Chapter 9 Luca
Luca
The moment the words leave my lips, a heaviness settles over the room, as if an invisible wall has erected itself between us.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur, my fingers twitching as if they want to reach out and tip her chin so she’s looking at me. These thoughts are crazy. She’s my stepsister. I shouldn’t be thinking about what it would be like to lean over and caress her full lips with mine.
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for,” she says, releasing a sigh. I can’t shake the sense that Willow’s holding something back. She turns onto her back and stares up at the ceiling, and I regret bringing up how we’ve ignored each other for four years.
She exhales a heavy sigh. “I should go back to my room.”
I want to ask her to stay, but the way my cock is stirring at the thought of gripping her creamy thighs and sinking into her warm heat keeps me watching silently as she climbs off my bed and pads across the room to the door.
Deep down, I know I’m just projecting Angel’s rejection onto her.
I can’t deny the similarities between them—the blonde hair, blue eyes, and the scent of vanilla and oriental water lilies—but it’s only wishful thinking.
Willow’s a quiet little mouse, a complete contrast to the confident paramour who’s consumed my every waking thought for the last six months.
My balls ache from not touching myself for the last month, and when the door clicks closed behind her, I release a muffled groan as I reach down and palm my semi, already hating myself for what I’m about to do.
Once I’m sure Willow is gone, I roll onto my side and breathe deeply, allowing her lingering scent to wash over me as I spit on my hand and slide my pants down.
My cock springs free, and the noise that slips from my lips is bordering on animalistic as I grip the base of my hardening length and give it a slow, torturous stroke. I’m not going to last long.
I close my eyes, conjuring up an image of my masked Angel’s sweet curves as she sinks down, her head tilted back in pleasure as she takes every inch of me.
Imagining the marks on her skin where my fingers dig into her waist, my hand picks up its pace, jerking myself off to her memory.
Only it’s not my angel that meets my heated gaze in my mind as I release a guttural growl and I spill into my hand—it’s my stepsister, with her innocent eyes and pouty smile.
Fuck me, I’m going to hell.
My panting breaths are the only sound in the room as I lie here covered in cum feeling like a fucking creep. The sooner I leave Beckford, the better. A fresh start is exactly what I need to get my head on straight.
I mutter a curse as I reach over to grab some wipes from my bedside drawer and clean myself off.
My phone buzzes on my desk and I contemplate leaving it, but curiosity gets the better of me.
It buzzes once more before I reach it, and I swallow down the spark of hope I feel when I see the notifications from the Euphoria app.
I stare at the screen, taking a moment to breathe before opening the message. My chest tightens when I see her username in my DMs, but it’s her words that have me collapsing on the edge of my bed and dropping my head into my hands.
@HeavenlySiren: I’m sorry for not coming to meet you tonight, but trust me when I say this is for the best.
@HeavenlySiren: I’ll never forget you.
I can’t resist shooting my shot one last time, and my fingers race over the screen as I write a reply.
@PhantomMenace: It’s not too late. I don’t leave until next week. Meet me tomorrow. At least let me say goodbye properly.
@HeavenlySiren has blocked you.
“Fuck!”
Unable to curb my frustration, I toss my phone across the room, not even flinching when it hits the wall with a loud clatter.
It doesn’t matter if it’s damaged. I’ll get a new one in the UK, and it’s not like there’s anyone left in Beckford who gives a shit about me.
I can’t fucking wait to get out of here.
Exhaustion sinks into my bones, and I climb into bed.
I drape my arm over my eyes and try to forget about the shitshow that is my love life.
I need to focus on my football career and ignore any distractions.
If I’m going to make it to the EPL, I need to have my head screwed on right.
No more thoughts of angels or stepsisters.
It’s past noon by the time I drag my arse out of bed the next day. I don’t even spare a glance at my phone as I leave my room, my stomach dragging me downstairs in search of sustenance.
In the kitchen, I gather the ingredients for an omelette and I let the pan heat on the stove as I go through the motions of chopping the mushrooms, capsicum, spinach, spring onion, tomatoes, and bacon.
They sizzle in the pan while I crack four eggs into a bowl, whisking them with a dash of skim milk.
Gwendoline enters the kitchen as I’m plating up.
“Ah, you’re up,” she says as she makes a beeline for the coffee machine.
“Obviously,” I mutter under my breath before shovelling a forkful of food into my mouth.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
“Your father wants a word with you.”
I bet he does. I don’t even grace her with a response. While I may have made some headway with Willow last night, I’m certainly not ready to extend the same courtesy to my stepmother.
Not one to be ignored, however, she continues as she pours two cups. “I think you should apologise to him for walking out on dinner. He was very embarrassed by your behaviour.”
I drop my fork with a clatter and shove my plate away. “No offence, Gwendoline, but it’s none of your business.”
Her mouth drops open, but I have zero fucks to give. I’m still salty with her over the way she spoke to her daughter. Leaving my half-eaten food sitting on the bench, I storm out of the kitchen before I say something I’ll really regret.
With all this pent-up aggression bubbling away inside of me, I need to get out of this house.
I don’t even bother with a shirt, only pausing at the front door to pull on my running shoes.
The brisk air causes goosebumps to pebble my skin, but I ignore it as I jog down the driveway and along the street.
I pick up my pace when I reach the running track that winds around the back of our estate and through the national park.
Thankfully, the track is deserted today, and I finish the ten-kilometre loop without seeing a single soul.
There’s nothing but the sound of my feet pounding the dirt and my short, sharp breaths as I push myself harder than I have in a while.
