Chapter 99

Chapter 55

Amber lay in Luca’s arms, her body trembling with the aftershocks of pleasure, her legs weak and unsteady as though they could no longer support her weight even if she tried. Her voice was hoarse, worn raw from crying out his name, her breaths shallow and uneven as she struggled to recover. The remnants of her torn panties still bound her wrists to the headboard, a testament to the unbridled passion they had shared.

She had initially felt a flicker of disappointment when it became clear they couldn’t consummate the night in the way she had longed for. It was a fleeting thought, drowned out by the firestorm he had unleashed within her. Luca had taken care of her, over and over again, driving her to peaks she hadn’t known were possible, until her body was a trembling, blissful mess.

Now, utterly spent, Amber could barely summon the energy to move. Every part of her ached—not from pain, but from the sheer intensity of what they had shared. Her chest rose and fell in time with his, her head resting limply against his shoulder. She felt him shifting beside her, his warm, calloused fingers carefully working to untie her makeshift restraints.

As soon as her wrists were free, she instinctively reached up, draping her arms around his neck, clinging to him like a lifeline. Luca let out a soft chuckle, the sound low and rumbling in his chest, his amusement tinged with affection.

“You’re not letting me go, are you?” he murmured, his lips brushing against her temple.

Amber’s only response was a sleepy murmur as she nuzzled closer, burying her face in the crook of his neck. She was too exhausted to speak, too overwhelmed to do anything but hold him. Luca shifted again, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer as he eased them both down onto the bed.

He reached for the duvet, tugging it up and over their bodies, cocooning them in warmth. The scent of him—musky and familiar—filled her senses, lulling her into a state of deep, bone-deep contentment. Amber’s head rested against his chest, her ear pressed to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was a sound that anchored her, a quiet reassurance that she was safe, cherished.

His hand moved to her hair, his fingers threading gently through the strands as his thumb grazed the curve of her scalp in soothing, rhythmic motions. It was a small gesture, but one that spoke volumes—a tender, unspoken promise that she was his, and he would always care for her.

“Goodnight, mia amore,” Luca whispered, his voice soft and velvety, the words carrying the weight of his love for her. He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, his lips warm against her skin.

Amber jolted awake, startled by the cacophony coming from the other side of the bedroom door. She sat up quickly, the duvet slipping down her bare shoulders as she rubbed her eyes, trying to shake the lingering haze of sleep. Judging by the sunlight flooding through the window, it was no longer morning but well into noon. Still naked from the night before, she glanced around and noticed Luca was nowhere to be seen.

The sounds were unsettling—a mix of thuds, cheers, and crashes that sent her heart racing. It sounded less like a household and more like a battlefield. Pulling the duvet tighter around her for a moment of composure, she sighed before slipping into her robe and tying it hastily around her waist. Her bare feet padded against the cool floor as she made her way toward the commotion, her stomach sinking with each sound.

When Amber stepped into the living room, her jaw nearly dropped. The space, once tidy and serene, had been transformed into what could only be described as a makeshift basketball court. A broken laundry hamper had been strung up high on the wall, precariously tied to a light fixture. Nico was in the center of the chaos, energetically tossing objects into the "hoop." His ammunition? Anything he could get his hands on—old balls, teddies, slippers, even what appeared to be one of Amber’s throw pillows.

Her son’s wild enthusiasm was contagious but also maddening. As he launched a worn slipper through the hoop with exaggerated flair, he turned to her with wide, sparkling eyes.

“Mummy, look!” he exclaimed, running up to her with a proud grin. “Daddy says I play like Micel… Micel… umm… Jor-something!”

Amber groaned inwardly, torn between annoyance and amusement. “Michael Jordan,” she corrected through gritted teeth, her gaze drifting to the growing pile of clutter in the corner. The mountain of toys, household items, and sheer chaos made her cringe. She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to rein in her frustration.

“Nico!” she said sternly, hands on her hips. “Stop that right now!”

Nico, ever the budding performer, put on his most dramatic pout. His lower lip trembled, his big eyes welled up with crocodile tears, and he sniffled for added effect.

“But Mummy…” he whined, clutching his teddy bear like a lifeline. “Papa said it was okay!”

