🌹Iris' Pov

I wake up to the sun rising, slamming my alarm off, I groan and rollover. A yawn and a few curse words are the first things to leave my mouth.

Is revenge really worth leaving the warmth of cotton sheets?

It would seem so as I drag my ass out of bed.

Dressing sexy...

I groggily went to the bathroom doing the necessities before exiting the bathroom this time a little less exhausted and with a towel around my shivering, wet body.

Down on my bed, I sit, moisturizing whilst trying to keep my eyes from slamming shut like a coffin after the final viewing. The crimson, ornate lacy lingerie laid on my bed as a bride would on her honeymoon. Like her groom, I caress the material between my fingertips. Savoring its softness. With the softest thud, my towel hits the floor.

I drape my silk robe over my shoulders and glance at the sultry get up in the mirror.

"Jesus."

For split second I felt tantalizing....provocative....beddable. And just as quickly as that feeling came, just as quickly it went. Gripping the two ribbons, I secured it around my waist with a loose knot, covering up my body from all eyes to see.

Who was I kidding? I couldn't possibly parade around the house in something so meager. Much less to unveil something so scanty to Luca.

Despite how simple my plan was and having been coached by Lila I didn't realize how unprepared I was. I could not possibly seduce him with sexy lingerie and my 'womanly attributes'. This would all be possible because Luca usually heads out on a jog during the early hours of the morning. After an hour or so he would pop into the kitchen and grab a bottle of water and maybe an apple.

But now I since that plan has been abandoned, I'll simply wait to go down after he's grabbed his refreshment. Yes, that's exactly what I'll do.

A reverberating growl resonated from my stomach and suddenly I realized...

Fuck.

I was starving.

Goddamnit. How stereotypically convenient.

I roll my eyes at myself, was I really such coward that I'd rather sit hold up in here that face Luca? It wasn't as f he was the boogie man or a big bad wolf. He was just a man. Just a pig-headed, narcissistic, asshole of a man.

A few more curse words and I stomp out of the room and down to the kitchen which was, thankfully empty.

Cereal was the first breakfast choice I thought of. Why? Well, it would only take a minute or two to make and then I could walk right back up to my room without bumping into the King of Pompousness.

Noiselessly, I open the refrigerator and grab the milk, setting it down on to the counter.

"Iris?"

Luca's smoky voice comes as I'm reaching up into the cupboard and trying to grab a glass, the robe not even bothering to cover my scantily-clad rear.

Fucking hell.

Biting my lip I twist around, glass in hand and my oh my, 'the king' steals my breath like a common thief, for standing in the kitchen was a very sweaty, very sexy, very muscular Luca who looked like, well pardon my language but like a fucking snack. My heart and something else quivered in sheer euphoria.

His chest glistens from his sweat, his abs are practically rippling and on his large upper bicep a large dark tattoo of a gun with the words "Omertà" underneath it —shit, I didn't know he had a tattoo even though I stared at him a decent amount—.

I wonder what Omertà means?

His muscles are tense as he crosses his arms over his chest—is it hot in here?—, cocking his head to the side a sexy smirk plays on his pink very inviting lips.

His hair is messy and it looks like he's just rolled out of bed, ran his hand through it a thousand times and then a couple hundred times some more.

Shit, I am seriously considering jumping him.

I could just say I slipped and fell on his dick. Right?

Oh baby, the way his basketball shorts showed off his defined 'v' didn't help my thoughts either. Not to mention,the outline of his—

"Are you done eye fucking me, amore?" He inquires amused, flexing his muscles teasingly.

There goes my panties.

I scoff, pouring a glass of milk and taking a sip hoping to quench my thirst. "Oh spare me sweetheart, I've seen better. Much better." I shrug.

Liesssss.

"Considering you are a puttana, I-" My face contorts as anger engulfs me, acting without even thinking I throw my milk in his face.

How dare he! The fucking bastard! I didn't know Italian but I knew what that meant.

"Don't you ever fucking call me that again!" I hiss bringing the cup down hard on the marble counters, I watch as his face goes from shock back to amusement.

Son of satan.

Damn, he looks fucking good drenched in milk. I mean seriously this man is just utter perfection.

"Oh belle, did I hit a fucking nerve?" He coos mockingly, stalking towards me.

"You don't fucking get to call me a whore, when you kissed some other woman." I turn my nose up at him in disgust.

It happened so fast one minute one minute he was on the other side of the island and the next he's in front of me, hands on either sides of me, trapping me. He's close, really really close. So close our noses are almost touching.

"Hmmm, jealousy doesn't look good on you amore, in fact I must say, you seem a bit sexually frustrated. Do you wish for me to touch you, tesoro?" He hums with a wicked grin, raising a brow as his hand comes out to caress my cheek, it makes my breath hitch and my heart escalate.

Yes.

"Don't you fucking dar-" I deny harshly but I'm cut off by him tugging at the knot of my robe and pushing it open slightly. I watch as his eyebrows shoot upwards and his eyes widen as he takes in a sharp intake of breath, his darkening eyes running over me once, twice and then a third time.

"Cazzo, dressing up for me?" He asks his voice deepened significantly as he smirks, licking his lips.

"Not even in your wildest, craziest dreams, baby." I narrow my eyes and side step him not bothering to even close my robe, the large tent in his basketball shorts doesn't go unnoticed either.

She strikes, she scores.

