OLIVIA

L'Ombra's familiar buzz held a new edge tonight. My hands were steady, my smile perfectly in place as I balanced trays of expensive liquor and handled small talk with ease. Everything felt a lot easier after yesterday's target practice. Like I'd found my rhythm.

A flicker of movement caught my eye. It was the two members I'd noticed before. The beautiful dark-haired woman finally moved towards the guy.

Not that she'd ever been truly far from him. 

Even in the packed club, I'd catch her little side glances when she thought no one saw. And him? He smiled at everyone, but his eyes always brightened whenever they landed on her.

Subtle tells, but those two had circled each other since I started here.

The man shifted closer, the crinkles at his eyes deepening as they settled at a table. Something was definitely happening tonight.

My steps quickened until I caught up with Adam at the bar. "Hey, that's your table, right?"

"Yeah." His eyebrow arched. "Hopefully, they are in a spending mood."

"Trust me, they will be. They've had eyes for each other for a while."

"Need something, newbie?"

I shook my head. "No. Just to let you know she likes her martinis extra dirty. The filthier, the better. And he has a weakness for rare whisky. Neat."

"And you're telling me this because..."

"It might be a nice surprise for them. Start their evening on a good note." Despite his sceptical look, I pressed on. "They'll love you for it. Might even earn you a generous tip."

With a shrug, he relented and motioned to the barman to make the drinks I'd suggested. "If you say so. Better pray you're not wrong."

I wasn't. Surprise melted into shared delight on their faces when he arrived at their table. Her laughter became lighter, and the man's smile a shade warmer as they enjoyed their drinks with clear approval.

But it was nothing compared to the satisfaction that spread through me—they were hitting it off.

Throughout the evening, I fed Adam tips. The fresh berries she adored whenever she was at L'Ombra. His soft spot for a smoky Islay whisky. Each perfectly timed refill or witty quip from Adam dissolved their hesitation, drawing them closer.

And when they finally disappeared toward one of the playrooms hand-in-hand, I couldn't contain my pleased grin.

"Gotta admit, newbie, that was some wizardry you pulled." Adam pressed a few folded fifties into my palm. "Your half. Couldn't have done it without you."

" But—" I protested, but he'd already moved on. 

"Take it, Olivia. You've earned it."

Warmth flushed my face. Not from the crazy tip in my hand but his acknowledgement. It hit differently coming from the club's star server and knowing that I helped him secure that tip.

"Not bad, Taylor." Carlos' voice made me turn. He stood on the other side of the bar, arms crossed, something unfamiliar softening his stern features. "I've been watching you for the past few hours. Those two have been dancing around each other for months, but you read them like an open book. Keep it up—we need that kind of intuition here."

Wait. An actual compliment? From Carlos? The man who I was convinced lived to make my shifts difficult? Hell must have frozen over when I wasn't looking.

Pride swelled in my chest, dizzying and overwhelming. I'd earned this—all me. Not because of Luca or any special treatment, but my own skills and merits. 

The giddy high lingered even as Carlos returned to work and I cleared tables, my steps lighter... until Naomi blocked my path.

"Olivia. Got a minute?"

Everything inside me sighed. Of course she'd appear now when everything was finally going well. So much for a perfect shift.

My shoulder tensed, but I matched her cordial tone. "What can I do for you?"

"Oh, I wanted to apologise for the other night. It was out of line."

If I didn't know better, I'd have definitely believed hell hadn't just frozen—it had turned into a skating.  What was she up to? "It's fine. Water under the bridge."

"Glad to hear." She placed a hand on my arm, her manicured nails digging in just shy of painful. "I'd hate for things to be awkward. Especially now everyone knows you're shagging the boss."

There it is. I straightened my posture and met her gaze head-on before it slid to my necklace.

"Guess I'm confused." She shrugged. "For someone who insisted nothing was going on, things sure changed pretty fast."

Heat flared inside me. I was done being the scapegoat for her misplaced jealousy and insecurities.

"Is my work ethic a problem for you, Naomi?" I clicked my tongue in sympathy as genuine as her smile. "Must be exhausting to be so busy worrying about everyone else's performance. It's a wonder you get anything done."

Her nostrils flared. "You think being his fucktoy makes you untouchable, don't you?"

God, I itched to slap the sneer off her face and tell her exactly where she could shove her attitude and assumptions, but I wouldn't stoop to her level.

"This might be difficult for you to grasp, but my value isn't determined by any man. I work hard like everyone else. Try focusing on yourself. The results might surprise you."

