Devoted: A Dark Mafia Romance (Beneath The Mask Series Book 3)
Devoted: Chapter 21

It’s that time of the month again, where not only do I want to stab someone, I am in agony. Like a hot knife is being twisted into my stomach.

It wouldn’t be so bad, except Luca also threw out all the painkillers in the house. As per Dr. Jenkins’ instructions.

So here I am, curled up in the fetal position on Luca’s silky black bed sheets. Squeezing my eyes shut, waiting for the pain to subside.

God definitely was a man, if this is the kind of shit he puts women through.

I groan as I roll onto all fours and cat stretch, wiggling my ass in the air and try to breathe out the pain by letting little puffs of air out of my nose.

There is a thud on the floor. I lean forward and poke my head under my arms to look. Luca leans against the doorframe, an overnight bag by his feet.

His eyes are glued firmly to my ass, wiggling up in the air.

A smirk creeps up on one side of his lips. “Everything okay in here, Rosa?”

Damn, I’ve missed that husky voice of his.

“All fine. Just some stupid stomach cramps. I’ve heard yoga stretches can relieve muscle tension. This is the only one I know.” I lean forward slightly.

“Don’t stop on my account,” he growls.

I let out a sigh of relief, this is actually working.

He walks towards me and my heart rate picks up. I look up, resting on my elbows, getting a deep stretch in my lower abs. It feels so damn good a moan escapes my lips.

My eyes go wide when I realize it isn’t his gym bag. It’s luggage. “Are you going away?”

He stays quiet for a moment, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Italy.”

“Oh, nice.” Jealousy pangs my throat. He didn’t ask me to go.

“I’ll only be gone a couple of days. I have to do everything I can to replace Maddie.” The pain behind his eyes is evident in the dark circles surrounding them.

I can’t fault him for his dedication to his family.

“I understand.” It hurts, but I swallow it down.

His jaw clenches as he looks down at me. “I wanted to say goodbye before I left.”

I suck in a lungful of air, my body tingling as he steps closer to the edge of the bed.

I sit back, resting on my heels, and I roll my shoulders. “Is there anyone you trust who can visit me? I’m desperately craving some form of human interaction. I don’t think I’ve ever gone this long alone without surrounding myself with people.”

To avoid the turmoil in my own head. I’m not ready to see anyone in my old life yet. It’s not safe out there, anyway.

The bed dips as he sits next to me. “I can arrange something.”

“Thank you!” I launch myself at him and wrap my arms around his neck. His body vibrates against mine when he laughs.

My tits press into his chest. Fuck, even they hurt like hell today.

“I kind of missed you,” I whisper.

He rubs his hand along my back and rests his head against the top of mine.

“Me too,” he mockingly whispers. “Kind of.”

He sighs and wraps an arm around me, his hand splaying over my stomach, making little circles on my skin with his thumb. I squeeze my thighs together as heat builds in my core.

I close my eyes; I shouldn’t feel this. He’s just being nice. He feels sorry for you, Rosa!

Pain radiates from my uterus. I jab my hands into my stomach and press my face flush against his chest, letting out a groan.

“God, I hate this,” I whine.

Normally, when I’m wasted, I don’t feel it. I don’t feel anything. That’s the whole idea. So this is a hard launch back down to reality.

“Just take a deep breath in, tesoro. Just like you showed me, remember, it should work.”

The way he says my nickname has me melting on the spot.

I do as he says, keeping my eyes shut and picturing my breath drawing the square.

We do this a few times, breathing through the pain. Together.

My body visibly relaxes, sinking further into Luca’s side. I’m so relaxed, I could fall asleep like this.

“I need to get going, Rosa. Are you sure you’re going to be okay? I can try to rearrange my flight?”

Disappointment clouds over me. In his arms, I’m safe. “No, honestly, I will be fine. I guess I will see you in a few days.”

I lean forward and he slips his arm from me, leaving me empty again. I hike my knees up to my chest and cuddle them. The overwhelming sadness starts to consume me.

These damn hormones.

Closing my eyes to hold back the tears, I still as he bends forward and kisses my temple.

A lump forms in my throat that I fight to swallow past. It takes me a second to realize I haven’t heard the click of the handle.

I look up to replace him standing next to the door, his dark eyes boring into mine.

“Fuck it,” he mutters.

My heart rate picks up as he strides towards me, the building desire in my core rising with every step.

“Luca?”

“Please tell me I can kiss you.”

The easiest answer I will ever have to give leaves my lips.

“Yes.”

“Oh, thank fuck.”

All the air is sucked out of my lungs as he grabs my face in his hands, lifting my chin up, and his full lips hover just an inch away.

As I close my eyes, he presses his lips over mine. It’s slow and gentle to start, his hands running through my hair. I let him deepen the kiss, our tongues now dancing, and I grip a fistful of his hair.

“You. Are. Perfect,” he groans, before capturing my lips again.

Every cell in my body is set alight.

He pulls back, his darkened eyes searching mine, and I look up at him through my lashes.

“I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye properly.” A smile creeps up his lips, my own now tingling, and a dampness forms between my legs. I want–no, crave–more from this man.

“I’ll miss you.”

He takes me by surprise, kissing me again. This time I can’t hold the moan that escapes my throat.

“I promise, I won’t be long. When I’m home, we have some things to discuss.”

A blush forms along my cheeks, and I nod.

He gives me a wink before closing the door behind him. I lay back on the bed, breathless, boiling and with a newfound sexual frustration I’ve never experienced before in my life.