Hush 2: Slow Burn (12 page)

chapter Nineteen

I’m Her Man

Luca

It is day three since Shannon gained consciousness. Three days and she still doesn’t remember me. She knows everyone else except for me. The shit is driving me mad inside.

Her doctors keep saying it is common and to give her time, not to try to force her memory. I thought I could deal with this, but once I realized I am the only one she doesn’t remember I nearly lost it. Uri and Pam had to take me for a walk and calm me down.

Still I will not give up on what I have set out to do. I will win back Shannon’s heart. I have continued with the flowers each morning and despite her protests, I have remained by her side every single day and night.

Today she is being released from the hospital. I can’t wait to get her home so that I can begin to pamper her. I have our home all setup and ready.

I watch Shannon as she sits on the edge of the bed looking nervous. We are waiting for her discharge papers. I am trying to gauge her mood when Pam, Valentina, and Rita walk in the room. Shannon visibly relaxes.

“I’ll be ready in a few. The nurse said she would be right back with my discharge papers,” Shannon says to Valentina.

I look at Valentina and lift a brow. She just shrugs. “I have a car waiting for us, so we can go whenever you are ready,” Valentina says not taking her eyes off me.

“Wait, what,” I snarl. “Why would you need to take her anywhere?”

“Shannon called me last night to say she was being released and asked me to come pick her up today,” Valentina responds.

“When did you do that,” I look to Shannon to ask.

“You were sleeping,” she says not looking at me.

I move so that I am standing in front of her and take my chances placing my fingertips under her chin and lifting her face up toward mine. “Baby, I want to take you home with me. Why would you call your sister?”

“Because she is my sister, I don’t know you,” Shannon snaps while looking me in the eyes.

I pinch my eyes close calling for patience. I know she has been through a lot and this must be scary. When I open my eyes, her eyes are looking off to the side even as I still hold her chin in my fingertips.

I drop my hand and nod my head. “You may not think you know me, but you are my fiancée. I want to take care of you, Shannon,” I say soothingly.

“It’s fine if she wants to come to stay with Uri and me,” Valentina says from behind me.

“She belongs with me,” I say as my patience slips. “I’m her man. I can take care of her.”

“Luca, I’m the last person you want to try that sh-,” Valentina growls, but Shannon cuts her off.

“I’ll go with him,” Shannon murmurs. She holds her hand up and shakes it when Valentina goes to speak again. “You guys said that he is my fiancé so I guess the least I can do is go with him and get to know him a little. Maybe I’ll remember him.”

When Shannon looks me in the eyes again, I resolve myself to be more patient. I lean in to kiss her forehead. I am grateful when she doesn’t move away. “Thank you, Baby,” I say as I pull away.

“You’re welcome,” Shannon says breathlessly as a little blush glows on her cheeks.

I haven’t missed the effect I have on her, but I back off and give her space. I don’t want to scare her off. I turn to find Valentina eyeing me with half warning and half amusement. It wouldn’t be the first or the last time I have had words with my cousin’s wife.

She has threatened my balls more times than I can count. I am surprised to find Rita smirking at me as well. I haven’t quite figured her out yet. She has backed off a lot now that Shannon is awake.

“Miss. Caprisi you are all set to go,” the nurse says as she wheels in a chair for Shannon. Shannon slides to the edge of the bed as if she is going to stand on her own, but I’m having none of that.

I move back in and scoop her up from the bed. I lift her in my arms and place her in the chair. I don’t miss the cute little blush that appears on her face once again. I could get used to seeing it. I don’t miss how my own body reacts to having her in my arms. She has lost a little weight in the time she has been here. Or she could have lost it while I was away.

The fact that I don’t know which one it is annoys me. I tamp those feelings down and focus on getting Shannon home where I can see to it that she is eating right and being taken care of. Home where I can make her love me.

~B
~

Shannon

Something is different with Luca. I can’t quite put my finger on it. He hasn’t left my side since he showed up and I denied knowing him. A part of me wonders if it is because I don’t remember him or if he is really trying to save whatever it is we have.