Shock replaced the nastiness in her kohl-lined eyes. About time she realised I wasn't a pushover.

I walked away, head high, not giving her a chance to fire another bitter barb.

That was satisfying.

Almost as good as Luca's praise—

"Miss Taylor." A giant figure in a black suit materialised in front of me. One of the club's security guards. Had he overheard our spat? "Mr Moretti wants to see you in his office."

I blinked, then blinked some more. Mr Moretti? Luca would never summon me like this at work. But then wh— 

Dante.

What now? Time for another threat, despite Luca making his protection clear? Or was he on Team Naomi?

Dread settled in my stomach as I followed the bouncer to the restricted top floor.

"Through there." He gestured to the left door in the big office lounge. Was the other door Luca's?

My heart hammered against my ribs so loud I was sure Dante could hear it from the other side. Squaring my shoulders, I opened the door and stepped in.

Strong hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer before I could realise what was happening.

"I need you, little doe." Luca.

His voice fractured something inside me. Hearing him so raw and anguished sent a flood of panic through me.

"What's wrong?" Frantically, I searched him for any signs of injury, yet there were none. No visible ones, at least. He looked wrecked, coming apart at the seams. "Are you hurt?"

Instead of answering, he captured my wrists and brought my palms to his lips. The tender kiss was almost like he needed to confirm I was real.

A heartbeat, then another, before he finally said, "I'm fine. It's just...a difficult day. And you remind me there are still beautiful things in this world."

Terror clawed up my throat at the dark torment bleeding through his words.

"Luca, you're scaring me. Please tell me what's going on. What happened?"

His eyes were wild, the warm brown swallowed by the blown pupils. Haunted. Lost.

"Nothing, cara." A blatant lie. The practised denial couldn't mask the truth hiding beneath. "Fuck. I shouldn't have called you like this. I'm sorry—"

"Stop. You're not fine," I whispered and cupped his face, my thumb tracing the tension knotted in his jaw. "And you have nothing to apologise for."

Rising to my toes, I pressed my lips to his stubbled jawbone. His cheek. The tight corner of his mouth. Every kiss was warmth and reassurance. "I'm here, okay? Whatever it is. Whatever you need."

Something cracked in his expression. In an eye blink, he lifted me off the ground, my legs hitching around his hips as he devoured my lips. Not his usual calculated seduction but the clumsy clash of a starving man. Voracious. Demanding.

Plundering and possessing as if I were the oxygen he needed.

"I'm here," I breathed between kisses, dazed and drunk on the sweep of his tongue. "Right here."

Each touch burned until I was mindless with the need to absorb every ounce of his pain and soothe his soul.

"Tell me what you need, Luca. Let me give it to you."

His forehead fell against mine, and a single word ghosted across my lips. "You."

Blood roared in my ears as I tugged him closer, sealing my mouth over his, drinking down his tortured groan.

A rough exhale shuddered from him. His fingers tightened on my hips, and he walked us backwards until the edge of his desk dug into my arse. But the discomfort was fleeting, eclipsed by the wave of lust that crashed over me when he sent everything flying to the floor and placed me on the wooden surface.

"I need to lose myself in you." Urgency roughened his movements as he pushed my uniform up my waist, his fingertips grazing the cotton between my thighs.

Yes. God, yes.

My impatient hands fumbled with his belt. A whimper caught in my throat as I pushed his trousers down. He was already hard, straining the fabric of his briefs, and I palmed him through the material.

"Fuck," Luca bit out, his hips jerking into my touch.

God, it was unreal how badly I wanted him. Every inch of him. I slipped my hand under the waistband and wrapped my fingers around his throbbing length. Our breaths mingled while I stroked him from base to tip, his hands kneading my breasts with each stroke. The harsh pants and groans I coaxed as I worked him spurred me on faster and tighter.

"I've got you." I nipped at his bottom lip.

A bitten-off curse was my only warning before he hooked my leg over his hip.

"Shit! Condoms." Frustration seeped from his tone. "I don't keep any here."

Tiny, shameful delight accompanied the ripple of relief that ran through me. Had he never brought other women to this office?

"Good thing I'm on the pill," I said, leaving out the details about it being for medical reasons, and freed up his cock fully. Nothing was stopping us from getting what we both needed right now.

His eyes flared, molten and greedy, hunger replacing the surprise. One quick tug,  he pulled my underwear aside and stroked between my folds with his thumb.

