Last Minute Fiancé

Chapter 8

Addison

Ihad spoken to more of my coworkers in the past few hours than I had in the past few weeks. Usually, we stuck to our own departments, and while we did occasionally have meetings, both online and in person, it was usually small groupings. This was far different. I wasn’t quite sure I liked it. But I knew that I was good at my job, and everyone here knew it.

We had done some team building exercises, including icebreakers, which made no sense to me considering all of us had known each other for so long that we shouldn’t need to break any ice. However, whatever the boss wanted the boss got. I just needed to remind myself that this was for a good cause. For the next step in the plan.

So, why did it feel like nothing made sense?

Once dinner was finally over, we had our after-dinner cocktail, or at least everyone else was having a drink. That was when people got a little crazy, drank a little too much, and proceeded to have a little too much fun.

At least some people did.

I sipped my Virgin Cuba Libre, also known as a Coke, and smiled as my boss and my nemesis talked down to me. Of course, I snapped right back and stood up for myself. But it didn’t always matter.

I had a sinking feeling that if I wasn’t perfect, didn’t do my job to the best of my abilities, I was going to lose out on this promotion. Because Harrington-Wells III loved Travis, and loved the connections he could make through Travis’s fiancée Dory.

“Oh, Harrington, do you mind if I borrow Addison right quick?”

I looked over my shoulder as Kelly, Nathan’s wife, walked up to us. “I have a business question for her, and I need that brain of hers.”

“No problem, you can borrow Lily. We’ll need her right back, though.”

Kelly grinned and tugged me away.

“Is everything okay? Do you need me to call Paisley for something?”

Kelly shook her head as she waved at one of the wives who walked past.

“Oh no. But you looked two seconds away from strangling Travis, and murder’s probably not going to get you the promotion.”

I snorted and sipped more of my soda.

“Probably not, but I could try.”

“You know you could. Now, I do actually have a question for you. How do you stand being called by your last name when you know he does it just to needle you?”

I shrugged, knowing that she was right.

“He does it to the guys too. So, it’s not just me.”

“He calls Nathan by his first name because he’s junior partner. So I bet as soon as he starts calling you Addison, or Travis by his first name and not Armstrong, that’s when you’re going to know.”

I cringed. “I figured that out and it sucks. It should be about what we bring to the company. What we can do for the team. And now it’s all about politics.”

“That’s what most jobs are, even if they don’t think it is. Now, speaking of office politics, who is that lovely young man you brought with you, because while that ring is gorgeous on your finger, it’s so new you’re still playing with it every time you get a chance.”

I glared at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Kelly.”

“It’s fine, you know. I know what it takes as a woman in a high-powered job. That’s why Nathan and I don’t work together. But we want to start a family, and doing that means we need to make sure we have the time and resources to do so.”

Planning would’ve been nice, but as I gave her a brittle smile, I wondered how Nathan would handle that. Or would it be Kelly who put things aside in order for that phase?

Because for all this work towards a promotion, would it really help? Would I be able to find time to figure out exactly how to be a mom?

Would I be a good mom?

Bile filled my throat and I swallowed another sip of my soda, ignoring the fear that coated my tongue.

I didn’t want to think about that. I couldn’t.

“It’s a new ring, but it’s Luca. He’s my best friend.”

That wasn’t lying to her, and I smiled, knowing it was true. Kelly grinned at me before reaching out to hug me tight.

“That makes me so happy to hear. You should marry your best friend. And he’s a great guy. I mean, look at him. He’s literally holding a kitten right now,” she said dryly.

I turned quickly, nearly tilting off my heels as I saw Luca walk over, a tiny white kitten in his hands.

Every single wife and girlfriend and female in the vicinity came over to look at him and coo.

An odd bit of jealousy hit me, but that made no sense. This was Luca, women fawned on him all the time. I was usually his best wing man and would help him get the draw or push them away. Not that he ever actually went home with anyone. Which was weird, now that I really thought about it.

Or maybe he was still so hurt over his dead girlfriend that he was focused on that and not trying to go home with anyone else.

No, I was not going to let the inner voices scream at me tonight. I did not have time for a nervous breakdown.

Of course, all of that flew through the window when I looked at the man coming towards me with a smirk on his face and his hair falling over his eyes as he held a tiny kitten up to his chin and walked through the crowd of bystanders to stand right in front of me. I set my drink down, and looked up at him, my heart racing.

“Where did you get a kitten, Cassidy?” I asked teasingly.

