"And what if someone disobeys that decision?"
He tilted my head back under the spray to rinse the shampoo from the long strands. "The repercussions would be fatal. He will consider it a direct insult to his honor if anyone disobeys his order."
"What about your honor?" I asked him. "Your life? My life?"
His hand fell away from me, and I wiped the water from my face to look at him. A muscle ticked in his jaw and his nostrils flared with the effort to keep himself under control. "He doesn't give a fuck about my honor. As a matter of fact, he doesn't give a fuck about me at all."
"But you're his son, too. How can he do that to you?"
He looked at me then. "How does your mother do it to you?" Lifting his hand, he rubbed the back of his knuckles down my cheek. "I should consider myself lucky he hasn't cut me out of the family completely." Then he took a breath and picked up the shower pouf and body wash. Lathering it up, he began to wash me, holding me steady with his other hand. The more he touched me, the more I could see the tension leave his jaw and shoulders. "Stay with me tonight."
Immediately, I shook my head. "I can't."
"What if I don't give you a choice?"
"Is that what you're doing?"
There was no hesitation in his answer. "Yes."
I sighed, but I didn't fight with him. What was the use? It wouldn't get me anywhere. And honestly, although I would never admit it, I'd missed him, too.
He squatted down to wash my legs and feet, dropping a kiss on my inner thigh. "This world you spoke of...my world."
"Mmm..."
"It's all that I know. And you, Veda, are a part of it now." He rose to his full height and began to wash himself as I rinsed off, his eyes never leaving me.
"What if I don't want to be a part of it."
"That's not possible now."
"And I have to stay with you because you're the only one who can keep me safe from Mario. Right?"
He gave me a nod. "I will never let anything happen to you, amore."
I smiled at him, but it was a sad smile, because I knew he was wrong. There was nothing he'd be able to do. Hell, even I knew that. He was just in denial. "Luca, if Mario takes over your father's position, what do you think he will do? He's not going to let us live in peace. He'll come for you. And for me. And you won't be able to stop him, will you?"
"That won't happen."
"But..."
"Veda, stop." Taking me into his arms, I felt his erection press into my stomach. "It won't happen. I won't let it. But you need to give me time to figure things out since my father—and the way I feel for you—put a glitch in my original plan. Will you do that for me?" He brushed my lips with his, then dropped kisses along my jaw, my throat...
"Okay," I whispered as I wrapped my arms around his wet shoulders. "But I'm not your prisoner anymore, Luca."
"No, amore. You are my life. Something I cherish much more."