Luca's Dilemma (25 page)

Seeing her in so little clothing had been wreaking havoc on his lascivious mind all through their travels. He’d tried desperately to coax her into the latrine on the plane ride there, trailing behind her and cornering her just outside the tiny room when she went to use it. But Sheila was too embarrassed to even consider his offer. Of all people, she didn’t want Rie to think less of her…

***

“It’s a private plane,” he’d pleaded, backing her against the wall by the bathroom door while struggling to keep his voice down and his painful hardness at bay. Discomfort plagued him beyond reason every second he’d taken to sell her on the idea.

“Are you out of your mind? I can barely fit my ass in there, let alone the two of us,” she whispered back with a slight hiss. “And, private plane or not, there are still plenty of people on board who would more likely than not figure out what we’re doing in there.” Her eyes darted back and forth with her paranoia, making her look more adorable than ever.

Damn it! Will I ever become a member of the Mile High Club?
he’d inwardly grumbled. “Trust me, they’ve done worse,” he’d stated in a last–ditch effort to persuade her.

But Sheila wouldn’t believe that the ever soft–spoken Rie could do such an act. He suspected Rie had heard what was going on. She was quick to wink at him and plant a huge smirk on her face the moment Sheila had closed the restroom door in his face. With nowhere to hide, he’d returned to his seat dejected.

***

However, now they were alone. There were no excuses and no interfering Rie to get in his way. Luca would never have thought it possible, but the combination of holding Sheila so close after twelve hours of celibacy and the sweet Caribbean air were making his male organ respond with increased vigor.

There was something I was supposed to tell her…

At that moment, things only got worse when Sheila stepped out of his arms and pulled her fancy tank top over her head, exposing way too much flesh for him to focus properly. The sheer white demi–cupped bra with its small red hearts over the nipples barely concealed the rigid peaks, the contrast of the vivid color against her skin making them stand out all the more. Luca’s salivary glands kicked into overdrive.

“You know what I like about this place?” Sheila asked as she undid her shorts and slowly slipped them down her shapely legs.

Luca nearly dropped to his knees when the sheer thong matching her bra came into view. A cleverly placed red heart barely covered her mound. A moment of paralysis overtook him as Sheila moved in close, pressing her ample breasts to his now overheated chest. Her beaded nipples strained against the barrier of his thin black T–shirt, causing his normally loose–fitting cargo shorts to become exceedingly uncomfortable.

“We can make love right here on this balcony, and no one would be the wiser.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure they’re all quite wise to it,” he stated breathlessly just before his lips descended on hers. Both of his hands zeroed in on her prized, naked backside, and he began grinding her against his erection. The light wind and the sound of the gentle waves of the beautiful scenery became music in the background of their forthcoming lovemaking.

What was meant to be a chaste kiss quickly deepened into a full–blown ravishing of her mouth. His tongue parted her lips, desperate to get to the sweet source of his addiction. Slowly, he moved it throughout her mouth, savoring her flavor and the feel of her luscious tongue doing battle with his. He about died when Sheila started sucking on his in the same manner she would soon take his hot pipe into her talented mouth.

Luca broke the kiss barely in time to avoid a premature explosion in his shorts and started raining open–mouthed kisses along her neck and clavicles, his hands cutting a sensual path toward her breasts. Sheila’s deep, throaty moans joined the musical symphony that accompanied them, her sensual notes drawing out longer when his hot mouth covered one of her ripe nipples through the fabric of her bra. Her erotic soliloquy of pleasure was driving him to the precipice of madness.

The expensive, flimsy material standing between Luca and the delightful morsels never stood a chance. With one strong tug, the gleaming bra was laid to waste on the tiled terrace floor. Almost tripping over the small table, he barely managed to position himself properly on one of two lounge chairs before straddling Sheila over his lap. Closing his eyes, he pushed the large globes together and began feasting on them as though devouring his last meal.

The beeping of his cell phone interrupted Luca’s dessert before dinner. Deciding to ignore it, he continued to move his mouth over the peaks of Sheila’s breasts, tremendously enjoying the way she began gyrating her nearly naked mound along his masked hardness. Beeping, he could ignore. Banging emanating from outside the suite door was a different matter altogether. Sheila’s disappointed groan spoke loud and clear for the both of them.

