Chapter 12 #2
Luca’s hair is wet, and a few water beads drip down his neck as he wipes them with the back of his hand. “I’m going to drive Harper and Zeke back home, then I’ll be at the party. Nova and Kensley, Chase is going to drive you to the party. I’ll take you guys and Ashton home after.”
“Here, let me take him.” Luca offers his arms out to hold Zeke.
“Are you sure?” Zeke is nearly asleep. His eyelids keep fluttering open and shut as he fights it.
“You’ve been holding him all night. Let me give you a break for a few minutes.”
I manage to untangle Zeke from my grip and hand him over to Luca. “Thanks.”
Zeke’s eyes widen as he changes from me to Luca, but then he settles right back down and shuts his eyes, cuddling Luca.
Within seconds, my little toddler is snoring soundly, which is going to be problematic because I have to put his winter coat and hat on him.
“You played well today.” I am really proud of Luca, he excels quite well at hockey. Maybe he can make a professional career of it and steer clear of his father’s business.
“I did okay,” Luca says modestly, offering a wry smile. “It was a good game.”
I button my coat and slip on my hat. We approach the door outside but pause while I manage to wrangle Zeke’s coat on him.
He fidgets and grumbles, his eyes opening and shutting. He doesn’t want to stay awake, and he also doesn’t seem to want to put his coat on, but I manage to get it on with Luca’s help and then I zip it quickly while he cuddles Zeke, bouncing him in his arms to get him to settle back into slumber.
I pull the hood up over his head since getting a hat on him right now will just be another fight.
I slip my gloves on as we head outside into the chilly night air and hurry across the parking lot to Luca’s car.
“Thanks again for driving us.”
“Of course. I wasn’t about to let my wife walk with our son alone at night.”
Wife.
Our son.
Luca doesn’t usually refer to Zeke as anything but my son. It sounds odd coming from his lips, but I have to admit that I like it.
“How long have you been waiting to call me your wife?” I smile jokingly.
He laughs under his breath. “Just trying it out. It does sound odd, doesn’t it?”
“It’s new. But I like it.” I appreciate that he’s trying, and while he may not have forgiven me entirely for running off on our wedding day, perhaps it’s time that we can finally move forward together.
“Me too.” Luca smiles and unlocks the car door, opening the back seat. He gets Luca situated into the car seat and secures him.
I watch, making sure everything is correct, and he’s buckled up tight before I climb into the front seat.
Silence fills the car, but it’s a comfortable quietness that I quite enjoy. The car takes a few minutes to heat up, but by the time we get to the house, it’s warm and cozy.
“Wait,” Luca says before he parks the car and I climb out.
I turn to face him, and he pulls up in the parking space outside the house, the engine running with the heat still on full blast.
He reaches across the seat, his hand grazing my cheek, his fingers in my hair as he leans closer and pulls me toward him. His lips find mine, and while I’m surprised he’s kissing me again, my body remembers everything from before and warms instantly to his touch.
There’s no fighting desire, nor would I want to with Luca.
My lips part, and he hungrily devours me, tongues dueling as the world around us seems to disappear.
Heat peppers my skin. His lips move across my neck and back to my lips again, fueled with need.
“I’ve been dying to kiss you.” He leans his forehead against mine, breathless.
“Do you want to come inside?” I ask, offering him more than just a kiss for tonight.
His lips crush mine again, and then he unbuckles my seatbelt, his fingers roaming over my body, setting me aflame.
“Yes,” he rasps, panting heavily.
He shuts off the car, and he hurriedly unbuckles and carries Zeke up to the front door while I fiddle with the keys. My hands are shaking.
Luca smiles that sweet and warm grin that melts my insides. “You’ve got it.” His thick and raspy voice sends warm tingles throughout my body.
I slide the key into the lock, and it turns, unlocking the door.
“Good girl,” he whispers, and I swear I shudder from his voice and words alone.
I help Zeke out of his coat, shoes, and then my own winter clothes before taking him from Luca.
Luca removes his shoes and coat, and a minute later, he’s standing in the doorway watching me get Zeke ready for bed.
Usually, he doesn’t seem interested. Tonight, he’s watching everything. Taking mental notes as I gather his pajamas and change his diaper.
I don’t read him a story tonight. It’s well past Zeke’s bedtime, and I tuck him in, giving him lots of hugs, kisses, and cuddles.
Luca disappears and a minute later comes back sporting a stuffed dragon. “I thought maybe he could sleep with this little guy.”