He snuggled the kitten under his chin and shrugged. “Found it underneath the deck over there. I only heard the one though, and I was going to go climb down to find more, but one of the staff members says that this is from the owner’s daughter’s litter. So we’re going to go do a quick check and then make sure the kitten is reunited with its mother. They’re weaned, but they’re still pretty small.”

He smiled and rubbed the kitten underneath the chin as it began to purr.

“Cute, right?”

“You’re a menace.” But I couldn’t help it, so I reached out and let the kitten sniff my finger before it rubbed its tiny little nose against me. “Okay, this is so cute.”

“Right? And I think that’s the owner there, he looks a little harried.”

I turned as an older man with a dark beard came forward, putting his hands in front of him, looking as if he were ready to pray.

“Thank you so much. This is Whiskers. He’s the rambunctious kitten that got out of his enclosure.” The man winced. “Not that we keep them locked up for long or anything, but it was bedtime, and it’s not safe to have the cats run around when they’re so small. Thank you so much for finding him. My daughter’s distraught. We looked everywhere.”

“He looks to be okay and healthy. Not dehydrated because he found that water bowl you have for I think strays?”

The owner nodded. “And any other animal that needs it. I’ll make sure he’s fed and everything. And I’ll give him to our vet to check him out.”

Luca held the kitten closer as it nudged his chin. “I’m a vet and don’t mind doing another check over him, but he seems to be just fine. And I can point out the hole where the kitten got in, if that helps.”

The man put his hands to his chest in gratitude as a little girl came running.

“Whiskers!”

The whole thing was like out of a storybook, and my heart began to race and my stomach tightened.

We could be having a daughter. Or a son. But a baby that wanted a little kitten to play with, who smiled just as bright as that little girl. When Luca handed over the kitten, I swore I heard women audibly sigh behind me.

I was right there with them.

There was nothing sexier than a grown bearded man holding a kitten as a little girl smiled up at him in thanks.

I was losing my mind.

And was very much attracted to my fake fiancé.

“I am going to go check on the kitten. Is that okay?” he asked, and I smiled.

“I’ll come with you. The night’s winding down.”

“I’ll say your goodbyes for you,” Kelly said before nudging me gently, and I laughed, shaking my head.

“Thank you. It seems like the boss left anyway.”

“Probably to find mistress number four,” Kelly mumbled under her breath, and I rolled my eyes, knowing she was probably right.

Because for all the family values this man had, he was the worst kind of cad. The worst finance bro of them all.

I was a little bit better, but not by much. I didn’t cad around like he did, I didn’t lie and cheat, but I did kind of fly with the whole fake fiancé thing.

I wasn’t going to let myself fall down that trap though.

I walked with the happy child and father at Luca’s side as Luca answered 1,000 questions from the little girl. She wanted to know all about kittens and make sure that she was being a good kitten mom.

Luca was so patient, so kind. And when he went to go check on the mama cat and the other kittens, my heart raced.

There was seriously something wrong with me.

I had already slept with this man. I didn’t need to have all these feelings. That would just complicate an already very complicated situation, and we both knew that.

By the time we made it back to the room, I was tired and my feet ached.

“Get out of those heels, I’ll go get us some water.”

“You’re too good for me. Seriously, I was just thinking about the throbbing in my arches right now.”

“If you’re good, I’ll rub your feet.”

I shuddered. “Not unless I’m just out of the shower. Feet freak me out.”

He raised a brow at me and I rolled my eyes, sitting on the couch. I took my shoes off and let out a sigh of relief. I wiggled my toes as he handed me a glass of water.

“Really? So, you’re not a foot fetish person. You do have pretty feet though. I bet I could take a photo or two of them and make some money. Maybe start a college fund.”

I shuttered. “Oh gosh. No, I can’t even think about that. And no, no foot fetish for me.”

“Honestly same, though you do have pretty feet.”

I looked down at my painted toes and shrugged. “For now. Who knows what they’ll look like in the third trimester. I haven’t gotten to that part of the book yet.”

Lucas shook his head. “I don’t know if that’s in the book. I’m a little afraid to go to Google for images.”

We looked at each other before bursting out laughing.

“You’re right. That would probably be very bad.”

“I’m glad I saved that kitten. It was a good distraction to an otherwise very odd evening.”

“It was an odd evening. I hate these types of events.”

“I’m just glad I don’t have to do these myself. Although I’m sure there’re veterinary conferences I can go to. I’ll drag you along and you can be my fake fiancé.”

“So you can get a fake promotion?” I teased, shaking my head.

“Maybe.”

