Chapter 29
ISLA
“Are you sure you want me to leave Gus?” I ask under my breath as my mom walks me to her door. “I can take him home tonight.”
Mom waves her hand in dismissal of my offer. “It’s fine, you and I both know the devil cat will be happier with Charlie.”
I giggle quietly. Mom has experienced the wrath of Gus more than once, hence his nickname from my otherwise peaceful, animal-loving mother.
“Okay. Thanks.” I lean in and hug her tightly, then call out to my son. “Hey kid, I’m leaving, can I get a hug?”
A minute later, he comes out from the kitchen, chewing on another one of Nana’s gingerbread cookies.
“Promise me you’ll eat a vegetable with your cookie?” I ask with an exasperated tone. My smile softens the request, and sure enough, Charlie just gives me wide grin, a couple of crumbs falling from his mouth. “Gross, kid.”
“Bye Mom, love you.” He throws his arms around me, one hand splaying on my back and the end of his other squeezing as tightly as he can.
“Love you, too. Be good, have fun tomorrow, and I’ll see you both for dinner.”
I kiss the top of his head, give my mother another hug as well, then head out to my car.
We came down to Dogwood Cove to spend Christmas with my mom, and the past couple of days have been lovely.
On Christmas Eve, we got sandwiches at Camille’s, then went to a Christmas tree farm and cuddled some baby animals, and we all ate far too many cookies.
Christmas Day was lazy, as we opened gifts, ate even more cookies, then had a delicious dinner together.
And later that night, when Mom and Charlie were in bed, I video called Luca and opened the small box he snuck into my bag.
The selection of gourmet teas and stunning porcelain cup was a beautiful present, and I felt guilty for not getting him anything in return.
Until I thought of a perfect gift I could give him.
Which is why on Boxing Day, I told Mom a little white lie about wanting to go back a day early to have a little time for myself. She didn’t question me and asked Charlie if he wanted to go to the movies with her and then spend one more night with her.
I wait until I’m safely on the highway headed toward Cedar Creek before I call Luca.
“Hey, wonder woman, how’s your visit going?” His warm voice slides over me, making me shiver in the best possible type of anticipation.
“It was great, but I’m on my way back to Cedar Creek now.”
“Oh?” There’s no mistaking the pique of interest in his tone. “Is Charlie in the car with you?”
“Nope. He stayed behind with my mom.”
There’s a second of silence before Luca speaks again, his voice even lower. “Are you saying you’re going home alone?”
“Yes.”
“And are you wanting to stay alone?”
“Definitely not.”
Luca groans. “Thank God. I’ll be there soon, baby. Drive safely.”
The rest of my drive goes by quickly, thank God.
And as soon as I’m home, I spring into action.
A quick tidy up around the house, and a shower to tidy up myself, is all I have time for.
I’ve just shrugged on the one lingerie set I have, a barely-there satin and lace teddy with a matching satin robe that I tie around my waist, when there’s a knock on the front door.
My heart thuds in my chest as I make my way there and undo the lock. I open it slowly and am greeted by Luca’s warm gaze sweeping up and down my body before zeroing in on my face, his eyes hooded with lust.
“Christ, woman. Do you always answer your door looking like every man’s wet dream?”
I step back to let him in before the cold air outside can turn my nipples any harder.
“Nope. Just when I know it’s the only man whose wet dream I want to be.
” I sashay ahead of him, putting an extra sway to my hips.
When I hear his muffled groan as his bag hits the floor, I smile like the cat that got the cream.
Seconds later, arms encircle my waist and he tucks his head into the crook of my neck, his lips finding my skin and pressing kisses everywhere he can. His hands start to roam up and down my body, and I arch back into his chest.
“Merry Christmas, Luca,” I murmur, then gasp when he covers my breasts, his fingers and thumbs coming to pinch my already hard nipples.
I reach behind me, grasping him behind his neck, twisting my head so I can find his lips and kiss him deeply.
I’m greedy for his touch, his kiss, everything he’ll give me.
We haven’t had sex since the conference weekend, and while fooling around in the office has a forbidden appeal, neither one of us has felt comfortable letting it go too far.
All of that means I’m desperate for him.
So desperate that I can’t wait any longer. Dropping my hands from where I was holding onto his hair, I drag him forward a few steps to my couch before turning in his arms and pressing myself against him. “I need you. Now. Please.”
Luca presses a bruising kiss to my lips before slipping his hand under my robe. Finding me bare and wet, he groans, dropping his head to my shoulder. “Fucking hell, Isla. I need you, too. Four weeks is way too goddamn long to not have you.”
