Page 36 of Devour (Blood and Roses #1)

Ariel

“ H e’s mad at me.”

“You don’t know that.”

“He went to bed without asking me to read him a bedtime story. Not even a goodnight kiss.” My voice breaks. “Luca, I lied to him. He must hate me—”

“Shh… don’t say that.” He cups the back of my head, pulling me into his embrace. “He’s probably just hurting. He needs time to process it.”

His arms wrap around me in a firm, grounding hug. I press my ear to his chest, letting the steady beat of his heart calm me. He kisses the top of my head, soft and slow, and I cling to him like a lifeline.

If he hadn’t been standing here waiting for me, I would’ve fallen apart the moment I stepped out of that room. I lift my head from his chest, needing to hear the words again.

“Do you think he’ll ever trust me again?”

“With time,” Luca says, his voice steady. “He will.”

“Come. I have something to show you.”

He takes my hand and guides me down the hallway, then downstairs and through the front door. “Where are we going?” I ask.

“You’ll see.”

We walk passed the flower garden, along a pathway I’ve never taken before, the soft glow of the garden lights casting warm pools of light along the stone walkway.

The night air is cool and quiet, wrapping around us like a secret. Luca doesn’t stop until we reach a massive tree.

Its wide trunk looks ancient, gnarled with age and wisdom. The branches stretch out like open arms, thick and low-hanging, perfect for lazy afternoons and quiet hiding spots.

It’s the kind of tree you could lay a blanket beneath and lose hours watching sunlight filter through the leaves. Luca leans in close, his breath brushing against my ear.

“Do you remember?” he whispers, his voice sending a shiver down my spine—a shiver that has nothing to do with the night breeze. Thinking I’m cold, he wraps his arms tighter around me. I stare at the tree, eyes narrowing as recognition blooms.

“It looks like the tree we had our first picnic under,” I breathe. Luca presses a soft kiss to my temple.

“It’s a replica. I had it planted when I bought the house.”

My eyes narrow further as I spot the bench a few feet from the tree, worn and familiar in shape. “Even the bench,” I murmur. “You remembered?”

“Kitten,” he says, a slight smile tugging at his lips, “I remember everything about you. From the way you smile when you’re truly happy, to the way your brows crinkle when you’re thinking too hard. How you bite your lip when you’re shy… every little detail stuck with me.”

We bask in the moment in silence. The tight knot of anxiety in my chest loosens just a little. But I know this isn’t over. I don’t know if I should be trusting what I’m feeling for this new version of Luca.

I don’t know if I should let myself feel anything at all. Mai’s face flashes in my mind, and fear takes root again. I still don’t know what happened to her.

What if she saw too much at the club—what if he had her killed? I almost met the same fate. I didn’t realize I’d tensed up until Luca gently turned me to face him. Afraid he’ll see the fear in my eyes; I try to look away—but he’s not having it.

His hands frame my neck, his thumb gently caressing my chin, guiding my gaze back to his.

“Are you scared of me?” he asks quietly.

I lower my eyes.

“Look at me, kitten.”

I slowly lift my gaze. “Maybe… a little,” I admit. To be honest, I’m not scared that Luca would ever hurt me or Noah. I know, deep down, he cares about us.

He’s proven that in ways that words could never capture. He sighs, his expression hardening for a moment with something darker, deeper.

“I’ll be honest with you,” he says. “I’m not a saint. I’ve done a lot of shit… long before you came into my life. I started training to take over my father’s organization when I was five. I was 10 when I had my first pit fight.

It was underground with so many audiences. And I was unlucky enough to be thrown in with a kid three years older than me.

“I was just a scrawny shy kid. That fight… It was the first time I felt the pain of a broken bone. Dislocated my shoulder. I was writhing in pain while the crowd cheered for the winner.” He shakes his head slowly.

“But I didn’t give up. A few months later, I faced that same kid again—and I won. That feeling… that win—it stayed with me. It shaped me. Taught me that pain was part of survival.” His voice turns quieter.

“That’s been my life ever since. Survive, or be nothing. The only saving grace was my father. Even though he put me through hell… he still loved me, in his own messed-up way.” He pauses, emotion tugging at his features.

“When he died, I spiraled. Got into all kinds of trouble. I couldn’t cope with school—the structure, the rules—none of it made sense anymore. I was lost.” His eyes soften as they meet mine again.

“Then I met you. And everything changed. Suddenly, I wanted to be better. To do better—for you.” He pauses, swallowing hard.

“Ariel, I can’t change who I am. But I can adjust for you. Hell, it was my compassion that got me shot.”

“What—?”

As if realizing he’d said too much, he quickly adds, “It’s nothing.”

But I heard him. I heard every word. He got shot because he was trying to change, for me. He’s making an effort, risking things, for me. He keeps talking, but I’m no longer listening. My heart is thundering in my chest.

Before I can second-guess myself, I rise onto my tiptoes, grab the front of his shirt, and tug him down to me. I pressed my lips to his, swallowing the rest of the words he was about to say.

He freezes for a beat, clearly not expecting it—then melts into the kiss, taking control like he always does. His hands find my waist, firm and steady, and he kisses me back with the same raw urgency curling through my veins.

By the time we pull back for air, we’re both breathing fast, taking in each other’s breath. This feels like the right time to ask about Mai… but I chicken out. Tomorrow, i tell myself. Maybe. Or maybe it’s because I don’t want to ruin this moment.

“I’m suddenly craving a night snack,” Luca stays in a low voice giving me a look like he wants to gobble me up.

“You ate a huge serving for dinner,” I say innocently, pretending not to understand his meaning.

“You’re such a tease, you know that?”

“Uh-huh,” I hum, grinning from ear to ear.

He joins me, and the moment is filled with warmth and quiet joy. When we finally return to our bedroom, he holds me close until we both fall asleep.