Zeke reaches out for the dragon and cuddles it tight to his chest, shutting his eyes.
I pull the covers up around him, giving him one more kiss before shutting off the light and closing the bedroom door.
“That was really sweet of you, giving him that dragon.”
“I picked it up at the hotel gift shop last week at our away game.” Luca pulls me against him, his hips finding mine as he pins me against the wall, just outside Zeke’s bedroom door. “I’ve been dying to taste your lips again.”
My eyes close and I raise up, brushing my lips against his, needing him, wanting him, desiring forever with him.
He’s hungry, and his need is insatiable. He pulls me with him backward, toward our bedroom and then lifts me, my legs around his waist as he brings me into our bedroom, pressing me against the door, closing it behind us.
“I want to fuck you, princess.”
I don’t argue the nickname. Right now, he could call me anything and I’d oblige.
“Are you going to be a good girl for me and do as you’re told?”
“Yes,” I rasp, eyes shut, reveling in the feelings he stirs within me.
“Good girl.”
I moan, my body doing delicious things from just his words alone, and he carries me over to the mattress, laying me down on the plush material.
He releases his grasp of me, and I whimper in protest, missing his warmth. If he’s teasing me and decides to leave, as some retribution for the past, I’ll end him.
He stands at the edge of the bed, removes his shirt and then his pants.
He’s stunning and absolutely gorgeous, with his chiseled abs. His body is clearly that of an athlete, which just makes me feel slightly more insecure about my own self.
Luca leans down, pressing his body into mine, and I can feel his cock poking me. “You’re wearing too many clothes, princess. Do I have to do all the work tonight and undress you myself?”
A coy smile crosses my face. “I’d like that.”
He laughs. “I bet you would.”
“Get undressed and onto all fours.”
I quickly disrobe, and he smacks my ass the moment I’m naked. “Hey! What was that for?” I ask, my bottom his for the taking. I’m naked and feeling quite exposed and vulnerable on all fours, as he stands behind me.
“What isn’t it for?”
I glance over my shoulder at him, and he’s smirking. His hands smooth over my bottom before walloping it again.
“Oww! Quit spanking me.” I roll around onto my butt, which stings, but at least I’m seated and he can’t whack me again.
“Quit being a spoiled brat.” His gaze tightens, and I sit up on my knees.
“The only brat I see tonight is you.” I grab a pillow and smack him with it against his chest.
He barely moves, his body practically like iron against the soft material, and he raises an eyebrow. “Are you done bratting?”
“Is that even a word?” I choke out and wallop him again with the pillow.
He grabs it, this time stopping me, but it still manages to land a blow to his chest. However, he’s managed to steal the pillow, yanking it from my hands. He tosses it across the room. “Are you looking for a pillow fight? Because I’ll have you know I’m the reigning champion.”
I snort with laughter. “I bet you are.”
I leap for the pillow, but he has other ideas, tackling me against the mattress, pinning me down. “This is far more fun,” he says as his hands restrain me while his lips dance over my neck.
I shiver and moan, my body instantly responding. My nipples harden as his chest brushes against mine, and I wrap a leg around his, pulling him closer.
“Fuck,” I moan as his mouth does that thing where his tongue teases the sensitive spot on my neck and then he moves to my ear. “You’re going to kill me,” I groan as my body writhes under him, but he doesn’t release his hold on me.
“I think you’re exaggerating, princess.” His lips move back against my neck, pleased when my hips begin gyrating, desperate for more. My other leg wraps around his and I wrestle us around, using my hips and my weight while he’s kissing my neck, to put him on his back.
He laughs and leans into the mattress, a huge smile spread across his face. “Are you planning on dominating me tonight, princess?”
That nickname is beginning to get on my nerves. “I’m. Not. A. Princess,” I seethe at him and pretend to bite, but I keep enough distance not to physically nip at him.
Luca’s grin doesn’t falter in the slightest. He’s not afraid of me. Not that he should be, but still, he’s having way too much fun thinking he’s in control.
Straddling his hips, my hands press his arms into the bed. I glance around, not having anything I can easily tie him up with, which leaves my strength versus his.
I’m well aware that I’m no match, but maybe that works in my favor.
“Of course, my mistake.” He’s grinning up at me, his gray eyes a lighter hue of silver and blue I’ve never seen before. It’s mesmerizing, just like everything else about him.
For a moment, I lose myself in the way he looks at me. My pulse races, heat curling low in my stomach, and I can’t decide if I want to win this game or surrender to it completely.
Surrender to him.
“If you call me princess one more time,” I growl at him.