Keeley's POV
"Keeley, could you please repeat to me what I just said to the class?" Ms. Loren smirked from the front of the classroom.
I jumped a little in my seat as I sat up and straightened my shoulders. She raised an eyebrow at me and I felt my face grow pink from what I had been daydreaming about.
"Goodnight, Luca," I whisper softly. I watch him as he walks towards his room, and just as he is about to open his door, he turns back towards me and hesitates for just a moment.
"Ah- fuck it."
He moves back towards me with so much determination that it causes me to step back a little and drop my shoes. It wasn't until he was right in front of me that I registered what he was about to do, and I was okay with that.
I grabbed onto the collar of his suit jacket as his hands grasped my face and his lips were on my own.
He had finally kissed me.
Luca took control as he pressed his lips hard and possessively to mine like I was about to melt through his hands. One of his hands snaked around to the back of my head and pulled me impossibly closer to his suit-clad body. I felt my head spin as I kissed him back, giving everything he was giving me back to him.
My hands moved greedily from his jacket to the back of his neck as I wound one of my hands in the hair at the nape of his neck. A low growl escaped his lips as he pushed my back into the wall and angled his head to kiss me deeper.
His woodsy scent filled my lungs as our lips continued to dance together as if we had done this thousands of times before. I didn't know it a minute ago, but now- I don't know how I could have gone this long without his lips to my own. He made me feel on fire from just a touch. I craved more and more from him as I felt him press against me.
Eventually, Luca slowly pulled away from my mouth and his forehead rested against my own. Our breaths were heavy and tangled together as I tried to process what had just happened, and that thought alone kept my eyes from being able to open. I felt his hands move to rest on the wall on either side of my head.
"Open those beautiful eyes, Tesoro," he breathed out, his voice noticeably heavier as his Italian accent took over. I slowly opened my eyes to be met with those dark ocean blues of his. The moonlight from the window caused a shadow to cover part of his handsome face, but the part I could see had me weak in the knees.
His hair was disheveled from where I had run my hands through it and his eyes were darkened to an almost black shade, but I didn't mind.
"From now on, Keeley, you are mine."
I didn't know what to say as Luca told me this with so much conviction laced in his voice, that it was hard to believe I wasn't actually his before, although I think part of me knew I was always was.
I nodded my spinning head slowly at Gnocco, still feeling the after-effects of our breathless kiss.
He pressed one final peck to my swollen mouth before stepping back. My eyes never left him as he walked back to his bedroom door with a devilishly handsome smile plastered across his face. With a final wink, he closed his door and I was left alone in the hallway.
"Sorry, Ms. Loren," Ryder quips from beside me. "She's a bit-uh, distracted, this morning."
I shoot him a hate-filled glare as he sends me his signature smirk. I turn back to the front as Ms. Loren gives me a suggestive look while tilting her head towards Ryder.
Mr. Jackass himself falls into a fit of laughter as I try to assure her that we aren't, nor will we ever be, a thing.
"Anyways," she continues, ignoring me completely, "get started on your drawings. They can be of any medium, but make sure they are of two people together this time. Make me feel something, something good, and you get an A. Get to work!"
When she turns around, I kick the leg of Ryder's stool. He goes flying to the ground and lands with a groan as the stool rolls away from him and across the floor. I hold in my giggles as I get out my sketchbook and charcoals from my backpack.
"Real mature, Keeley," he mutters while picking himself up. He brushes off his hoodie and jeans before retrieving the stool and taking a seat.
"So," he speaks up after a minute. "What has had you distracted these past two days?"
I shake my head at him. I guess it is true, though: ever since Luca kissed me on Wednesday night, he had been invading every thought in my head. Plus, it doesn't help that Gnocco had to fly down to California with his brothers and Stefano at 3 AM yesterday morning for a business meeting. They had been busy, so I hadn't even got to call Luca and see when he's coming back.
"Just shut up, Ryder. Don't you have a football game to focus on or something?" I asked while continuing to sketch.
Tonight was the football team's big game against our rival school: the Parkway Pirates. From what I've heard, they're a bunch of sleazy private school kids who play dirty and have no respect for other people. Or as Sam puts it: "Complete bitches with shitty skills."
