My mouth fell open. “Of course I will. Why would you think I wouldn’t?”
“Have you ever charged any of the friends you’ve helped in the past?”
“Well, no, but—”
“Did Kenji pay you to work at his pop-up?”
“I kept my tips.”
He gave my hair a gentle tug. “I won’t allow you to sacrifice yourself any longer, Saoirse. I know that’s your whole vibe, but—”
“What are you talking about? That’s not my vibe.”
The look he leveled me with said get real. “The first time I met you, you’d purposely spilled your drink on yourself to allow a woman who wasn’t even your friend to be the center of attention. Don’t tell me it’s not your vibe.”
“I wouldn’t call it a vibe…” But he wasn’t wrong. “Anyway, you’re lucky I’m the way I am since you’re benefiting from it.”
His chest made a rumbling sound. “I hope you’ve found it’s worth it.”
“The orgasms more than make up for having you as a ball and chain.”
This time, the tug was less than gentle. “I’m serious, Saoirse. Recognize your worth. You have valuable knowledge Kenji and the rest of the people have taken advantage of when they should be paying for it.”
“And they will. That’s why Miles is my partner. He’ll be the one to discuss money since I’m apparently incapable of it.”
“You’re capable of anything.”
I sucked in a sharp gasp. The confidence in his low tone settled in my chest.
Luca believed in me.
He really, truly believed in me.
“I’m terrified, Luca.”
“You have no reason to be.”
“I don’t?” I sputtered a laugh. “I have been thinking about doing something like this for years. And now that I am, I wonder who the hell I think I am to have the audacity to believe I can. I can’t even imagine telling my mother about any of this. I can almost hear her reaction now.”
“Her reaction doesn’t matter. You’re Saoirse Rossi.”
My nose scrunched while my stomach whooshed. “I like when you call me that.”
“Mmm.” He wrapped my hair around his finger. “Listen to me, pretty girl. You grew up with the Kelly name and all the expectations that came with it. But the thing is, you’ll never be your mother’s image. She’s got Peter to take up that mantle. You won’t be your father’s image either. Lock has that taken care of.”
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“You’re Saoirse Rossi now. You get to start anew and be the woman you want to be. There are no expectations, no pressure. It’s up to you to shape your path. I want you to know I’m fucking proud of you. I admire the strength it takes to strike out on your own. You might be scared, but I’ve got your back, so there’s no need for you to fear.”
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from crying. Luca was being sweet and freaking wonderful. I didn’t want to make him regret it by bursting into tears.
“I think that was exactly what I needed to hear.” I shifted to sit sideways so I could brush his hair from his forehead and drop my hand to cup his jaw. “I have your back too, you know. You can lay your shitty days on me, or rant, or whatever you need. I want to be that for you too.”
He leaned his face into my palm and slowly exhaled. “I could get used to you way too easily.”
“I’m not going away, even when this is over.” My stomach twisted at the thought. “So get used to me.”
“Don’t think I have a choice.” His intense gaze locked on mine. “I’m going to draw you now. Are you up for sitting still for me?”
“I’m not one to be still.” I stroked my fingers along the rough stubble on his cheek. “But for you, I’ll try.”
“That’s all I ask.”
The next night, Luca came home and invited me down to his studio with him. Even though we had been able to spend our lunch at the Davenport, he still wanted to hang out.
The night after that, he went upstairs first to change, and disappointment flooded my veins. But then he stopped in the den and asked me if I wanted to go for a ride.
Of course I did.
We rode through the dark, my arms tight around him, and when he was able, he patted my thigh or squeezed my hands. Being on the back of Luca’s motorcycle was one of the sexiest experiences I’d ever had. There was something about the powerful machine, combined with his utter confidence in handling it and being wrapped around him, that majorly did it for me.
He took me to his studio when we got back. I lounged on the love seat with my feet hanging over the arm, watching him as he sketched, a lock of hair hanging over his forehead, his teeth clamped down on his full bottom lip.
I pressed my thighs together, but it was no use. I was much too turned on from that ride. There would be no relief until I slid between my sheets and took care of myself.
For now, I’d look at this gorgeous man and edge myself into oblivion.
“How can you work in an office? You’re meant for the wild.”
With a sigh, he lowered his pad. “That’s what I thought. When my dad got sick and I was thrust into this role, I thought I was losing myself.”
“You don’t think so now?”
He shook his head. “I was free before, but I was stagnant, living a life I’d outgrown just to show how much control I had over my choices. The truth is, everything I did was because I didn’t have control. I didn’t want my father’s role, and I still don’t. I’m not him, and I won’t ever be. Now that I have real control, I’m finally getting to decide how I want to fit this job into my life. I can still be me. Paint, draw, fuck, ride, and take on the title I was born to have.”
“It’s too bad you figured that out after you took on an inconvenient wife.”
His nostrils flared. “You piss me off when you call yourself that.”
“I’m only repeating your words, Luca.”
“And I was an idiot to say it. I’m steady right now because of you. This marriage has given me the breathing room to concentrate on running Rossi and not losing myself. There is nothing inconvenient about being married to you. Even if you didn’t let me have your sweet pussy every day, I’d say the same.”
My face flooded with heat that trickled down to my chest. This man managed to make me blush with his filthiness while also feeling valued as a person. It was a first for me. I’d already known Luca had set the standard for sex, but he was now raising the bar for how I was treated so high I wasn’t sure another man would ever reach it.
I was standing in the kitchen, eating a bowl of ice cream, when Luca prowled in.
“Come on.”
I waved my spoon. “I’m busy.”
“Bring it with you.”
I twisted my lips. “Go without me. I—”
Before I could finish teasing him, he scooped me in his arms. I squealed, reaching out blindly for my bowl. With a laugh, he dipped me toward the counter so I could grab it then swooped me down to the studio.
“I can walk, you know.”
“I’m well aware of your legs, Saoirse. But this is easier. Far less sass.”