Luca

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As I'm watching my reflection in the mirror while fixing my tie, I can hear Bella humming to a song while doing her hair in the adjoined bathroom.

I smile to myself.

Today I'm happy, but also slightly nervous.

Today is our graduation day.

Now we can get into the 'real life', as all the professors call it.

Bella has said—multiple times—that she has no idea what she's going to do after college. But I think she's figured it out just fine.

Last year she was bored and started a website, showcasing her clothing designs and her outfits. She even designed some shoes and jewellery. Over time, it got popular and so she started making some clothes of the most popular sketches that are up on the site and putting them for sale on the website. People loved them and now she has a small online clothing store. An investor reached out to her about six months ago. He helped her get bigger and have more connections. He's been talking about opening a boutique, but Bella says she content for now.

As for me, the hotel in the outskirts of the city, the one I took Bella to when it was still under renovation, has been open for over a year. I'm going to manage it while working on opening another hotel downtown, with the help of my father.

I look around for my shoes, when I don't see them around, I make my way to my bedroom.

After Ben, Jace and the other two seniors graduated, we moved here; Bella, Sara, Alex and me.

Although my girlfriend and I mostly sleep in her room—formally her Brother's—I use my bedroom to store all my shit and to study.

On the way to my room, just at the end of the hall, I come across Sara. She's coming up the stairs. I hear her sniffle and it tugs at my heart. She and Alex have been acting weird around each other. Bella asked her what's wrong, but she dismisses her every time.

Here's the thing about Sara: she bottles up her feelings until it gets too bad or someone forces them out of her. I even talked to Alex, but he said not to worry about it. But I did worry about it. They're both family, and if one of them is hurting, it means I'm hurting too. I also don't enjoy Bella getting sad because her best friend is sad.

Sara has been sleeping with Bella in her bed for the last week. And that alone makes me believe that something is definitely something going on with Sara and her boyfriend.

Alex is flying out to LA tomorrow. He got drafted to play for the Phoenix Suns team. We watched his name being called out live—though we were sitting in the back—I was more than proud for him. He's been working towards this ever since he was a little kid.

I reach Sara before she gets into her room, "hey." With my thumb and forefinger, I pinch her chin and lift her face up to me when she keeps her face towards the floor. Her eyes are a little red and puffy, her lower lip trembles, and I pull her to my chest and hug her tightly.

I feel her shaking against me and my chest hurts seeing her like this.

"Shh, it's okay." She inhales a shaky breath and pulls away. "Are you okay?"

She nods but it's obviously not true, she's anything but okay. Today should be a happy day. We're graduating. And Sara got the internship she wanted at some fancy law firm.

"I'm-I'll be fine." She smiles weakly at me. "Can you not tell Izzy? I don't want to ruin her mood today."

"Sara..." I hate lying to her.

"Please." She looks up at me with her signature puppy eyes looks. Except it's even sadder with her teary, red eyes.

Reluctantly, I say yes. "But promise to tell me what's wrong tomorrow."

"Yeah, I promise." I give her forehead a kiss and let her enter her room.

When I enter my room, the big framed picture of Bella and I immediately catches my attention and, like every time I see it, my lips break into a grin.

It was taken at my twenty first birthday. Bella had coordinated with Antonio to throw me the biggest party ever.

She took me to my cousin's club, Lusso, and the sight when I entered the club threw me off at first.

The interior had been very different than usual. There was a stage with instruments, like drums, guitars and more. Bella had played it off like she was also surprised, but I remember catching the smirk on her lips and I knew she had something to do with it. After a couple hours, when more people started to enter the club to party, the band finally made its way to the stage. It was a local band that I've heard a few times on the radio. She had grabbed my arm and dragged me to the front of the stage. They sang all of my favorite songs and some of their originals. Then my cousin Antonio came on stage, took the mic from the lead singer and started talking.

"You may be wondering what the special occasion is, why there's a band on stage." He said into the microphone and everyone turned to listen to what he had to say. "Some of you may get sad, but this is a one time thing only. And the reason that 'The Filthy Bunch' have graced us with their performance tonight is because my cousin, Luca, is turning twenty one in two minutes." He looked around until he'd found my eyes. "Come on the stage."

