by Marian Tee
“No!” But she was, actually, since she had thought he was taking her to their bedroom.
A devilish grin slashed on the Italian billionaire’s lips at her oh-so-obvious lie, and he purred, “Anticipation makes all things better.”
Even as her heart skipped a beat, she managed to insist weakly, “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.” But the way her voice quivered in the end completely betrayed Vivian, and she could only hide her hot face at the crook of his neck as Luca’s powerful body rocked in silent mirth.
When he lowered Vivian back to her feet, she was stunned to realize he had taken her to the kitchen. She spun around to face him, puzzled. “Are you hungry?”
“No, cara, but I bet you are.”
The truth in his words dawned the moment he spoke, and her stomach further compounded the fact by releasing an embarrassing growl.
She let a mortified squeak, but Luca only said, “There’s no guessing about it.”
Normally, her husband’s gently reproving tone would have made Vivi feel bad.
Normally.
But right now her husband, who was dressed elegantly in a long-sleeved V-neck shirt and slacks, was putting on an apron—-
An apron!
“What are you doing?” she gasped.
“What do you think?” Her beautiful Italian billionaire smirked, and Vivian couldn’t help pinching herself as she watched him loosely tie the apron around his waist.
This couldn’t be happening.
But it was.
Her mind whirled.
Luca. Apron. Luca. Apron.
At that moment, there was nothing sexier in the world than the black apron Luca had on, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she stared at the way the apron strangely served to accentuate the billionaire’s lethally perfect form.
Too sexy, she thought dreamily. Too, too—-
Luca bent down to take out a foil-wrapped from the fridge, and she hurriedly pinched herself again, thinking that if this was a dream then she just wanted to keep on dreaming.
She watched Luca switch the induction cooktop on, and Vivian rubbed her eyes.
When Luca started to expertly toss pasta with his pan, she gasped, “Are you cooking?”
Luca couldn’t help grinning. “And you’re only realizing that now?”
Eeeeeeeeh.
Her toes curled hard, and she could only stare at him in a completely besotted fashion. How had life become this amazing again? Sometimes, it just seemed like yesterday that she had been alone and ridden with debts she had incurred because of her father’s death. But there were also times when she could barely remember what was life before Luca.
Her husband and Eula had become her world now. They made her so, so happy. Vivian just wished she could be sure she made them as happy, too.
A SOFT CHUCKLE ESCAPED the billionaire when he saw the way Vivian was gazing at him. Most other women would have given him such a look only if he had bought them something fancy, but with his wife—-
It was always the little things that got to her, and it was one of the many reasons why she had managed to steal his heart.
Luca pointed to the stools around the kitchen’s center island. “Sit there, cara,” he ordered. When he was done cooking, he placed a plate of aglio olio in front of her, and she inhaled deeply as if wanting to savor the scent of the pasta.
When she looked at him again, it was as if she was about to swoon, and a grin tugged at Luca’s lips. “Eat up,” he urged.
“What about you?”
“Later.”
Vivian wondered what that meant even as she started to dig in. The pasta tasted as good as it smelled, and she couldn’t help closing her eyes again, savoring every bite. When she was halfway done, she saw that Luca still hadn’t eaten, and she asked, “Aren’t you going to join me?”
“I want something else.” Reading the question in her green eyes, he said silkily, “I want you, mia moglie. I plan to eat every inch of you—-”
Vivian choked on her pasta.
“Would you like some water?” Luca asked politely, straight-faced. She glared at him even as she nodded, and he had a harder time keeping himself from smiling as he offered her a glass of water.
“You only said that to shock me,” she accused him as soon as she put the glass down.
“True.” Luca reached behind his back to unknot his apron. “But I also meant it so hurry and finish that up.”
“But—-”
“You’re not the only one hungry here so do as I say, capisce?”
The Italian phrase, which one often heard from Mafia movies, made her lips quirk, and Vivian said with exaggerated meekness, “Yes, boss.”
It was an impish response few people would dare give to the Italian billionaire, and it had him throwing his head back with an appreciative laugh.
Upon emptying her plate, she told him earnestly, “That was perfect.” And it was, it really was, so much so that a second later, she was no longer able to help it. Vivian threw herself at her husband.
Even though her impulsive reaction caught him off guard, Luca managed to stay on his feet and his arms automatically tightened around his wife’s slight frame. “Vivian?”
She hugged him as tightly as she could, mumbling, “Ti amo.”
Ah. Luca pressed a kiss on her hair, murmuring, “Ti amo anch’io.”
Pulling away, she said in a rush, “I can’t say sorry enough for missing Eula’s play.”
He shook his head. “There’s nothing to be sorry for, cara.” Settling her on the kitchen island this time, Luca stepped between her legs and looked into her eyes. “Both Eula and I understand that you’ve had a lot of your mind lately—-” His wife’s smile wobbled, and he frowned. “C’e un problema?” Is there a problem?
Vivian gave her husband a shamefaced look. “That’s the thing. There isn’t a problem, and I don’t think that’s right. You should hate me—-”
“But I don’t.”
