Chapter 25
Vanessa
“This has to be the cutest outfit I’ve ever seen,” Bri coos. “You made this?”
She holds up the blush-pink onesie with a princess crown in the center that reads The princess has arrived, and it has an adorable tutu made of tulle attached to it, making it look like a shirt and skirt.
“I did. Leo has inspired me, and I’ve started to add baby items to my portfolio. When you put it on her, can you send me some pics? I’ve been using Leo as my model, but now I can add her to it.”
“Of course!” Bri exclaims. “And if you want to give me any other items, she can model them for you.”
“Same with Alba. She’d love to model some cute girlie clothes,” Dani offers. “Wouldn’t you?” she coos to her nine-month-old daughter.
“If you want to design some outfits for older boys, Justin and Adam are eighteen months old, and Damien is six. He won’t be as thrilled to model, but I can bribe him.” Peyton winks, and my heart clenches in my chest at how supportive they are.
“Oh my God!” Bri claps her hands. “We could do a fashion show. It would be so cute. The boys could walk down the makeshift runway, and Alba could crawl. And my little princess could just lie here, looking cute.”
Everyone laughs.
“Really?” I ask, so many ideas forming. “That would be awesome. I could buy a backdrop and take pictures, and of course, you guys could keep them.”
“We could do family portraits,” Peyton says. “You said you’d been designing a male and female line, right?”
When we were at the spa for my birthday, they asked me about my plans after college, and I told them about the items I’d been working on and how I’d like to one day start my own clothing line.
“I am. When Leo’s napping, I’ve been working on a bunch of different pieces.”
“We could totally convince the guys to wear them,” Bri says with a smile.
“James would do it as long as there was a suit involved,” Nicole says with a laugh.
“Oh my God, can you make Matteo wear one?” Dani asks. “I love his T-shirt and jeans, but family pictures of us dressed up would make my year!”
“I can do that. I would just need to get everyone’s measurements to make sure each outfit is tailor-made to fit each person,” I say, so many ideas swirling in my head.
“We should hire a professional photographer,” Bri suggests.
“Oh, no. I can’t afford that. I can use my phone and—”
“No offense, but I want my pictures to be fireplace-worthy,” Peyton says. “I’ll gladly go in on a professional photographer. Your clothes are beautiful, and the photos would look amazing, taken by a professional.”
“I agree,” Dani says. “I’ve been wanting family photos, so this is perfect. Two birds, one stone.”
“There. It’s settled.” Bri holds up her little girl’s outfit. “You provide the wardrobe, and we’ll provide the models and photographer.”
“Leo, can you give your daddy a kiss?” I say, making Leo smile and then smack his lips against Lorenzo’s cheek.
Lorenzo grins, glancing down at his son with love shining in his eyes, and Natasha—the professional photographer Bri hired—snaps several photos.
When we talked about doing a photo shoot, a part of me figured the women would forget about it.
But when each of their husbands and Nicole’s boyfriend begrudgingly came by to be fitted, I realized that this was really happening, so every night for the past two weeks, I worked every chance I had to get everything ready.
For a broke college student, this is a chance of a lifetime.
Not only will it meet the requirements for my final in two of my classes, but it will look good in my portfolio.
Lorenzo’s dressed in a pair of khaki shorts with a blue-and-white striped polo, showcasing his intricate tattoos that wrap around his forearms and disappear under his sleeves.
He’s holding Leo, who’s dressed in a matching outfit, on his hip, and every time they smile at each other, I swear my ovaries weep—it’s a good thing I got on birth control a couple of weeks ago.
“Vanessa,” Lorenzo says, “join us.”
“What? No.” I shake my head. “I’m not …”
“Wearing one of your outfits?” Lorenzo quirks a brow. “Yes, you are. And it’s white and blue, so it matches us. And before you try to say some bullshit about not being camera-ready, you look gorgeous.”
“Besides”—Natasha winks—“that’s what Photoshop is for.”
“Let’s go, baby.” Lorenzo opens the arm that isn’t holding Leo. “I need proof that a stunning younger woman was willing to give me her attention. Otherwise, nobody will believe it.”
I roll my eyes but walk over to stand beside Lorenzo. Immediately, Leo dives into my arms, wanting me to hold him.
