Lucca's Lust: The Luminara Series Book 3 (44 page)

Lexi helps pick out some gifts for my nieces and nephews and new cushions and bedding for the farmhouse from a designer interior boutique in Firenze. She rolls her eyes at the price tag and says she could buy bedding at Ikea that would have sufficed.

I almost choke. I want her sleeping in nothing but luxurious sheets. I cannot help think that as a child she was deprived of many basic everyday needs. God knows what conditions she lived in, but my guess is it was not healthy, safe, or functional.

Lexi almost rescues a stray dog on another trip. While sitting on a bench, eating gelato in a cone, she goes all puppy-eyed and dotes over it. I have to talk her out of that since we will be going home. I think she was just missing her own dog. It gives me an idea. A puppy could be another gift on my list to get her one day.

We work out. I run and do my weight training. Lexi does yoga every morning and conditioning exercises, which drives me insane the way she bends into those positions wearing next to nothing, teasing me with her tight little ass.

Lexi wants to visit Fran again. We meet her and Donita for a coffee at a local bistro. Mamma takes Lexi shopping again, and she starts to feel comfortable in my mamma’s company. Lexi tells Mamma a very brief outline about her past. Since we will be living together, she does not want to hide it from her.

When Mamma drops her off, Lexi looks shattered, weighed down with shopping bags. I believe they had a good afternoon, but I can tell she had been crying and was emotional. Later in the bath, she confesses it was difficult but she feels better getting it off her chest. Mamma was very supportive and showed her nothing but love. I am proud of her opening up to my mamma. It means a lot to me, and I am equally as proud of my mamma for not being too intrusive.

I want to pick a spectacular engagement ring for Lexi, one that would mean something to us. I want something exceptionally special and exquisite because my girl deserves only the best and I have no concern on the price. I have investments, stocks, shares, savings, a tidy turn over from Osurac, and an additional personal account in Geneva.

Blue.

I want blue. A rare blue, precious diamond. It will remind me of the blue orchid flower. Our flower.

I call Cristofano and tell him what I am looking for. He makes some calls with some high-class collectors and finds a prestigious collector in Rome with a blue Bvlgari 5.3 carat diamond ring fitting my description. He says I was exceptionally lucky as there is only one of this specification.

Unlike the other jewellery I bought Lexi, I want to personally view this myself. It needs to be perfetto for my girl, and the estimation price is exceptionally expensive. If she says yes, then it will be on her finger for the rest of her life. If she says no, then I will have it locked in my safe and bring it out every time I ask her. But it needs to be breathtaking … like her so I need to see it.

Because I know Cristofano has the right expertise, I ask if he will go to Rome to value and carefully assess it for me. I will reward him handsomely. This is not an ordinary diamond. It is a timeless piece, only one of a kind.

I originally planned a three night stay in Venice, but I give Suzanne a quick call and ask her to cancel the arrangements; there has been a change of plans. I want her to book a boutique hotel in Rome for us and arrange a driver. I can take Lexi to Venice another time. We have all our lives.

In Rome I add to her jewellery collection, a small elegant diamond pendant for everyday use, which I have been keeping in the safe at the farmhouse. She has long stopped protesting because she knows she will never win. I miss the fiery Lexi at times, but it also pleases me that she is accepting that she is mine and I will spoil her.

When in Rome, I ask Marco to go back to Scotland to oversee some business for me, then I call Suzanne and ask her to have the empty dressing room in my suite filled with absolutely anything and everything Lexi would need … apparel, shoes, bags, lingerie, accessories, cosmetics, and products.

I remember her telling me the day of our first date that she borrowed that green dress from her friend Jessica. I imagine she had next to nothing as a child. I will ensure she never has to ever want for anything ever again.

I call Rose and advise her that I will be bringing Lexi home to stay. She squeals with delight. I imagine her clicking her little heels before brushing down her mumsy apron and rushing to tell Peter the good news.

On the second morning in Rome, while Lexi is sleeping after I had worn her out all night, I head out to meet Cristofano and Mr. Della Vecchia, the collector, at a private residence just a stroll from the hotel where Lexi and I are staying.

Cristofano has spent two full days examining the rare and precious stone under a microscope, doing various tests on it. Satisfied the ring is one of a kind and an original, he discreetly tells me its new estimated valuation price after he researched and examined it thoroughly. The price albeit exceptionally expensive is what I had anticipated.

It is perfect. The most stunning piece I have ever seen and exactly what I imagined on my dolcezza’s finger. After some negotiation, my generous offer is accepted.

Mr. Della Vecchia loosens his shirt and tie, perspiration beading his forehead, feeling exceptionally overwhelmed and shocked. He had expected it to auction for around four million considering its original price when it was first designed was 2.4 million dollars. I want it for my girl, so I make him an offer he cannot refuse.

I offer five million Euros because after doing my homework, and as confirmed by Cristofano, I discovered that a very similar piece was auctioned for 6.4 million dollars, and this would be no different.

Mr. Della Vecchia clearly underestimated the worth and what people would be willing to pay for this diamond ring. I call and have the funds transferred from my Swiss bank account in Geneva after going through tight security passwords with the branch manager himself.