“And Eula should hate me even more—-”
“But she doesn’t either. I explained why you missed her performance—-”
“I know. In fact, you did such a good job at explaining, I felt like a total fraud with her tonight,” Vivian admitted. “I should have remembered today was her school play. I should have—-”
“There is no one to blame for this,” he said firmly, “and it’s not as if you’re going to make a habit out of it.” Luca raised a brow. “Or are you?”
“Of course not,” she answered, horrified.
“Then I don’t see any reason why we simply can’t put this behind us.” He tipped her chin up. “So no more feeling guilty...capisce?” The last word drew a reluctant smile from his wife, as it was meant to, but he could see that Vivian being Vivian, she was still fretting inside for being unable to do something in atonement.
Ah, Vivi. If that was what she truly wanted, then far be it for him to disappoint his wife.
“How do you feel about enjoying some fresh air in the terrace?”
The invitation took her by surprise, but Vivian nodded nevertheless. “Okay.” Anything that allowed her to spend more time with her often-busy husband was always a good idea.
When they were out on the balcony, Vivian blinked when Luca took one of the patio chairs without offering her one. The lack of chivalry wasn’t like him at all, and she wondered anxiously if it was because he was more furious with her than he cared to admit.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to ask, “Are you mad with me?”
“On the contrary—-” Her husband gazed at her with hooded lids, murmuring, “I’m going to give you what you want.”
His words left her in a greater state of confusion, and she could only blink at him.
The billionaire crooked a finger at Vivian. “Come closer, cara.”
The sudden huskiness in her husband’s voice made Vivian shiver despite the city’s humid air. She was nervous and excited all at once, and when she saw the way his lig
ht blue eyes smoldered, her breath caught—-
Vivian took one small step closer, and oh, how the simple act was more than enough to set her body on fire. Her breasts swelled behind the cups of her bra, and when Luca ordered her to come even closer, her nipples reacted to the command like the words were a caress, the pink buds painfully tightening with arousal.
“Closer, cara.” His voice was sharp this time, but her body instinctively knew that it wasn’t anger it heard. That sharp hard voice was the sound of a sensual promise, a command that guaranteed pleasure if she obeyed—-
And she did, of course.
Her knees knocked against each other as she made her way to her husband, threatening to give out entirely as Luca stared at her like he was already undressing her in his mind.
Oh God.
When she finally stepped between his sprawled legs, a dangerously indolent smile curved on her husband’s lips. “What did I promise you earlier, cara?”
“T-that you’d give me what I want,” she stammered.
“And do you trust me to know what you want?”
She could only nod, feeling like she would only end up whimpering her words out if she tried to speak.
“Good.”
When he said nothing else, she slowly lifted her gaze to his, and it was as if he had been waiting for that moment—-
Capturing her eyes with his, her husband commanded, “Get on your knees.”
“E-excuse me?” she choked out.
Darkness that promised something exquisitely forbidden glittered in his eyes as he purred, “You know you want to, cara. Ever since you came back home, your eyes have been begging me to punish you—-”
Aaaah.
Her body trembled hard at the realization that what he was saying was true.
Oh God, it was so, so true.
“And so I’ll give you what you want.” His hard tone made Vivian wet her lips, and the sight had her husband sucking his breath.
“You want me that bad in your mouth, do you?”
His words embarrassed and aroused her, and all she could do was stare at him, her breasts aching harder and harder.
“Answer me.”
Aaaaah.
That he would force her to say such a thing out loud made her want him so, so much more, and she choked out, “Yes.”
“Then get on your knees.”
Vivian slowly fell to her knees.
“Unzip me.”
Her fingers shook as she reached for his zipper, and when she was finally able to free his erection from its confines, Vivian couldn’t help drawing her breath. Even now, the impressive length of his manhood still intimidated her, and the thought that she would soon have it inside her mouth—-
Wetness flooded her throbbing core, drenching her lace panties.
Luca’s fingers threaded through her hair, and Vivian’s heart slammed hard against her chest.
He started to push her head down, and her heartbeat sped faster and faster.
The head of his erection knocked against her mouth, and slowly her lips parted.
His erection slowly and steadily slipped into her mouth inch by inch, forcing her lips to part wider.
“More,” her husband commanded in a guttural growl. “Take all of me in.”
And even though it felt impossible, she fought to keep her throat relaxed as Luca continued to push deeper into her mouth.
When he was all the way in, Luca said tightly, “Start sucking.” His wife obeyed, and his body shuddered in agonized pleasure as the warmth of her mouth closed over his erection.
Ah.
His fingers tightened around her hair, and he began to guide the movements of her head. “Exactly like that.” He closed his eyes. “Yes, cara. Suck it hard...” As Vivian continued to pleasure him with her mouth, Luca managed to look down—-
Big mistake.
The sight of his wife’s dark head bobbing up and down on his erection was too much, and he could feel himself tightening.
“I’m going to come,” he gritted out.
But Vivian’s mouth didn’t let go of his erection.
“Vivian—-”
At his groan, his wife sucked even harder.
Damn.
It was too damn much, and with his grip on her hair tightening, the billionaire came with a rough, harsh growl, the movements of his hips becoming feral and uncontrolled as he plunged his erection in her mouth fast and hard.
