Chapter 29 Luca
I wasn’t sure how the girls had dragged us to a bar.
There was one person to blame.
And he liked to refer to me as his bestie.
Jack was too easily persuaded, and three versus one was a futile war. Matilda, Lily, and Taylor had climbed into their car to drop Taylor home.
I texted Matilda the address while Jack called the concierge to add her license plate to the approved list.
We’d just handed our keys to the valet when Matilda’s familiar car pulled into the entrance.
After we’d shown our IDs, Lily and Matilda signed the NDA required by the private club.
Jack and I preferred this place for its privacy—it was the only bar we frequented, other than the one at the studios, these days.
We directed the girls through the reception. Warm, soft lights cast a gentle glow across the marble floor and dark mahogany walls. Plush velvet sofas decorated the space, adding classic pops of color to an otherwise understated room.
We passed a few other members on our way to the bar, none of them sparing a second glance for our casual workout attire.
The bar was equally beautiful. A long, polished countertop stretched the entire length of the room, with hundreds of glasses hanging above it. Shelves lined with every type of rare or vintage liquor adorned the back wall, providing ample choice for the patrons.
Matilda and Lily wasted no time ordering glasses of sauvignon blanc, while Jack and I opted for beers.
The atmosphere was lively with laughter and music, and despite the crowd, there were plenty of booths available. We chose one in the corner, sinking into the plush cushioned seats. Lily sat opposite Matilda, and Jack slid in beside Lily.
As I settled next to Matilda, our shoulders brushed. Lily and Matilda told us about many of their wild holidays together growing up. Their faces lit up as they reminisced.
Things started going downhill when we lost count of how many drinks we’d had. The warm lights had taken on an even softer hue, my shoulders relaxed, and the tension that had been building for weeks eased.
“They know each other,” I said under my breath, although I wasn’t sure why I bothered. Jack and Lily were deep in whatever conversation they were having.
“Yeah.” Matilda flicked her gaze across the booth. “They sit next to each other for the show.”
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. “You think that’s all there is to it?”
At that moment, she shuffled in her seat, her thigh pressing against mine. I couldn’t tell if it was accidental, but she didn’t move it away.
“Oh my god,” she whispered, the scent of coconut floating through the air as she leaned in.
“They’re fucking,” I said at the same time Matilda blurted, “They’ve had sex.”
She looked disgusted at my choice of words, but I held my hands up. “What?”
“Really? Do you have to say it like that?” she guffawed.
“What?” My tone dropped an octave. “It’s just a word, Stevens.”
A pink blush crept up her cheeks, and my mind wandered to whether she’d blush like that in the bedroom.
“Yeah, but it’s…Never mind.” She tucked a stray blond hair behind her ear. Taking a deep gulp of my beer, I leaned back into the booth.
“No, go on.” I smirked.
“No, you go on.”
“You’re the one who’s being a prude.” I pulled a strand of her ponytail to annoy her more.
“I am not being a prude,” she gasped. “They’re the same thing, just different words.”
I didn’t know whether it was the alcohol, the fact that she’d been pressed up against me all fucking week practicing our routine, or whether I was just a glutton for punishment, but sitting this close, the electricity between us made me want to press her further—pull us into territory I’d been careful until now to avoid.
“There’s a difference.”
“Is there?”
“Have you ever been fucked, or have you only made love?” I asked, leaning in.
I instantly regretted the mocking lilt to my tone.
But she made me proud, setting her shoulders back. Determination flashed in her eyes as she held my gaze.
“No, I haven’t been fucked.”
Jesus fucking Christ.
“You’ve never had dirty sex?” I asked, my dick twitching in my jeans.
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she shook her head.
Images of fucking Matilda ran rampant through my mind. A shiver shot down my spine, each visual more intoxicating than the last.
The warmth of her leg seeped through my jeans, reminding me how close we sat. We’d never pushed it this far. I couldn’t deny that over the past few weeks we’d gotten closer, but now the air crackled with tension that felt like standing too close to an open flame.
Her eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place, but when they dipped to my lips, it was like a silent invitation. Her breath caught, lips ever so slightly parted. My hand moved toward her thigh of its own volition, desperate to feel the—
“Can I get you any more drinks?”
I pulled my hand back like I’d been stung.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” The waitress fiddled with the notebook in her hand, her eyes bouncing between us.
Matilda had scooted back an inch, but that was all it took. Despite the flush on her cheeks, any residual heat from our conversation melted away.
“Can I get anyone another drink?” the waitress asked again, looking between us sheepishly.
“I think we’d best get going; we’ve got an early start tomorrow,” Jack said from across the table.
Lily groaned into her hands. “Ugh, I’ve got an early dance class.” She looked at the waitress. “Could we just get the bill, please?”
“Oh, it’s been charged directly to Mr. Vasvault’s account.”
I narrowed my eyes at Jack, who just snorted.
“He said to charge it to your account today, sir. Is that OK?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Could you please call us two taxis against Jack’s account?” The waitress nodded and shuffled away.
As we slid out of the booth, Lily attempted to discreetly widen her eyes at Matilda when she thought I wasn’t looking.
I didn’t catch Matilda’s silent reply, but her cheeks were flushed pink the entire walk to the taxis.