Page 59 of Ruthless King

He freezes, eyes widening.

I lace steel into my tone despite the growing tremors. “Because that’ll be it, right? Just one time and then you’ll be done with me. Like Caroline said.”

He withdraws his finger, and I barely resist the urge to growl in frustration. His dark brows knit as he regards me with the fire of a thousand suns. Endless seconds pass, then torturous minutes. He doesn’t utter a word as a battle plays out in his mind. I don’t understand why his rules are so important, why he refuses to give in. He wants this as bad as I do, somehow, I’m certain.

Unthreading his hand from my hair, he slides it down to my ass and lifts me up as he rises.

“What are you doing?”

“We need to cool off.” His long strides carry us off the blanket, and before I have a chance to scream, he runs across the old dock and leaps into the pond.

Icy water envelops me, only the warmth of Luca’s arms driving away the chill. I splutter as he straightens, and we’re wading in the middle of the shallow pool. “Sei pazzo?” I shriek as I push out of his hold. This man has completely lost his mind. “Why would you jump into the lake?”

A ridiculous grins splits his lips, softening the typical tight set of his jaw. “I told you we needed to cool off.”

“Maybe you did!” I shout. “I was perfectly fine.”

“Please, I would’ve had you coming on my lap in a few more seconds.”

“Bastardo,” I snarl.

“And don’t get me wrong, I’m going to make you come again, just on my terms.” He shoots me a wicked grin, and it’s a damned good thing I’m already soaked.

I smack the water and send a wave across that stupid smirk.

He shakes his head out like a wet dog and runs his hands down his face. “Behave or I’ll dunk you again, princess.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

That smile morphs into something truly wicked. Those eyes flash, and he’s on me before I blink. His arms wrap around my torso and pull me under. I struggle against him as the icy water tingles across my skin, but my blood still burns from his touch.

He pulls me back up to the surface, and I gulp in a breath of air. With his arms still enveloping me, all I get is a lungful of Luca. That spicy, musky scent of bergamot and hot pepper does nothing to quell the burning in my chest.

He licks his lips as he watches me. “You know, you forgot to beg.”

“What?” I squeal.

“Back there—” He jerks his chin at the blanket. “You kissed me without having to beg for it per our previous conversation.”

“First of all, you kissed me. Second of all, like I said before, I’ll never beg for anything from you, Luca Valentino.”Liar. A dark voice in my mind calls me out on the complete and utter bullshit. I was already so far gone for this man I’d done a number of idiotic things, and I had a nasty feeling this was only the beginning.

“Never say never, princess.” A devious smile pulls at those perfect lips. “I also said I’d follow my rules till the day I died until you blew back into my life.” He wades closer, and I take a step farther. Confusion at his words freezes me to the spot.

“Back?”

His dark brows slam together. “What?”

“You saidbackinto your life?”

His jaw clenches, a faint tendon pulsing beneath the five o’clock shadow. “Yeah, after the day I met you atNonna Maria’s.” That cool mask slips back on, and I’m certain I’ve missed something. “Who knew my cute waitress would end up as a bargaining chip at the pawn shop?”

I regard him for a long moment, but his expression is unreadable.

“Come on, we better get you out of those wet clothes.”

I eye him, my soaked t-shirt clinging to my skin. “You brought us a spare set?”

He nods. “Of course, I did. I used to be a boy scout, the Italian version anyway. Always prepared.”