Lucca’s ferocity simmered out at seeing Chloe’s nerves, and he gently took her hand in his. “Come with me.”
Following him, she looked around the space, noticing it was laid out just like Nero’s, but mirrored. The styles, however, were completely different. Lucca’s had earth tones of dark wood and greens, just like in his room at the house. It was modern, but not too modern. More traditional than the other penthouses she had seen. It was cozy, warm, and perfect, reminding her of the outdoors that perfectly sat in downtown Kansas City.
With it being a corner penthouse, it had floor-to-ceiling windows on two of the walls, really giving juxtaposition on the outdoors and the city.
A slight pain reached her heart, thinking about what Elle had said. It was hard to imagine Lucca in here with many women.
Pulling her close, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. “I’m not going to pretend I’m a virgin, when we both know I’m not.”
“I-I know.” She pressed her face into his chest, not wanting him to see the hurt on her face.
She knew he was far from a virgin, but it had stung to hear how he brought many other women here when this was her first time coming here. Admittedly, it hurt to even think about Lucca with a woman.
He leaned his head down, nestling into her neck. “But I can promise you, you’re the first and last woman I have or ever will bring here.”
Moving her head, she wanted to look into his eyes, almost not believing it.
“I’ve had this place for a long time now. I don’t like letting anyone in here because it’s my own personal space and a place for me to think. The only one to come in here, other than me, is Sal on occasion.”
Chloe smiled, pressing her face back into his chest. For once in her life, she felt important. She took it as an honor for a man like Lucca to trust her in a space so special to him.
“Now, is there anything else that upset you?” he asked teasingly, bending down to bite her earlobe.
Biting her lip, she didn’t know how to come out and say it, but … “I-I like it when you call me darlin’, but …”
“You don’t want me calling anyone else that,” Lucca finished for her, smiling.
She nodded as she blushed from confessing how the darlin’ thing worked on her so much so she didn’t want him to stop calling her that.
He took another bite of her earlobe. “Then I won’t, darlin’.”
Leaning up, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips, wanting him to know how happy he made her.
When she dropped back to her feet, she couldn’t help laughing. “So, what were you doing to get all sweaty?”
“I’ll show you.” Lucca took her hand again, leading her through his penthouse and going up the stairs that led off into the master bedroom. She could see a spiral staircase that hadn’t been in Nero’s, which he led her to, allowing her to head up first.
With each step, she became more confused. “How can it go anywhere? This is the top floor.”
“You’ll see.” He helped her push up the top hatch in the ceiling.
Chloe looked down at her feet as she watched her step, finishing the climb up. Then the slight noise of the city greeted her ears, making her finally look up. When she did, she almost fell back on Lucca, the beauty taking her breath away.
He was silent, holding her up in front of him and keeping her steady as she took it all in.
“I-Is this real?” she whispered, blinking to see if it was heaven or just a mirage.
“Yes, darlin’.”
Taking a step forward and spinning around, her eyes moved over the flowers then to the glass walls where she could see the city all around. It was a little greenhouse filled with many flowers on top of the building. The breathtaking view was unlike anything she had ever seen.
It took her a few moments of looking around before she turned to look into his eyes. “You did this?”
Lucca’s eyes were now a fully bright shade of green. “For you, yes.”
Another slight pain reached her heart. Except, this one was different.
When she turned back to him, it was like the wind had been knocked out of her to stare at someone like him, surrounded by something like this.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.
Walking toward her, he wrapped his strong arms around her again. “I started working on it months ago, to keep myself busy so I wouldn’t come for you. I haven’t been with a single woman since I first saw you. I couldn’t. None of them were you. Every time I wanted you so fucking bad, I would come here to keep myself sane.”
The pain in her chest only grew stronger, consuming her whole heart. The heavy, old chains on her soul were beginning to rattle.