35. Claire

CHAPTER 35

CLAIRE

THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON – NEW BEGINNINGS

T he soft morning light filtered through the thick curtains, casting warm patches of gold across the rumpled sheets. I stirred awake, my head pleasantly heavy, remnants of last night’s revelry clinging to me like a soft blanket. Beside me, Luca lay sprawled across the bed, one arm draped lazily over his eyes, his tousled hair giving him an air of careless charm. Despite the slight pounding in my temples, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him.

“Good afternoon,” I murmured, my voice rough around the edges.

“Mmm.” He shifted slightly, but didn’t uncover his eyes. “Are you sure it’s afternoon? Feels like the middle of the night.”

“Believe me, it’s definitely afternoon.” I propped myself up on one elbow and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “We really need to start taking it easier on the tequila.”

“Tequila? Was it tequila?” he mumbled, peeking out from beneath his arm. “I thought it was champagne. Or was it both?”

I laughed softly, the sound mixing with the dappled light in the room. “Both, definitely. And you were quite the dancer last night. Who knew you could dirty dance like that, Mr Orlov? You weren’t part of a male stripper group at any time were you? I’ve got to admit, I enjoyed it immensely and I’m sure that Miki and the guys will enjoy reminding you all about it for a long time to come.”

Luca groaned, “God, don’t remind me. I’m never going to live it down. I don’t know what came over me, you were just too sexy to resist.”

A laugh burst from me, making me wince from the pain in my head. “So, I’m to blame for your raunchy antics am I?”

“Definitely. And I might have to punish you for it later tonight. When I can see straight enough to do it,” he mumbled teasingly.

I smirked, looking forward to it. Teasing Luca like this was fun. “You were pretty damn sexy yourself, I’m surprised you didn’t attract more admirers.”

Luca chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “They were there, trust me. But I only had eyes for you.”

My heart warmed at his words, and I felt a rush of affection that chased away the morning haze. “Well, it’s nice to know I wasn’t just imagining it. Besides, I’m pretty sure you made quite the impression with your ‘intense mafia man’ vibe.”

He grinned, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. “Always a winning strategy.”

“I noticed Sean trying to copy some of your moves with that young woman he was all over.” I laughed, that had been funny to watch.

“What can I say? Learning from the best,” he sniggered and winced.

“Come here you. Quit your teasing, my head can’t take it right now,” he said, amusement lacing his voice as he shifted to allow me to snuggle in close.

As we settled back into a comfortable silence, my mind drifted to the conversation I’d had with Bradley earlier that day. The weight of my decision to accept Miki’s offer settled comfortably in my chest. I was finally stepping into my own as a lawyer, breaking away from the shadow of my prior mentors—none of whom turned out to have been worthy of the role—and forging my own path. The prospect of running my own legal firm filled me with excitement, and I could hardly believe how much had changed in just a few short days.

“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” Luca asked, his voice a low rumble, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I was just thinking about my plans,” I admitted, turning onto my back and staring up at the ceiling. “I officially accepted Miki’s offer. I’ll be the Rominov’s lawyer after Bradley retires.”

“Really? That’s great!” His enthusiasm was infectious, and I felt a swell of pride at his support. “So, what does that mean for you?”

“I’m going to open my own firm and specialise in corporate and family law,” I said, my voice filled with newfound determination. “I’ll still include criminal defence when absolutely necessary, but I want to steer clear of that world as much as possible.”

“Smart move. You don’t want to get pulled back into the chaos,” he agreed, rolling onto his side to face me. The slight shift in the bed sent a spark of energy between us, and I licked my lips. “So, where’s your new office going to be?”

“For now, Miki said I can set up a temporary office here while I look for a suitable place in central London,” I explained, my voice light with anticipation. “I’ll be taking over Bradley’s company, renaming it, and hopefully keeping his staff. They know what they’re doing, and one of them specialises in family law, so it’s perfect.”

“Sounds like you’ve got everything planned out,” he remarked, his eyes gleaming with admiration. “What else?”

I took a deep breath, excitement bubbling within me. “The Rominovs have so many businesses and investments, especially now that they’re starting families. I’ll be busy updating wills and managing estates for a while, but I’m actually looking forward to it. It’s a new direction, a fresh start.”

“Couldn’t think of a better person to handle all of that.” Luca’s gaze intensified, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I can’t wait to see you shine in your new role.”