While he hasn’t left me, he has given a lot of attention to his cell phone. He is either texting or murmuring on it in the corner. I have seen his temper flare each time it rings.

I called Valentina to come and get me as a test. I wanted to know if Luca would want to take me home with him or if he would run at the first opportunity given. My heart is pounding in my chest to know he was ready to go up against my sister and eventually her husband to have me home with him.

I say nothing on the ride to his condo. I refuse to call it ours, even though I practically lived there before he left me. I have keys to his condo here in New York and the one in Chicago. He never said I had to leave. That is just the thing he never said anything.

I am stewing by the time we make it to the condo, but I won’t show it. I school my features into a neutral face as I look out the window. Luca places a hand on my knee and squeezes it as we pull up front. I take a few extra seconds to myself as he makes his way around the car to open my door himself.

I move to step out, but just like at the hospital Luca scoops me into his arms. I wish he wouldn’t. Each time I am in his arms my body betrays me. The man has never touched me intimately yet my body reacts to him as if we are old lovers. I curse inwardly.

“I can walk on my own, Luca,” I say softly looking straight ahead at the building’s entrance and not into his amazing blue eyes.

“I’m sure you can, but I want to hold you,” he says as if it is just normal for me to be in his arms.

Okay Luca, if this is how you want to play it
, I think to myself. We will see how he does under pressure. Let’s see how honest Luca is willing to be. I say nothing else as he carries me onto the elevator and we ride up to the penthouse apartment.

“We’re home,” Luca says as we step into the apartment and he places me on my feet.

I turn to look up at him and to my surprise he circles his arms around my waist. He smells so darn delicious I almost forget what I had planned to say to him. When I get caught in his eyes, my breathing hitches. I have to take several breaths to get my equilibrium to balance.

“So we live here together,” I ask.

Luca frowns at the question, pressing his lips tight. I wait for his answer as my eyes search his face. He runs a hand down his face as I see the decision he makes cross it.

“We used to. You would stay with me here when we were in New York or you would stay with me in my place in Chicago when we were there. You rarely left me to stay at your dad’s. Lately, we haven’t been living together as much,” Luca replies.

Humph. So we are going with half-truths. Okay, Luca.
I wrinkle my brows at him in confusion. “Have we been fighting? Were we going to break off the engagement,” I ask innocently.

“No,” he barks then bites back his anger. “We were not breaking anything off. I just had some shit to deal with and I wasn’t handling it right.”

“Oh,” I say and pull from his arms walking further into the apartment looking around as if it’s my first time every seeing it all. The place is as huge as Luca’s personality.

Luca walks up behind me and wraps his arms around me again from behind. He kisses the top of my head. It is so tender and not like him that I have to close my eyes. I feel the tears coming. Why couldn’t he have been this way before?

“I’m tired,” I say through my tight throat.

“Of course, let me show you our room,” Luca says into my hair.

I turn to him again. “We're sharing a room,” I gasp.
Shit, I didn't think this through.

“We always have. Why would that change now,” Luca lifts his brow at me.

“Because things are different now. You … I don't know you,” I stammer out.

Luca just stares at me for a long time. I don't realize I’m holding my breath until he speaks again. He nods his head and licks his full lips.

“I’ll sleep in the guest room for now. You can have
our
bed,” I don’t miss how he puts emphasis on the our.

“I don’t want to inconvenience you. I could take the guest room,” I say.

“Not happening, Baby,” Luca shakes his dark head.

“Fine,” I huff.

I know it makes no sense to argue with Luca. I won't start now. I really do need to lie down. I start to move towards the bedroom but catch myself before I take a step. Luca lifts me into his arms once again.

“Really Luca,” I squawk.

“Get used to it,” he croons and kisses my temple sending a zing right to my core.

“Were you always like this,” I ask, watching his face for his reaction.

“No, no I wasn't. I have so much to make up for Shannon and I intend to. I know you don't remember, but I was on my way back to you to make it right,” Luca says and swallows hard. “Even if Uri and the others hadn’t shown up I would have been on my way home. It was time.”

I look away quickly to cover my shock. I had no idea Uri went after him and who were the others? My mind is racing. What did they go after him for? Were they trying to force him to come back and give me a pity relationship?

