31. Luca

Chapter thirty-one

Luca

Angel, Joseph will pick you up at the usual time. Be ready.

I 've missed having her in my bed this weekend. These past two weeks have been a test of my willpower. If I ever do really have to leave for a business trip, she's coming with me.

I'll be ready, and I have a surprise for you.

What is it? Tell me.

No, Mr. Bossy Pants. It's a surprise.

You're getting a spanking for teasing me.

Stop threatening me with a good time.

Soon, Angel. Soon.

"Is that Rome?" Rafael asks when he saunters into the kitchen.

We stayed up for another weekend hoping this would be the time we'd catch the break-in live on camera. While it took longer than we expected, Robert, the bartender, and another guy finally broke into Sweet Connection's office around three am this morning.

With our part done, we crashed at Rafael's place. Since I'm the first one awake, I'm helping myself to his food and making us all a late breakfast.

"No. Kylie." I set my phone down before turning my attention back to the stove. After flipping a pancake, I glance at Rafael over my shoulder. He looks as rough as I feel. "I woke to a text from him earlier saying it was done."

"Good." He walks to the fridge to pull out the syrup and butter and placing them on the island.

"Yeah. Now we wait." Grabbing three plates out of the cabinet, I hand one to Rafael.

"Rome said it could take a couple of days for the final approval from Italy." Rafael fills his plate and moves back to the island to dig into his food.

I twist my neck from side to side, trying to work out the kinks before pouring more batter into the pan. "The evidence speaks for itself. The approval could come quicker." I refuse to think any differently. I want this done once and for all.

"Fuck man, that smells good." Gio drags himself into the kitchen, scratching his belly. He snatches a plate and stacks all the pancakes onto it.

"I knew I should have grabbed more." Rafael grumbles.

"I'll have more done in a few minutes." When Gio attempts to grab all the bacon, I smack the back of his hand with the spatula.

"Ouch. What was that for?" Gio shakes out his hand.

Rafael chuckles.

"That's all the bacon there is. You get half." I place his portion on his plate. "Now get out of my way."

"Fine, Ma," Gio mocks.

I smile, wishing Kylie was here. She loves breakfast with the guys when they can make it. She admitted to me the other night that she wishes she had siblings growing up. Despite all the crap we've had to deal with in our youth, we have a great brotherly bond. I wouldn't give this up for anything.

"What's on the agenda for today?" Rafael asks between bites .

I stack the rest of the pancakes on the serving plate and move it to the island before answering. "I want you to connect with Rome. See if you can help get things moving along. Gio and I need to do some work on the hotel."

I settle into my seat at the island and fill my plate while my mind is half on business and half on Kylie. Joseph has been giving me updates on Kylie's movements during the day, and I'm realizing how much she likes her espresso. I have a coffee machine, but nothing that offers a variety that she seems to enjoy. I text Joanna and ask her where I would go to upgrade my coffee machine to one with espresso options.

"Where did you tell Lisa you'll be this weekend?" Rafael asks Gio.

Gio responds with his mouth full. "I didn't. I told her I was unavailable." He pauses long enough to swallow the rest of his food and points his fork at Rafael. "You never tell a woman what you're doing. The minute you do, they'll demand to know every minute of every day." He shakes his head at Rafael. "Rookie move."

Rafael just stares at Gio.

I chuckle, because he's not wrong.

My phone dings with a notification. Joanna texts links to the espresso machines she recommends. I decline her offer to pick it up. I want to do this for Kylie myself. And that brings my mind back to the surprise Kylie said she has for me. An image of her in an all white lacy lingerie number pops into my head. My mouth edges upwards at the thought and I have to reach down to adjust myself.

I'm ripped out of my good mood when Gio groans and complains to Rafael about the look on my face. "Here we go again. Fuck, Rafael. Every time I turn around, he's got that look on his face." Gio points at me as he rounds the kitchen island to rinse his plate in the sink before sticking it in the dishwasher.

I sneer at Gio before swinging my gaze to Rafael. Seeing his blank look as he observes me has me shaking my head. "Let's head out. I have a stop to make." I don't give a shit if it's more fuel for Gio's fire. We're purchasing an espresso machine and installing it before work. I want it waiting for her when she comes tonight.

"Rafael, keep me informed. "

Gio follows me outside and calls out, "I'll be ready in twenty."

