Chapter 26: The Recovery

Laura Conti's POV

After all the struggles and all the tortures that I have to go through because of Lucia was a psycho and mentally-ill person, Lucca had decided that I need to take a break from my teaching assistant and need a full recovery at his penthouse for 2 weeks. I mean, I can't just stay still around the penthouse and do nothing. I was an adventurous person, for god's sake! I going to have some conversation with Lucca one of these days.

"Laura, are you awake?" Lucca asked me as he was entering the bedroom that we shared. Yeah, after the incident, Lucca decided that I need to be in his watch 24/7. I mean, give a girl some space!

"Hmm," I said as I tried to get up from the bed. Lucca was bringing a tray of full breakfast and I was so hungry. After all, I need all the energy that I can to recover fast and get out of this freaking but spacious penthouse.

"I brought you breakfast, I hope you hungry," he said before my stomach growled. I blushed and pretended to look away, avoiding his smirk.

"Well, that answers my question then," he said, chuckling at me before I threw a murderous glare at him.

"well, thank you for making me wait all morning," I said bitterly before taking the tray and dug in like a pig, even though my body was completely slim and good looking.

"woah, easy there, tiger. There is no one going to take your food," he said before he took one slice of MY bacon. "well, except me," he said before getting up from the bed and went into the bathroom. I flipped him off before getting into my eating again. I don't know what came over me as I think I was more outspoken and said what I needed to to get it off my mind. Lucca doesn't seem to hate my new change of behavior.

"Dolcezza, which one is more suitable?" Lucca said as he emerged from the bathroom. He was wearing a black swimming trunk and the one that he was holding was red. He was asking me about the swimming trunk. His body was showing off at me as I gulped at the sight. His tanned skin was glistening under the morning rays. oh, good heavens, why was I acting like a horny teenager? For god's sake, I was a grown-up woman. Maybe because you're a virgin and never had sex with anyone and now this yummy gentleman was making a show for us, the dark side of my mind was whispering bad and erotic thoughts into my mind. I pushed them away before looking back at Lucca. He was looking at me with concern.

"well?" He asked. I looked at the swimming trunk and at the ones that he was holding.

"I like the black one better. It shows off your tan skin," I said without thinking. After I said that out loud, my face was hot and I was sure I was as red as a tomato. Lucca just smirked at my comment and went to the bed before sitting down next to me.

"really?" He said as he throws the red trunk somewhere. I was unable to focus on my food as I knew he was looking at me. I was so ashamed to face him now.

"hey, look at me," he said as he reached for my chin and pulled my head up to look at him instead of the breakfast that he brought in. Lucca was looked yummier than breakfast. He pulled my face closer as I can feel our breaths mingled together.

"shouldn't you be somewhere, I don't know, like a meeting or something?" I whispered as I looked at his delectable, full lips that I wanted to kiss so bad the moment I was in the cave for 5 days. All I could ever think was that I was unable to say anything to Lucca and I was afraid that if I did I would not able to, forever.

"I took 3 weeks off, someone needs to take care of you," he whispered as he was caressing my cheeks. I leaned into his touch as it was warm and cozy like honey.

"did you want to go swimming?" I asked as I can feel his touch on my face.

"hmm, it depends if you want to go with me," he whispered into my left ear as he nuzzled my neck, inhaling my scent. I was nuzzling his neck as I took in his masculine scent and I wished that he would stay like that with me forever. But, of course, at that very moment, I remembered the contract that I made with him. I cannot fall in love with him. Now that I knew who killed my dad, I need to stay away from him and forever gone from his life. I sighed at that thought.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He said as he was caressing my head. The tray of breakfast was long gone. I shook my head.

"Nothing," I said before looking into his slate orbs. Oh, how I'm going to miss it. I put my hands on his face as he holds me there. I smiled at him before I leaned in, slower and slower until our lips met each other. I stayed there for a while to remember all his features and lips as I imagined it in my head. No one was more perfect than he was. Lucca was frustrated when I did not move. He grunted before pushing me down on the bed and the tray went off onto the floor.

"don't worry about it," Lucca said as he broke our kiss before claiming my mouth. I gasped at his aggressive, possessive kiss before giving in. oh, how much I missed it, how much I want him to be mine and how much I want to claim him forever, contract or no contract.

"Lucca…" was all I said before he claimed my mouth again and his hands were roaming my body as I did on his. I played with the band of his swimming trunk before he hit my stomach.

"It hurts," I said after I broke the kiss as Lucca's hand was on my bandage. I was not fully recovered yet to go full-on caveman move.

"Sorry, I did not mean to," Lucca said as he kissed my cheek before checking my bandage for any leakage or blood spilling again. It has been 3 days after we returned from Albania. That whole incident made me think about going back for my Ph.D.

"here, let me help you," Lucca said before getting off me and put me into a comfortable position. He picked up the breakfast tray and went to clean it up. I looked at him as he was sweeping like a pro. I chuckled as I saw this different side of him.

"what's so funny?" He said as he stopped for his break. I smirked at him as I pretended that I was reading my review paper.

"Nothing, just something that I found funny," I said as I was trying to keep a straight face.

"oh?" He said as he put down the broom and went to the bed. I was waiting for the worst to come as he pecked me on the cheek before getting out of the bedroom, carrying the tray and the broom. I smiled at this playful side of him until I read one of my emails that required my full attention. If Lucca knew about this, he would be totally mad.

Lucca Giovanni's POV

I was whistling on my way out of the bedroom. I was so happy and content that Laura was talking to me but not in a dark way. She was more open to me now as I can see she was blushing at my sight when I just got out of the bathroom to show her my new trunks. I was smirking inwardly that only I can make her blushed so hard. God! I miss her already. I was putting the tray into the sink as I knew the housekeeper will do it tomorrow. I just wanted to go to Laura and snuggle with her, until my phone rang on the coffee table. I went to pick it up. The caller ID that I knew so much.

"Antonio, my man. How's the preparation going?" I said as I was looking into the bedroom if Laura eavesdropped my surprise for her. After the kidnapping, I need to make her mine as quickly as possible.

"Mr. Giovanni, dear, all the preparations were done. We only need your wedding date and the place of the wedding," Antonio said.

"Okay, the date will be 11 days from now. The location is at the Giovanni's Empire Hotel," I said as I can hear Antonio was writing on something.

"very well, sir. Have a good day, Ciao. Christina! What are you doing with that flower!" He said before he screamed and I ended the call right away. I shook my head at him before I wanted to tell Laura about this but it can wait until she was fully recovered. I put the phone down and walking gingerly toward the bedroom.