Bella squealed next to me and made her way to the steps on the side of the stage. I remember how I was frazzled and confused. When we'd reached Tony, she gave him a quick one armed hug and took the mic from him.

"I want everyone to count to ten with me." I had looked down at my watch and saw that it was almost midnight. Which meant that was turning twenty one.

She gave the mic to someone that I didn't care to glance at. I only had eyes for her. I couldn't believe that she had gone to this extent just for me.

I still remember her facial expressions. She was smiling so wide, and with so much fucking love shining from her eyes. There was a beam light that shone down on us, and it made everyone else around us disappear. That always seemed to happen when I was with her. Still to this day, after nearly two years together. And I'm sure it'll always be like that with her.

The light had made her silver sequin dress glitter and her emerald eyes glossed over with happy tears. Mine did the same.

I had grabbed her waist and pulled her to my chest, she rested her arms on my shoulder. Then, she lifted one arm and shouted, "ten."

Everyone started counting down as if it was New Year's Eve.

When the number one was shouted, confetti exploded and the band started playing again. I'd smashed my lips to hers so harsh she drew back from the force. We were both smiling and laughing that we weren't kissing much actually.

At that moment someone with a professional camera had snapped a picture of us.

Looking at it now, I can say with a hundred percent certainty that it's my favourite picture of us yet. That night was also the best of my life.

Everyday with Isabella is the best of my life, but that night was just different.

Later that night when we got back to my dorm room, she had told me. "When you gave my the promise ring, you told me that you'll do everything to make me happy." I nodded and held her closer to me on the bed.

She continued, "well, I don't have a ring with me now, but I'd also like to make you a promise." Her eyes shone with tears for the second time tonight. My emotions had been at a peak that night.

"I want to promise that I'm going to do everything and anything to make you the happiest man alive. And tonight was the first ever big gesture that I did to ensure that." She'd promised me a couple of other things, like how she'll tell me she loves me every chance she gets. How she'll stay by my side.

It felt like we were saying our vows and that made me want to put a ring—an engagement and then a wedding ring—on her finger so badly.

But she wasn't ready for that big step yet. But I'll wait.

I go to my closet and grab my shoes, put them on then make my way back to Bella's room. When I enter, my mouth dries at the glorious sight of her; only wearing panties that cover almost nothing and a push up bra.

Damn!

She gets more beautiful every time I look at her.

"I only need to do my make-up real quick, then we'll be ready to go." She tells me. But I'm still gawking at her.

My feet move on their on, and I grab her waist and push her against the wall.

"Hey, mi amore." I growl in her ear, knowing that when I speak Italian to her, she melts into putty.

I once caught her watching YouTube videos on how to learn Italian. She immediately shut her laptop and pretended like she wasn't just pronouncing the word 'cock' in Italian.

She told me she wanted it to be a surprise. So I humoured her and didn't mention it again.

I give her ass a firm squeeze and she gives me a look.

"Luca..."

"Isabella..." I say in a mocking tone. Her full name still feels kind of foreign on my lips. Since the first time I've met her, I always called her 'Bella'. At first, I used it in a way to compliment her. On her beauty. But she didn't notice and just thought it was another nickname for her. And it just stuck. I'm the only person to call her that and I like it.

"If we do this we'll be late." That's a lie. There's still around three hours for us to be at the graduation ceremony.

I press my groin into her and she whimpers. "We can be quick." My hand trails down to her panties and I slip a finger inside. Hissing when I find her fucking drenched.

Dropping to my knees, I push the lace material covering her to the side and, without warning, connect my mouth to her pussy.

"Yes!" She moans loudly.

Fuck, I love how loud she gets. She doesn't care about who hears her.

I eat her out like a starved man. As if I didn't get a taste this morning. But I can never seem to get enough of her.

Pushing two fingers into her, I start pumping her and flicking my tongue on her clit simultaneously. I lift her leg on my shoulder and don't stop fucking her with my tongue and fingers until I feel her pulsing against my mouth. Even then I don't stop. I keep milking out her orgasm. Prolonging her pleasure.

