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Layla

“I think I’m stuck to you. My legs are dead,”

“My very own Layla limpet.” He lifts up on his forearms and I immediately miss the weight. He rubs my nose with his and places a kiss on my forehead. “That was—”

“All right I suppose.”

“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, sunshine.” He grins, his dimple showing in all its glory.

I unwrap my legs and he slowly pulls out and falls next to me. I turn, his hand reaching over and moving my unruly hair out of my face, touching my bruised cheek gently in the process.

“I hate that you have a mark on your beautiful face.”

I kiss his palm. “Bruises fade. And besides you’re going to kill whoever hurt Grandad.”

“You have my word.” He kisses my nose. “I’m a very dangerous man.”

I chuckle softly. “Luca Knight making a joke again, anyone would say you’ve turned soft.”

“I’ll have your tongue and put it in my memory box.”

“Along with the fingers.”

“Along with the fingers, and your knickers” He smiles at me, and this is the side of him that he showed me last night. He’s like Jekyll and Hyde.

Two sides of the same coin.

“Are we okay?” he asks, “Because I kinda like you.”

“Yes. I’ll get over it and maybe I was jealous and overreacted somewhat. And I don’t want this going to your head, but I kinda like you too.” I lean over, taking his mouth in mine, kissing him hungrily and he meets me with every move, his hands roaming over my naked body. He pulls back on a moan, and I smile goofily.

“Come on,” I say starting to get up, because if I don’t move there’s a risk I’ll never leave this bed. “I need you to bathe me, then I need to feed you, then you need to fuck me again, and then Mr Knight we’re going to bed to sleep for five days. Doctor’s orders.”

“Wow, you’re bossy. But you’re not cooking for me.”

“Oh, yeah, bollocks to cooking, when I said I’d feed you I meant you’d order a Chinese.” He tilts his head back and laughs, the sound rich.

“Wine?” I ask.

“You bubble bath, I’ll get us wine.”

“Deal.” I smile, and he leans over and kisses me before standing up in one graceful move, it always surprises me how someone so tall can move so fluidly. I stare greedily as his lean legs and amazing arse walk gloriously naked to the door.

“Stop perving and get in the bath, Layla.”

I pout. “I’m not perving.”

He winks at me and disappears. I stand up, enjoying the ache between my legs, the wetness at my opening.

Thank God for the implant.

My back screamed at me as I slid into the bath, but once I've acclimatised, it's delightful, the warm water and bubbles surround me in a comforting cocoon and my aching muscles relax. My eyes drift shut and I recline my head on the folded-up towel and sigh.

“Sounds like that and you’re going to make me hard again.”

“You’re always hard.” I peel open an eye and he’s standing in the doorway holding a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“Today has been an absolute shit show, but this, seeing you surrounded by bubbles glowing like that…” He walks to the side and pours two glasses of rosé. He hands me one, placing one on the side and sits next to the bath. “A good end to a shitty day.”

“Join me,” I reach out to him, water dripping off my fingertips to the tiled floor. I move forward and he climbs in behind me and settles, his legs coming round my body, and I sink back and relax into him.

“Perfect.” He kisses my head and passes me my wine.

It’s quiet, and even though I’m relaxing my mind still whirls.

“You know the girls from today, what happens to them now?” I ask.

“They are under the care of Duchess. I’ve arranged for IDs, passports, money, then they will have a choice. They can do what they want, we will help them go home, or they can stay. Which is more than they would have got.”

“And what about you? What are you going to do next?”

“Eat and sleep. Doctor's orders remember.”

“You know what I mean,” I say pulling at his fingers.

“I’ve got people on it; they will find out what happened with your Grandad, and we’ll find out who was behind the shipment. Then we’ll retaliate.”

“And if they don’t?”

He moves his hand and tweaks my side, making me squirm. “Who do you think you’re doubting?”

“It was obviously Levi.” I peer over my shoulder on an eye roll. “Who else would want to hurt my grandad?”

“Hmm,” he replies.

“You don’t think it was him?”

“No.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I know Levi. He says a lot of stuff. Throws a lot of threats around, but what happened to your grandad, I’m certain it wasn’t him. They will cross him off the list quickly and move on to finding the person who is responsible.” He leans forward and kisses me before I turn back round and settle against his chest.

“You’re supposed to be relaxing,” I muse as I feel the tension in his muscles build.

“Someone made me break my promise to you.”

I sit up, water and bubbles covering my body, he shifts, and I turn to face him.

“Someone did, not you. I don’t blame you.”

“You saved those girls today, you’re amazing.” He reaches out to grasp one of my breasts, as he leans forward his tongue playfully chasing the water droplets that slide down my shoulders.

I snort. “Hardly.”

“Why do you do that?” He sits up, his eyes bore into mine. “Put yourself down.”

“Because I feel like I’m failing,” I answer honestly. “I mean look at my life, I’m barely holding it together.”

He shakes his head with a frown. “I know a lot of people who would have given up, sunshine. But you lost everything, everyone, yet you put everything on hold for your grandad, you stopped your dreams. That’s not failing. That’s selfless.”

“I suppose.” I answer on a shrug, uncomfortable at how he sees me.

I squeal as he grips my thighs, water sploshes over the edges of the tub as I flail in the bubbles.

“Luca, s-stop.” I squirm, water splashing everywhere. He laughs and holds his hands up, and I settle back down facing him. I grab a handful of bubbles and put them over his jaw. He does nothing, just lets me work and create the perfect bubble beard.

“Having fun?” he asks, a smile tugging at his mouth.

“Perfect,” I say, grinning.

He rolls his eyes, then cups a handful of water and splashes my breasts.

“Heyyy,” I say.

“The bubbles were restricting my view.”

“Now who’s being the pervert.”