"Eh- it'll be an easy win," he shrugged off while creating an image of his own. I twisted around to face him in my seat.
"Cocky much?"
"You know it, babe," he winked. I made a gagging sound at his remark.
"God, does everything you say have to be snarky or dirty?" I scoff.
"Can't help it, Blondie. Look at you." I don't even try to reply to him as I switch my focus solely on the drawing in front of me, and thankfully, Ryder gets the message.
It's almost the end of class, and when I sit back to gaze at the charcoal image, I smile softly to myself.
My mind had been focused elsewhere, but it's apparent my heart was on Luca. I had drawn us in that moment right after we kissed. Just the two of us captivated by each other. Nothing else, just our faces, just us.
I took my sketchbook up to Ms. Loren at the front of the art room that smelled like paint and looked like Picasso threw up. I sat the sketchbook in front of her on the desk, and for a moment, all she did was stare at it.
"Is- is there something wrong with it?" I ask timidly as I pull at the hem of my sweater.
Her head tilts up and her eyes meet mine.
"That's not Ryder, is it?"
I feel my cheeks heat up under her gaze as I clear my throat and turn my eyes back to the drawing.
"Um- no. It's not." She doesn't say anything to me as she continues to stare at the charcoal image.
"This is very good, Keeley." I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and grabbed my sketchbook back into my hands. I gave her a quick nod and rushed back to my seat.
"You good?" Ryder side-eyes me. I mumbled a "yes" as I shoved the sketchbook in my backpack when the bell rang.
I toss my bag over my shoulder and make my way to my locker where Aubrey is waiting for me, furiously typing something on her phone.
"You good?" I ask her, repeating the same words Ryder had spoken to me just a minute ago.
She let out a dramatic huff as she shoved her phone in her pocket. She flipped her fiery red hair over her shoulder before glaring at me.
"O-kay, what did I do exactly?" I ask as somebody bumps into my shoulder. I glare daggers into them as they scurry away.
"You didn't do anything. It's Ms. Regina-Fucking-Evans." I slowly move my eyes to where she's looking. There stands the she-devil herself, flirting away with my brother in an outfit that doesn't leave much to the imagination.
Her black skirt is hiked up higher than it really needs to be, and the matching "crop top" looks more like a bra. At least she's wearing sensible shoes today: four-inch heels instead of five.
"What'd she do?" I ask. I shut my locker and turn back to Aubrey who I can see is no longer by me, but stomping her way towards Regina.
Looks like I'm gonna have to beat a bitch up today.
Aubrey yanks Regina away from Sam and it causes her to stumble back a few steps. Sam gives me a what the fuck look and I just shrug my shoulders.
"What's your prob- oh, hello Aubrey. How's your sister?" she smirks. One hand goes to her hip as she examines her nails on the other.
"You can mess with me all day long, Regina," my best friend growls while poking Queen-bee with her finger. "But you stay the hell away from Sasha."
Sasha is Aubrey's little sister who goes to the middle school in town. She's honestly the sweetest person I've ever met, and knowing that Regina did something to her pisses me off.
"What? It was just advice. She could use it considering her older sister is a poor excuse of role model."
We had only been here less than a minute, and I already couldn't take Regina talking to Aubrey like that. I stepped forward with every intent to sock her right in the jaw, but when I moved towards the bitch, Sam and Donnie both grabbed me. They made a slight motion to the hallway where I could see a crowd starting to form around us.
"Aww," Regina cooed while making fake pouting lips. "Did I make your little friend mad?"
"Enough," Sam spoke quite lowly from behind me. Even I flinched slightly from his tone.
Ms. Queen-Bee humphed before turning on her heel and strutting down the hallway.
"Bitch," I heard Aubrey mumble from beside me. I wiggle my way out of my older brothers' grip before tugging on her arm and leading her to the library where we've been spending our free period. I made sure we were far enough away to where nobody could hear before speaking.