She slumps back against the wall after I release her leg and I stand back up in front of her.

"I told you I can do quick." She opens her eyes. "What did that take? thirty seconds?" She mock gasps and hits my shoulder.

"Shut up." She fixes her underwear, even though she'll be needing a change. "Want to see how long it takes me to make you come?" She challenges.

My already hard cock twitches. "Challenge accepted." I grab a pillow from the bed and throw it on the floor. "Get on you knees, love." She rolls her eyes at my command but still does what I said, getting on her knees and resting them on the pillow. She pretends to not liking when I order her around, but she secretly loves it.

She undoes my belt and unbuttons my pants. She lowers my pants low enough to pull out my dick.

"I have to warn you though, if you start this, we are going to be late. Because you know I don't finish in thirty seconds like you."

"We'll see about that." She put me in her mouth and the heat of her mouth makes me groan. She teases me only for a few second before pushing me in her mouth as far as she can, while also playing with my balls.

Fuck, she's too good at this. She knows exactly what I like and what makes me lose my mind.

I gather her hair in one of my hands and she's looking up at me with mirth in her eyes.

Shit!

I know what she's going to do before she does it.

She pushes me in her mouth and on the way out, she lightly scrapes her teeth along the length of me.

"Fuuuck." I drawl out and she hums.

Grabbing the back of her head with both hands, I give her a warning look then start fucking her face fast.

"Yes, take it. Take my cock in your mouth like a good girl." And boy she takes it good.

I give her a break and she grins at me while catching her breath, still pumping me with her hand.

"I love you so fucking much."

"And I love you. And your cock." She winks before putting me back between her plump lips.

A knock sounds at the door and then it clicks open. But we both don't bother looking at who it is—either Sara or Alex—I'm too busy watching her, too enthralled in her beauty.

Plus, I can't count how many times we've walked on each other while doing all sorts of dirty things. Bella is fucking insatiable, she sometimes can't wait until we reach our room and would start undressing me by the front door.

I think everyone living in this house has seen my naked butt more times than I'd like.

At least now, I'm standing with my back to the door. It's still clear what is going on. But at least my cock is hidden and also almost-naked Bella is partially hidden behind my legs.

The door closes again. Whoever it was understanding we're busy.

She does that thing with her teeth again and I fucking lose it. I can't hold back anymore.

"Bella, I'm coming." I always warn her, but she never takes me out of her mouth. My little minx likes to swallow my cum.

She hums around my shaft and that's it. I shoot my load in her mouth and I see her throat bobbing as she swallows every last drop.

She falls back to her heels and she lifts her wrist up to her face, checking her non-existent watch. Nodding she says, "yup, took only fifteen seconds."

"Shut up." I say and connect my lips with hers.

After cleaning up and finally getting dressed—me in my own room, because otherwise we would've missed our graduation ceremony—I enter the kitchen for a bottle of water.

I see Sara eating a KitKat. When she sees me she huffs a breath. "Finally. Now I can get my heels from Izzy's room." So, I guess she was the one to enter our room earlier.

I just smirk and throw her a wink while opening the fridge. Noticing how any traces of her earlier sadness vanished.

After about another fifteen minutes, everyone has made it down to the living room. We take some photos then start filing away in the cars.

And I say cars, because Alex wanted to take his own car. Saying that he planned on leaving the party, later on tonight, earlier than us. To be able to go to bed early and catch his flight in the morning.

***

Our graduation ceremony went smoothly.

Well, some teachers wouldn't use that word exactly.

Bella had somehow hidden a small air horn in her graduation gown. When my name was called and I went up on the stage to take my diploma. A loud horn noise blasted around, making every head snap up. I looked around and immediately saw Bella, already knowing where she sat, trying to hide the air horn again.

When it was Sara's turn to walk and get her diploma, the air horn went off again. This time a staff member took it from her. But not before Bella blasted it one last time.

All the students laughed.

My grin was explosive while I watched Bella's elegant and confident walk on the stage. Fucking proud of her. I stood up, cupped my hands around my mouth and let out a loud, "wohoo!" She waved to me and I had to force my feet to stay rooted and not go up to her and hug her and lather her with kisses. I just want to be near her at all times.