“Awww. Do you really have to get that?”

“Yeah, babe. I’m sorry.” A moan escaped him as he placed a long, lingering kiss to her lips. “Don’t forget,” he started, grabbing her buttocks to force her heat against his groin, “I plan to dine and dance right here when I get back. Keep your sweet spot warm for me.” He gave her one good thrust and then released her.

A huge smile lit Sheila’s face as she removed herself from his lap, the loss of her intense heat instantly distressing him. She began dressing while he headed inside to get the door where the banging had increased in intensity. Luca gave one last look back toward the terrace, making sure Sheila was out of view before opening the door. He’d never been one to share his treasures.

“What!” he shouted, opening the door to a flustered Drago.

“Damn, man, we just got here. Let the girl up for air already why don’t you?” Drago threw out in a not–so–polite tone as he stormed into the room and spun to face Luca.

Luca resisted the urge to laugh at his cousin who, for once, was wearing an Armani suit with Italian loafers, similar to Tyler’s signature look. He knew giving up the Don Johnson look for a week was killing Dre, especially in this heat, and probably adding to his petulance. But Tyler and Tony had succeeded in convincing his cousin that his preferred attire was a bit too drug–lordish for this specific territory.

“We need your expertise on something.”

“
My
expertise? I’m here with my lady on vacation. What the hell could they want with me?”

“Just tell Sheila you’ll be right back and get to stepping. We don’t have all day.”

“Okay, okay.” Luca hurried to the balcony to find Sheila lounging in the chaise they had just gotten frisky on. “I’ll be right back, babe,” he said, leaning over to steal a kiss and cop a feel. “Remember to have these ready for me when I get back.” He’d never get enough of her sweet mouth or those humongous boobs.

“I’ll do my part. You just hurry your fine ass back here.”

The sultriness of her voice and the sexy grin she gave made him forget why he was kissing her bye in the first place. He bent over and kissed her again, running the palm of his hand ever so slightly along the tips of her nipples. Even when subtle, that dirty mouth of hers was always his undoing.

“Come on, man!” Drago yelled from inside, prompting a reluctant Luca to break contact.

“I won’t be long, okay?” he promised as he backpedaled into the suite, trying to take in as much of her beauty as he could before leaving. The glimpse of her long, walnut–colored legs stretched out on the lounging chair beckoned him. “Ouch! Son–of–a…” The pain from Drago’s large fingers digging into his shoulder snapped him out of it.

“Damn, Lulu. Give it a rest.”

“What the fuck, Dre?” Luca gritted out between clenched teeth as they made their way down the hall toward the elevators. “What’s got your damn uptight pants on fire? Not to sound cliché, but this better be good.”

“Alberto wants you to take a look at his flu vaccine, which is due to arrive from Florida any minute now. He was going to have it delivered to your room to minimize encroachment on your time, but I suggested you come down instead. I didn’t think it would be wise to have it go down like that, am I right?” Drago gave him a pointed look.

The elevator arrived. Stepping in, Luca collapsed against the back wall and blew out a long breath as the doors drew together, closing them both in. The “flu vaccine” was code for the poison he’d brought to Sheila’s house that fateful night. Drago had done the right thing. The last thing he needed was a couple of seedy interlopers showing up at his door with a suspicious briefcase filled with the same vials Sheila’d found by his pants. Just as he’d been about to tell her something stupid like it was eye drops or some nonsense, she’d graciously returned it to his pocket without question. That’s when he knew she trusted him, trusted him when he should’ve been the last person she trusted.

“You’re welcome, asshole,” Drago said with a snicker. “I knew from the way you were all up on her during the plane ride there was no way you’d be communicating with her vocally when I showed up.”

Luca’s face heated. “Thanks, Dre. Now shut the fuck up!”

Chapter 21

The hot, tropical sun felt good on Sheila’s winter–weary skin. So good, in fact, she dozed off. Just as Luca’s ripped torso began to emerge from the sea, a soft knock sounded at the door, jolting her back into consciousness. With a stretch, she stood and made her way to the door, peeking out the peephole before opening it. Despite the place being well guarded from potential drug related violence, there was no need to chance getting jumped her first round in Cancun.