"What the hell did she say about Sasha?" I grumbled. We walk through the library doors and the musty smell of the old books and stained carpet fills my nose. I see Alex and Xavier at our table creaky wooden and I lead the two of us towards them.
"Sasha was at the mall with her friends and Regina and her posse waltz right up to her, right?" she spits out while sitting down. The boys give us an odd look, but I ignore them and focus on Aubrey.
"Then, out of nowhere, she starts talking down to her and tells her that it's too bad she's ugly because otherwise, she might be popular. And when I say this came out of nowhere, it literally came out of nowhere. I haven't done a single fucking thing to her and then she goes and insults my little sister, makes her cry, and now she's obsessing over her looks because some plastic, bitchy, good for nothing, lowlife of a person told her that."
The boys and I stare wide-eyed at Aubrey as her chest rises and falls rapidly in anger. I'd never heard so much hatred and spite come out of her, and the fact she's feeling this way has me just as mad.
"I say we beat her up," I spoke after a couple of minutes of silence and tension between us.
Aubrey chuckles under her breath as she holds her head in her hands. I rub my hand over her back, hoping I'm doing this comforting thing right, and give the boys a look.
"Oh- yeah. I mean, well, we can't technically beat her up," Xavier rushes out, obviously not knowing what to stay. He stutters for a second before Alex steps in to help him.
"But we could make sure no one is around when Keeley beats the shit out of her." I laughed along with Aubrey as we both relaxed in our chairs. She shakes her head and tells us that we don't need to do that.
"On a different note," I speak up, hoping to change the topic and brighten the mood, "how's Herb?"
I can tell my question worked by the way she gets a far-off look in her eyes as a small sigh escapes her mouth.
"He's honestly just... great. He's so nice, Keeley, and he makes an effort. I know that I only met him on Tuesday, but I really like him. He cares and is funny, oh my gosh is he funny. Not to mention he's not too bad on the eyes either." I laugh at her words as Xavier looks extremely uncomfortable. Alex smirks.
"Ooooo, Aubs has got a cru-ush." Alex laughs to himself how I would imagine a toddler laughs at a joke only they'd understand. My best friend raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms while leaning back in her seat.
"You're right, I do. But what about you, Romeo? What about Luna?" I giggle as his face turns bright red and he shifts in his chair. Xavier claps a hand on his back while holding in a chuckle.
"She's-uh, she's good. Nice actually. We've-uh actually gone out on a few dates when she hasn't had to work."
I sit back and smile to myself as the two of them go back and forth about their relationships. Alex obviously flustered and Aubrey obviously enjoying every minute of it.
I'm just glad none of them have asked me about Luca. Lord knows I wouldn't sound much better.
***
"Man, it's packed!" I shout over the marching band as Aubrey and I climb our way up the stands.
After much pleading from both my brothers and Aubs, I had finally agreed to go to one of the football games, this not including the Halloween game. That could only be the explanation as to why I have face paint on.
Apparently, tonight was "Spirit Night" so I had to dress in all blue and white, our school colors. I had on some ripped jeans, a school hoodie that I'd borrowed from Aubrey, a white bandana as a headband, and some colorful dots plastered across my face. I look like every other person here.
"The student section is over here!" she pointed out to me. I followed her with my small bag of popcorn to the bleachers where a sea of blue and white was. They were doing some odd chant and screaming at the players, but I doubt not even half of them knew what was going on.
We squished our way into the front row, just in time to see Sam throw to Ryder and for him to run into the end zone.
Our section immediately blew up in screams and cheers as the band fell into our school's fight song. The guys were jumping up and down, slapping each other on the helmets and in the ass. Weird.
This happened time and time again over the course of the game, sometimes we scored, and sometimes they did. And I'm not going to lie, I did have fun, although I'd never tell Aubrey that.
Sam was right too. They did play dirty. I found myself on more than one occasion heading down there to beat their asses for hitting one of my brothers too hard. Aubrey, unfortunately, stopped me every time. I'm not really digging the whole prevent Keeley from hurting people thing going on today.
By the time the buzzer went off signaling the end of the game, we were up six points, meaning we had won. My head was spinning as Aubrey and I pushed our way through the masses of screaming and hollering hormonal teenagers.
