“Okay. What was the next one?”
“Love found me completely disarmed, and it found where the way was clear to reach my heart—down through my eyes, which have become the halls and doors of tears.”
“That’s beautiful,” I sighed. Luca was mesmerizing. “And the last one you said?”
He stroked my cheek as he told me, “When the love within her lovely face appears now and again among the other ladies, each is less lovely than she. And the more I wish, the more the love within me grows.”
“Wow, he really loved her didn’t he?”
Tenderly stroking my chin, Luca sighed. “Yes, but she unfortunately was married to another. He was infatuated by her, but he could never have her.”
I frowned. “That sounds awful.”
He nodded in agreement. “Well, yes. For him. Not for her husband. If someone else was infatuated by you, I would rip his heart out and feed it to him.”
I laughed so hard at that. Luca was trying to be serious, but I just found his antics comical. “Luca the Lion! Grrr!”
“Are you poking fun at me again?”
“Me? Never!”
“Do we need to get reacquainted again? It seems you need it constantly.”
“Yes, baby. I believe I do. The booster’s only last for so long.”
With heated desire in his eyes, Luca and I became reacquainted again … and again … and again…
It got to around six o’clock before Luca finally managed to admit defeat. We had practically lazed around all day just talking, eating, and having sex. We did snooze for a bit, but that was soon over once Luca woke up with the biggest erection I had ever seen in my life and decided to play “Pin the Clara” with it.
Getting dressed, I had the sudden realisation that I had the biggest smile plastered on my face. It was the mirror which caught my smile. And boy did it give me away. I thought I had better clear that up in an instant. I would be looking like a grinning idiot all night otherwise. Not something I wanted to show the horny clients.
“Wow! You look stunning as always. I’m going to have to keep an eye on you all night.”
Staring at the beauty before me, I couldn’t help but sigh. I so wanted to tell him to go shove his possessiveness up his own arse, but I couldn’t quite seem to muster the heart for it somehow. Maybe he is mellowing me. I certainly couldn’t be having that!
“I was perfectly capable of looking after myself before you came along.”
Pulling me to his chest, Luca tenderly brushed his lips with mine. “I know you have, my lioness, but now your lion is here and has become king of the land. No one else goes near you.”
I raised my eyebrow at him. “Let’s go now, so you can take your time rubbing yourself up against all of the walls—marking your territory.”
Pulling in closer, he held my gaze. “You know, I might just do that.”
Finally leaving my tower, we ventured down towards the stairs where Luca seemed to take everything I said seriously. By the time we got down the stairs, he had rubbed himself up against the whole of the wall by each step. I was laughing so hard I thought I might trip.
“I see we’ve been having fun.”
The harsh tone of voice abruptly halted my good mood. Rachael.
Finally done with her attitude, I turned to Luca. “Excuse me a minute whilst I have words with Rachael.” Luca smiled and nodded his head.
I grabbed Rachael’s arm and I pulled her into the boardroom. “Can you please tell me what your problem is?”
“My problem? My problem? For fucks sake, Clara! You were always around for the business. Now, you’ve let this arsehole come in and take over. He’s spoiling everything and taking you away from something you once cared about. You’re slipping, Clara. Slipping badly.”
I felt my insides buckle as her words hit home. I wasn’t about to let her get to me. I quickly recovered from her onslaught and began one of my own. “Luca is here now, and whether you or I like it or not, he’s staying. He holds several shares in the business and has a right to both be and stay here.”
Her eyes widened. “He owns part of The Castle?”
“Yes, and it’s a rather large part. It’s a long story, but that’s really all you need to know for now.”
She was flustered. Then, the pacing started as she rubbed her forehead. “Can’t you just buy him out? Do something. Get rid of him!”
Her demands shocked me. I couldn’t believe she was telling me what to do. “Listen, I don’t care for your tone. He’s here, and he’s staying. That’s all you need to know.”
“He’s changed you. You used to be here for us, and now you’re abandoning everyone.”