I felt a flutter in my stomach at his words. “And once I’m up and running, I’m planning to take on a partner or two to help, especially with the corporate side of things until I get myself up to speed in that area. I’m hoping to lure a couple of old friends from law school into joining me.”

“Sounds like a solid plan,” Luca said, a teasing lilt to his voice. “Just make sure they know what they’re getting into.”

“Trust me, they will,” I replied, a mischievous grin breaking out on my face. “I’ll have to interview them first, of course, but I think one of them will be perfect. I’ll get Marko to check them out thoroughly before I make any offers, though.”

“That would be best,” Luca said, lifting himself up on one elbow, his expression suddenly serious. “And what about us?”

I turned to face him, my heart racing. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, we need to talk about moving in together,” he said, his gaze steady. “Once we’ve taken that holiday and you’ve met my family, I want us to start our life together. I know we’re both a bit hungover right now, but I’ve been thinking about this a lot.”

“You’re right. We’ve talked about it. I didn’t think we’d be ready so soon. but I suppose we’re already living together even if we haven’t quite made it formal yet,” I said, my breath hitching at the thought of our future.

Luca smiled, his expression softening. “Well, let’s do that. We can both sell our places and find a home together. Or you can keep your cottage and rent it out if you prefer to do so. But I want to build something with you, not just a relationship, but a home. Plus, I think it’ll be good for us to create something new of our own.”

“I’ve already decided to sell my cottage,” I confessed, my heart racing at the thought of us. “And I agree you should sell your flat too. Especially after what happened to poor Julie, it would never feel the same again. We can find something together that feels like home.”

“Absolutely,” he agreed, a gleam of excitement lighting his eyes. “And while we’re at it, we can look at that plot of land next to the estate. I put in an offer yesterday.”

“You did?” I felt a rush of warmth at the thought of us building our life together, side by side. “What are you planning?”

“I’m hoping we can build something special. Miki’s on board because he wants everyone to stay close, especially with all the babies on the way,” Luca said, his voice earnest. “New generations, new homes. It makes sense.”

“Plus, we’ll have the space we need for our own future,” I added, a dreamy smile creeping onto my face. “It sounds perfect.”

Luca reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “And I think it’s important to keep everyone nearby for protection. The Rominovs and those who form part of their extended family—like me—have a strong bond, and it’ll only get stronger as we start our families.”

My heart fluttered at the mention of families. I couldn’t help but envision what life would be like for us, surrounded by laughter and love.

“But those are all plans for the future. Tonight, I think we should celebrate,” he declared, his tone playful.

“Again? Last night wasn’t enough for you? You can handle another night out so soon?” I teased, delighted at the prospect of a date night.

“Oh, I can handle, it, you and anything else that comes my way,” he smirked his eyes sparkling with mischief and sultry promises making me shiver in anticipation of things to come.

“And I’ve got it all planned. Just the two of us. Dinner at that new restaurant I know you’ll love, followed by a suite at a nearby hotel. I want you to feel special.”

My cheeks flushed at the thought, and excitement bubbled within me. “You really planned all this? I’m thrilled. Oh, I’m going to wear that little gold dress Sara made. It feels perfect for tonight,” I gushed excitedly.

Luca’s expression turned even more sultry as he leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin. “You’ll look stunning in it. I’ll look forward to having such a beautiful woman on my arm as we celebrate a new beginning.”

“Together,” I added, a grin spreading across my face as I revelled in the moment. “It’s a new beginning for both of us.”

“Exactly,” he replied, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “And after that, we’ll head to the Caribbean to holiday with my family. We can take a break before diving into our plans.”

“I can’t wait,” I said, feeling a rush of anticipation. “It’ll be a much-needed escape before we begin this new chapter. I mean, who wouldn’t want to relax on a beach after what we’ve been through? I’m more than ready to enjoy some sun sea sand, sex.” I beamed. “Oh, and to meet your family, of course,” I added the afterthought.

Luca chuckled softly. “I’m just glad we’re doing this together. I want to build a future with you, Claire.”

As I met his gaze, a surge of certainty washed over me. I couldn’t imagine my life without him. “I want that too, Luca. I really do. I love you.”

“I love you too, babe,” Luca replied with a gentle kiss.

With smiles that promised more lazy mornings and future adventures, we settled back into the warmth of each other. Plans buzzed through my head, and despite the remnants of last night’s revelry, nothing could dull the excitement of what lay ahead, wrapping us in a cocoon of bright possibilities.