He stares at my boobs then leans back, pleased with himself, all the while wearing a bubble beard. “You need to quit your jobs this week,” he says matter of factly, and I sit up quickly as he rinses off the beard.

“ What!”

“What?” he says, frowning, and those cute little lines are back on his forehead. “I’m not having you working with Alec fucking Morelli. And besides, what was the other part of your negotiation?”

“To become a doctor,” I whisper.

“To become a doctor.”

“But that was part of the deal, and I thought after-”

“Why would I not help you make your dreams come true? You can’t become a doctor if you’re working every minute of every damn day.”

“Luca.” I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration. “I can’t. I can’t afford it.”

“You fucking can.”

“You are absolutely not paying for me.”

“Why?”

“Because-because I want to do it on my own.”

He snorts. “You will be doing it on your own. I won’t be the one that puts the hours of work in, I won’t be the one doing the studying or the exams, or the placements.”

“But you’ll pay?”

“Yes. I’ll pay.”

“No. I can’t accept it, it's dishonest money.”

“You know I do own legitimate businesses too. I’m quite the entrepreneur.”

“Really, like what?”

“Spa, nightclub, asset management, investment management firms.” He’s counting them off on his fingers. “Just think about it.” He reaches out and pulls me towards him, silencing me with a kiss. “I won’t push you but think about it, and you will be quitting the café. That’s not up for debate.”

“Okay. I’ll think about it.”

I won’t though. I can’t have him paying off my debt, and then have him put me through medical school. I’m determined to do it on my own.

“You’re supposed to be thinking about it.”

“I am,” I say defensively.

“No, sunshine, you’re putting barriers up, and telling yourself all the reasons why you shouldn’t accept. I can hear your cogs turning.”

“Pfft. What are you, a mind reader?”

“You’re independent and stubborn. I don’t need to be a mind reader to know you.”

“God, you’re bossy.”

“I know.”

“Stop smirking.”

“I’m not.”

He smooths his expression.

“Liar,” I whisper, and he leans forward kissing me before reaching for my glass of wine. Passing it to me.

“Can I ask something, what’s the deal with the Duchess, she seems so…normal compared to Levi.”

He laughs. “Duchess is unique. And far from normal. She’s the daughter of Terrance Langley. One of the Covenant leaders. She is the heir just like Levi is, but she’s a woman.”

I snort. “Is the Covenant still stuck in the 1950s or something?”

He pauses, taking a sip of his wine then places it back on the side of the tub. “The Covenant is stuck in the 1900s, that’s part of the problem.”

“Would it be them?” I ask leaning back down on him.

“No.” The word’s a rumble from his chest. “Too many moving parts, they haven’t got it in them, not anymore.”

“So, Isabella hates the Covenant, but why would Levi be working with her?”

“Love.”

“Levi? In love?”

“I know. But seeing them together, there’s no doubt about it. Whatever they’re doing, they’re in it together, and something other than power and money is fuelling my cousin. That something is her. I’d been wondering for a while, and it’s clear now, Duchess is moving to take her place at the table. They are moving against the Covenant.”

“And you’re also moving against them, the Covenant I mean?”

“Not moving against them,” he replies. “I’m moving away from them and paving my own way.”

I run my fingers up and down his forearms, which are resting on the edge of the bath, tugging at the dark hairs on his arms.

“Thank you for coming to the care home.”

“Thank you for coming to the warehouse,” he says after a beat, “You don’t let people in easily, do you?”

“No. What was it you said, stubborn and independent? I’ve been on my own for so long now, I think it’s a defence mechanism.”

“Don’t let anyone close and you don’t risk your heart.”

“I don’t collect fingers though.”

“I’ve got a lovely collection. I should show you one day.” He pulls me back towards him.

“How do you feel?” I ask tilting my neck to the side and allow him to kiss my pulse. His fingers reach round and walk over my stomach dipping lower in between my folds. “Hmm.”

“I love feeling my come pool between your legs. Even in the water I can feel it.” He swirls his fingers round and pushes them deep inside.

“Fuck, Luca. Stop with the misdirection.” I hold his hand to me.

“Spoilsport.” He nips my ear lobe. “I’m wrecked. I’m used to functioning on little sleep, but the last few days have been extreme even for me.”

We sit in comfortable silence, my fingers still sprawling across his arm, tracing a faint scar.

“What is it about me that made you so drawn to me for all those weeks?” I ask.

“I can’t explain it. There was just something. In a way, I think it’s because you remind me of my mum, hell you even remind me of myself. Holding everyone at arm’s length. In my world, you learn not to trust quickly.”

“Because everyone has an angle.”

“Everyone has an angle. You're taught early not to trust, and when I do, I don’t do it easily. But you’ve got behind my walls.”

“How?”

He’s quiet for a minute. “I think it’s your blinding personality,” he jokes as he grabs my hips and squeezes again, causing me to thrash in the water. “You don’t realise what you do when you walk in a room, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You light it up, sunshine. You think you’re failing but you’re far from it. You were the first person to run into the road the night of the car crash. Even with your past, you pushed that aside to help us. To help me. You came today even though you had no idea what you were walking into, you just knew you were needed, that I needed you, even though you were pissed at me. Everyone loves you, even though they don’t know you really.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, and he tilts my chin up to the side to see me fully.

“They don’t see your battles; they don’t see your struggles; they don’t see you dance when no one is watching. They don’t see your pain. But I see you. All of it, and all of you. Just like you see me, sunshine. The dark and the light.”

“Dark and light,” I whisper.

“I see you, Layla.” He kisses my lips gently.

And the moment feels perfect.

I feel so loved, and so settled, but I know this is just a moment. Because chaos is just around the corner, and can you really build a castle on a foundation made of sand?