We spent a great amount of time just taking pictures. Lilly, Bella's mom, made us pose and went crazy with the pictures. She's here with her boyfriend. They've been dating for almost a year now. He's divorced but doesn't have children. Bella was really happy when her mother broke the new to her. She had called me from her childhood bedroom and dished all the detailed to me. I listened with a big ass smile on my face. Hearing the happiness in Bella's voice while talking about her mother finally finding love after her ex had left them, makes me feel love her ten times more.

I took pictures with her mother and Ben. Then with Victoria, Ben's girlfriend. Then Sara and later Alex also came in the frame. There were so many students with their friends and family that I even ended up posing with people I've never seen before.

Now we're in my car on the way to club Lusso. Well, Bella, Sara and I in one car and Alex in his own.

I had wanted to warn Bella to keep an eye on Sara but our little challenge in the bedroom made me forget.

She's sitting in the middle of the seats behind and I sneak a glance at her. She's looking outside the window with a gloomy expression.

I saw her and Alex talking privately by his car before we started driving towards the after party. They both seemed just... sad.

I have no idea what's going on. They didn't look like they were breaking up at least.

Finally, we reach the underground parking garage. I park and we all jump out of the car excitedly. We already spent some time in one of the college parties, but now it's time for the real party.

"Oh my God! We are graduates, baby." Bella shouts and her voice echoes in the nearly empty garage.

"Hell, yeah." I hug her and give her a twirl.

We hear an engine and see Alex's car approaching. Sara turns to us, "you two go on. We'll follow you in a bit."

My brows pinch in worry. But she gives me a smile that looks genuine but is not. I know Bella can see through it too, but she doesn't like to push her. So she gives her a quick hug and whispers something in her ear. She pulls away as Alex gets out of his car.

The ambiance inside Lusso is very different than any other club I've been to. It just feels more sophisticated and rich, if that makes sense.

The music is versatile. There is rock, pop, slow, rap and even some country.

The best part about this club is the VIP section. It's not open for public yet, but family privilege gives us access to enter the secluded rooms.

In the private rooms Bella has more freedom to grope me and kiss me all she wants. I'm not complaining. My cousins have become used to our PDA sessions.

Holding Bella's dainty hand in mine, I keep on walking straight to the VIP lounge. We always sit in the last room in the hall, so I open the door and I'm immediately engulfed in hugs and kisses.

They were all at the ceremony but it got kind of hectic there and are now properly congratulating us.

"Congratulation, cousin." Mateo hugs me and gives me a clap on the back then turns to Bella and hugs her, lifting her feet off the ground.

I love that my family loves her Bella and that she loves them just as much. I don't know what I would've done if they didn't get along.

After they all have congratulated us, we all take a seat on the plush couches. Antonio really went all out with this new addition to his club.

I pull Bella onto my lap and she holds my jaw in her hand while giving my neck soft, teasing kisses.

God, she never relents with her teasing.

"When are you two moving in?" Nicole asks us.

We've been here for almost two hours. And I lost the count of how many shots we've done.

Bella squirms in my lap excitedly.

Fuck!

While moving she rubbed up on my dick multiple times.

"In five days." Bella says.

"Are you excited?" Carina, Mateo's girlfriend, chimes in.

"So freaking excited. Can't wait to live with Luca in our home."

Our home.

We have been practically living together for the past two years, but this is different. We chose the condo together. We decided what couches to buy and what beddings to choose.

This will be our first home together.

After another hour passes by, Alex stands up and informs us that he has to get going. Sara follows him outside and when she comes back ten minutes later, her face is flushed and her eyes are red. And I know for a fact it's not because she's been drinking. She was crying.

Bella leaves my lap and goes to her. Her lips don't move a lot and I know she's holding her feelings in. Typical Sara.

I watch as she grabs the tequila bottle but instead of pouring a shot, she takes a swig straight from the bottle. Her face cringes at the taste but she still goes for a second large pull. Bella tries to take the bottle from her but she puts it out of her reach.

Taking my phone out, I send Alex a text asking him what the hell happened. After five minutes without an answer, I huff an irritated breath and pocket my phone away.

