Laura Conti's POV
The kiss on the beach was magical as I can't stop thinking about it. Lucca's smirk, his mischievous look in his eyes and those full, kissable lips. God, I am losing my self-control the more time I spend time with him. And tonight, Aunty Sofia decided to make a party celebrate her son. Now, I was hoping that I did not come here at all.
The party was going to start in 30 minutes and I was stuck here to get my dress on my body. I don't have any dress because of my stubbornness during my shopping spree with Lucca the other day but thanks to Talia, I have a dress to wear tonight. I was putting on my dress when Lucca barged into the room.
"You're not ready yet?" Lucca said as he went to the vanity to get his necktie done. I rolled my eyes at him when I tried to put the dress on. It was violet spaghetti straps dress with a zip on the back. I cannot get the zipper even though I have done it myself. I was grunting hard when I felt a familiar hand on my back.
"let me help you," Lucca said as he pulled it up off my zipper. His hand was grazing across my back as I can feel goosebumps on the nape of my neck. I was sighing as he zipped it up until the end and his touch was out of reach. He helps get my straps on the place as he lingered his hands longer than it should be. Not that I was complaining. I was happy because last night I did not sleep in the same bed with him. Even if I did, I might not be able to control myself anymore. I was sure that I will jump on him now and then. The sexual tension is frustrating me.
"You look beautiful tonight, Laura," he said huskily as he was nuzzling my neck from behind. We were standing in front of the mirror as I was looking at Lucca who has been nice enough to help me get ready. I murmured thanks before I went to the bathroom counter to get my makeup done.
"my pleasure," he said before kissing my hand before getting into the closet. The memory of what was happening in the closet made me blushed, hard. I don't know what was going on as I was doing my makeup. I just put some foundation to cover the redness on my face. Then I did some basic eye makeup with nude eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. As I was happy with my makeup, I was about to put some nude lipstick when Lucca come inside.
"You should put on some dark red lipstick," he said as he was rummaging through the bottom cabinet of the bathroom. I did not even have a dark red lipstick!
"Sorry, I only have nude ones. I'm guessing you don't have either," I said as I was trying to make a joke to him. He was getting up from under the counter before he gave me the red lipstick.
"how do you, why do you have it?" I asked him as I took it from him.
"I guess you never know," he said, winking before getting out of the bathroom. I arched my eyebrow at him before shaking my head at him.
"don't worry, I got it from Talia," he said into my left ear that made me jerked upward.
"put it on, I want to see it," he said as he encouraged me to put it on. I opened the lipstick and put it on my lips. I was putting it very carefully as I don't want any smudge. As I was done and close the lipstick, I felt that my lipstick was moisturized and it looked good on me, indeed. I smacked my lips a few times before Lucca grabbed the lipstick from my hand. I startled as usual because he was so quiet that I did not even notice he was coming in.
"I'll take that," he said as he was getting out of the bathroom.
"Jesus, you need to stop doing that," I said as I clutched my heart. I looked at him when he was behind me. He smirked before kissing me on the lips. I was startled again before he went out of the bathroom quickly. I was relieved but when I looked at myself in the mirror, my lips were smudged everywhere.
The nerve!
*****
"come on sister Laura, let's go," Talia said as she was dragging me out of the room and went downstairs. It was 7 PM and the guests were starting to arrive at the mansion. I was wanted to get out of the crowd because I have no idea who was coming to the party. All I know was that they were business associates of Giovanni's empire and most of them were coming with their families. Uncle Lorenzo was greeting them as he was too busy to notice me and Talia.
I was at the end of the stairs when someone dragged me away from Talia. I shrieked before realizing it was Lucca that dragged me.
"where are you going?" He asked me as he was looking at me up and down. I can see in his eyes were predatory and he was smirking as he noticed I was looking at him.
"finding something that you like, dolcezza?" He said as he pulled my hand into his. He was walking around the party before he stopped to meet someone, I'm guessing his business associate.
"my love, I would like you to meet Nathan White," Lucca said as Nathan appeared in front of me.
"good evening, Duchess," he said as he took my hand and kissed my knuckle.
"hello. Nice to meet you," I said in response.
"He was the one that will help with the investigation of your father's death," Lucca whispered to me. Nathan nodded as Lucca explained to me. I smiled at him.
"thank you for your service. I hope to expect a good result," I joked as I looked at Lucca and Nathan.
"well, he's the best in business," Lucca said. He patted his friend's shoulder.
"no one can do what you did, Nate," he continued.
"Hey, I just help my friend out," Nate responded.
"So, what you do, Nate?'" I asked before they both when silent. I looked at them, confused.
"well, if he tells you," Lucca said.
"then I have to kill you," Nate continued. I gasped before they laughed at my reaction.
"seriously, Lucca, where do you even find her," Nate said.
"I found her since birth," Lucca said as he pulled me closer than I think was the safe zone for me.
"excuse me, I need to use the restroom," I said as I tried to get out of Lucca's embrace. I was walking toward the guest bathroom when Lucia came up to me.
"What's up, bitch?" She said as she was blocking my entrance to the bathroom.
"let me through, Lucia," I said as I was getting tired of her action toward me.
"you think you have Lucca in your little hands, don't you? Well, news flashed. I will be taking him away from you," she said as she walked past through me, pushing me out of the door. I sighed and rolled my eyes at her retreating figure.
"so childish," I said as I went into the bathroom to freshen up.
*****
It has been hours and hours as the party was starting. I was feeling drunk as I don't know how much I have drunk the champagne and other alcoholic beverages that they served. I was looking out at the balcony of the castle while sipping my drink and looking into the far galaxies and the stars. Then, I heard some grunt behind me. I looked there was a man that was making his way toward the balcony. Being the timid and shy person I was, I was about to walk away when he stopped in front of me.
"where you're going, gorgeous?" He asked as his mouth was reeking with alcohol. I was disgusted, internally.
"excuse me," I said as I wanted to get out of his presence as soon as possible.
"Hey, come on now. You have been eyeing me up and down the whole night. Now you want to play hard to get?" He said as he holds my wrist tightly.
"let me go," I said as I was trying to get out of his hold. He was not taking a no for an answer. God, where's Lucca when I needed him. Tears were struck to the corner of my eyes as I was afraid and scared. I was about to scream when someone comes and punched that man in the face.
"YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Lucca's familiar voice rang through my ears as I looked at him scared and afraid and my tears were just streaming down my face.
"Hey, are you okay?" He went to me and looked into my face. I shook my head as a no.
"come on, let's go," he said as he wanted me to follow him. When he sensed me that I was not moving, he picked me up bridal style.
"Lucca! Everyone was watching," I hissed at him
"I don't fucking care. You're mine so let everyone know that they cannot touch you," he said as he climbing up the stairs as everyone was looking at us. I felt my face was getting red as a tomato and in the corner of my eyes, I can see Lucia was fuming with anger before disappeared.