Once the funds clear, I ask Marco to arranged secure transportation for Cristofano back to Firenze with the ring. Conscious of time, I grab some chocolates, croissants, and strawberries from a quaint patisserie on the way back to the hotel then call room service to have champagne delivered.

Thankfully, Lexi is still asleep when I return so she will not question where I have been. Her hair is mussed all over the pillows, exposed dark skin a contrast to the stark white sheets. My girl loves her sleep. She could sleep around the clock if I let her. I crawl over her and lift her left hand, gently placing kisses on her finger, imagining what the stone will look like on her elegant hand.

Stirring, she smiles up at me with big, beautiful bedroom eyes as luscious and rich in colour as the chocolates I just bought. I kiss her until she is fully awake, leaving her biting on her bottom lip when room service arrives with the champagne.

I carry the ice bucket, champagne, and flutes into the bedroom and pour her a glass. “What are we celebrating?” she asks innocently before I transfer a chocolate into her sweet mouth with my tongue, devouring it between us in an open-mouthed tease.

“You,” I reply, licking the last of the chocolate from her delicious lips.

Part one: Lussuria ~ Lucca’s Words

“Lussuria ~ Chapter Twenty Eight: Destiny”

Providence

As this is our last weekend in Tuscany, I have arranged a special treat for Lexi. We are staying at the Four Seasons Hotel in Firenze in the Royal suite Della Gherardesca. Tonight we are going to the ballet and the Luminara candle parade tomorrow night. I have arranged with Mr. Boveri, the hotel manager, to have Michelin-star private dining in the gardens afterwards where I will propose to my dolcezza because it is intimate, and we will be surrounded by flowers, music, and candlelight.

Something special.

I think about the first time lust claimed me and I made Lexi mine in the bathroom at my grandparents’ villa. I was rough and greedy with desire and never even considered she was a virgin. I told her it should have been romantic, gentle, and special. If I had known, I would have taken my time with her and adored every inch of her with tenderness.

I think about her missing out on proper care when she was younger in the physical and emotional sense, so I want to ensure that my proposal will be romantic, special, and starry-eyed for her. I want her to feel, to feel everything I promised her, and to know I will forever romanticise her like she deserves. If she says no, then I will ensure that every time I ask her, I will put the same amount of effort into making her feel … feel special.

Marco has returned to Tuscany for a couple of days to tie up some business for me with contracts Omari had written up. While he is here, he can arrange transportation plans for Lexi and me, along with the air freight for all of Lexi’s new clothing and accessories.

Lexi looks completely bewildered when we walk into the opulent suite at the Four Seasons Hotel. As opposed to appreciating the regal interiors and artwork, I am too fascinated watching my baby’s sparkling rich eyes and smiling lips take in the grandiose architecture and affluence surrounding her.

Breathtaking.

Simply stunning.

The way her lashes flutter, bottom lip dragging through her perfectly white teeth, face glowing with radiance. Overwhelmed, her body trembles. She is lost in the beauty of the suite, just as I am lost in the beauty of her.

After a debate about massages and spa treatments, I carry my dolcezza straight to the luxurious bed so I can lose myself in her, over her, and around her. Nothing has felt so perfect; it is the beginning of a very special weekend for Lexi.

While we bask in sweetness of our lovemaking, I can tell her little brain is ticking. She wants to say something but struggles to tell me. Soothing her, I stroke her breasts, hips, and the top of her ass.

“While I’m away, I would like you to maybe read my journal. That is, if you want to.”

I knew this would come eventually. I have given her space and never pushed her after her confession when she returned from hospital, but I made her a promise, and if she feels like she is ready to share it with me, then I will do it for her.

Since I am hoping she will agree to marry me, it may help me be a more patient and understanding husband to her. I have no idea what is inside the journal because I have honoured her privacy, but I only hope it is not too detailed or graphic. Shit, that would end me. My head is already starting to think of words and images which will contort my mind.

Do I want to know the details?

No.

But for her, I will have to man up and accept it.

“Of course I want to. I am so thankful that this has helped you. I love you, baby.” Her whole body relaxes and falls deeper into my embrace. She sits up and faces me, her eyes wary.

“Lucca, there are things I have noted down that I just can’t talk about, and other things I want to tell you. I ask that you understand I might not be able to tell you everything. I’m sorry I can’t tell you directly.” After holding my gaze, she looks down and blushes. I kiss that worry straight from her cheeks and replace it with a passionate flush of colour instead.

Returning from escorting Lexi to the spa for her appointment with Tania, I make final arrangements for tomorrow, then settle on the leather sofa in the library with a packet of peanuts and a bottle of apple juice from the bar, ready to read Lexi’s journal. Opening the first page, I smile, seeing the withered blue orchid still pressed in the front page.

Taking a deep breath, I scroll my fingers over Lexi’s pretty handwriting, then open my eyes. I fully open my eyes to the upsetting, disturbing, and dark past of Lexi.

Page one.

Nine years in prison.

Seventeen years in therapy.

I have only let two people in.

Only one woman has helped.

Casey Huddersfield.

Only one man has helped.