2. Luca

CHAPTER 2

LUCA

LATER THAN NIGHT– SURREY, ENGLAND– THE FIRST KISS

“ O h, great, Luca, you’re back. I’ve just finished up for the night. That’s pretty much everything in place for the event. I’ve emailed you a copy of the plans to look at when you have time. Any questions, just ask?” Marcie said in her usual bubbly way as she packed away her laptop.

“Perfect,” I replied, my eyes not leaving Claire for a second.

She wasn’t looking at me. Pointedly avoiding doing so. My smirk widened as I took in the blush on her cheeks that betrayed her—she wasn’t nearly as immune to my charms as she wanted me to believe. That thought thrilled me.

“Claire and I were just heading down to the bar for a drink. Care to join us?” Marcie asked.

“I’d love to,” I replied, as the ladies stood to leave.

As I strode behind them, my eyes drifted over the pair appreciatively. Both were stunning, but Claire just had that little extra something for me.

In the past few days, my initial attraction had only deepened. We’d talked about everything and nothing, and I realised I wasn’t just drawn to her long blond hair, those intelligent brown eyes, or that gorgeous, curvy figure. I actually liked her.

It didn’t hurt that she had a sexy, squeezable ass, and I wasn’t shy about appreciating it. Claire glanced over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing and her lips pursing when she caught me staring. But she didn’t say a word. She just kept on walking, ignoring me just like she had every time my flirtations got too obvious.

I smirked, enjoying this little game we played. She might pretend indifference, but I saw through the act. Claire was aware of every look, every comment. Whatever this was between us, she felt it, just like I did.

“What can I get you, ladies?” I asked as I approached the bar.

“Cosmopolitan for me, please,” Marcie replied.

“Same for me,” Claire added.

I was ordering our drinks when a member of our reception team approached me, her expression tight with annoyance.

“Luca, we’ve got a situation. Some troublemakers are causing a scene in one of the rooms. They’ve been drinking and got a bit handsy with one of the staff who delivered their room service,” she said quietly, glancing around to ensure the conversation stayed private.

“Alright, I’ll handle it. I’ll be right there,” I replied as she headed back to the foyer.

Turning back to Claire and Marcie, I forced a smooth smile. “Duty calls. Enjoy the drinks; I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

The bar was quieting down, the last of the stragglers stumbling off to their rooms when I returned a half hour later. I nodded to the barman as he wiped down the counter, signalling for him to close up for the night.

“Where did the ladies go?” I asked.

“They headed to bed a few minutes ago,” he told me, and I bit down on my disappointment.

Damn! This was our last night here, and I had longed to get Claire alone for a few minutes and test the waters. I’d only been hinting at my feelings until now, flirting, but not quite revealing the depths of my interest. Now that the trouble at home was over, I had intended to take things a step further and see where it might lead. Obviously, that was going to have to wait.

Rubbing the back of my neck in frustration, I turned to leave, planning on heading to bed myself when something caught my eye through the glass doors leading to the garden.

Claire.

Her back was to me, and I took a moment to appreciate that gorgeous bottom of hers again. The things I wanted to do to it made my cock jerk. I gulped hard and shifted to relieve the sudden pressure.

What was it about this woman, out of all the women I’d met in my life, that made me feel like a horny teenager unable to control myself?

I needed to get a grip on my libido. Exhaling sharply, I stepped to the door and stopped dead in my tracks, struck by the awe-inspiring sight.

Claire tilted her head, exposing the delicate curve of her neck, and I felt my pulse quicken. Shadows and light played across her face, highlighting the sharpness of her cheekbones and the fullness of her lips. She looked otherworldly, like some ethereal goddess wandering through the mortal realm. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe.

A sense of calm washed over me as I watched her bathe in the silver glow of the moonlight. The soft light caught in her hair, turning those loose, golden strands into a halo that framed her face. Her skin glowed, every curve and angle softened by the gentle illumination. The moon had chosen her as its muse, spotlighting her so that every movement and gesture became a graceful dance with the night.

I didn’t make a conscious decision to move; it was as if an invisible force drew me to her, tugging at something deep inside. Every step felt inevitable, like I was walking toward something I couldn’t—wouldn’t—resist.

When she noticed me approaching, I saw her tense, just for a moment, before she hid it behind a polite smile. My heart sped up at her nearness.

“I’d thought you’d gone to bed. Everything okay?” I asked, keeping my voice low and calm. Inside, I was anything but.

“Marcie has. I wanted to get some air,” she replied, her tone controlled, but I could hear the undercurrent of tension.

Claire turned her face slightly, taking in the dimly lit garden grounds again. “This place is… impressive.”

“It has its charms,” I said, letting a slow smile tug at my lips. I could see her trying to maintain a distance, but I wasn’t fooled. Her eyes lingered on me a moment too long, her breath hitching slightly when I stepped closer.

“Claire,” I murmured, my voice dropping as I closed the distance between us, “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since we met.”

I saw it again, the flicker of desire in her eyes before she masked it. “This isn’t a good idea, Luca.”

“Bad ideas are often the most tempting,” I countered, stepping closer until the heat of her body wrapped around me. Her scent—fresh and floral—flooded my senses, making it impossible to think of anything but her.