When we finally got to the exit, I stopped and took a breath.
"Hey, so Herb is actually going to pick me up, and then I'll be at your house for the party in a bit."
"The party? What party?" I asked with wide eyes.
"Your brothers are throwing the celebratory party. Don't worry, it's just the seniors and it's in your backyard with tents and heaters and stuff. They do this for every time we beat the Pirates."
"And you didn't think to tell me this?" I half yell. She gives me a sheepish look as her phone dings. Aubrey glances briefly at it before showing me the text from Herb. I try to stop her, but she's gone before even a word can get out.
I huff and lean against the chainlink fence, waiting for Sam and Donnie to leave the locker room. I had promised them I'd stay after so they could make sure I get home okay.
Twenty minutes pass and I'm starting to get real fucking cold. The only people left are a few parents, the janitors, and a couple going at it underneath the bleachers. I was about to call Sam, but somebody tapped on my shoulder before I could.
I turned to see a sweaty-looking teenage boy staring straight at me. His dirty blonde hair was sticking up in various places and a visible layer of sweat was covering his forehead. His tall and somewhat muscular frame towered over me, and I noticed that he was wearing a Pirates football t-shirt under his jacket. Great, a beefy football goon.
"You just gonna stare or did you need something?" I growl at him, obviously irritated. He lets out a loud laugh as he leans his body next to me on the fence. I take a few steps away.
"Fiesty and awfully pretty. Need a ride, sweetcheeks?" I don't even doubt a disgusted look is plastered on my face right now, I can't even help it.
"No, I'm waiting for my brothers. So if you would just scurry along, that'd be great." I give him a tight-lipped, sarcastic smile and walk away towards the field. Unfortunately, I can hear his heavy footsteps and the jostling of his backpack following me.
"Just hold on a second," he shouted as he jogged in front of me. I stopped and looked up at his murky brown eyes as a gust of wind blew around us.
"What?" I sigh. Honestly, I just want to go home and lay in my bed with my dog and watch Netflix. Is that too much to ask?
"Look, you're a pretty girl and I just want to talk." I scoff at his words and turn away.
"When a guy compliments you, you should say thank you, bitch!" he yells while grabbing my ass.
Oh hell to the no.
I turn around and grab his wrist in my hand. I twist it behind his back, and when he screams in pain and bends over, I knee him in the mouth and push his arm till I hear a snap. He falls to the ground like a sack of potatoes in a puddle of tears and painful cries. I bend down next to him and take his jaw into my hands.
I look him straight in the eyes. "How about the next time a girl tells you to fuck off, just fuck off, bitch."
"Keeley?" I stand up and turn to see my brothers jogging towards me with worried expressions on their faces. "Are you hurt?"
"No, just disgusted by this pig who wouldn't take no for an answer and grabbed my ass!" I growled at the weeping guy laying on the concrete.
"He touched you?!" Sam screamed while dropping his bags and walking towards him. It was my turn to hold him back as I yanked on his arm and did the same to Donnie who wasn't far behind.
"Can we just go home?" I ask impatiently, highly aware I sound whiny. Sam looks at me and reluctantly nods his head. As he picks up his bags, Donnie wiggles his way out of my hold and lands one hell of a punch to the asshat's jaw.
"Keep your hands off my sister. Got it?" My mouth falls open at Donnie's words, and neither Sam nor I can move once he walks past us. Donnie is normally a pretty quiet and hard-to-read guy, but that was out the window at the moment. I looked at Sam, and for a second, we just stared in surprise at each other.
"Are you two coming or am I driving home myself?"
We scurry after him, laughing our asses off all the way. By the time I catch up to him in the parking lot, we're at our cars. Before I can even contemplate my next move, I reach out and pull him into a tight hug. He's stiff at first, but after a second, he hugs me back just as hard.
"I want in," Sam whines. I open one of my arms and he happily squeals while sandwiching us all together.
"Thank you," I whisper to both of them. Even though I know I can handle myself, it's nice to know that somebody's got my back.
***
Luca's POV
It's been two days since I've seen Keeley, and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been thinking about her.