I pride myself on my work ethic, and I actually enjoy my workouts—both running and the gym—but I’m under no delusions that the training requirements at my new club are going to be next level.
I’m prepared to put in the work, and look forward to the distraction of not only a new club, but a new country as well.
It sure as shit will be a step up from living under George Whitford’s rule.
Sweat drips down my body as I let myself back inside the house. I’m looking forward to a shower, and then chilling in my room, watching the replay of last night’s game between Chelsea and Liverpool.
I take the stairs two at a time and make my way down the hall to the bathroom I share with Willow, but as I pass her bedroom, I notice the door is slightly ajar.
I pause outside when I hear voices.
“Where is the delicious step-bro?”
Willow groans. “Not helping, Len. I need to forget about him.”
I should back away. It’s not right to spy on them, but for some strange reason, I need to know why she wants to forget about me.
I thought we’d moved past the fact that we’ve ignored each other’s existence for the last four years, and to be fair, that was on both of us.
She all but admitted she’d deliberately stayed out of my way as well.
“I still don’t understand why,” her friend replies. There’s something familiar about her voice, although I guess we go to the same school. Maybe we have classes together.
“He’s leaving at the end of the week.”
“All the more reason to tell him.”
Tell me what? I move closer to the open door to see who the mysterious voice belongs to. Willow is pacing back and forth in front of her bed, while her friend leans against the bedhead, just out of sight. All I can see is her long legs stretched out in front of her.
“He’s leaving, Leni. There’s no need to complicate things. It wouldn’t be fair to him.”
“What’s not fair,” Leni argues, “is not giving him the chance to decide.”
My curiosity gets the better of me, and before I can think twice, I push the door open and stroll into my stepsister’s bedroom. “Give me the chance to decide what?”
Willow gasps, her hand flying up to her chest in surprise, but that’s not what stops me in my tracks. My eyes widen as I take in the girl sitting on the bed. I have seen this girl around campus with Willow, but I’ve also seen her more recently… as in, last night.
How did I not put things together sooner?
“Red Devil,” I mutter in greeting, but my eyes drift back to Willow, who has paled.
The fiery redhead climbs off the bed and hightails it to the door. “I’m going to leave you two to talk.” She glances between us before shooting Willow an indecipherable look. “Play nice.”
My lips turn down as the door clicks closed behind her, and betrayal stirs deep within me. “So, you’re the angel.”
“I can explain,” she starts but trails off when I shake my head.
“How long have you known it was me?” I ask.
Was this all some game to get back at me for ignoring her all this time? Is it some sick and twisted revenge plot for all the shit Breanna put her through? My stomach drops at the realisation that I’ve been played. Again. Used and abused by someone I thought I was falling for.
“I only worked it out at dinner last night.” Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears at the derisive noise that comes from me at her admission.
“And I’m supposed to just believe you?”
“It’s the truth.”
“So, when I came home and poured my heart out, you knew I was talking about you the whole time?”
Willow grimaces. “Yes, but—”
“Am I some kind of joke to you?”
“No, Luca. I—”
“Then why, Willow?” I choke out, trying and failing to see any other reason she hid this from me. “You sat there knowing I wanted to see you and yet you said nothing? I told you stuff I’ve never told anyone, but the whole time you were just laughing at me.”
“Look at me!” she shouts. “Look at me, and then look at you. If you knew it was me, you would have been disappointed.”
My jaw goes slack. “Are you serious?”
“I’m not like Breanna. I’m not a size six. What guy would look twice at someone like me?”
“Do I need to remind you that Breanna cheated on me?”
“Luca—”
“I chose you, Willow.” I take a step closer to her, my heart racing. “I may not have known it was you when I approached you at Euphoria, but I chose you.”
“You’re leaving,” she whispers, her supple breasts rising and falling with each shuddering breath she takes.
She’s right.
I am leaving.
But fuck if I’m going to let that stop me.
I close the distance between us and cup her cheeks before crushing my lips to hers. Willow gasps, and I take the opportunity to slide my tongue into her mouth, finding hers in slow, sure strokes.
“Tell me to stop,” I mumble between kisses.
She slides her hands around my nape and pulls me closer.
I want to be angry at her for lying to me, but I need her touch more than I need air right now.
As I devour her mouth, I walk backwards, bringing her with me until my legs hit the back of her bed.
Without breaking our kiss, I sit on the edge and pull her down so she’s straddling me.
The sound that escapes Willow’s lips as my erection rubs against her core is sinful. She tips her head back and I trail my tongue along the column of her throat until I reach her collarbone. She cries out when I bite into her flesh, her thighs squeezing mine as she grinds against me.
“Fuck, Angel, you’re going to have me blowing in my pants,” I groan as I rest my forehead against hers. Squeezing my eyes closed, I breathe through my nose, trying to keep it together.
Willow tuts before her voice takes on that authoritative tone that drives me fucking wild. “You’ll hold it until I tell you, pet.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I choke out as I release a deep breath, my dick thickening beneath her.
“Look at me.”
I do.
Fuck, do I look at her.
My eyes connect with hers, getting lost in those ocean blues. There’s no longer the mask of anonymity between us, and I can see the uncertainty within them, the fear of judgement.
I brush her hair behind her ear and cup her cheek. “You’re safe with me. I want this. I want you.”
She swallows. “Green light?”
“Green light.”
Willow climbs off me, and my heart clenches at the loss of her. I almost reach out to pull her back to me, but I know if I’m patient, she’ll make it worth it.