Luca walked me back to rehearsal shortly after our conversation came to that abrupt ending.  Blindfolded, Luca led me by the hand down our path.  The warmth that vibrated up my arm from his simple touch was overwhelming.  I'm guessing we took an elevator because I heard gears grinding and a soft ding before the din of doors opening.

Once inside wherever we were, Luca pressed me against the cool wall and grazed his lips over the side of my neck directly over my racing pulse turning my breathing erratic.  His hands gripped my hips the whole time. Until he just as suddenly stepped back, the ding and hum of doors opening, jolted him back to his usual statuesque posture I'm sure.  Luca continued to lead me by the hand until we stopped. When he removed the blindfold, I was standing in front of the stage with the other girls waiting to rehearse.

I was flustered to say the least but Luca seemed completely unfazed as he turned then quickly exited the lounge toward the offices. I waved off the shocked looks from some of the girls and the murderous glare from Giselle, determined to focus on rehearsal.

Shifts continued as normal over the next couple of days except the VIP table was empty of its usual occupants.  Back to my regular waitressing duties I smiled, made light conversation with some of the usual patrons and carried on. This was the first time I had seen all three family figureheads missing. Three days in a row.

The fourth day began the same as the previous ones.  Until while waiting for a drink order at the bar, a hand took firm hold of my arm. I spun around to yank away from whoever was touching but froze when I locked eyes with Luca's.

"Come with me," He ordered softly, abruptly taking the empty tray from my hand and placing it behind the bar.

Luca pulled me behind him a few paces until I yanked my arm free of his hold. He spun to face me with a look of shock and maybe even hurt.

"Where are we going?" I demanded, not shrinking back at his intimidating stance.

He took a step toward me, dark eyes intense beneath furrowed brows and again firmly took hold of my elbow.  "I want a private dance."

I visibly swallowed but followed as he tugged me into the last room at the far end of the hallway.  Luca didn't stop until the heavy curtain was closed.  Leaving me frozen by the curtain, he calmly turned around and sauntered toward the couch. Every movement had me mesmerized yet frozen in anxiety.  First Luca took off his suit jacket draping it on the table.  Next, he casually loosened and removed his tie to toss it over his jacket then unbuttoned his shirt a little.  Lastly, he flopped himself in the center of the couch then spread his arms comfortably across the back.

Suddenly shy under his scrutinizing and expectant gaze, I hugged myself waiting for him to tell me what to do.  I hadn't done this before.

"Relax, Gattina," He cooed through a stone cold face. "Dance for me."

I glanced nervously around the room, having not really had a chance with Braydan to see what was in there.  All I knew was that they were all the same. Other than the black leather couch Luca sat on, there was a small glass table beside it and a shiny black raised platform with a gleaming golden pole in the center.

Nervously I ascended the set of steps until I towered above him.  Luca pushed a button behind the couch and low music began to play. I closed my eyes allowing myself to get lost in the beat, imagining as I always did that I was alone and no one was watching.

Hips swaying languidly, swinging around the pole and flipping my hair like I knew he enjoyed, I did dance for him. Knowing the basics of what was expected during these private sessions, I swayed my hips and teasingly pulled at the straps to my burgundy lace corset. Just as the second strap fell off my shoulder, Luca sat up and reached out a hand.

"Stop, Gattina," He ordered in a hushed tone.  I did stop, scared maybe he wasn't liking my dance.  "Vieni qui." He gestured with his hand for me to come down, so I did, shyly replacing the straps in the process.

(Come here.)

Placing my hand in his, Luca gently tugged me onto his lap, guiding my legs to straddle him. I rested my hands on his chest once seated.

"Did I do something wro-..." I started to ask but Luca put a finger to my lips.

"No, not at all," He whispered, rubbing a gentle circle on my hip with his other hand. "I was waiting for Jimmy to pass by and see you with me.  He spies for Braydan.  Then I waited for Jarrett to be outside our door.  He is my personal bodyguard.  If you ever need help and don't immediately see me, call for Jarrett."

"OK," I agreed, steadily getting lost in those forest orbs and his soft touches.

"I need you to listen carefully, Gattina," He pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper.  "Heed my warning."

I stiffened and fidgeted but his gentle touch gradually calmed me.