“Luca…” Her voice wavered, but she didn’t pull away. There was uncertainty in her eyes, as if she was caught between surrendering to the attraction between us and holding back.

Unable to resist from touching her any longer, I reached out. My fingers brushed lightly against her arm. Her skin was warm, soft, and I felt her shiver. She was trying to fight it, but her resolve was slipping.

I slid my hand to the small of her back, drawing her closer. She resisted for a heartbeat before yielding, her lips parting with a soft gasp. It was all the invitation I needed. I bent my head and kissed her.

The moment our lips met, it was like a fuse had been lit. The world around us vanished. Her lips were soft, her taste intoxicating, and I wanted more.

Unable to stop myself, I deepened the kiss, my hand cupping her cheek, feeling her melt into me as her hands gripped my jacket. Her lips moved against mine with a fervour that matched my own, each touch electrifying and urgent, as if the world had faded into insignificance.

But then, as suddenly as it began, it was over. Claire pulled back. Her breath was quick, her chest rising and falling as she put a trembling hand against my torso to keep me at bay. “Luca, no. We can’t do this,” she said in a breathy tone.

Not yet willing to let her go completely, I kept a hand wrapped loosely around her waist. “Why not?” I asked, my voice tight with emotion.

“Because of what you do,” she said, her words steadier now.

My blood ran cold. “What I do?”

“I know what you are, Luca. And I can’t get involved with a criminal,” she replied.

A weight settled in my chest, the truth of her words hanging in the air like a dark cloud. I could deny it, but I knew it would be pointless. Claire was a smart woman and obviously had figured out there was more to me and the Rominov’s than we pretended. Frustration simmered beneath the surface, battling with the longing that stirred deep inside me.

“You’re a criminal defence lawyer, Claire. You work with criminals all the time. What’s the problem?”

She bristled.

“I work with criminals, yes. But I didn’t become a defence lawyer to get them off. I did it because I believe in the law and our legal system’s principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’. It’s the prosecution’s job to prove guilt, and mine to ensure that evidence is legitimate, so no innocent person goes to jail. That doesn’t mean I condone breaking the law. And just because I defend criminals doesn’t mean I want to get personally involved with one,” she said, her eyes flashing with anger.

My jaw tightened. I wasn’t used to rejection, and coming from Claire, it stung more than I expected.

“I’m not just a criminal, Claire. There’s more to me than that,” I protested, hoping she could see beyond the surface.

She met my gaze, regret shimmering in her brown eyes. “I’m sure there is, but it doesn’t change the fact that you are, and I can’t condone that. I’m sorry, but whatever this is between us isn’t enough for me to set aside my morals.”

A flicker of desperation surged within me as I studied her, memorising the way her eyes pleaded with me to understand, to let her go. But how could I? How could I walk away from something this powerful, this undeniable? I hadn’t felt anything like before. I had to see her again, had to make her understand that what was between us was worth pursuing, regardless of my shady side.

“Let me see you again,” I said, my voice softening, almost a plea.

She shook her head, her expression pained. “I can’t. We’re on opposite sides of a line that can’t be crossed.”

I stared at her, frustration and longing churning inside me. I didn’t want to accept it, didn’t want to let her walk away. But I could see she wasn’t going to change her mind tonight. She was determined, strong-willed. I admired that as much as it drove me crazy.

“Besides, I can tell you’re a player, Luca, and I’m not a woman who can be played with. I won’t be just another notch on your bedpost. It’s best if we remain simply friends,” she said, and her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

Friends? Had I just been friend-zoned by the woman whose kiss had blown my mind? Aw, hell no!

“It’s true that I’ve enjoyed female company often in the past, Claire. I won’t lie to you. But the feelings I have for you are deeper than I’ve ever had for anyone before,” I told her, hoping she could hear the sincerity in my voice.

She didn’t.

“Ha, I doubt that!” she said with a wry smile.

“It’s true!” I insisted, the frustration in my voice rising as she refused to believe me.

As I watched her, the stubborn set of her jaw and the way she held herself tightly spoke volumes, and I realised she had fortified her walls, unwilling to let me in. It was clear that tonight wouldn’t be the night to break through.

Reluctantly, I stepped back, letting my hand fall away from her but keeping my eyes locked on hers.

“Goodnight, Luca,” she said quietly before turning away from me.

Watching her walk away, my heart clenched at the sight, and every instinct urged me to chase after her, but I stood my ground. This wasn’t the end.

I wasn’t the kind of man who easily gave up on something—or someone—I wanted. And I wanted Claire. Now more than ever. No matter how long it took or what I had to do, I would make her see that what we had felt when we kissed was real and worth fighting for.

She thought this was over, but I knew better. This was just the beginning.

Heading back inside, I felt the thrill of the chase coil tight within me, a burning desire I couldn’t ignore. What I had told her was true: Claire was different—she wasn’t just a fleeting flame. There was something about her that made me want to dive deeper, to unravel the mystery beneath her icy exterior.

That pull was dangerous. Wanting more meant stepping into uncharted territory, risking not just rejection but something deeper. In pursuing her, I wasn’t just playing with fire—I was risking an inferno that could consume me completely if I wasn’t careful.

My only concern was, would I survive it?