11. Clara
Chapter Eleven
CLARA
God, he looks so sexy.
Marco buttons up his shirt, the muscles in his back shifting with every movement.
I stretch out my limbs, my body sore in the best possible way after last night.
My tongue darts out to wet my lower lip, my thoughts turning filthy as I admire him.
He catches me staring in the mirror, and a smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth, so I let the sheet fall just enough to expose my bare breasts.
I watch with a smug sense of satisfaction as his eyes glaze over as they dip to my chest.
“If I didn’t have a meeting, I’d be climbing back into that bed and fucking you senseless.” His voice is thick with need.
Heat pools in my belly at his words, my need for him nowhere near satiated.
The thought of Marco climbing back on top of me and burying his glorious cock inside me as he whispers in my ear has me growing slick between my thighs.
“I guess I’ll just have to fly solo, then.”
Marco growls as I start to trace the swells of my breasts with my fingers, my nipples already pebbling from my touch.
I bite my lower lip as I dare my hand to trail lower, disappearing beneath the sheet. “If you like, I can schedule you in for next week?”
Marco whirls around, his dark eyes gleaming with arousal as he looks at me.
I pant as I trail my fingers over my lower belly. “Don’t worry, I’ll be thinking of you the whole time.”
His eyes flash with desire as he steps toward the bed, and I quickly glance down and let out a whimper as I notice the prominent bulge in the front of his pants.
I squeeze my thighs together, the dull ache already building between them.
“What will you think about?”
“You, bending me over the edge of the bed.” My fingers brush over my clit.
I let out a gasp as a surge of pleasure rushes through my body.
“Mmm…you like it when I fuck you from behind, don’t you, love?” Marco palms his erection through his pants.
“Yes.” I moan as I start to rub my clit.
I’d love nothing more than to watch him get off to the sight of me pleasuring myself.
“And I love watching that incredible ass bounce against my cock.” He grunts as he squeezes his length.
I moan even louder as a rush of wetness spreads between my thighs.
Marco smirks before reaching out to grip my chin, gently tilting my face up so I can look at him.
“Pencil me in for next week, then.” He bends down to brush his lips over mine, just enough to tease me. “In fact, pencil me in for every single day.”
I laugh softly as I bring my hand out from beneath the sheet to cup him around the back of his neck, keeping him in place so I can deepen the kiss. “That’s a lot of scheduling.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I own my own business.” He claims my mouth once more.
A sigh escapes my lips as he strokes his tongue against mine, but before I can convince him to put his tongue to good use elsewhere, he pulls away.
“It’ll be worth the wait, I promise.” Marco chuckles as he strokes his thumb along my lower lip.
I roll my eyes, trying not to pout like a spoiled brat at his refusal to get back into bed.
But can he really blame me when he looks so damn sexy in all black?
For once, I’m grateful that Zoe is asleep in her crib in the next room so that once Marco leaves, I can spend some time alone, indulging in my fantasies…
As Marco grabs his keys and wallet off the dresser, a question pops into my head.
I sit up in bed and wrap the sheet around myself as I try to summon the courage to ask Marco for a favor. My cheeks flood with heat.
“At some point…uh…would it be okay for you to maybe order me some more sewing supplies?”
Marco pauses, a frown appearing between his eyebrows.
For a moment, I’m scared he’s going to be mad at me, but then he leaves the room without saying a single word.
“Marco? I’m sorry, I…” What am I doing asking him to pay for stuff for me?
But just as quickly as he left, he appears again with a laptop tucked under his arm. “Order whatever you like, love.” He hands me the laptop before reaching into his pocket for his wallet and pulling out his black Amex card.
I hold the card in front of me, admiring the sleekness of it.
Really? It’s that easy?
“You might regret that.”
Marco bends down, placing a hand on either side of me so I’m caged inside his arms.
“I could never regret something that makes you happy.” He kisses me one last time.
Unfortunately for me, Zoe wakes up almost immediately after Marco leaves, so I put my solo activity on hold and head next door to feed her.
After getting us both ready for the day, I bring Zoe downstairs into the living room so she can have some independent play time.
I lay her down on her playmat before settling myself on the couch with a cup of coffee and Marco’s laptop.
I hum to myself as the browser loads, my thoughts already drifting to all of the soft velvets and silks I’m about to add to my cart.
I want to make a few more matching dresses for Holly and Zoe but in more autumnal colors, which I don’t have many of. But that also means I need to buy the thread to match as well as more safety pins and maybe even some matching ribbon for hair bows…
At first, I stay focused on the task at hand.
Zoe babbles away to herself as she plays, and I periodically glance down to make sure she hasn’t tossed half of her toys across the room.
But while I’m searching through the countless types of ribbon, an ad for a fashion course pops up in the sidebar, and I freeze.
I stare at it, transfixed by the words Apply Now .
It’s as if they’re taunting me, dangling a dream I once had right in front of my nose.
A dream I thought was long gone, but now…
I look down at Zoe, and my chest tightens.
Fashion school was something that felt impossible as a single mom with no time, no money, and no real support system.
But now that I have Marco, things are different.
I have a family who would be able to watch Zoe, and I’m sure if I mentioned the idea to Marco, he would offer to loan me the money without a second thought.
I could continue to work at Nox in the evenings to pay him back and spend my weekends focusing on school.
This is actually a possibility, and the thought is both exhilarating and terrifying.
I click on the link and start skimming through the courses.
The website promises both flexibility and part-time options, as well as online classes to start.
My pulse quickens as I start to mentally map out a schedule for school that would work around Zoe.
