you're mine

Chapter 50

Luca stares at me, his emotions hard to place. "What did you just say?"

His tone sounds angry, like he didn't admit to loving me a hundred times himself. The hairs on the back of my neck stand as I try to read his expression.

"I love you." My voice is shaking with uncertainty this time. I'm certain I love him but am i certain this is the right thing to say?

"You love me?" He stays still.

"Yes." I admit.

"I...." Luca pushes himself into a sitting position.
"I never thought this would happen." He breathes.

"That I would love you?"

"That anyone would." He replies. My eyes cross his face, examining his features as though I can look hard enough and see into his mind.

"Your grandparents loved you."

"Not like this." He pulls me closer into a hug, my body feeling crushed beneath him. "I love
You too." He smiles, placing quick pecks of kisses onto my head.

"Your hurting me."

Luca doesn't loosen his grip until I pull backwards. His features start to form into a dark stare before I pull him into a kiss. With my face pressed against his, I can almost feel his face relax again as I do. Luca deepens the kiss by gliding his tongue along my lower lip then slipping it into my mouth.

.....

"Good morning."

Those two words are the first thing I hear when I wake up. Large hands hold me against a warm body. My head tilts when I look up.

"Good morning." I echo. My neck stretches up and my lips press against his already plump ones.

Lucas fingertips run down my side, sending a comforting feeling through my body. The type you would stay in bed all day just to feel.

I pull the blanket off of us and step out of bed, strolling over to the vanity, still feeling half asleep. Chris had placed our clean clothes onto  the dresser last night whilst he was waiting for the kettle to boil  to enjoy his nightly cup of tea. He says it helps him unwind and fall asleep since he buys decaf tea. He even offers us all one before we head to bed, too; even Ella.

"Here." I chuck over a pile of clothes belonging to Luca.

"Getting dressed so soon?" He raises an eyebrow.

"If I stay in bed with you any long I won't leave." I chuckle lightly.

"I'm sure we will find some place we can stay, then you can lay in bed with me for as long as you desire." He smirks.

"I'm going to miss them." I sigh as i start getting dressed in my previous clothes.

"I told you not to get attached." Lucas smirk drops. He almost looks angry at me when he bites down, tightening his jaw.

"I'm not. But won't you miss them? Chris, at least?"

"No." He replies bluntly, pulling his jeans up.

"Are you sure? You seem to be bonding with him. I mean, isn't this what you want?"

"What? A man I just met?"

"Well now you just met him. But if we stayed.... He would become family."

"I don't need him...And neither do you, so get that fucking idea out of your head."

"Are you mad at me?" I frown to which he replies with a sigh.

"No. I'm not mad at you. I just don't want you thinking I need a dad or whatever you want him to be. And I don't want you thinking you need anyone other than me." Luca pulls his t shirt over his head, covering the body my eyes kept darting down towards during this conversation.

"I just want you to have everything you want." I explain.

"Who said I wanted this?"

"No one." My eyes fall to the ground.

"Exactly. I only want you." He swiftly moves closer and rests his hands on my cheeks. "I love you."

"I love you too." My lips curve upwards into a small smile.

"Say it again."

"I love you." Leaning forward, my lips press against his. His hand quickly travels down my back, grabbing my ass.

"Come on, let's get some breakfast."

....

"Ah, just in time. I've made pancakes!" Chris beams at us whilst he stands at the stove, flipping a pancake onto an old pan.

Ella sits at the dinner table, filling her small mouth with pancake cuttings and various fruits.

"Thanks." Luca smiles back at the man, picking up two plates with three pancakes on each. He follows me over to where Ella sits and places the plates on the table in front of two chairs next to each other. Placed in front of us are different pancake toppings in the middle of the table, ready for us to decorate our breakfast with.

Luca hands me a pot of syrup after soaking his breakfast in it. I copy, then grab different fruits, completing the pancake dish.

By the time our pancakes are filled with our desired toppings, Chris has joined us at the table and began to spread jam on each of his pancakes.

"So, the weather has cleared up." Chris speaks.

"Yeah." I smile at him. "We will be leaving today."

"You guys don't have to do that, you know. I have a feeling your little story about your parents' cabin was a lie."

My body tenses. I never thought he suspected it was a lie. I was sure he just went along with it blindly.

"Now I won't ask you guys if it is the truth or not, If it is a lie I'm sure you Have your reasons. But I'm just putting it out there, if you folk have no place to go, you're welcome for as long as you need. To be honest, I really enjoy the company."

"We are ok." Luca responds.

My head turns as I look over at him.

"Okay." Chris flashes a weak smile, hiding disappointment yet knowing he can't make us.

"We will stay a few more days." I speak out of sympathy, contradicting Luca. A burning sensation heats the side of my face, I don't need to turn to know it's Luca's eyes on me. I regret doing it but I felt bad for Chris and how lonely he is; how lonely they both are. My eyes fall onto Ella as I consider this; how good it will be for her to bond with other people, especially a woman. But most of all, I believe it will benefit Luca. Even though he doesn't want to admit it, I think he wants a father figure to bond with. Even just temporarily.