Chapter Seventeen #2
“I can’t,” I gasp through the moans.
“I’ll be so good to you, baby.” Thrust. “Give me another chance, please.” Thrust. “Take me back.”
Each thrust steals more of me. Pleasure builds fast and heavy, my toes curling as the wave crashes over me. He fucks me again and again, hitting that spot that makes everything else disappear, everything except his name.
“Lorenzo,” I whisper.
He lifts one of my legs to get deeper, better access, and he ruins me. His cock drives into me harder, deeper, faster, until my knees feel weak enough to give out.
“I’m desperate,” he pleads against my ear, and I feel him harden even more. “Forgive me, love. I need you so fucking much.”
I come harder than I have in the last twenty-four hours. He fucks me through it, relentless, and I want to forgive him so badly it hurts. My heart screams yes, but my brain, that fucking traitor, reminds me of everything he’s done.
He spills inside me, warm and overwhelming, filling me before sliding down my thighs.
He turns me to face him and kisses me desperately, like he’s afraid I’ll vanish. “Forgive me, love, please,” he says, his eyes begging.
“Lorenzo,” I start—
And then the door to my bedroom opens.
“Happy birthdayyy!!”
Sienna’s voice explodes into the room, joined by the girls’ laughter, and everything happens at once. Lorenzo shoves his boxers on in record time while I scramble to cover myself, my heart hammering.
“Oh my God,” Sienna says, staring at us with pure disapproval. “Are you two fucking again?”
My cheeks burn so hot I’m surprised I don’t combust on the spot. I cannot believe they just walked in on us like this.
“What do you think they’re doing all the time?” a male voice cuts in, bored to death.
I look up and see Andres leaning against the doorway. “The man lives here and he got her pregnant. What do you think they’re doing, playing chess?”
Sienna shoots him a glare. “No one asked you.”
“I told you we should’ve let them know we were coming,” another male voice adds.
Lev appears from behind the doorframe, half-hidden, like he’s been observing this whole thing for sport.
“It’s a surprise birthday party,” a soft female voice says, and silver hair pulled into a ponytail comes into view. Kylie steps forward, smiling. “Should we surprise them by informing them we’re coming?” She looks at Lev, amused. “Don’t be silly, Lev.”
“Yeah,” he replies dryly, “maybe if we’d warned them, they wouldn’t have been fucking right before our arrival.”
He’s not wrong.
“They’re not fucking,” Kylie says calmly. “They’re making love.” She glances at him with pointed disapproval. “That’s what people who love each other do. Have you ever done that?”
Andres snorts. “Why are we asking Lev if he’s ever fucked someone? He’s clearly a virgin.”
Lev smacks his arm playfully. “My virgin cock would love to meet your virgin ass. Should we give them a chance?”
He grins at Andres, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
Thankfully, everyone is too busy bickering to notice that we’ve managed to dress. Lorenzo pulls on grey gym pants and a white T-shirt, and my mouth betrays me immediately at the sight of him. I slip into my silk pajamas, trying, and failing, to regain some dignity.
“Ew. You two are so disgusting,” Sienna declares. “Why did we agree to bring these two idiots?” she asks Kylie, who only smiles at them fondly.
Then I see her.
Clara steps into the room quietly, almost hesitantly. She looks beautiful, but thinner. Too thin. Dark circles shadow her eyes, and something in my chest tightens instantly. I don’t miss the way Lev’s playful grin fades the moment he sees her.
She comes straight to me.
“Happy birthday,” she says softly, her eyes glassy.
Mine fill instantly.
“I missed you so much,” she continues. “I was so worried.”
I wrap my arms around her without thinking. “I missed you so much too,” I whisper. “Thank you.”
Then the others join, Kylie, Sienna, and suddenly we’re all hugging, tangled together, warmth and noise and familiarity wrapping around me.
For the first time in a long while, I feel surrounded.
Safe.
“Have you seen all the flowers outside?!” Kylie asks me, practically bouncing in place. “They’re so gorgeous, and so are you, my love!” Her voice is warm, sincere. “That’s the best present I’ve ever seen.”
My gaze drifts instinctively to Lorenzo. He’s standing in the corner with Lev and Andres, wearing that infuriating, self-satisfied smirk like he knows exactly what he’s done.
“I’ve seen better,” Sienna scoffs.
I burst out laughing because I know she’s only saying that out of pure, unfiltered hatred for Lorenzo.
“I don’t think so!” Kylie exclaims immediately. “That gift is the most romantic way of expressing your love for someone!” She’s glowing with excitement now, and I’m pretty sure she’s just earned herself a permanent place on Lorenzo’s good side.
“I wish I could experience a love like this,” she sighs dreamily. “It’s exactly like the romance books I’m reading!” Then she turns to me suddenly. “By the way, when are you finishing your novel, Serena? I need to read some filthy fairy smut.”
I blush instantly. My eyes betray me again, flicking straight to Lorenzo, who notices and lifts an imaginary bow in my direction.
“What the hell is fairy smut?” Lev asks, genuinely confused.
“Oh! I’m so glad you asked,” Kylie says, delighted. “It’s when the romance novel has fae characters, and there’s usually, like, a thousand-year age gap between the warrior fae and the human girl he’s obsessed with.”
“What the fuck?” Lev blurts out. “A thousand years?”
I laugh as Kylie nods enthusiastically.
“Yes! Exactly! And then they make love everywhere—all the time. Like, he can’t breathe without her. He wants to own her. They’re mates. And he’s pleasuring her constantly. Honestly, like seventy percent of the book.” She beams. “It’s so good.”
“Is this book about me?” Lorenzo asks lazily, throwing me a wink.
I blush harder. I hate that I blush.
“What the hell are you reading?” Lev asks, horrified.
“And sometimes he has wings,” Kylie continues, completely unfazed. “Or he’s a shapeshifter. And he gets even hornier when he sees her. And they’re super territorial—”
“Pretty sure that describes most men,” Andres adds, bored. “Which, unfortunately, means us.” His eyes never leaving Sienna.
“Come!” Kylie says excitedly, already tugging at my hand. “Let’s unwrap the gifts!” She grins. “And that kind Italian lady made some mouth-watering food, and a cake I cannot stop staring at.”
I laugh at the way she refers to Bianca, like she’s some mythical creature instead of a woman. But she might as well be, Bianca is an exceptional cook, and everyone knows it.
She pulls me into the living room, and the sight waiting for me there makes my breath catch.
Bianca stands in the middle of the room, holding a huge cake in her arms. It’s beautiful, elegant, carefully made, clearly done with love. And then I notice the dogs.
They’re dressed in what looks like tiny smoking suits, little crowns perched on their heads with Happy Birthday written across them. Their tails wag uncontrollably as they sit there, patient and proud, waiting for me like they understand exactly what today is.
My heart melts.
Lev, Andres, and Lorenzo come into view beside Bianca, and the girls follow behind them, gifts in their hands. They all move toward me at once, smiling, talking, filling the room with warmth and noise.
My eyes sting.
This, this, is perfect