Chapter 12

CHAPTERTWELVE

LUCA STRETCHED OUT along the queen-sized bed, practically melting into the soft mattress, and opened his eyes. He didn’t know how long he’d been asleep, but it felt like it could’ve been days. He’d needed it, though. Hell, it was the first time in a long time that he’d been able to sleep without the threat of danger just outside his door, and that had made him relax more than he thought possible.

He rubbed his eyes and sat up, wondering what time it was. There wasn’t a clock in the room, but the sun was out, which meant he should probably get up and see what Dom was up to.

Luca threw off the covers and got to his feet, stretching his sore body out a little more, and caught the gorgeous view out his window. Shimmering dark blue water contrasted with the vibrant green hills, and suddenly, any lingering fatigue in his body left. He was in freakin’ Italy. No way was he staying up in this room when there was so much to explore.

He turned around to throw on the clothes he’d left in a heap beside the bed and noticed the fully stocked open closet. Wait, was that for him? Or were they Dom’s clothes? It reminded Luca of the time he’d walked into the room at the penthouse and found Dom had somehow managed to bring in an entire wardrobe without his noticing. No doubt he’d done the same thing here, but even if he hadn’t and these belonged to Dom, Luca could use a fresh pair of clothes.

Luca changed into a pair of jeans and a loose linen shirt, feeling more human already, and then stepped out into the hallway. Unlike in the penthouse, the doors were all open, and Luca wandered down the hall and peered into each one. They were all empty, the luxurious beds untouched. Each one was formal in design, with decorative coffered ceilings, gold sconces on the walls, and sheer curtains framing the windows. No personal touches or photos to indicate whom the rooms belonged to, but maybe that was because the Rossettis rented it out while they were away.

Or not, considering the way all the furniture had been covered like no one had been there in years. Why was that? If Luca owned a place like this, he’d be there all the time.

He wandered downstairs, nothing but silence meeting his ears.

“Dom?”

No answer, and from the look of it, the women he’d seen when he arrived were no longer there either. All the furniture was now uncovered, and it looked like everything had been freshly cleaned. The wooden fixtures were polished to a shine. As he moved through the house, he noticed how well lived in it looked despite the expensive décor. It actually felt like a family had lived here, or maybe that was just the way it was designed to feel.

“Dom? You down here?” he called out, but Dom didn’t answer.

Maybe he was outside. That gave Luca enough time to do a little snooping around, checking out each of the rooms without anyone looking over his shoulder. If he hoped to glean any information about its inhabitants down here, though, he was sorely disappointed. It seemed the Rossettis didn’t believe in family photographs, which was odd, but then again, it was a digital age and they weren’t exactly a normal family.

A light breeze ruffled Luca’s shirt, and he turned to see where it had come from. A pair of double doors were open to the backyard. Luca moved toward them and realized why Dom wouldn’t want to stay cooped up inside. Though the house itself wasn’t small, the yard was vast, and appeared to have several levels that stretched out along the coast. The level he stood on was a large deck of intricate stone designs, statues, and separate lounge and seating areas along the expanse, and to his right, a grassy area with a covered pavilion. It was an unreal view, and the fact that it was only one of the levels blew his mind.

He peered down to the second level, where a pool and several lounge chairs were practically inviting him to come take a swim.

Damn. It was tempting. He looked around, and when he still couldn’t see Dom, he decided, what the hell. Luca jogged down the steps and made his way toward the shallow end of the large pool, where he kicked out of his flip-flops, rolled up his jeans, and walked down onto the first step.

Ahh, heaven…The cool water lapping against his ankles as he stared out at the most breathtaking view he’d ever seen in his life was an experience he wasn’t sure he could top. Sure, the house belonged to a mob family, and yes, he’d been kidnapped and brought here against his wishes. But as far as places he could be locked up in, this was up there.

As he stood there drinking in the view, a breeze swirled up around him, bringing with it sweet fragrances from the flowers and foliage surrounding the patio, and off in the distance he swore he caught the faint sound of splashing.

Curious, Luca got out of the pool, headed to the ivy-covered rail that overlooked a third level, and saw a charming seated area in amongst perfectly manicured hedges and water fountains. There were several statues surrounding the perimeter of the level, and off to one side was a gate.

Unable to resist further exploration, Luca hurried down the stairs that led to the third level. This place was incredible, the outdoor space as much a draw as the house itself. But it was the sound of the water that held and caught his attention.