Under my gorgeous gold dress, I wore a delicate gold lace bra, without the matching knickers, and hold-ups. Luca told me not to wear any knickers, and, as much as I wasn’t used to going commando, I’d followed his instructions. The feeling was odd, foreign—but somehow thrilling. Just before we arrived at the venue, Luca handed me a gift. “Slip these on,” he said. So, instead of gold lace knickers, I was wearing a little pair of ‘vibrating panties,’ as the box had so innocently called them.

Wearing something like that out in public felt a little outrageous, but when Luca commanded, I found myself unable to resist. We’d played this game before, and tonight, I knew I was in for a ride.

During dinner, Luca wielded that remote like a weapon, teasing me relentlessly. Every press of the button sent a shock straight through me, my body reacting instantly, only for him to stop just before it became too much. He repeated this pattern until I was practically trembling, trying desperately to maintain some outward composure so no one at the restaurant would catch on to our game. But it was a delicious form of torture, one I hadn’t known I’d come to crave.

Luca, of course, revelled in my torment, his eyes glinting with amusement every time I squirmed in my seat. Months ago, I’d have never allowed myself to indulge in such wickedness—rigid control had ruled my life. But Luca had torn down those walls, and with them, my inhibitions. Now, there seemed to be no limit to the desires I was willing to explore with him.

He knew exactly what he was doing, taking me right to the edge before pulling me back, over and over. It was maddening and utterly intoxicating. The anticipation of what he had planned once we were alone in the hotel room had my pulse racing, and I could hardly wait to see how far he’d push me tonight.

Once cocooned inside the room, Luca wasted no time in showing me what he had in store.

Champagne was poured over my tits and licked off, a trail of it dripping down between my breasts and onto my stomach, he followed it with his tongue licking it up as he went.

I giggled as he poured some into my belly button before sucking and licking it out. Slowly, with a wicked gleam in his eye, he moved down my body and poured more over my mound and does the same there. Then more through my folds. I gasped at the cold tingle that accompanied it. He chuckled, bending down and licked it up. My pussy clenched with excitement. After the torture it had endured, this was more than it could take and I came with a squeal.

Luca brought the bottle to my mouth, making me drink and then took a swig himself before he pressed first his lips, then the neck of the bottle against my entrance, slowly pouring a little of the liquid inside me, quickly lapping it up with his tongue.

“Claire flavoured champagne. I need to bottle it. I want it with every meal,” he said with a teasing chuckle.

Fuck, Mr Sexy Kisser was such a bloody he deviant, and I loved it.

“Up,” he commanded, lifting me into his arms, our naked bodies rubbing together deliciously as he moved us to the hotel bathroom and into the large jacuzzi bath. The bubbling water was warm and sent shivers over my body, heightening its sensitivity.

Luca, positioned me kneeling, then climbed in behind me. Leaning down, he squeezed my arse. “God, you have the best ass, babe. These cheeks are mine,” he growled, running his palms all over them before giving them a light smack, and I shuddered in delight.

He bit my bum cheeks, one after the other, sucking hard on them, and I knew he was giving me a love bite there, marking me, marking my ass as his.

Some people might hate that, and there was I time I would have, not anymore. Now, I delighted in the act of possession. It was as sexy as hell!

Riding his cock, tits bouncing, murmuring his name, rocking against him in desperation, I revelled in the sensations that only he could elicit.

I had no idea how he managed to make every time feel more electrifying than the last, but somehow, he did. Each time we came together, it was like he knew exactly how to push me further, make me feel more. God, I was never going to get enough of him. Every touch, every kiss, everything about Luca consumed me completely.

How I ever thought I could keep away from him now seemed laughable. How I’d managed to stay away for so long after our first kiss? A mystery. One thing was certain—there was no going back. I couldn’t leave him, not when his gaze alone could light me up inside. Luca was mine, just as much as I was his. Bratva soldier or not, this man was my dream, and I wasn’t letting him go. I’d fallen hard and there was no denying it, no worrying over it, just acceptance now.

I looked into his eyes and knew that was where I belonged. “I love you, Luca,” I whispered.

His breath hitched, and I saw all the love I felt for him reflected back in them.

“I love you too, sweetheart!” he said, grinning before kissing me long and hard until my pussy clenched, ready for more action. The things that man’s kisses can do to me.

“Round two?” he asked.

“Hell yeah!”