Chapter 59: The Present
Luca stepped closer, his eyes still locked on her, glowing with admiration and something deeper—something primal.
"So," he said, voice low, soft, and teasing, "where's my birthday present?"
Janet looked away, cheeks burning red. Her fingers nervously curled around the edge of her dress.
"I… I don't know if you'll like it," she whispered.
He stepped even closer, towering in front of her now. "Try me."
She looked up into his eyes, gathering the courage she had never thought she'd need. Her voice trembled slightly as she said, "I… I like you, Luca. I really do. And I'm grateful for everything you've done for me… all this time. Even when I was broken… you stayed."
His heart felt like it stopped. For a moment, all he could do was look at her, stunned, awestruck, his mind catching up with the words she had just spoken.
And then… he couldn't hold back.
With a sudden pull, he brought her into his arms, crushing his lips onto hers.
It was deep, hungry, and full of all the emotions he had been holding in.
His hands gripped her waist, fingers tightening around the soft skin of her exposed hip through the high slit of her dress. Her hands tangled into his hair, pulling him closer. His lips traveled from her mouth to her neck, leaving trails of kisses there.
She gasped softly, and he lifted her effortlessly into his arms, one arm under her thighs, the other across her back. Her bare thigh brushed against his arm, her breath warm on his cheek.
"Luca…" she whispered.
He looked at her—his eyes fierce, but his voice gentle.
"I'm taking my present with me."
And he carried her toward the stairs, never breaking eye contact, the night stretching before them, heavy with anticipation.
He pushed open the door to his room.
And it closed behind them with a soft click.