"Hey, I should get going." I look up and meet my little brother's grey eyes. Except he's not so little anymore. Maybe in age he's younger than me, but mentally, I'm not so sure.

Two years ago, right after he turned eighteen, he joined the army. He's home only a couple months of the year. And every time he come back, I notice that he's different than last time. We all try to talk to him, but he refuses. He doesn't even see a therapist.

I am lucky that he was home for my graduation. He goes back in two days.

I stand up and give him a tight squeeze. Even though he's still here for two days and my mom is throwing him a big dinner before his deployment, I still always hug him like it's the last time I'll ever get to hug him.

"I'll see you tomorrow." I tell him when we break apart. "I love you."

"Ti voglio bene."

Bella, Sara and Nicole have disappeared to the dance floor. I decide to go to them and dance a little with Bella before heading back to the house. It's getting pretty late.

My eyes immediately find Bella. Her smile is like lighting in the dark room. Her long brown hair is moving with every move she makes. Every time I watch her, I see her in slow motion. Every little thing she does is so beyond beautiful and sexy. Especially now, dancing and grinding with her girlfriends.

I walk up to her and wrap my arms around her slim waist. She doesn't have to look behind her to know it's me. She can tell my the feel of my arms, my my scent. Just like I can tell with her feel and scent.

She reaches an arm and puts it around my neck and she starts swaying her hips to the music.

We dance together for what feels like eternity. And I'm glad that time seems to slow when I'm with the love of my life. Because I wouldn't want it to go by fast.

I feel a nudge on my arm and I pull my lips away from Bella. Nicole is looking at me with wide eyes and I instantly get worried.

"What's wrong?" But she doesn't answer, she doesn't have to.

Bella and I look to Nicole's left and Sara is standing there with dilated pupils and tears streaming down her face.

Shit!

"Hey, babe, what happened?" Bella tries to sound as soft as she can while shouting her question over the loud music.

She hiccups and then says the words I've been suspecting the entire day but refused to believe.

"Me and Alex broke up."

***

Bella softly closes the door behind her to Sara's room. She wraps her arms around me and lets out a tired sigh.

We're standing in the hallway at four a.m. still in our clothes.

"How is she?"

She shrugs, "the alcohol was making it worse."

I glide my hands to the back of her thighs and hoist her up. I walk us to our bed and gently put her down. I take off her dress then heels. Then I start undressing while she's looking at me with her big emerald eyes.

When I'm left in my Calvin's, I lay on the bed and pull her closer to me, her face resting on my chest.

"I can't wait till we leave this place and live in the city." I tell her softly.

She hums. "Yeah, me too. We did make a lot of memories here though." Yes, we did.

My favourites are the sexy memories we made.

"True, but now we have our own place. A place we call home."

Silence takes over and I'm about to turn off the nightstand lamp when Bella speaks again.

"I'm really happy that you didn't leave me."

I frown. "What? What makes you say that?"

She rests her chin on my chest and looks up at me with shiny eyes. "Sara..." She says and I nod in understanding.

"I can't imagine spending four years with someone just to break up with them."

"Did she say why they broke up?"

She shakes her head. "She said he didn't cheat so that's good, I guess."

She bites her lip and averts her eyes, trying to hide her tears from me.

"Hey," I lift her chin up with my index finger. "I will never, ever, leave you, okay?"

"I love you."

"Ti amo, baby." I kiss her forehead. "Just know that I'd rather die that leave you. I promise."

"Are you sure you want to keep me forever?" She smiles.

God, that smile.

"Heck, yeah!"

"Even when I'm being annoying?"

I scratch my jaw, pretending to mull over her question. "Yes. Even when you're annoying me." I tap the tip of her nose and she scrunches it in this cute little way.

In one swift move, I flip us over until I'm resting between her legs on top of her. I take her hand, the hand with the ring that I gave her.

"See this ring?" She nods. "Remember how I'd promised to stay with you no matter what?" She nods again. "Well, that promise still stands. I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm not going anywhere either." She lifts her head and our lips connect in a fiery explosion of love and passion.

Bella is my home. My love. My everything.

This is where I always want to be and will always be.

~The Start~