Amber’s eyes narrowed as her irritation shifted to a new target. She exhaled sharply, her jaw tightening as she thought, Oh, don’t worry, Nico. I’ll deal with your papa next.

With determination fueling her steps, she marched toward the kitchen, her robe billowing slightly behind her. She found Luca sitting casually on the floor, his back against the wall, laptop perched on his knees. He was deep in a work call, one earbud in, typing away with an air of focus that made her blood boil.

Amber stood frozen for a moment in the kitchen doorway, her fingers tightening around the mug she held as Luca’s voice carried through the air. He sat on the floor, still casually leaned against the wall, his laptop propped up on his knees. The man on the other end of the video call—Alessio Giovanni, Luca’s sharp-tongued lawyer and long-time friend—was speaking animatedly. His crisp suit and round glasses gave him an air of professionalism, but his words carried the kind of casual irreverence that set Amber’s teeth on edge.

“This is not good, Luca. I’m not kidding,” Alessio said firmly, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “You’re not taking this seriously. Your family and the Forentino family are starting to sling some serious allegations against you. Mr. Forentino, in the very first directors’ meeting after you left, publicly announced that you were a useless, cheating, thieving bastard. And guess what? Your mother was right there when he said it.” Alessio’s tone grew sharper. “You see where I’m going with this?”

Luca leaned back against the wall, utterly unbothered, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Not really,” he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Alessio groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Luca, rumors are swirling, not just within the company but throughout the network. This is bad. This could ruin your reputation. No legal action has been taken yet, but if they decide to, what’s your plan?”

Amber watched as Luca’s smirk turned into a half-laugh. He shrugged nonchalantly, his tone half-joking but razor-sharp. “Then I’ll drag them all through the mud until they’re on their knees, begging for my forgiveness.”

The lawyer let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head. “I’m your lawyer, Luca. I’m supposed to defend you, but you make me want to reach through the screen and strangle you.”

Amber could already feel her blood simmering, but Alessio’s next words were the tipping point. “By the way,” Alessio continued, switching gears, “your ex-fiancée is making headlines again—this time for all the wrong reasons.” He smirked, clearly enjoying delivering gossip. “The evening papers ran a photo of her last night, kissing her bodyguard behind a nightclub.”

Luca raised an eyebrow, looking faintly amused. “Saw it,” he said casually. His voice softened, tinged with sincerity. “I hope she has better luck with him.”

Alessio raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. “That’s generous of you. Though, I wonder if her father will disown her for it.”

Luca chuckled lightly. “Let’s hope not. I’d say she’s had enough punishment already.”

“Punishment? You mean from being left at the altar by you? How many times was it, Luca? Thirteen? Fifteen?” Alessio asked, his smirk growing wider.

“It was twice,” Luca snapped, clearly irritated.

“Twice, sure,” Alessio drawled sarcastically before laughing. “But I’ll give you this—you seem like you’re in a really good mood today. Better than I’ve seen you in months, maybe years. What’s the secret? Did your ex-wife finally put it out for you again? You always did lust after her more than anyone else.”

Amber’s jaw clenched, her blood boiling. Her eyes flashed as she stepped into the room, her footsteps decisive and her robe billowing behind her. She had been holding herself together—barely—but Alessio’s crude words were the final straw.

Luca looked up in surprise, his eyes widening. “Oh! You’re up—”

Amber ignored him and marched straight toward the laptop. Alessio’smiled. “Hi, Amber,” he said back to his charming self. “You look good. I was just telling Luca how happy I am that you two are back together—”

Without a word, Amber grabbed the laptop and snapped the screen shut with a sharp click. The device powered down, cutting off Alessio mid-sentence.

Luca’s amused chuckle broke the tense silence. “Well, mi amore, you did put it out for me last night,” he teased, his voice low and playful. “No need to be angry—because it did made me very happy.”

Before she could retort, Luca was in front of her, his hands warm and firm as they cupped her face. He leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that stole her breath. Her anger wavered, melting under the intensity of his touch.

When he pulled back, his lips brushed against her ear, his voice a low, teasing whisper. “You know the first thing I did this morning? I went out and bought condoms. Tonight, tesoro, it’s my turn.”