Thoughts of how things were before the accident come back to me. Valentina! I knew she was up to something. She was so adamant in her words about Luca not getting to treat me like shit. I should have known she was on her way to hand him his ass.

I smile inside to know she loves me so much, but the smile is short-lived. Did she threaten him to come back? Is that why he is being so different with me? My mind is all over the place and I just want to be alone to process it all.

Luca places me on the bed and bends to remove my shoes. He looks up at me when he is done as if he has something else he wants to say, but he thinks better of it and stands to place a kiss on my forehead. I just look away from him. I need time and each time he touches me it just confuses me more.

“Just call out if you need anything. The bathroom is right over there,” he points out. I don’t follow where he is pointing.

I hear him sigh heavily before his footsteps retreat from the room. I lie down on the bed and curl into a ball. I feel my own sigh shutter through me before I close my eyes and fall asleep.

chapter Twenty

Date Me

Shannon

I wake to the sound of water running. I blink my eyes open and take in my surroundings. It takes a moment for me to recognize that I am in Luca’s bed. It smells faintly of him, which makes my heart ache.

I feel the bed dip on the other side under someone weight and I pop up sitting straight. Luca is sitting on the other side staring at me. He looks so damn sexy right now it tosses my thoughts for a second.

He is wearing a white t-shirt and worn jeans. I can see one of his bare feet as his knee is bent and resting on the bed. He gives me a weak smile as his eyes search mine.

“I thought you might like a bath before dinner. You have been sleeping for a while. Take your time. I’ll be in the kitchen when you are ready,” Luca says before standing and padding out of the room.

Once again Luca has me speechless. I climb from the bed and head into the bathroom. It smells of my bubble bath and there are rose petals in the bath water. I spin around to take in the rest of the bathroom. Candles are lit, and a glass of wine is on the bathroom counter.

I smile and shake my head once again wondering where was this Luca before and if this is a result of a threat from Uri or Valentina. Whatever it is, I decide to make the most of it. I strip out of my clothes and step into the water that is the perfect temperature.

I wanted to wash off the hospital grime first thing, but sleep won out once we arrived. I get lost in the aromas and the soothing feel of the water almost instantly. I allow my thoughts to carry me away as I soak.

I try my best to keep my thoughts away from all things Luca, but seeing him in that tight t-shirt and those jeans makes that pretty damn hard. The man is just sexy, even when he is brooding. Surprisingly, I have seen Luca lose it and throw a fit and he still manages to look hot. That’s only because it is not a bitch fit when Luca is pissed.

When Luca explodes, it gets ugly fast. He is going to hurt someone, but usually, his guys try to talk him down so he’ll let someone else handle it or smooth things over. I used to like that with Luca, you knew things were going to get done. Whether you liked the way he did them was a different story.

I can feel my body start to hum as I think of one time when a guy tried to get my attention at a party Luca took me too. I hadn’t been out of Luca’s sight long. I had just gone to the bathroom. The guy not only made the mistake of trying to talk to me, but he put his hand on my shoulder.

Luca lost it from across the room and came charging over like a bull. After scooping me behind him, he grabbed the guy by his collar and whispered something in his ear. By the pissed look on Luca’s face and the scared shitless look on the other guys face I know it was nothing pretty.

The way Luca’s muscles bulged in his suit and the way he was ready to protect me was just so freaking hot. I bite my lip as I think of the hot, wild look in Luca’s eyes as he made it his business to protect me. To protect what at the time was his. I was so wet that night and thinking about it now has my juices flowing.

I lick my lips thinking,
what could it hurt.
I reach between my legs and find my nub. No sooner than I moan and start to rub it do I hear a deep, gravelly voice call out.

“Shannon, you are alright in there? You’ve been in there a while. Would you like some more wine,” Luca calls.

“Shit,” I mutter and pull my hand back like I have been burned.

How can I be so horny for something I have never had before. My clit is now pulsing and all I can think about is the man on the other side of the door
. I wonder if he would get in the tub with me if I asked.