“Yes?” she called out politely after noting how out of place the person on the other side of the door looked.

“Pardon the intrusion, miss, but I have a special delivery for Mr. Moriatti.”

Her heart beat faster at the sound of the stranger’s voice. Now Sheila knew without a doubt the man wasn’t part of the hotel staff, nor was he anyone she’d met through Luca. The strong British accent and ugly bow tie would’ve emblazed themselves in her memory for sure.

“He’s in the shower at the moment,” Sheila fibbed. “Please leave whatever it is outside the door. Thank you kindly.”

“As you wish, ma’am. And please… have a pleasant afternoon.”

Sheila waited for the sound of his footsteps to fade before cautiously opening the door. She shifted her gaze in both directions of the long corridor before settling it on the items at her feet.

***

Luca was in turmoil. Steven had been spotted speeding away from the compound in a boat. He’d taken out two armed guards before being detected. Rie and Dre joined the others in a sweep of the compound to assess the damages and hopefully find answers as to what the devil he’d been doing there. After hearing the news, Luca, however, couldn’t get back to Sheila fast enough, entering the suite with such force the door banged off the adjacent wall and slammed shut from the kinetic energy.

“Sheila, where are you!” he yelled, borderline panic–stricken.

He immediately made his way toward the closed bedroom door. Opening it, he found her sitting on the edge of the king–sized bed, a vial of clear fluid in one hand and an old
Portland Press Herald
in the other. Her cat like eyes were even with the windowpane, but her gaze appeared to stretch far beyond the clear blue of the ocean. Her beautiful heart shaped face was devoid of emotion with the exception of the tears that had dried on her cheeks. That alone made him want to rip his beating heart from the confines of his chest and devour it.

“Baby, it’s not what you think.”

“Oh, really? So you happen to know what I’m thinking,” Sheila started, her voice strangely calm as her head mechanically pivoted to meet his gaze, “which only irrefutably validates that I’m correct in my overall assumption.”

Why is she suddenly talking like her mother?
“Uh, um, no, babe. You couldn’t possibly know all the details… That’s not what I wanted to say. I’ve loved you since the day I set eyes on you. That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to tell you about April or anything else. I wanted… no, needed to protect you.” His voice cracked from the pain he felt, the pain he had caused her.

One nicely shaped eyebrow lifted in confusion. “What on earth are you talking about, Luca? Wait a minute, you knew about April’s death?”

Shit
! Luca felt his stomach knot and a mammoth lump forming in his throat. “Is that
not
what you’re upset about?”

Sheila simply stared at him.

“Yes, Sheila, I knew. But I didn’t think it wise to tell you after all you’ve been through.”

“Luca, accidents happen all the time. I just wish you had given me the opportunity to mourn her instead of whisking me away and allowing me to go on believing she was safely going about her life, especially since it was my car she had been driving. That poor girl and her husband hadn’t been married a full year.” Tears stained her eyes before she moved them back to the window. Her voice filled with emotion. “You can’t keep treating me like I’m a child. I know you love me, but I do wish you had more confidence in my general abilities as an adult. I left the comforts of home to prove that I was a big girl now and that I can take care of myself. Quit being so overprotective.

“But the reason I’m upset with you is this.” She thrust the vial toward him, not moving her eyes from the window. “I didn’t think much of it when I found the empty one on the floor next to your pants, but now…” she trailed off. After taking a deep breath she continued. “I know life hasn’t been easy for you, and sometimes we think hiding behind something like this is the answer. It might seem like it for a while, but it’s never the true fix to your problems.”

Now it was Luca’s turn to be confused.

“Just tell me if you’re doing drugs,” she pleaded, meeting his gaze dead on. “I want to help you through this, baby, but admitting you have a problem is always the first step.”

Relief washed over him. Sheila thought he was on drugs. The trusting woman before him had just unwittingly granted him a reprieve. Though his heart swelled with love, his conscience was another story. “You’d do that for me? Stand by me while I went through detox?”