I couldn't help myself when I turned back to look at her on Wednesday night. Everything from the day had rushed through my mind in those few seconds. From competing with her and being able to beat her in wrestling, to watching her come around the corner in that little black dress. I thought my heart stopped at that moment. God, was she gorgeous.
Her angelic blonde hair was pulled out of the way and I could see her face and tattoos so clearly. The way she carried herself in that dress had my mind going places it definitely shouldn't be.
And then my car, I didn't tell her, but her presence consumed me and I couldn't help but touch her the whole drive to the restaurant.
And when we danced, man when we danced... I don't think I've ever felt more alive and free than I did at that moment. Just her and me spinning around together not a care in the world- that is a moment I hope to God I'll never forget. I can't thank my dad enough for taking a few pictures of us right then, and might I admit they are actually pretty good. I'm not ashamed to say one of them is my wallpaper.
All of this rushed through my mind as I kissed her as I may never get the chance to again. With the taste of her lips on my own and the way her hands were tangled in my hair, I don't think I would ever be able to get enough. And that's why I told her she was mine: I couldn't afford anyone taking her from me. It would kill me if that were to happen.
"Why are there so many cars here?" Matteo asked from beside me. I snapped out of my trance and then I could actually see our driveway was lined with cars and music that could be heard from somewhere either in the house or behind it.
"Dominic said the boys were having a football party because they won. They're all in the backyard I think."
I nodded my head as the car came to a stop and I stepped out. I could feel the bass through the driveway as I rounded the car and got my suitcase from the trunk.
I walked through the front door and Dad was right: everyone was outside. I could see out of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room where, my guess, would be 75 people outside.
I walked up the stairs and to my room where I unpacked my suitcase and backpack. I quickly changed into some sweatpants and a t-shirt, thankful to be out of my dress clothes.
Before I left my room, I took the small paper bag out of the front pocket of my backpack. I slid out the small silver bracelet I had gotten Keeley.
I didn't plan on buying her anything, but when I had entered that small shop in the hotel lobby, I couldn't help but be drawn to it. It's small and delicate and it's got small stars on it, like the ones Keeley likes.
I slid it into my pocket before slipping on my slippers and grabbing my phone. I exited my room and walked down the stairs eager to find Keeley. I walked to the big windows in the living room and looked out of them hoping to see a flash of blonde.
"Well hi there," an oddly high-pitched voice came from behind me. Keeley's voice isn't that high.
I turned to see a girl dressed in close to nothing walking towards me. Her hair is a weird shade of blonde, and from here, I could see a nice smattering of makeup painted on her face. Her shorts barely covered anything and the cut-off jersey she was wearing made me uncomfortable by how it only covered half of her.
"Hi," I mumble, trying to be nice but not really wanting to talk to her.
"I haven't seen you around here before. My name's Regina," she spoke in what I think is supposed to be a sultry voice. I shook her outstretched hand quickly before letting go and wiping my palm on the side of my pants.
"Well, what's your name, silly? Can't just leave me hangin'," she purred. Her hand came up and rested on my upper bicep, but it didn't feel nearly as good as when Keeley does it.
"Luca," I tell her with a clipped voice. I shrugged off her hand and began to walk away, but her arm shot out and grabbed my elbow, clearly not getting the message.
"Leaving so soon? I don't even know you yet." Her flirtatious attempts were appalling. I've had girls flirt with me in the past, but none of them mattered until Keeley. And considering she wasn't Keeley, she didn't matter either.
"I've got to-"
"If you don't get your slimy hand off of him right now, I promise it will end badly for you."
My head snaps to where the only girl I've been wanting to see is standing. Her hair is piled in a messy bun on top of her head, and she's dressed in an outfit similar to mine: sweatpants and a t-shirt. Keeley walks towards us with the look of murder in her eyes. It's one of my favorite looks solely because I know she's about to fuck some shit up.
Regina's hand slides slowly off of my arm as she steps towards Keeley. She's considerably taller than Tesoro, but I know for a fact Keeley would beat her ass.