My hands find the waist of his pants. Dark grey sweatpants that I’ll admire his ass in later.
Right now, they have to go. “Can we do it here? Like this?” I gasp as I push them down, only getting as far as the top of his prosthetic before his strong hands grip my hips and lift me up slightly onto the back of the couch.
“We’re gonna find out,” he says through gritted teeth.
His eyes are wild with desire and I know without asking that mine are the same.
I fumble with his underwear but manage to get them pushed down far enough to free his cock, which I instantly grab with my hands.
“Damn baby, hold on,” he says, chuckling, covering my hands with his. “Gotta get a condom.”
Maybe I should be embarrassed by the whimper that escapes me, or the words I say next, because do I really need to make it so obvious how I’m feeling? But I don’t care.
“We don’t need one. I mean, I’m on a birth control shot. And you already know there hasn’t been anyone but you.” I hold my breath, waiting for him to respond.
Cupping my face, his expression softens into something so kind, so gentle, so…loving. “I haven’t been with anyone else since my ex. And I got a full checkup a few months ago, so I’m good. But are you sure? After Charlie, I didn’t want to assume you’d be okay without extra protection.”
My heart swells so big, I swear it’s going to burst out of my chest. This amazing man, even now, when we’re nearly consumed with lust, thought of my past, my accidental pregnancy as a teenager, and wanted to make sure I was comfortable.
“I’m okay with it.” I tug him back between my spread legs.
“What I’m not okay with is you going anywhere that isn’t right here.
” I lean forward, closing the small distance between us, and kiss him, intending to keep it light.
But Luca clearly isn’t having that. His tongue spears between my lips as he grinds his hips into mine.
If it’s an awkward or challenging position with his leg, he doesn’t let on as he rocks into me, pressing against my core in a deliciously teasing way.
Once again, I push down his underwear, feeling his lips turn up underneath mine. This time, he doesn’t stop me when I wrap my hand around his length, squeezing it lightly. He doesn’t stop me when I notch him to my entrance. He doesn’t stop me when I roll my hips forward, taking him inside.
No. He doesn’t stop. He takes over, his hand coming to my thigh, gripping it tightly as he thrusts into me.
I cry out against his kiss, feeling overcome by the sensation of him filling me.
And yet, along with that overwhelming feeling is the undeniable sense of being settled, exactly where I’m meant to be.
“Fuck, you feel like heaven,” Luca whispers when we stop kissing to breathe. “I missed you. Not just this,” —he punctuates it with a push of his hips— “but you. Holding you. Being free to be with you.”
I know what he’s saying. And I feel the same.
But then he tilts my hips up, driving forward at a new angle and any coherent thoughts fly out of my head.
My hands fall back, scrambling for purchase on the couch behind me.
He won’t let me fall. I know that. I can give myself over to the pleasure he’s wringing from my body, one slide of his cock at a time.
“Oh God, Luca,” I whine as he keeps moving, rocking himself in and out of me, igniting nerve endings I never knew existed. “I’m so close.”
“Wait for me.” His voice makes it clear that’s a command, not a request. And my body responds, holding me in this place, this precipice where I know the fall will be delicious, but the anticipation is just as good.
He thrusts in a few more times before moving his thumb to my clit. “Now, baby. Now.”
I detonate.
I scream out his name, my body shaking as I clench around him. I fling myself forward to hold onto his shoulders as we both ride out our orgasms, tangled in each other’s arms. His shoulders are heaving with every breath as I feel the warmth of his release inside of me.
And as I slowly return to earth, relaxing into his body, he gently pulls my robe back up to my shoulders, kissing my skin as he covers me up.
I place my hands on his cheeks, tilting his head up to kiss me properly. His cock twitches inside of me and I can’t avoid the giggle that escapes me.
“Really? Already? I thought older men needed more time.”
He growls at me as he draws out. “Careful, Forrester.”
I giggle again, but it quickly turns to a grimace as I feel the wetness between my legs. Before I can say anything, Luca whips off his shirt, moving it to clean me up before tossing it over by his bag and pulling up his own pants.
I slide off the couch and drape my arms around his neck, tugging him down for another kiss. I wish I never had to stop kissing him.
When I pull back, I look up at him with an innocent expression. “So, serious question. How much time does a man your age need before he can go again?”
Somehow, I break free of his arms and dance out of range as his face goes from amused to surprised. Then he takes off, following me down the hall to my bedroom where I let him sweep me up into his arms.
“When there’s a woman like you waiting? No time at all.”