✨

"Ellen, I'm going out to the orphanage. I'll see you okay." I inform my receptionist.

"Yes, ma'am." She nods and I sigh.

Ellen is 10 years my senior and it felt odd for having her call me ma'am but no matter how many times I've insisted on telling her not to she persists.

I stroll out of my building and greet everyone I pass along the way to my car which isn't that much, finally I get to my car and slide in closing the door and starting my baby up.

I love my black Range Rover Evoque that I had gotten from my dad as a 'wedding gift', I even named her Quin. She was just so perfect with her leather red seats and black interior.

Driving in silence to the orphanage thinking of the kids there, I smile, all the kids there are just sweethearts, they're like my babies and I love them with my whole heart.

The kids weren't all babies actually, there were seven of them. Naomi, James, Brendan and Brandon, Christopher, Gabe and Mel.

Naomi Smith is basically on the brink of 18 and she usually comes off to people who don't know her as aggressive but really she's a shy sweetheart who's just had issues in the past with old foster parents. She also has a major, major crush on James. She's big into anime and cosplay and she's just so freaking adorable all around.

James Dowe is my auburn cinnamon roll, he's always looking out for me, when I'm sad he's always been there for me. He's your average 17 year old boy but let me tell you that boy is one hell of a techie, he got in trouble twice with school for hacking into their database and changing some grades. He's been at the orphanage since it first opened making him the first kid I knew.

Brendan and Brandon Griffins, they are a troublesome pair. At eleven they can pull off the worst pranks known to man, once they covered me in glitter and let's just say I was washing glitter from everywhere for months. Months. They had been taken from their mother who was a drug addict at the tender ages of 3.

Little Christopher Dennis is a bit of a charmer, with his good looks and charming attitude, the boy could steal the hearts of girls at only the age of 5. His mother abandoned him at birth and he's been in the foster system since forever.

Gabe Jones and Mel Jones who are 3 and 4 respectively, now they are the true babies, Sometimes they call me Mum and I have to say that it makes my heart swell and break at the same time. They lost there parents in a car accident and they have no family to take care of them.

Gabe hardly speaks and prefers to be alone, he also hates small spaces. Mel however is a jittery ball of adorableness and seems not at all that affected by the events, well that's what the doctors think but I know otherwise, sometimes she has vivid nightmares that are so bad she refuses to sleep for days.

I get out of the car and walk through the glass doors, the orphanage isn't huge and lavish but more so comfortable and homey. Something I think the kids like.

I smile at the girl up front, she is definitely new, probably some college intern or something that Grace hired.

"May I help you?" She clicks her gum annoyingly.

"Iris Donario, I'm going up." I tell her and turn on my heel going up the familiar steps, up to the dark brown front door.

"Riri!" Mel squeals as soon as I open the door with my key, launching her tiny figure at me immediately and causing me to stumble back a few inches in surprise.

Gabe soon comes running, grinning his adorable toothy smile, as I pick Mel up, Gabe clings to my leg as I oddly take my heels off, walking barefooted into the clutter filled living room where the twins sit on the couch shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Boys!" I shout capturing their attention, Christopher, Brendan and Brandon all come running up to me, clinging to my waist.

Smiling I place a kiss on each of their little heads, putting a reluctant Mel on the couch along with my handbag. I yelp as I step on a motherfucking lego. Groaning in pain, I watch my steps and walk into the neater kitchen where Naomi sits, eating Oreos and watching some anime on her cell phone.

"Iris!" She smiles up at me, dragging me into a lung crushing hug.

Did I forget to mention Naomi plays soccer and is quite strong for a small girl.

"Hey sweetie." I wheeze as she giggles releasing me. "How's school?"

"Meh." She shrugs with a sour expression on her face. I know she deals with some bullies there.

I'll have to talk to her about that later.

Nodding, I fold my arms. "Where's Grace?"

"Office." She mutters going back to her anime.

Smiling in appreciation I walk down the hall past the bedrooms and finally I'm pushing the door open to Grace's office, leaning against the wall I survey the napping Grace. Her blonde hair everywhere, her glasses pushed up on the bridge of her nose as she drools.

Aww she looks so cute.

"Grace!" I holler at the top of my lungs.

"Holy snickerdoodle!" She flies up hitting her head against the wall slightly with a oof, I laugh under my breath at her.

"So that explains my new vocabulary." I say thoughtfully as she glares daggers at me. "How are you?"

"Fantastic." She mutters sarcastically in her cute southern accent before laughing. "I'm doing great, the kids missed you. How about you?"

"I'm...fine." I sigh biting my lip and looking over at the corner.

Nodding she gives me a small understanding look. "Is it your husband?"

"Yeah a little bit. Sometimes he's such a big fat a-" I'm cut off by James sticking his head in.

His mop of thick, curly aurburn locks sticking up in an adorable way. "Hey Iris."

"Hey Jamesy-bob." I grin, tugging him into the room and giving him a tight hug, when I pull back I see him blushing the deepest shade of red.

Odd.

"T-There's a guy outside in the living room looking for you." He stutters, rubbing the back of his neck.

Guy?

I follow silently to the living room where the sound of pure childish laughter can be heard, to say I was shocked when I saw the scene in front of me would be an understatement.

Standing in the living room is none other than Luca Donario, my husband, playing with a giggling Mel and Christopher while the others attack him from behind laughing.

Holy snickerdoodle, this must be a dream.

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