"Always so ready for me. My perfect, good girl."

Those words. That voice. My undoing every single time.

Writhing against him, I let my thighs fall wider and guided him to my core.

"Look at me, Olivia." No little doe, no Mia this time. "Tell me you want this. That you want me."

How could he doubt that? I wanted to be the shelter, his sanctuary from whatever demons haunted his mind.

My fingers hooked onto his collar, and I pulled him down until our breaths tangled and our lips hovered a whisper apart. "I want you. Every single broken, dark, beautiful piece," I murmured and kissed him.

Luca drove into me with a swift, deep thrust, burying his face in my hair. I nearly sobbed as he stretched me, then possessed me with each stroke.

The office filled with the slap of flesh and our moans. Doing this here, of all places, during my shift was the height of unprofessional, but I didn't care. Not when he held me like I was his salvation.

"Closer," I gasped, drunk on his scent and the bite of his fingers digging into my thighs.

Driven by my need for more of him, I pushed against his chest until he stumbled back into the oversized office chair behind his desk, and I climbed into his lap.

"Cavolo." His hands flexed on my waist as I sank down, my walls fluttering around his thick length.

Sensation ricocheted through my body when I swivelled my hips. The tiniest movements sent shockwaves rippling outward. I framed his face with my hands,  and found an easy, deep rhythm, undulating against him as if we had all the time in the world to savour every inch of our connection.

"Let me take care of you." Slowly, I dragged my lips along his throat, tasting the salt of his skin and the drumbeat of his pulse.

The universe became nothing but the rasp of his stubble against my flesh and the heat of his breath fanning my collarbone. I moved with purpose, every deliberate roll and grind fuelling the inferno between us until we were both feverish. Aching.

"Olivia..." He groaned when I ripped his shirt open and scattered kisses across his chest.

His eyes squeezed shut, his face contorting like he battled the storm inside his mind alone.

"Stay with me, Luca." My palms clung to the nape of his neck while I rocked back and forth along his length. "Don't go where I can't follow."

Gradually, his lashes lifted, and his gaze found mine, anchoring him to this moment, to us. 

His tightening grip urged me faster. Harder. And I readily obliged, riding him, chasing the tension coiling tighter in my core.

"That's it, let go," I breathed against his parted lips. "I'm right here. Not going anywhere."

Our bodies met in an obscene dance, moving as one, our panting breaths a sensual counterpoint.

"Come with me, little doe."

The gentle command unravelled me. He swelled and jerked inside me, and I followed him over the edge, the explosion of my orgasm releasing through my muffled cry as I kissed him deeply.

Desperation coloured the way his hands mapped my back, his nose buried in my hair as we lay in the chair. Like he ached to crawl inside my skin and stay there.

"You're too fucking good for me." Hushed words shaped against my collarbone. "Far better than I deserve."

The conviction in his statement broke my heart. What had happened to make him believe that? 

I pressed my fingers to his lips. "Don't say that. It's not true. You deserve everything good. Everything."

A thousand more reassurances were ready to tumble out, but instead, I swept away the sweaty strands from his forehead. "Will you be okay?"

"Now I will."

One more soft, lingering kiss. Then he set me on my feet so we could straighten our clothes. 

Despite the nagging need to ask him what had bothered him, I held back. It was his call to decide when he was ready to share, and when that time came, I'd be there for him, willing to ease the weight of whatever was burdening him.

Still, part of me wanted to stay, burrow into his arms, and shut out the world a little longer. But I couldn't. 

"If you need me, you know where to find me." I fixed his shirt with a tender smile. "Dinner at home later?"

The slow curl of his mouth settled the anxious flutter in my stomach. "Si. Dinner at home." He brushed his lips against the inside of my wrist. "I'll cook."

"You're spoiling me."

"As I should. Now go before I lock my door and bend you over this desk."

Rolling my eyes, I feathered a kiss to the corner of his mouth, breathing him in, and slipped out of his office.

How long had I been gone from my station? Hard to tell without my mobile, but hopefully, not long enough for Carlos to notice.

"I trust you have a reason for being here."

Dante stood on the other side of their office lounge, eyes narrowed at my probably dishevelled appearance. I didn't need to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking and what assumptions he'd made. 

But I refused to let it faze me. "Luca needed me."

"Is that so?" His tone stayed neutral as he approached. "Well, don't let me keep you from returning to your actual duties. The exit is that way. And don't forget our little chat."

He breezed past me into Luca's office without another word and slammed the door behind him.