"Braydan has requested from my father to have you as one of his Elite girls," Luca explained, his voice soft but clipped though I presumed it wasn't aimed at me.

"But I don't wa-..." I tried, tears welling up and burning my eyes.

"I know, Gattina," He soothed, wiping a fallen tear with his thumb. "Which is why I also requested to have you."

My brows furrowed in confusion.  "Y-you did?"

"I did," He answered, cupping my cheek in his hand that wiped the tear away.  "Is that something you would want?" For a brief moment, I saw a flash of fear in those eyes.

"What I want..." I closed my eyes and leaned into his hand.  "Is to be free again."

Luca sighed closing his eyes.  "I wish I could give you that," he confessed, meeting my glistening orbs with his again.  "Your debt is not settled.  Until then, all I can offer is my protection."

"Protection from what?" My soft voice cracked with sadness at hearing the harsh truth.

"You know from what," Luca answered, anger flashing in his eyes again.  "No one is exempt from punishment if they touch someone claimed but not theirs." I felt odd comfort at how he emphasized 'no one'.

I glanced at the ground briefly and licked my lips.  Luca's eyes were still trained on me as if gauging my reaction.

After a long pause, I asked, "What would be expected?"

Luca inhaled a slow breath as his eyes roamed my body and hands lazily travelled up my sides over the lacy covered cups of the bust on the corset.  His thumbs lazily grazed circles over the sides of my breasts then to my back, all the while a slight smirk of triumph toying at his lips.

"Well..." He exhaled, feigning contemplation.  "Private dances whenever I ask..." He paused and kissed lightly at my neck. I had to bite my lip to silence a moan. "That includes stripping, of course..." Lips grazed along my collarbone. "And...only I...get to touch you..."

My eyes flew open at that and I gasped softly.  I felt his slight chuckle as he pulled me to press closer to him. Sitting back, he leisurely pulled a strap down then leaned in to kiss my shoulder. When that one was down, hanging loosely on my arm, he switched to the other side and repeated the treatment. I rolled my eyes closed again, relishing in the softness of his lips on my heated skin.  Then, his words and demands fully sank in.

"So..." I swallowed.  "I'm exclusively yours?" My voice was so soft it was barely audible.

"Mhmm," He hummed his affirmative against my neck as his hands slid to begin undoing the clasps on the back of my corset. The faint snap as each one opened sounded as loud as a hammer to my ears. Or was that my heart beating?

"Like...your personal whore..." All his movements stopped and his hands returned to the neutral spot on my hips.

"Madison..." He growled a bit, not appreciating my accusation.  It was the first time he used my name and not his favored nickname, Kitten.

"Well, essentially that's what I would be, right?"

I stood and he didn't stop me.  I didn't go far, though, just to sit on the edge of the platform a few feet away.  The cold wood against the bare skin of my legs was soothing to my heated skin. I needed distance before I lost it.

Luca sighed and leaned his head forward in his hands, rubbing them over his face then roughly through his perfectly styled hair.  The tousled look was really sexy on him.

"I'm trying to protect you," He offered, his eyes pleading for me to understand. This was difficult. "Touching doesn't have to mean sex, Gattina."

I blinked a few times then frowned.  "It's still my body that you would be using!"

"I treat my girls very well," He growled again.  "Unlike many of my father's men. I would never do anything you did not agree to."

He stood then, that devious smirk growing a bit.  I scooted back on the platform in a pathetic attempt of getting that precious distance back. Luca placed a hand on either side of my hips on the platform, his lips so close to my ear I could feel his warm breath.

"Ti ecciti quando ti tocco?" Luca whispered seductively, dominance and confidence radiating off of him in magnetic waves. I scooched back more but he placed a knee between my legs and stealthily hovered above me. Ohh, if only he knew.

(Do you get excited when I touch you?)

"I don't understa-..."

"I can see it in how your breathing changes," Luca added in a dulcet tone, his eyes trailing down toward my heaving chest as I struggled for oxygen intake. He lightly nibbled and sucked on my ear lobe, then inquired further. "It's simple, Madison..." He peppered a kiss under my ear.  "Do you want me?"...another kiss down my neck.  "Or not?" Another kiss along my jaw. "Perchè ti voglio."