Can I actually do this?
Before I can get too lost in my thoughts, footsteps sound in the hallway, and I quickly snap the laptop shut just as Rosa strolls into the living room.
She’s dressed in a pair of navy, sweat shorts and a high school T-shirt. Her waist length, dark hair is damp and loose around her shoulders, no doubt from spending the morning doing laps in the pool.
Rosa raises an eyebrow at me as she glances at the closed laptop. “Were you watching porn?”
“Ew, Rosa, no! Zoe is right here.” I laugh, pointing down to the playmat.
“If you say so…” She holds up her hands. “What were you looking at if it wasn’t porn, then?”
I groan. “Please stop saying porn. You know your brothers would kill you if they learned you even knew what that is.”
“Don’t remind me.” Rosa flops down onto the couch beside me. “In their eyes, I’m still seven years old.”
I look down at Zoe who is chewing on a wooden block with drool slowly dripping down her chin.
“I can understand that. I hate the thought of Zoe growing up.”
“You could always have another one.” Rosa waggles her eyebrows.
I think of the multiple browsers opened with various fashion schools and courses in the city and let out a sigh.
I would love nothing more than for Zoe to have a brother or sister, and I have a feeling Marco feels the same, but that would mean putting fashion school on hold once again.
I’m starting to worry that if I don’t do it soon, I never will. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“So, what were you looking at?”
I hesitate before opening the laptop back up and turning it around for Rosa to see.
“I was looking at a fashion course.” My cheeks heat.
Rosa’s entire face lights up as she quickly scans the screen. “Are you serious? You’d be amazing at that!”
I shrug. “I don’t know… It’s just an idea I have.”
Rosa clutches her hands together, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Okay, hear me out. Would you make my homecoming dress for me?”
I blink at her. “Are you serious?”
“Hell, yes, I’m serious! I would have an original Clara Peterson design. Or should I say Clara De Luca ?” She offers me a knowing smile.
My face burns at the not-so-subtle hint.
“Rosa…”
It seems a little like tempting fate even just thinking about Marco and me getting married. We’ve had such a rocky start, and I feel like we’re only just finding our footing after everything that happened with Tommaso.
Of course, it’s something I’ve imagined, but maybe not for a while yet.
Rosa laughs as she nudges me with her foot. “What? It’s going to happen eventually.”
I shake my head, laughing despite myself as I imagine Rosa and Lila fighting over who gets to plan the wedding. It would be carnage, but also a hell of a lot of fun.
Rosa holds my hand. “Seriously, though. It would mean a lot to me if you made my dress. Besides, I bet you’d kill it.”
I swallow hard, my heart pounding as I consider the offer.
Designing a dress for Rosa’s homecoming would be a huge deal. I’m honored that she would trust me with something that I’m sure is very important to her.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
I take a breath and nod before I have a chance to talk myself out of it. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
Rosa squeals before throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me tightly. “This is going to be amazing! My friends are going to be so jealous. I bet they’ll all want you to make their dresses for the winter formal.”
I laugh. “Let’s just start with your dress and see how it goes.”
Rosa grabs the laptop from me and opens up a new browser. “I already have a Pinterest board with a ton of ideas.”
We spend the next hour going over styles and colors, and the excitement soon starts to outweigh the nerves as a vision for Rosa’s dress begins to take shape.
I can really do this.
That night after dinner, I snuggle beside Marco on the couch, trying to summon the courage to bring up the subject of fashion school.
50 first dates plays in the background, but I barely register what’s happening, too lost in my own thoughts to pay attention to the movie.
After spending time with Rosa this afternoon discussing dress designs, I can’t get the idea of going to fashion school out of my mind.
I chew on my bottom lip as I glance anxiously at Marco.
He is the epitome of relaxed, with his arm draped along the back of the couch and one ankle crossed over a knee.
I don’t know why I’m so nervous to bring it up. Marco will likely be on board with the idea, but speaking it out loud to him will make it real, and what if I find out I’m not good enough?
“Clara?”
I blink to find Marco staring down at me, his lips pressed together in a thin line.
“What’s going on inside that head of yours?”
Just say it.
I inhale deeply as I stare into his deep, brown eyes. “So… I was thinking about something today.”
“Yeah?” He raises an eyebrow.
I nod, twisting my fingers together as I find the courage to speak my dream out loud to him. “About fashion school. I… I think I want to go.”
Marco is quiet for a moment, watching me with that unreadable expression that always makes my stomach flip. But then his fingers gently trail along the back of my neck, and I relax under his touch.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.”
I blink. “Really?”
Marco reaches out to tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “I want you to be happy.” His eyes soften as he looks at me. “If this is what it takes, then do it.”
I exhale, the tension in my body dissolves knowing that he is on board.
“I am happy, Marco.” I lean into his touch. “The happiest I’ve ever been, actually.”
“Yeah?” His lips pull up into a smile.
I nod before repositioning myself so I can lean against his shoulder.
“I just… I want more , I guess. I want Zoe to look up to me one day and be proud of what I’ve accomplished. I want to set a good example for her, show her that it’s possible to follow your dreams.”
Marco wraps an arm around me, pulling me closer. “Zoe will be proud of you no matter what.” He presses a kiss to my temple. “But if this is something you need , then go for it. You have my full support.”
I close my eyes, letting this moment sink in.
I’m going to fashion school.
“Thank you, Marco.” My throat is thick with emotion as I bury my face in his chest.
For the first time in years, I feel like I’m not just surviving. I’m actually living.
And it’s all because of him.