplet of perspiration from my temple, and I am a fucking goner, bulging in my shorts with the sorest balls ever. She asks for it, and by fuck, she is going to get it. Deep. Hard. Fast … and oh so fucking good.

I have her stripped and in the shower in no time. I know she is still aching and sore and I do not want to be rough with her, but Jesus, I am finding it hard to contain myself from turning her around and fucking her over the bath. I want to pleasure her first because when I thrust into her she will know about it, and she will need to be wet for my intrusion.

After moments of steamy and raunchy kissing and touching, she stops and says she cannot. Like fuck she cannot. I am ready to explode and I need her now. She falls to her knees and takes my throbbing cock into her glorious mouth, hollowing her cheeks and sucking me off real good. Groaning, I grab a handful of her hair, pulling Lexi down further on me. Shit, she is so fucking good with her mouth.

“Fuck, Jesus, that is good … Hold on, why can I not have you?” I hiss, feeling pleasure tingle in my spine and my balls start to tighten.

“I got my period early this morning,” she barely whispers against my twitching cock between her lips. God, she is adorable. I feel relieved. She will not be making me jacket up in rubbers any longer. I do not care that it is her time of the month. It will not deter me in the slightest, and we are in a shower. I have had her blood on my cock before. It washes off. No big deal.

I do not understand why she would feel embarrassed or reluctant. She is a woman, my woman, and all woman at that. If she thinks that would put me off or stop me from having her, then she has another thing coming. I need her and I am having her.

I want to share everything with her—my life, my body, and my soul—and that means she needs to share everything with me. I cannot believe she would even think of denying me access to her body after everything we have shared together. My cock is going into that tempting, tight pussy, and there is not a fucking thing she can say or do to put me off.

“Good, thank fuck for that. No more condoms for me. I am still having you, baby. I need to feel you,” I say, coaxing her to stand. Of course she is shy and modest, so I help her forget her insecurities by exploring her pussy with my fingers, giving her an orgasm that makes her wild.