***

"What's this for?" I hold up a hose from the box.

"Hell if I know. Why didn't you just pay someone to install this?" Gio grumbles, pulling the machine forward to look at the back. For what, I have no clue.

I toss the hose down with enough force that it bounces and rolls away. "How hard can hooking up a damn espresso machine be? Shouldn't it just be a simple plug in and go?" I wave my hand toward the machine before placing both hands on my hips.

"For a simple coffee machine—yes, but you bought this fancy ass espresso machine." He pulls back and stares daggers at it. "Isn't coffee all the same?"

I sigh. "Fuck if I know. Joseph informed me she orders a different espresso almost every day. Not coffee. Espresso."

"Isn't espresso coffee?" Gio looks at me, eyebrows lowered.

I stare at him. Nostrils flaring.

He pulls his cell out of his back pocket and starts typing. My gaze goes back to the bane of my existence. "Where's the instructions?"

"We don't need instructions." Gio grumbles and thumps his chest. "We're men. We can figure this shit out."

"Idiot."

I check inside the box and pull the packing material out to find a little book at the bottom of the pile. Throwing the packing stuff back in the box, I place all of it on the kitchen island behind me before flipping through the book.

"According to Google, espresso is thicker than coffee and more intense in flavor. It also has a finer grind with a pressurized brewing method." Gio squints at the screen. "What does that even mean?"

"Put your damn phone down and help me. Did you connect the water line?"

"Yes. Dude, I don't think you can use your coffee in this machine. Did you buy espresso grounds?" Gio pulls the coffee out of my cabinet to read the label .

I pause what I'm doing to look at him.

Fuck.

I text Joanna, asking her to have the espresso grounds delivered.

***

Despite sleeping in, this day has dragged on. Exhaustion seeps out of my bones as I climb the stairs. As much as I want to make it up to Kylie for being away for another two nights, I'm afraid I won't last long.

I push open the bedroom door and pause when I find Kylie just coming out of the bathroom, carrying bottles in her arms. She's wearing a simple white silk camisole that looks incredible against her smooth skin. Every contour of her body is revealed by the silk.

I instantly go hard.

"You're here." She pauses halfway into the room. Her smile blooms.

My hungry stare is my only answer as exhaustion leaves my body and sexual awareness fills its place.

She rushes to place the bottles on the nightstand and then approaches me. I throw my jacket on the chair and then wrap her in my arms, taking her mouth as if I haven't seen her in months instead of days. She responds just as eagerly.

I walk her backwards toward the bed, but after a few steps, Kylie brings her hands to my chest and pushes away. I hold firm but let her pull those luscious lips back, curious why she's stopping me. When she gives me a breathless, wide-eyed look, I lean in to take her mouth again, only to have her slap her hand on my mouth before I can.

"Sorry." She cringes. "I want to give you your surprise first." She takes her hand off my mouth and pushes out of my arms, but then grabs my hand to tug me to the bed. "And to thank you for the espresso machine." She grins at me over her shoulder. "I must admit, in my eagerness, I had one after dinner and I may be an eensy bit energized right now." Her face is flushed and her smile is wide, showing me just how much she's hyped-up on caffeine .

"You don't have to thank me, Angel. And I thought this was my surprise." I grab the hem of her silk nightie and tug gently.

"No. I'm going to give you a massage." When she stops us at the side of the bed, she turns to face me and starts releasing the buttons on my shirt. "I wanted to pamper you for working so hard, and I researched it."

I watch her fondly as she nervously takes my shirt off before starting on my pants. "You researched it? I wish I was there while you did that."

She blushes a pretty pink as she kneels to take my pants off and then removes my socks.

Seeing her kneeling at my feet is almost more than I can handle. I palm my straining hard on, unsure if I will survive her beautiful torture.

"Come." she nudges me to lie on the bed. "Face down. I want to start on your back."

Humored, I lie down and stuff a pillow under my head. Knowing I'll enjoy her hands on me no matter how she does it and let the tension go.

Kylie climbs on top of me to sit on my ass before leaning over and grabbing a bottle. I adjust my dick to a more comfortable position. Seconds later, she lays her hands on the small of my back and strokes upwards.

Having Kylie's hands full of oil, rubbing and kneading my back, is pure heaven.

Sadly, it's the last thought in my head before I promptly fall asleep.