"Did I do something to hurt your feelings again?" I didn't like the way she was speaking to Keeley, not at all. But my girl just got even angrier, and I was okay with that.
"I'm trying very hard to be a good person as of late, and that includes containing my ever-present anger, and unless you would like me to unleash hell on you and your plastic face, I would highly suggest walking away and finding some other guy to take you tonight." Keeley's arms were crossed in front of her chest as she stood tall, not wavering even a second under this girl's stare, although I knew she wouldn't.
Regina scoffed at Keeley and did probably one of the worst things she could have done: she poked Keeley in the shoulder. She literally poked the bear.
Before I could even stop her, Keeley tackled the girl to the floor and was on her in an instant.
"That," she spoke calmly while punching her in the jaw once, "is for Sasha."
"This," she says again while landing another solid punch to the nose, "is because you piss me off."
"And this," Keeley laughs as one final punch is landed on her eye, "well that was just for good measure. And now when I get off of you, you're going to get up and walk out of this house unless you would like a broken arm, yes?"
The girl nods frantically as tears pour out of her eyes. Keeley gets off of her, and not a moment later, Regina is out the front door. Keeley turns around to me with a wild and mischievous smirk plastered on her face, the after-effects of violence still in her eyes.
And might I say, violence looks good on her.
"Tesoro," I smile whole-heartedly at her. She returns the gesture as I envelop her in my arms, taking in her vanilla and spicy scent. Her small arms wrap around my neck as my larger ones go around her back and hold her tight. I can physically feel her relax into my touch, and it makes me happy to know I have the same effect on her that she does on me.
"How was your trip?" she spoke softly as she leaned back. My hands gripped her waist as hers trailed down and rested on my chest.
"It was good. Nothing like sitting in meetings for ten hours. I really do prefer to do the killing rather than planning it," I laughed.
Her sweet smile appeared as the sparkle in her eyes danced.
"Me too. It was boring here without you. I was forced to hang out with Sam." We both laughed this time as she stepped out of my hold, my hands instantly going cold.
"So why aren't you out there with them?" I ask gesturing to the party that has dwindled since I got home, but quite a few are still gathered under a white tent.
"Well, Xavier and Alex couldn't come, and then Aubrey was supposed to be coming with Herb, but she got distracted. This means that I'd be around people I don't really like, and my dog and bed sounded better than that."
I smiled brightly at her as she had this cute look on her face. She turned to me and raised an eyebrow. "Done staring?"
"Nah, I like looking at you. You're beautiful." I loved complementing Keeling solely because of the way she didn't know how to act. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish as a slight blush was forming on her neck.
It was my turn to raise an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, shut up."
We watched the rest of the party dwindle down a couple more minutes as it was already nearing 1 AM.
"Oh, I forgot!" She turned to me with a curious look on her face as I dug my hand in my pocket and pulled out the bracelet.
I tugged her wrist to me, causing just the slightest stumble in her steps to where I had to catch her. I took advantage of our close proximity and clasped the star bracelet around her wrist. Her eyes looked down hesitantly, but when they did, her whole body stilled.
"I-I found it in a little shop and thought of you, ya know? Because you always wear silver jewelry and you like-um, stars." I cleared my throat and felt like an idiot as she just continued to stand there, her eyes transfixed on the bracelet.
She wasn't saying anything, great. Keeley probably hates it and it was a pathetic and stupid idea. Way to go Luca.
I went to speak, but she beat me to it by landing a quick kiss on my lips. She pulled back and looked at me with her beautifully golden eyes and spoke, "Thank you, Gnocco. It's stunning."
A wide smile spread across my face but was quickly replaced with her lips as I bent down and placed a sweet kiss on her mouth. Keeley's lips and my own worked in harmony as I lost myself in her. I let my hands wander down to her lower back and tug her closer to me. Keeley's hands snaked up and covered my cheeks, pulling me deeper into the kiss.
I opened my mouth slightly to her, and before she could respond, I felt her being yanked away from me.
"The fuck are you doing?!" All at once, her brothers and father appeared shouting in my direction while my family stood off to the side smiling, and I think I even saw Matteo hand Giovanni ten bucks.