(Because I want you.)

My whole body was on fire.  "Y-yes..." I stammered, more like begged.

Instantly his was back above me.  "So you agree to be exclusively mine?" I nodded and his smirk turned to a genuine smile. "Eccellente."

Luca wrapped his arms around my back lifting me against him only to carry me back to the couch straddled on him. I draped my arms lazily over his shoulders much more relaxed this time as my reserved walls slowly crumbled.  He dove for my neck again while giving the 'fine print' in between words and while his hands wandered hungrily.

"My rules..." He continued in muted tones.  "You will get my mark..." His hands wandered to cup my ass.  "Tattooed to show you are mine." Those hands slid up my back and held the clasps again. "No one else gets private dances..." A clasp went unclasped.  "No one else touches you..." Another clasp and his smirk grew, eyes flicking up to mine. "No more stripping on that stage." He kissed at the top swell of my breast, working his way toward the center.  "You can say stop at any time," He grazed his lips to kiss the swell of the other breasts.  Cupping my cheek again, forest orbs trained on mine, Luca added earnestly, "I won't ever harm you..." Then continued with the hint of a growl in his tone, "But I will...harm anyone who harms you. Do you understand?"

I nodded silently, licking my lips nervously. 

"And..." He smirked grazing his lips at my jaw again. "I don't kiss on the lips...Is that a problem?"

Yes.

"No," I managed to get out, my body ready to implode.

"Buona," He answered, his voice deeper and husky. 

(Good.)

Quickly he undid the last few clasps then lifted me to lay me on the couch.  Luca straddled me this time as his kisses covered any exposed flesh he could find. Once satisfied with the attention given my chest, he skipped over my loosely laying bra down to my stomach and peppered kisses there.

Each kiss he left was lava searing my skin. I grabbed hold of the arm of the couch trying not to squirm under him.  Teasingly, Luca lowered the side of my bikini bottoms down and kissed at my pelvic bone. I gasped and arched my back in response to the warm tingles that ripped through me.  He found a very ticklish spot.

"Il mio marchio andrà proprio lì ..."  He chuckled, warm breath fanning against my skin as he kissed again, firmer this time then switched to the other side, testing for a similar reaction.  He got it.

(My mark will go right there...)

My breathing sped with nervousness the closer he got to my center, my body beginning to tremble slightly.  Luca noticed and slowed to a stop.

"Cosa c'è che non va, Gattina?" He asked gently, eyebrows furrowed as they searched my eyes for the answer.  "Are you nervous?"

(What's wrong, kitten?)

I nodded.  "A little..."

"Perché, dolcezza mia? I won't hurt you."  His gentle smile somewhat eased my nerves.

(Why, my sweet?)

"D-doesn't it always hurt?" My cheeks flushed.  "The first time?"

I felt his body stiffen and he lifted himself off me to kneel back on the couch. Sitting up on my elbows, I tried to read his expression. Was he angry? Would he care?

"You are untouched?" Luca asked, brows furrowed.

All I could do was bite my lower lip and nod slowly. 

"Mi dispiace," He sighed then hovered back over me again, pressing his forehead to nuzzle at my neck. 

(I'm sorry)

"Why are you sorry?" I asked, diving my fingers into his hair which I had been aching to do for weeks.  This last phrase was one of a few I had indicated I understood.

"This is not how your first time should be," He groaned.  "It's how mine was and you deserve better."

Now it was my turn to cup his cheeks and made him look at me. "So did you," I assured him offering a warm smile. 

He kissed the tip of my nose then sighed as he sat me back up into his lap and redid the clasps of my bra. "I'm going to need a cold shower tonight, Gattina," He grumbled. "Let's just start with my mark and take it from there, hmm?"

I nodded as he pulled me to him in an embrace.  During that moment, I heard footsteps come into our room then a sharp sting in my hip.

"Hey!" I jolted and glared at Luca.

"Perdonami, Gattina," He sighed as my world turned fuzzy. "I have to. It's the rules."

(Forgive me, kitten)

The last things that registered were a gentle kiss on my cheek and Luca's strong arms holding me as everything faded to black.

She agreed! Uh oh,  Brayan is causing trouble behind the scenes lol

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