“Thank you, though. For tonight. For the whole weekend. I know it wasn’t easy for you to juggle your schedule. And I know that this whole thing is annoying as hell. But I appreciate you.”

Luca reached out and squeezed my hand. His eyes closed as he rested his head on the back of the couch. “Honestly, this is like a vacation from work. I love my job. Even when it finds me on trips like this. But it’s nice not to have to be the boss all the time.”

“But you’re good at your job, you know. You made that little girl’s day.”

“They would’ve found the kitten eventually. But I’m glad I found Whiskers.”

“I’m going to take a shower just to wash off the day. And then sleep?”

“Sounds good. I’ll shower after you do. Then we have the lovely drive home in the morning.”

It had been a long weekend. And while we had done well sleeping on opposite sides of the bed so far with a pillow fort between us, I knew we were being ridiculous. Because as soon as we left this moment, reality would set in and we would have to face facts.

Face planning.

I sighed.

“You did a good job this weekend.”

“It doesn’t feel like it. It feels like I’m losing.”

I wasn’t sure exactly what I meant because it could have been anything, but Luca took my hand to his lips and gave me a kiss. I swallowed, my mouth going suddenly dry, and I pulled my hand away, quickly standing and making my way to the bathroom without saying anything else. I pinned my hair on the top of my head before showering quickly. I didn’t need to wash my hair, just wash the day off. I slid on my pajama bottoms and tank top, not the sexiest thing in the world, but I didn’t need to be sexy. I just needed to be comfy.

Because hopefully our fake relationship would end soon, and we would come to terms with just being friends again.

I gripped the edge of the sink. Yes, that would be good for everybody.

I brushed my teeth, then made my way into the bedroom. Luca was turning back the bedsheets when I entered and gave me an odd look before shaking his head. I didn’t bother to ask what he was thinking, because I didn’t want to know. And then he passed by me, his arm brushing mine and sending shivers down my spine. He shut the door behind him and then the shower went on, and I couldn’t help but listen to the sound of water and imagine it sliding down his naked body. His hands over his skin as he lathered up the soap.

I licked my lips, then cursed myself before jumping into bed.

Well, if that was what he was thinking about when I was in the shower, no wonder he gave me that look.

And no wonder I was losing my mind.

I turned off the lamp on my side then lay on my back, blankets up to my chest, hands down on either side of me, willing myself to fall asleep before he got into bed.

I hadn’t bothered with the pillow fort, but it would be fine. We were adults. We could do this.

The shower went off and I thought about how he was naked in there, probably rubbing himself down with a towel, and it wasn’t any of my business. He wasn’t any of my business.

When he came out in his boxers and a T-shirt, I quickly closed my eyes and pretended I didn’t see him. That I couldn’t feel the heat of him as he slid into the sheets beside me.

When he shut off the lamp without another word, all I could hear were our breaths and, based on the rapid breathing, realized that neither one of us was calm.

Then his pinky touched mine and I shivered.

“Luca.”

It was just a simple touch, a caress of pinky to pinky. And it was so much.

My clit pulsed, and I wanted to press my thighs together, to will myself not to come at just a simple touch.

This had been bubbling up for far too long. The need. The change.

But maybe I was just losing my mind.

Maybe it was the hormones. The lack of sleep. The stress. Maybe it was everything except what I was feeling.

“Addison,” he whispered, and then his fingers were sliding up my arm, and I turned to him and opened my eyes.

“Luca.”

“Let me kiss you.”

We knew that this was a mistake and I didn’t care. Because his hands were in my hair and his mouth was on mine.

He tasted of mint and smelled like the same soap I had all over my skin.

I wanted him. I needed him.

It started as just a simple touch, a caress, and then it was far too much.

His hands slid under my tank top, over my hips and my ribs, and I shivered when his thumb brushed the underside of my breast. I licked at his tongue and bit down gently on his lip as he slid his thumb over my nipple.

“You feel so fucking good.”

“I was going to say the same about you,” I whispered against his lips as I moved my hands up and down his body, and then under his shirt. His skin was so hot, still damp from the shower.

And I wanted to lick every inch of him.

We kept exploring each other, kissing, touching, and when he cupped my breasts under my shirt, I groaned, arching into him.

“Your nipples are so sensitive.”

“More so than before,” I whispered.

He kissed me again and we didn’t talk about anything important or why I was so sensitive. I was on my back and he was tugging off my shirt. I did the same to him, and I was grateful for the moonlight sliding through the blinds, because I could just see the light on his skin, barely glowing, and he was so beautiful.