"Who the hell do you think you are kissing on my sister?" Nick yelled while still holding Keeley under his arm like one would a football. His face was contorted in anger as the rest of the family continued their yelling. I could feel my ears heating up at the thought of what they just caught us doing.
Keeley wiggled her way out from Nick and she stood in front of me, serving as my protective barrier.
"Would all of you just shut the hell up for one second?!" she screamed over everybody. They all fell silent to her and stared in anger.
"First off, extremely rude of you to treat either one of us like that. Second, Nick do that again and I'll break you. And third: Are any of you even surprised? It's obvious we like each other so I see nothing wrong with what we were doing. Don't go yelling at Luca like that, like it's his fault." I couldn't see her face, but I didn't care. Keeley stood up for me against her family, and it's not like she was picking sides, but it still feels like she chose mine.
"You're seventeen! You don't need to be kissing boys!" Dominic boomed. Her brothers agreed in unison, and I could just tell Keeley rolled her eyes.
"You really think I've never kissed a guy before?" she blatantly asks. If I'm being honest, part of me knew she had probably dated others before me, but it still caught me off guard.
"Who?" Callan spoke pushing Sam out of the way. Poor Sam stumbled over his foot, sadly tumbling into the end table and falling to the ground. "Because I'll kill him."
They started firing off questions to Keeley and I felt her unconsciously step closer to me, this topic obviously making her uncomfortable. I place my hand gently on her side and rub slow circles with my thumb into her waist. This seemed to calm her down.
"Oh, and what's this I hear about some guy touching you at the football game without permission?" Nick yells. This causes another wave of yelling to erupt as this time my family joins in.
"Okay!" Keeley sighs, sounding wiped-out from this whole conversation. "He touched me and I broke his arm then Donnie went pack and broke his jaw. It's done and taken care of. Now, may I please go to bed as it is after one in the morning?"
Nobody spoke as we all looked at Dominic. I couldn't see Keeley's face, but I knew she and her father were having a silent battle in their eyes. After a minute, Dominic sighed and nodded his head in defeat.
Keeley stepped out of my hold and kissed everybody goodnight. I went to follow behind her, but Dominic's hand stopped me as it gripped my shoulder...hard. He waited till Keeley's footsteps faded to speak to me.
"Now listen here," he spoke lowly so no one else could hear. "That is my only daughter, and I know you two like each other, so I'll let you carry one how you please. But so help me God, even if you are Stefano's son, if you so much as hurt one hair on her head or even slightly hurt her feelings, I will kill you. That is not a threat Luca, that is a promise. Do you understand me?"
I let his words digest as I stared into his icy eyes that are nothing like Keeley's amber honey ones. He may not show it all the time, but I can tell he loves Keeley more than life itself.
"I understand." He nods his head slowly before I'm walking off to the stairs and to find Keeley. I hear her brothers erupt in protest, but I don't stay long enough to actually decipher anything.
I rush down our hallway but do a double-take as I pass my room. Keeley sits there on my bed crisscrossed, now changed into a pair of pajama shorts instead of sweats.
I slowly walk into my room and shut the door. The yellow light from my bedside lamp illuminates part of the room while the TV covers the other. I stand in front of her with one of my eyebrows raised.
"I just thought that since you'd been gone, I could maybe sleep in here tonight," she mumbles quietly. Her eyes bore directly into mine.
I lean down and rest my hands on either side of her thighs, successfully caging her in. I kiss her mouth slowly and possessively, letting her know that she's mine. She leans onto her back as I climb over her, never taking my lips away from hers.
I gently move one of my hands around to her waist as I pull her closer to me and lick the seam of her lips. She grants me access and I don't hesitate to move my tongue to hers. They swirl together fighting for dominance, but I don't stop till I have full control.
A minute passes before I reluctantly and slowly pull away, placing one final soft peck on her pink lips.
"Okay. You can stay."
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Oh my gosh, I loved writing this and finally getting my favorite couple together. I love writing them together so much, you have no idea.
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See you in the next chapter and Happy Reading!
Final Word Count: 6451