★LUCIANO★

"How can you be the only one capable of pushing my buttons, and I mean all of them?"

Janie let out a soft chortle.

Her alluring tone rang melodiously in my ear drums and I yearned to hear more of it. Damn, I could tell that I was starting to lose my mind over this girl.

A part of me began to wonder what would have happened if she never took a bold step to walk into my office. Would I have the opportunity to feel this way? This delightful, satisfying feeling that coated my guts would have been nothing but sour, distasteful angst.

Tilting her chin up to look directly into my eyes, I held her gaze. "Janie.....I am done playing games. Why are you here and why did you kiss me?" I questioned.

Every part of me anticipated a positive response and I hoped to hear it right from her lips.

She expelled a sharp breath, her eyes not leaving mine for once. "I can't believe I'm saying this, Luciano. But ever since I said those words to you, I haven't been myself. I blamed myself all the time. After going down memory lane of what we've been through together, I reprimanded myself because you have not done anything to hurt me." She paused to take a breath before continuing.

"Apart from the situation with my father, which I understand now that– I can't blame you for his faults. He chose to do that to me. Even if you had a gun in his head and he truly loved me, he could have objected to it no matter what. But that's bygone. You on the other hand have sought my best interest. So it was wrong to judge you when nobody is perfect."

Listening to her spew those words brought out a sweet feeling that strengthened my resolve.

Before, I felt underappreciated for everything I did. Taking bullets just to protect her, going the extra mile to make sure she got what she wanted. And now, she has been admitted to one of the most prestigious universities in exchange for the one she lost. However, the fact that she was expressing herself to me, made me feel gratified.

"Do you want me to provide your father for you?" I asked, and she froze in my arms.

Her eyes widened. "Do you know where he is?"

"Right now, I don't. But I can comb the entire world and bring him out for you, just so you can ask him why he did that to you. Perhaps, he had his reasons." I presumed, feeling concerned with the way her countenance fell when she earlier spoke about her father.

I could tell that she was still hurt by the betrayal.

"No, don't." She brought herself to say after a series of long-lasting silence. "No matter his reasons, I don't want to hear of it. I can't bring myself to look at his face after what he did."

Nonetheless, I blamed her father too. But at the same time, I owed him big time. He brought this sweet human into my life and since the moment she stepped in, I have never been the same Luciano. I always found myself wanting to do something to please her and that had never been me.

"Okay, I respect your decision," I said, cupping her face in between my hands and she managed a small smile.

"So back to why you are here." I indicated.

Janie tore her eyes away from mine. "Yes, as I was saying......I thought it was best we went our separate ways, I thought I should never see you again because of the nature of your job. When I escaped from your house, I kept reassuring myself that I did it because you are a mafia and all, and that life isn't for me. But I just realized that my entire life has never been mine." She expressed further.

"And why did you run away from me, Janie?" I queried in a calm tone. "I haven't had the chance to ask that yet, even if it's one of the questions that lingered on my mind for so long."

Janie brought her eyes back to mine. "Because of those things, you said to me about my father. You made me feel unwanted, and you implied that no one wants me, even my father sold me off to get rid of me." She revealed. Instantly my heart skipped a beat.

I immediately felt horrible for hurling those despicable words to her face. To be honest, I recollected the moments I made references to her father and now, I realized that she has every reason to despise me.

So I twitched my lips and brought myself to say. "I didn't mean that. I'm sorry."

Janie's eyes sparkled. Her face lit up and her lips curved into a warm grin, flashing her beautiful set of white teeth at me. In response, warmth crept into my guts.

"Do you mean it?"

"Of course I do," I responded, wondering why she'd ask that.

As if she could read through my mind, she chipped. "Because you hardly apologize. I have never heard you say sorry before."

"I have never said anything I didn't mean. Except about your father." I told her truthfully and before I could grasp what was going on, she pulled my face with her hands and claimed my lips.

Her soft plushy lips pressed against mine and I felt my groin hardened against the edge of the table. Hell, I wanted to take her right on this table. I yearned to hear her moan my name as I thrust in and out of her cunt. But at the same time, I mentally slapped myself out of my fantasy.

We were in the school premises for fuck sake.

When she pulled apart from the kiss, her eyes flickered with desires and she still had that gorgeous smile.

Janie was all I needed in my life. With every fiber of my being, I wanted her around me for as long as I lived.

Which was why I asked. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

She parted those luscious lips in disbelief. Not like I haven't asked before, but seeing her reaction up close as I repeated those words was worth a thousand stars.

"I—" Her voice trailed off.

"You can take time to think of it if you want," I informed her. "I will wait. But I'm gonna promise you that it's going to be us against the world. I will never hurt you. I will never treat you in a way that's any less than the princess that you are. Just be mine."

Janie cocked her head to the side, then pressed a finger to her lips as if in thought. And I have never seen anyone look so gorgeous, just by striking a pose.

"Yes." She breathed after some seconds and I broke into a chuckle.

"Yes?"

"Yes, Luciano." She reiterated. "But please promise not to kill anyone again, because that's part of the reason why I feared you and wanted myself away from you."

My heart was thumping rapidly against my chest as her response, 'yes' replayed over and over again in my head.

I didn't know why a word as simple as yes could make me feel this excited.

"Well, I'm not promising you. I don't kill people for no reason. Those you've seen have also done hideous things. They aren't saint, Janie. Nevertheless, I will try not to." K

"You will?" Her voice appeared much more delighted than I was.

"Yes," I reassured her. And with a smirk, I added. "So Janie Braxton, would you like to go on a date with me?"

She bobbed her head. "Yes."

My smile deepened. "Okay, this Saturday. Make yourself a lot more prettier than you already are. Dress sexy for Uncle and I promise it will be worth it." I winked.

Janie let out a soft giggle before asking. "Seriously? Our first date? But where are we going to meet?"

I slipped my fingers beneath her skirt, then trailed them on her smooth thighs. And she squirmed in response. "Let me worry about that."

Settling between her parted legs, I leaned closer to her face, our noses nuzzled each other as I whispered. "Keep the apartment. That's going to be our haven away from school, away from my life as a mafia and as your professor."

And she replied with shaky breaths. "Y-y-yes, I will."

"Good girl." I traced my lips on her face, kissing her on her closed eyelids, down to her well-defined nose, and her cheeks before claiming her lips. A soft moan emanated from the back of her throat as she threw her arms over my neck once again, pulling me tighter.

My fingers on her thighs glided to her lace panties. This time, I didn't finger her, instead I stroked her wet opening, circling my fingers around her layers while she arched her back.

Just then, her cell phone rang out from the table she placed it on. I hesitated, not wanting to pull away from her, but she kissed me long and hard before peeling off our kiss.

She picked up the phone from the table and gasped. "It's my coursemate, Felix."

"Fucking Felix!" I growled, wishing I could slam his head against the wall with my bare hands for disturbing my lovely time.

"He has called and sent me several messages. A chemistry professor is in class." Janie informed me, then she gently pushed me away from her, before letting herself off the table.

"I have to go, Luciano." She rushed to the door, "I will see you later."

With a swift maneuver, I rushed after her, pulled her back then kissed her long and hard one last time. "Congratulations once more, our soon-to-be nurse."

Janie blew me a kiss. "Thanks, Uncle." And with that, she was out of the door, leaving me to my rumbling laughter.

This girl would be the death of me, I swear it!