Sinful Ever After (Romance Collection)

by Vivian Wood

  Without skipping a beat, Luca moves up my body, coming up to kiss me on the lips deeply and passionately. He’s naked, pressing himself flush against me, not even bothering to hide his arousal. I can feel it against my inner thigh, long and thick and impatient.

  But for some reason when he spreads my legs again, spearing me with his dark gaze, and fists his cock… I’m a little surprised to feel the bulbous head push at my pussy entrance. My eyes widen and I make a soft sound of uncertainty.

  But he ignores that. Instead he focuses on rubbing my clit with his fingers, staring down at me with a smoldering look. I’m absurdly sensitive still, so he starts gradually, brushing his fingers around my clit while pressing the head of his cock against my entrance. He does it for a minute, teasing me more and more as I start getting excited again.

  Soon I am biting my lip and squirming, wondering just what his cock would feel like if he just pressed a little further inside my pussy. When I start to move to try to encourage him to do that though, he grins.

  “Uh uh,” he says, shaking his head. “Not yet.”

  Frustrated, I pout. “Don’t start what you can’t finish.”

  Luca leans down to my bare breast, looking me in the eyes as he seals his lips over my nipple. He rolls it around with his tongue and then sucks on it, biting it very lightly. I can feel every lick and suck of my nipple like a line going straight to my pussy. Though Luca isn’t down there anymore, saying how wet I am, I am still aware of it.

  I’m aware of little else, in fact.

  He releases my breast from his mouth with a pop, grinning at my needy expression. “I’m fully fucking capable of finishing what I start. I just promised you that you were going to beg me to fuck you. And I do intend to live up to that promise.”

  Luca pulls me closer, right where he wants me. I gasp, encouraging him by arching my back and thrusting my breasts further into his face.

  His hot flesh presses against mine. I grab his hip, pulling him into the right position to penetrate me. The blunt head of his cock nudges my entrance, and I wrap my legs around his body, forcing us together.

  He startles me by flipping me over, nudging my knees apart and repositioning himself there.

  When he thrusts his cock inside me, I hiss. He pauses to make sure that he didn’t hurt me, but already I’m driving him onward, moving my body in time with his. I meet him thrust for thrust.

  All I care about is the here and now, Luca’s breathing hard while his muscles ripple, pumping his body in and out. I’m right there with him the whole way, working my hips against his, crying out when he teases my nipple, tweaking it hard.

  “Oh god, yes. Harder,” I moan. And Luca obliges, not just thrusting his hips harder but twisting my nipple with a fierce expression on his face.

  It’s so good, but it’s not quite enough. I need a little more, though I do not know what. Luca seems to just know me, know what I need. He reaches up, weaving his fingers into my hair at the nape of my neck.

  He tests me by gripping my hair for just a second. My eyes roll back in my head briefly and I whimper, feeling everything so much more sharply. The sting of pain just brings everything into focus for me.

  He pulls my head back so that he can kiss my neck and nibble at my ear, all the while keeping up an insatiable, driving rhythm.

  Somehow in all the mess, I gain a strange kind of clarity. My focus narrows down to what feels good: his thick cock filling up my pussy, stretching me out with every brutal stroke. The way the smooth cotton of the sheets rubs against my nipples, adding another layer of sensation to my overstimulated body.

  My eyes roll up in the back of my head and I lose all connection with the world. There is nothing but sensation, no sound but my own labored breaths.

  When I come, it feels like the orgasm is almost pulled out of my body, more an exorcism than anything else. And Luca just encourages it, pumping his own release into my body soon after mine.

  He settles beside me, his breathing ragged. He stretches out and puts his hands behind his head. I turn onto my side, cooling down. My heartbeat still races as I eye Luca’s naked body.

  Damp from perspiration and flushed from exertion, his body is something to behold. His arms are heavy ropes of muscle. His chest and abs are smoothly defined, pointing down to a perfectly chiseled vee at his hips. His long legs are toned…

  And then there is his cock. Even now, still glistening from being inside me, it’s impressive; long and thick and perfectly pink.

  “That was long overdue,” he rumbles. I look up at his face, perfectly sculpted cheekbones with a couple of days’ worth of stubble, that expressive mouth of his that causes no end of trouble. And his dark eyes, long lashes growing over them…

  It was his eyes that really got all of this started.

  “Hmm?” I ask absently.

  He smirks at my distraction. “I mean, if we had just fucked when we first met, we wouldn’t have spent so many years hating each other.”

  I shoot him a look, then sit up. “That’s debatable.”

  When I start to move off the bed, he pulls me back with a growl. “Where are you going?”

  I raise my brows. “To shower. And then probably to bed.”

  He narrows his eyes. “What if I’m not done with you?”

  I swallow and lick my lips. “This was nice, but—”

  He makes a face. “It was a fucking lot more than nice and you know it.”