He made his way through the gardens and toward the railing, and when he peered over the edge, Luca sucked in a breath. The drop-off between himself and the lake was vast, with the water splashing up against the brick wall supporting the gardens and home above it. But when he glanced off to the right and spotted a dock, he realized where the gate led.

With a smile on his face, he rushed over to it and pushed his way through. As he headed down the winding wooden path to the dock below, he had the fleeting thought that he hoped he wasn’t trespassing.

This did belong to the Rossettis, right? He hadn’t seen a sign anywhere saying stop or private property. But maybe it was gated off for a reason.

All those questions seemed to vanish, however, as his feet hit the wet slats of the dock and he was faced with another magnificent view. It was almost as though he were standing on the lake itself with the way the water rippled under the dock. The sun sparkled off the lake like diamonds, and as he began to walk further out across the water he heard the splashing sound again—much louder this time.

Luca tried to zero in on where the sound was coming from, but with the reflection from the sun, it was difficult. He brought a hand up to shield his eyes as he walked closer to the end of the dock. Scanning the pristine waters, he spotted a swimmer several feet away.

Luca watched as the swimmer powered through the water, strokes smooth and precise, propelling him toward a buoy, where he flipped under the water and started to make his way back.

Luca stood there mesmerized by the display of athleticism, his own swimming style nowhere near as fluid or smooth, but when the man got closer, his heart began to hammer.

Holy shit, that was Dom.

Luca wasn’t sure why he was so surprised. Of course Dom was a good swimmer—he had a house on a lake, for God’s sake. But as he drew closer, and Luca continued to watch, good felt like too simple of a word for what he was witnessing. Dom moved through the water like he was made to be in it.

When Dom finally reached the dock, he stopped and glanced up. “’Bout time you woke up.”

Luca was sure there was something he could say in his defense, but that would require remembering how to speak, something he was finding extremely difficult as he stood there staring down at one of the most sinfully sexy men he’d seen in his life.

Dom Rossetti was a lot of things: arrogant, brutal, and cold-hearted at times. But no one could say the man wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous. With his dark hair slicked back from the water and droplets clinging to his lashes, he looked mouth-watering, so much so Luca couldn’t remember how to think.

When Luca just stood there, Dom raised a brow and hauled himself out of the water in one glorious move. Luca’s jaw almost hit the wooden slats under his feet.

If Luca thought Dom was sexy in the water, that was nothing compared to him standing out of it dripping wet, dressed in a pair of the tightest black swim shorts Luca had seen in his life. Luca’s eyes practically fell out of his head as he followed the water droplets trailing down all the delicious grooves of Dom’s body.

“Did you forget how to speak some time between yesterday and now?”

“Uh.” Luca dragged his eyes up to see Dom raking a hand through his hair.

“See something you like?”

The arrogant comment was enough to pull Luca out of his stupor. He pretended to look around him. “Yeah, the lake is gorgeous.”

Dom took a step toward him, and Luca immediately took one back. “So that’s what has you all tongue-tied?”

“I’m not tongue-tied.”

“Mhmm.”

As Dom continued toward him, Luca kept retreating until the backs of his ankles hit the stairs onto the dock and he stumbled.

Dom reached out and took hold of his elbow. “You’re lying.”

Luca’s pulse began to race as he turned his head. “No, I’m not.”

Dom let go of his arm to bring Luca in flush to his body, and Luca brought his hands up to Dom’s wet chest.

“And I suppose the lake is making you hard too?”

Luca shrugged, determined to play it cool. “Yes. It’s a beautiful lake. It made you hard too.”

Dom’s lips twitched, then he let go and reached for a towel that Luca had completely missed on his way down here.

As he wrapped the towel around his waist, Dom looked up to the garden and house above. “I’ve got to go out and pick up some food. You in the mood to do a little exploring? Or do you want to sit here and…enjoy the lake a little longer on your own?”

Smartass.“I’d love to go into town for a bit.”

“Good. Then let’s get upstairs. I need to get dressed.”

It was on the tip of Luca’s tongue to ask why when Dom looked so good in what he was already wearing. But not wanting to give Dom anymore leverage this morning, he kept quiet and instead filed the image of Dom wet and naked climbing out of Lake Como into the far corners of his mind, to maybe take out one day later and enjoy on his own.