“But I also know you love your dad, and this is the kind of shit he cares about.”
I glared at him. “That’s a low blow.”
He shrugged and merged onto the highway. My parents lived in the county, a solid thirty minutes from our house in the city. “Maybe, but it’s true. And I swear to God—he got teary-eyed.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. He also told me he felt bad for the ass whooping I was going to get for asking him.” Luca chuckled. He and my dad were buddies. They’d gone hunting with each other and everything.
“You don’t sound nearly as scared as you should be.”
“I’m hoping you’ll have mercy.”
“Mercy?”
“Yep.”
I stared at the side of his head, waiting for him to say more. He didn’t. Instead, he turned up the radio and hummed along. His calmness only riled me more. I’d usually take any opportunity to fall asleep on the way home, but I picked at my annoyance until I was too agitated to sleep.
When we pulled up to the house, I grabbed my stuff and left Luca to get the leftovers. He was in for a rude awakening if he thought he was getting any engagement bliss sex.
I made my way upstairs, grumbling about men and how embarrassing it was to be in love with one until I stopped outside our bedroom. “What’s this?” I yelled down the stairs.
“What’s it look like?” Luca’s voice was getting closer.
“Like you begging for mercy.”
Luca slid his hands around me until he cupped my soft stomach. His hold on me pushed away all the angst I’d felt in the car. All I felt was him—his heat, his breath on my exposed neck, his cock pressed against my ass.
Biting my lip, I turned in his hold. “You think some candles and rose petals make up for you being an asshole?”
“Maybe?” The corner of his lips tilted up.
“Look, I’m exhausted and don’t want to fight—again—on what’s supposed to be our engagement celebration weekend. But I need to make one thing clear.” I choked up his shirt in my hand. “I am not a piece of property.”
“I know that. I—”
“Let me finish. I know you fulfilled this stupid tradition for my dad, and the little girl in me loves you for it, but grown woman Sasha?” I shook my head. “Let that be the last time I’m discussed in terms of a man needing permission from another man to do any fucking thing with me. Got it?”
Luca pursed his lips. “In this house, you will never be treated like property.” I nodded and turned, but he caught my hand and pulled me back to his chest. “I have to be honest with you. You’re joining a world where women are not equals. I don’t agree with it, but it’s our reality. You’ll be my wife, untouchable.” He paused, his hand cupping my face. “You’ve seen how my mom’s treated.”
My jaw tensed. He wasn’t saying anything I didn’t know, but it didn’t make it suck any less.
Stroking my cheek with the rough pad of his thumb, he tilted my face up. His eyes burned into me, searching mine for understanding. “There will be times when I have to step in front of you and handle things. I need to know you’ll be okay with that.”
“As long as it’s only when it comes to Moretti business, I’m fine. You can play Mr. Bossman all you want with them. But here,” I gestured between us, “we’re equals.”
“Of course.”
I blew out a breath. “Okay. In that case, let’s go have a roll in the petals, and we can both do a little begging.”
“Why don’t you head to the bathroom? I have one more surprise.”
Shooting him a playful glare, I kicked my heels off toward the closet and crossed the room. Luca followed, picking up my shoes and putting them in their correct space. I opened the bathroom door and was hit with warm, humid air. “What did you do?” Surrounded by candles, a steaming bubble bath complete with flower petals waited for me. Gentle music played on a wireless speaker, and my favorite silk pajamas sat folded on the counter.
“This was how I wanted our engagement night to end.” Luca’s deep timber sent chills through me. His fingers ghosted the back of my neck as he lifted the zipper of my dress and pulled it down. He peppered kisses on the newly exposed skin, making my toes curl against the tile and my eyes shut. “We should’ve been able to take our time celebrating.” The pads of his thumbs spread the back completely open, skimming to my shoulders. “You deserved more than you got, and I plan on giving it to you now.”
Never lifting his hands from me, he pushed my dress down my arms, his fingers threading with mine as the soft fabric fell to my waist. Wrapping our arms around me, he held me to his chest. “I love you, Sasha. I’m sorry I made you unhappy, but I’m more than willing to make it up to you for the rest of the night.”