“The kid isn’t even a year old, and he’s already a ladies’ man,” Matteo jokes as I take Leo from Lorenzo.
“He’s not stupid,” Lorenzo says, his eyes locking with mine. “He knows a good woman when he sees one.”
I swallow the lump of emotion in my throat and smile for the camera, figuring at the very least, when this ends and I’m forced to leave Lorenzo and Leo, I’ll have pictures to look back on.
“Twenty-one!” Lorenzo slaps his cards on the table with a look of triumph. “Now take ’em off.”
Everyone went home from the photo shoot, and Leo, exhausted from the busy day of playing with Alba and Peyton and Dominick’s kids, passed out immediately after his bath.
I’d been working every night to get the outfits ready, and Lorenzo insisted I took tonight off to play cards since it’d been a while since we’d done so. And since I love playing cards with him, I couldn’t say no. Everything else will be there tomorrow.
When I asked what the wager was, he hit me with a mischievous smirk and said, “Clothes.”
“Clothes?” I asked in confusion.
“Yep. Loser takes off an article of clothing.”
I rolled my eyes. “If you want me to see you naked, all you have to do is strip. No need to lose in blackjack.”
“I’ve been getting better, and tonight, you’ll be the one getting naked. And knowing it’s from me winning will make it that much sweeter.” Lorenzo rubbed his hands together and waggled his brows.
“Wild Card,” Lorenzo says, snapping me from my thoughts, “clothes off.”
I snort out a laugh and take off my shirt, leaving me in my bra, panties, and shorts since I already removed each of my socks.
“Damn, I love that bra.” Lorenzo reaches over and pinches my nipple through the see-through material of my bra. “Let’s go again. The thought of playing cards with you topless has me nearly hard.”
He deals, and after we both pick up cards and then agree to stay, we show our hands.
“Fuck yeah.” Lorenzo grins. “Take that sexy bra off.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d rigged this game.” I stand and unbutton my shorts, refusing to give him what he wants—my breasts on display.
“What can I say? Luck is on my side tonight.” He reaches out and hooks his arm around my ass, pulling me into his lap.
“Lorenzo!” I whisper-yell, not wanting to risk waking up Leo. “What are you doing?”
“Enjoying the show.” He peppers wet, hot kisses along my collarbone while massaging circles into my ass.
“I’m pretty sure show implies you’re watching, not touching.”
“This is one of those interactive shows,” he quips, making me laugh.
“Well, in that case, I think I should charge.” I grind against his hard length, and he groans. “If you want to touch, you’ll need to pay up.”
“Anything,” he says, sucking my bottom lip into his mouth. “I’ll pay any-fucking-thing.”
“Take off your shirt.”
He lifts his shirt over his head and drops it onto the floor.
And that’s all it takes for us to forget about our cards and get lost in each other.
Lorenzo lays me out on the table, the playing cards scattering all over the place. He grabs one that didn’t fall and glides the edge down my collarbone, stopping at the swells of my breasts.
“Lift.”
I do as he said, and he expertly unlatches my bra, yanking it off and chucking it to the side.
“You have the sexiest tits,” he muses, running the playing card over one.
When he gets to my erect nipple, he scrapes it across the hardened peak, causing me to squirm in pleasure.
“I have fantasies about these pretty pink nipples,” he murmurs, grazing the card over the other one.
He drags the playing card down my torso and stops at the seam of my panties. After yanking them down my legs, he parts my folds and gently glides the playing card between them.
“Hey!” I hiss. “I’d rather not get a paper cut.”
“I would never do anything to hurt you,” he says, bringing the now-glistening card to his face.
He slides it between his lips and makes a show of tasting my juices.
“Delicious.” He brings the card up to his nose and inhales.
“Do you have any idea how good you smell? Now, every time we play cards, I’ll be wondering which one smells like your perfect cunt. ”
He drops the card onto the table, spreads my pussy lips once more, and then eats me until I’m screaming his name. When I’ve come once on his tongue and another time on his fingers, he fucks me on the table, making me come once more.
And the entire time, I can’t help but think about what he said a few minutes ago … that he would pay any amount to be with me. And I wonder what being together is really costing us.
For me, it’s my heart. And when it’s all said and done, will I be able to pay the hefty price?