My eyes widened. “How can you say things like that? We only met yesterday, and you talk like we’ve been together for years—and not only that, but you act like all the boys are out to get me.”
“When was the last time anyone made love to you?”
His sudden change in subject shocked me a little. I had to stare in wonder for a second before I answered. “It’s none of your business.”
“I’m assuming since you work twenty-four-seven and do not sleep with your clients, it means it’s been a very long time.”
“It’s none of your business,” I said again.
“I’m assuming four—maybe five—years?”
Six to be exact, but I wasn’t telling him that. “Okay, buddy. Since you want to know everything about my sex life, how about I ask you the same thing? When was the last time you had sex?”
Luca just shrugged. “Roughly over a week ago.”
I wasn’t expecting that. I also wasn’t expecting the huge gut-wrenching feeling in my stomach. Why should I care that he’d had sex over a week ago?
“Oh,” I found myself saying in resignation.
He saw my expression and frowned. “See, it’s easy when you just answer the question… Though, I’m guessing that wasn’t something you wanted to hear.”
No, it wasn’t, but I would be damned if I told him that. “I just didn’t think you would answer so honestly and quickly like that.” I also didn’t realise how much knowing he was inside another woman just over a week ago would affect me.
“I am a man, Clara. I have needs.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “So does every man that passes through here. And the same reason why I don’t entertain them is the same reason I’m not entertaining you.”
He seemed a bit miffed by my statement. “I have never in my life paid for sex.”
“No, but you’re willing—just like they are—to use a woman for your own selfish desires.”
Luca leaned forward a little with a smirk. “Believe me; she didn’t look like she was complaining at the time. I think she got what she wanted out of it, also.”
I cringed when he said this. I’m not sure why, but it hurt.
Luca could see I didn’t like what he had said. “I didn’t mean to upset you; I was just proving a point.”
I tried to stiffen my posture a bit and raise my head. “I’m not upset. Who you sleep with is your business, not mine.”
Luca sighed with a shake of his head. “I’m a little disappointed by that.”
I placed my fork down. “Why?”
He looked me straight in the eye. “Because you’re lying to me, and I could never see you as a liar.”
I shuffled in my chair a little and took another sip of my drink. “You know nothing about me.”
“Clara Murphy, born twenty-fifth of June nineteen-eighty-seven, in Balham, London. You were the only child to Michael and Stephanie Murphy. Michael is a vicar, and Stephanie is a homemaker. Both go to church every Sunday and have not heard from their only daughter in ten years.”
Rising from my chair, I raced to the window. I didn’t like that I knew so little about him, and yet he seemed to know so much about me.
Within a few seconds, I felt his hands on my arms as he spun me around to face him. “You know so much.”
He looked sincere, like he cared. “Why do you hide from your parents? Is it because of what you do here?”
I could feel the tears well at the unwanted memories. “I don’t want to talk about them.” My tone of voice must have hit him as he said no more on the matter. Instead, he surprised me.
“My name is Luca Belatoni. I was born fifteenth of May nineteen eighty-three to Marcelo Belatoni and Sophia. I was the eldest boy of three who all live in Italy. I came to England when I was a boy and stayed with my uncle while I studied in school. I then lived in New Jersey for a while until the call to come back here pulled me. I came, and many others have followed. Some others have joined the clan recently within the last year. I have many loyal men, and business for me is flourishing. I am not committed, nor do I have any children. I take protection very seriously and have never been without a condom. When I have children, I want to make sure it’s on my terms.”
I started laughing at that one. “Why does everything have to be on your terms? Having children is a decision that both partners involved should make. It’s not for you alone to decide. One partner can’t just click his fingers to immediately get whatever he wants.”
Luca pulled me to him, causing my body to melt at his touch. “I thought I already told you that I’m a man who always gets what he wants.” I started giggling. “What’s so funny?”