I frown at the thought. The last time I tried to throw myself at him, he ran from me. I sigh in defeat and run a hand through my hair.

“I’m fine, Luca. I’ll just be a little longer I lost track of time. I need to wash my hair,” I reply.

He doesn’t answer right away and I think he has left until he clears his throat. “I could wash it for you. I’ll be mindful of the stitches. You don’t want to get them wet,” he says thoughtfully.

“No, I’ve got it,” I say a little too quickly.

“Alright, well hurry up, Baby. Dinner is getting cold,” he says back.

I hate it that he now calls me baby. It makes my heart skip a beat each time. I know he doesn’t mean anything by it. My heart and mind are simply playing tricks on me. There is no way that the things I heard in the hospital were real.

I sigh to myself knowing I don’t have time to finish what I started and I need to get out of the tub already. I decide to jump in the shower to wash my hair. It will be easier to avoid wetting the stitches by doing so.

When I am dressed in a pair of yoga pants and a tank top I had in the closet here, I head to the kitchen where I find Luca. The apartment is open concept so the windows that line the wall run from the living area into the spacious kitchen. Luca is standing in front of the floor to ceiling windows with his arms folded over his chest.

I want to go to him and wrap my arms around him but I fight the urge with every fiber of my being. He turns to me with a smirk on his face as his eyes roam over me. His hot gaze throws me for a moment.

“Did you enjoy your bath,” he drawls in a sexy tone.

I know my cheeks are turning pink as I stand horrified, wondering if he knows what I almost did in his bathtub. He licks his full lips and I am almost sure he knows. I want to turn and run back in the room, but I straighten my back and stand my ground like a woman.

“Yes, thank you. The candles and roses were sweet,” I reply not giving anything away.
I hope.

“Good let’s eat,” Luca says, but the way he says it has me thinking of a different kind of meal.

I jerk myself forward and move towards the table he has set before the living room window. Everything looks so romantic, with a tablecloth, candles, and everything. I am stunned he has gone through so much trouble. Luca pulls my chair for me to sit and I take a seat gracefully.

He returns to the kitchen to retrieve our meal. I smile when he places baked buttered blue fish and wild rice with kale in front of me. This is my favorite and I can’t believe that Luca remembered.

“Save room for dessert I have that orange cake you love,” Luca says with a smile as he takes the seat across from me.

“Did you cook this,” I ask. I already know that Luca can cook. I am just going along with the plan.

“Yes, I did. The first time I ever cooked for you was that time you had a cold. I made you my mother’s chicken soup. You loved it,” he beams at me.

“Did I,” I smile back not being able to help it. He is right I loved the soup, but I loved that he took care of me more.

“You did,” he smirks.

“What else did I love about you?” I want to kick myself the minute I hear the words leave my mouth.

Luca, however, doesn’t miss a beat. “You love it when I rub your feet. You make these cute little kitten noises,” he says with a smile. “You love when I let you snuggle into my side at night. If you don’t, then you tend to toss and turn until I pull you close.”

I know I am blushing. The intensity in his eyes is making it hard to breathe. I look down at my plate and start to eat. I think I have had enough of the Q and A for now. I am resolved to eat in silence, but Luca has other things on his mind.

“Shannon,” he says after we have taken a few bites of our meal.

I look up, picking up my napkin to wipe my mouth. “Yes,” I ask with the napkin covering my mouth.

“I want you to date me,” Luca says.

I lift my brow at him in confusion. “Excuse me,” I say.

“You heard me. I want you to date me. You don’t remember me, but I think it is clear we are both attracted to each other. You need to get to know me again so why not,” he shrugs his shoulders.

I nod my head. “Well, what do you have in mind?”

“I was thinking this could be our first date. People usually use their first date to get to know each other. So I’m an open book. Ask me anything,” Luca says with a sexy smile on his lips.

I’m not sure he will be smiling for long. I have lots of questions. Okay, so here we go.

“You said you were on your way back to me. Where were you,” I ask innocently.

Luca’s smile fades. I know this was not the type of question he was looking for.
Oh well
.