He kept kissing me, before he lowered his body down further, kissing along my jaw and in between my breasts. He suckled one nipple, then the other, pressing them together as he continued to kiss and touch. I just let my hands fall over him, needing to touch him, needing to tug on his hair. He kept exploring. And when he kissed his way down my stomach and began to pull off my pants, I let him.

I hadn’t bothered with underwear and he groaned, tossing the pants over his shoulder, before he was cradled between my thighs, gently leaving small kisses on the inner silk of my skin.

“Luca.”

“Let me taste you. Let me take care of you.”

“Just please put your head between my legs right now. It is the sexiest damn thing.”

He chuckled roughly against me, and I could feel the hot air of his breath against my pussy.

“I’m going to taste this cunt of yours, and I’m going to lick and I’m going to suck. And then you’re going to come on my face and you’re going to scream my name. And then I’m going to do it again and again until you’re shaking and all you want is my cock.”

He looked up at me and I swallowed hard, my pussy clenching just at his words.

“Do you want that, Addison? Do you want my cock? Are you greedy for it?”

I was already so wet, and I knew he could see, could practically taste.

“I want you.”

“Say the words. Say you want my cock, Addison.”

I bit my lip, slightly embarrassed, but I didn’t care. Because Luca Cassidy was between my legs and I wanted to come so badly.

“I want your cock. Please.”

“But first, you get my mouth.”

And then he lowered his head and began to suck and lick.

I shivered at the exploration, at the way he spread my lips and began to breathe softly along my clit. I shivered, my toes curling, and then he was sucking and eating. His tongue was a masterpiece and knew exactly how to twist and turn. And when he slid one finger deep inside me, finding that bundle of nerves, I shot nearly off the bed. He pressed his free hand on my lower stomach, pinning me down as he continued to suck, to eat. I knew I was wet and I was hot and I was so close to coming.

Then he twisted his finger again and I was coming, shouting his name as my toes curled, and I nearly rocked off the bed again.

But he didn’t stop there. He continued to suck, continued to lick, and somehow I was coming again, and it didn’t make any sense. I was not the kind of woman to have multiple orgasms, but here I was, coming on Luca’s face for a second time, and I didn’t fucking care.

When he crawled up my body and crushed his mouth to mine, I could taste myself on his lips, and it was the most erotic sensation of my life. I was moaning words that I couldn’t even understand as he was tugging off his pants.

His cock was thick and hard and there was already pre-come at the edge.

He met my gaze, and I realized there was no need for condoms, because we were both clean, we had made sure of it, and I couldn’t get pregnant again.

But I quickly pushed those thoughts out of my mind because I didn’t want reality. I wanted Luca right now.

Before I could do anything, he sat back and lifted me up with just his arms and core strength.

My eyes widened, and then he was sitting and I was straddling him, his cock pressed against my pussy.

He groaned before he gripped both sides of my face and kissed me.

“I’m going to lift you on my cock and then you’re going to ride me. I want you deep and hard. Can you do that? Do you want me to fuck you?”

I nodded.

“I want the words. I need the fucking words, Addison.”

“Fuck me, Luca. Please.”

“As you wish.”

And then he lifted me up by spreading my ass cheeks and slammed me down on his cock.

I shouted his name, my whole body shaking at the near orgasm. I was already so tight from my own orgasms that it was almost painful. He stretched me to the brink, but it was so damn good that I had to curl my toes just to not come again.

He lifted me up and down on his cock. I leaned back and put my hands on the bed to steady myself. And then I was moving with him, both of us fucking each other at an angle that meant he could use his thumb on my clit, nearly sending me over the edge again.

When sweat began to slide down my body, he gritted his teeth and pulled out of me, and then I was on my hands and knees and he was pounding into me from behind.

I gripped the bedsheets, pulling them off the mattress, and his hands were on my breasts, then on my hips. And when he slid his middle finger over my clit again, I came, clamping around his dick.

He pounded into me over and over again, the speed increasing until he was finally coming, roaring my name as he hovered over me, both of us shaking.

He kissed the back of my neck and then my shoulder, and then we laid there, my back to his front, his cock still buried balls deep within me.

And I looked at the mess we had made of the bed and laughed.

This was so ridiculous, and we both knew it.

He chuckled with me as he held me close, and I knew we’d talk in the morning.

We had run out of time not to.

But first, I was going to relish in this.

Because this had been the best sex I’d ever had.

And it was with my best friend.

I had no idea what I was going to do with that.