When the last of his release faded, Luca pulled out of his wife’s mouth and ignoring her soft mewl of protest, he hauled her up and kissed her hard. “Was that punishment enough?” he demanded against his lips.
Eyes clouded with love and sexual satisfaction stared back at him as she whispered, “Y-yes.”
“Then it’s my turn.” And without any other warning, Luca ripped the panties under her dress and even as she cried out in shock, he was already pulling her down on him, his still-aroused manhood plunging deep inside of her.
Vivian threw her head back with a cry, her hands clutching his shoulders hard as she started to ride him. By the time she came in his arms, she was limp with exhaustion and she could only think longingly of sleep.
But her husband had other plans.
Bringing her back inside the house, the billionaire made love to her once more by the staircase and made her come again when they made it to the upper hallway. By the time his lovemaking came to an end, they had just made it to his bedroom, and dawn was already breaking outside their windows.
“Sleep in today,” he urged softly as he pulled the covers over her. “I can take Eula to school.”
She shook her head sleepily at him. “You’re too busy—-”
“While you’re barely able to keep your eyes open.” Luca placed a soft kiss on one naked shoulder. “If you truly wish to please me then do as I say, cara, and just sleep in.”
And so she did.
The house was quiet when Vivian woke up, and a quick check around the place told her that both Luca and Eula were indeed gone. Remembering last night’s marathon lovemaking made Vivian blush, but even so, she couldn’t stop happiness from unfurling inside of her.
How wonderfully cunning her husband was, to “punish” her in such a way.
But it was also uncanny, the way he had known she wouldn’t be able to feel right until she had done something to atone for her mistake.
After taking a shower and changing into a floral blouse and black skirt, Vivian looked at herself in the mirror, thinking, Forget about yesterday. Forget about the past. Today is the start of a new chapter in your life, Vivian Day-Valencia. From here on, your life will be a mistake-free zone, and you will work hard and succeed at becoming the ideal wife to Luca and mother to Eula.
She nodded determinedly. “Got that?”
Satisfied with her private pep talk, Vivian turned away and left the bathroom with her spirits fully restored. Disconnecting her phone from the charger, she checked it for messages but the first thing that caught her eye was the email from Google Alerts, telling her that there were about a hundred of articles suddenly posted about Luca’s ex-wife Maria.
Vivian chewed on her lip, torn with indecision.
Did this qualify as stalking? Yes.
Did this mean she was insecure about Maria? Yes.
So what was the best thing to do?
Delete the email without looking, obviously, Vivian thought.
That was the best thing to do, which was why she ended up doing the worst thing she could do.
Curiosity killed the cat, Vivian couldn’t help thinking as she clicked the message open.
Multiple headlines from different websites greeted her, but they all amounted to the same thing, and they all shared the same photo.
Vivian whitened.
It was a photo from Maria’s Instagram account, and it showed the older woman attending Eula’s school play.
The hashtag: #happyfamily
Chapter Seventeen
Vivian flashed Eula a smile, and the li
ttle girl smiled back at her. With classes starting late, she had just enough time to pick Eula up at school and drop her home before heading to class. Which was a good thing, she thought numbly, considering what she had found out this morning.
Vivian cleared her throat. “So...” How should she bring up Maria without sounding like she was an intrusive, jealous, insecure, and paranoid stepmother?
Eula looked at her expectantly. “So...” The little girl mimicked her voice perfectly, and despite everything Vivian couldn’t help grinning.
“You’re too cute.”
“You’re too cute also.”
Vivian wriggled her brows.
Eula wriggled her brows back at her.
“Why are you copying me?” Vivian asked laughingly.
She expected Eula to say something funny, but instead Eula said with quiet seriousness, “Because I want to be like you.”
Oh! Vivian’s eyes smarted at the unexpected words, and she drew the little girl close, hugging Eula tightly to her. “I love you, principesa.”
“I love you, Vivi.” Eula hugged her back just as tightly.
For a few moments, they stayed like that, with only the gentle hum of the air-conditioning breaking the silence within the Rolls Royce’s luxurious interior. Vivian absently watched the shadows play on the leather seats of the car as she struggled to keep all her worries at bay.
So what if Maria had come yesterday?
Maria was Eula’s birth mother, and she had every right to attend her daughter’s event if she wanted to. As a stepmother, Vivian had to understand—-
“Mummy was at school yesterday,” Eula suddenly said.
Vivian nearly jumped in her seat. “Really?” The word came out a croak.
Eula pulled away, looking up at Vivian as she continued in a noticeably wary tone, “She talked to me.”
“O-oh?” Vivian forced a smile. “That’s a great thing, isn’t it?” But the little girl didn’t answer, a withdrawn look crossing Eula’s face, and Vivian’s forehead creased. “Eula?”
Eula snuggled back to Vivian wordlessly, and when she looked down, the little girl had her eyes squeezed shut tightly, obviously pretending to sleep.
By the time they made it back home, Eula had truly fallen asleep, and although the nanny offered to carry the girl up to her room, Vivian insisted on doing it herself.