~B
~

Luca

Shit.
I was not expecting her to go there. I thought we would get to work our way there, if not avoid it altogether. My smile fades, but I clear my throat to answer. I told her I would be an open book and I will.

“I was in London. I thought I could clear my head there. I spent a little time in Italy with your dad and mine, but most of the time I was in London,” I give her the truth.

“Were we fighting? Did I do something wrong,” Shannon asks sadly and it breaks my heart. If I didn’t know better, I would think she is remembering it all with the amount of sadness that laces her words.

“No Sweetheart, it wasn’t you, it was me,” I say and want to kick myself for the old cliché.

“I don’t understand,” she says a little above a whisper.

Damn, I didn’t want this to get so heavy so fast. I wanted to have a nice light dinner. Tell her about my family and me growing up or something. How do I explain that I was a total dick, hung up on losing my ex?

I rub the back of my neck. “It’s a bit complicated to explain,” I sigh.

“Well, can you try,” Shannon huffs.

I stare at her for a moment before I answer. “Our marriage has been arranged by our fathers. Before I met you, I was seeing someone,” I rub the back of my neck and frown. “Shit, fuck it. I was seeing Pam before I ever met you. I knew we were supposed to get married, but I didn’t break things off with Pam.

“I thought I could figure out a way to keep her in my life. Things changed when she told me she was pregnant. I planned to call off our intended engagement. I was going to step up and take care of my family.

“Pam lost the baby and I … I didn’t know what to do. I messed so much up. I finally came clean with Pam a few months before you and I were to meet. Pam left me. Uri warned me off of going after her. He told me she was happy and had a new life, to just back off.

“I met you the following month. I wanted to hate you. I wanted to not be attracted to you. I wanted anything, but what I got when I saw you. You are so fucking gorgeous and you turned out to be shy and sweet. I wanted you from the time I laid eyes on you.

“I felt so guilty for the things that happened between Pam and me. But most of all I was wounded that she just moved on. My pride was hurt. I had it in my head that you would somehow do the same thing or that you were too good for me because of the things I had done.

“I just had it in my head that if I could get closure with my past, then I could start my future. The problem was Uri was still warning me to stay away from Pam. He told me to wait for the right time. You are so fucking sweet, Shannon, so young and so innocent. I could never taint you with my past, so I wanted to wait.

“God I was trying to wait, but you were changing. Not in a bad way. I loved everything you were doing, but that was just it. It had become impossible to be around you and not want to throw you on the nearest surface and fuck you until neither of us could move.

“One night you came to me in just your bra and panties looking like a damn goddess. I thought I was going to come in my pants like I was thirteen again. That was it. I had to leave. There was no way I was keeping my hands off of you after that,” I pull a hand down my face. “I left like a coward because my fiancée was driving me to drink and I couldn’t just get my shit together to make love to you.”

Shannon looks at me with tears in her eyes. “What has changed now? Why can you be here with me now? Are you not attracted to me anymore,” Shannon asks through trembling lips.

I push my chair back and move around the table. I pull Shannon into my arms and crush my lips to hers the way I have wanted to for so long. Her lips are so incredibly soft. Even after eating some of the fish on her plate her lips taste sweet like candy.

When she whimpers into my mouth, I take advantage and deepen the kiss, thrusting my tongue into her mouth to taste her fully. Her fingers thread into my hair holding me to her. I growl as she sucks my tongue into her mouth. One of my hands fists into the messy curly bun on top her head.

I am hard as a fucking rock and I know if I don’t stop this now I will take things too far and regret it in the morning. I don’t just want a quick fuck. This woman is going to be my wife. I need her to know what she means to me.

I pull her body flush to mine as I break the kiss. “Do you feel how much I want you,” I rasp as I flex my hips into her belly, allowing her to feel my pulsing erection. “You do this to me, Shannon. The difference now is that I have closure. I have given the whole truth to Pamela and I have let my past go. I let it go because you are my future. You are what I want.”

Shannon pulls out of my hold and wraps her arms around her middle. I can see her nipples straining against her thin top. She won’t look at me and now I feel like a total dick. I am so glad she doesn’t know that that was our first kiss.