Page 13 of Ruthless King

Plus, I love this gym, and I don’t want to have to stop coming here if I fuck around with this girl. I dip into the locker room and strip out of my suit and tie. That is the one thing I hate about being Luca Valentino, C.E.O. of King Industries. I much prefer jeans and a t-shirt. Sure, Armani jeans are my favorite, but I have to support the motherland, right?

Once I’ve changed out of my restrictive clothing, I head out of the quiet locker room and straight into a familiar face in the hallway.

Merda.

The blonde lights up as her eyes raze over me. “Luca Valentino, I did not know you were a member here.”

Neither did I. Or I never would’ve fucked you. “Ciao, Caroline. I had no idea.”

She creeps closer, and her hand finds her way to my stomach. I take a step back, and she traps me against the wall, her big fake boobs pressing against my chest.

“Caroline,” I whisper, “you do remember what we talked about before we ….”

Her grin widens. “Before you fucked me senseless?”

“Hmm.” I nod.

“Yes, yes, I know, no strings.” Her hand creeps lower, until it brushes my cock.

I squirm but her hold only tightens, fingers wrapping around my now hardening dick. We’re in the middle of the hallway and anyone can walk by at any moment. Public displays arenotmy thing. Besides that, I am a man of my word, and I stick to my rules. For reasons.

My fingers latch around her wrist, and I tear her hand away from my cock. “I said no, Caroline.”

“But why?” she whines. “I thought we had so much fun the other night.”

“We did, but that’s all it was. One night. Like I warned you.”

She pouts, sticking her full lower lip out. My mind whirrs to the other night when that pouty mouth was wrapped around my dick. Great, now I’m impossibly hard, and all I wanted was a fucking workout.

“Just one more time?” She bats her long, sooty lashes and ticks her head at the locker room door. “Please, Luca, I’m already so wet just thinking about you. I’ll let you fuck me wherever you want.” She presses her body flush against mine, and hell, yes, I’m tempted. But there are reasons I stick to my rules. I don’t need to get emotionally involved with women. And if you screw around more than once, things start to get complicated.

I close my hands around her shoulders and gently push her back, until she peels her body off mine. “I’m sorry, Caroline. The other evening was great, but it’s over. And if you’ll excuse me, I’m late for my workout session.”

“You’re an asshole, Luca,” she hisses as I hurry down the hall.

I release a frustrated sigh and dart around the corner to find that punching bag. I’m in desperate need of it now.

* * *

After an hour of relentless punching and kicking, I feel remotely better. A twinge of guilt still eats at my core about Caroline, but I shove it down. I was very clear with her as I am with all women before I take them to my penthouse. Most accept my rules, but there are always the exceptions.

I’m about to jump into the shower when my cell phone vibrates, echoing across the locker.

Tony: I found the girl and her address. You want me to drop off the new book now?

Me: No, wait. I’ll see you at the office in fifteen.

Tony: Will do, capo.

That odd sensation fills my chest as I shove my phone into my pocket and decide to forego the shower for now. I need to find out who that woman is. If only to fuck with Bo.

CHAPTER8

C.E.O AND KING

Luca

A new wave of anger rushes my veins as I stare at my reflection in the fogged-up bathroom mirror. A scratch bisects my dark brow from my encounter with that piece of shit, Bo, and a faint bruise is beginning to form in the middle of my tattooed torso. I run my finger across my brow and scowl. It better not scar. The last thing I need is a permanent reminder of that asshole. I already have more than enough across my body.