  I roll my eyes. “Alright, it was really great. And yes, it was overdue. But now that we… let off tension, or whatever… it can’t happen again.”

  Now it’s his turn to look surprised. “Is that right?”

  He reaches out, skimming his hand down my naked hip. If I were being completely honest, the caress feels good. His hand is warm against my cooling skin. And it’s hard not to lean into that touch.

  To be known by him. To be cherished, even if it’s only temporary.

  But that’s what it is. My mouth twists and I pull away.

  I know that there are other women he’s still enthralled with. I know that he married me by mistake and now he’s just going along with it because it’s easier. I know that this meant nothing to him. So it should mean nothing to me… right?

  “I agreed to pretend to be your wife,” I say, standing up. “But I never agreed to be your… your temporary distraction.”

  He looks confused. “What?”

  “This?” I point between us. “That’s what this is. You’re still hung up on Madisyn, or Chloe, or whoever else. And I’m not interested in changing who I am to slip into the place that she left empty.”

  He scowls. “It has nothing to do with anyone else. We just fucked because we needed to.”

  I shake my head. “You are delusional if you think that this wasn’t a mistake. A one-time only slip up.” I find my dress, pulling it down over my head. “Not to be repeated.”

  “You know, you are fucking hot,” he spits out. “It’s too bad you always open your mouth and ruin it with words.”

  I laugh a little, rooting around on the floor for my panties. “Yeah, that’s not helping. That just reminds me of how much of a jerk you can be.”

  “Go, then!” he hisses. “Go lie in your bed, alone. And when you’re horny, you can fucking masturbate about the time you were with me.” He looks furious. “That’s the only action you’ll get from me from now on.”

  Giving up searching for my panties, I huff. “Fine!”

  “Fine!” he says.

  I storm out of his bedroom angrily, wishing that we had never laid eyes on each other all those years ago.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Luca

  The next week of work is a nightmare. Missing liquor shipments, employees calling out sick at the last possible moment, artist’s managers being hard to touch base with.

  But by far the worst thing is having to watch Cate running around my bar, showing absolutely zero signs of regret for what she said in my bedroom. It kills me to be this fucking
stressed out and know that when I go home, she’ll still be there. And she’ll be fine.

  Smiling at everyone else but me. Chatting with them, getting really comfortable in her new job as a bar back slash waitress.

  It pisses me off to no end.

  Even now, as I finish prepping some extra lemon and lime juice for Bradford at the end of a rush, I spend the entire time glaring at Cate.

  I mean, who does she think she is? With her easy smile and her quick service, she’s becoming one of Bradford’s favorites. But she essentially ignores me and avoids me, which really fucking irritates me.

  I’m the one paying her. She’s living in my house. It’s only a few weeks until Madisyn’s wedding but I’m seriously considering just giving Cate her money and having my lawyer file for the annulment sooner than planned.

  “Hey!” Bradford says, snapping his fingers. “You are bruising all the oranges!”

  I look down at the crate of citrus I’m holding and realize that he’s right. I’ve been pressing the lid down on the crate and staring off into space for a few minutes.

  “Sorry,” I say with a shrug. “It’s been one of those weeks.”

  Bradford frowns and takes the crate out of my hands. “You don’t have to take it out on the innocent citrus fruit. They didn’t put your panties in a twist.”

  I roll my eyes. “Is there anything else you need me to do?”

  He purses his lips, giving me a once over. “We’re almost out of chai-infused shrub… Honey… maybe you should just go home. We’re at the end of the rush anyway.”

  I glare at him. “You’re telling me to go home now?”

  He crosses his arms, looking at the crowd skeptically. “I have no idea what exactly has crawled up your ass. I can only assume it has something to do with your wife. But honestly, I’d rather deal with being in the weeds alone than put up with your huffing and moping for another second.”

  That sets me back for a second. Bradford is usually so cheerful. He is the last person on the staff to hassle anyone unless he thinks they’re intentionally being lazy or unhelpful.

  Before I can formulate exactly what I’m going to say, the front door of the Attic opens. I turn, expecting it to be more bar flies.

  But I freeze when I see my mother and father breeze through the door. They are dressed eccentrically, like a wealthy and dapper couple straight out of the 1950s. My mom is in a dark grey coat with a pink dress peeping out of the bottom. My father takes off his hat, his dark suit and dark overcoat making him look like Cary Grant.

  “Shit,” I mutter. “This is not what I need right now.”

  My father looks around with a scowl while my mother just looks confused; my mother has had so much Botox in the last few years that she can’t frown anymore.

  The sourness in the pit of my stomach turns to acid.

  Bradford straightens when he sees my parents. “Hey, isn’t that your mom and dad?”

  My father spots me, making me clear my throat nervously. I nod.

  “Yeah.” I look at Bradford. “I didn’t expect them, and yet… here they are. In my bar, which they hate.”

  As my parents approach me, I hurry out to catch them before they hit the bar. “Mom!” I say, bending to kiss her on the cheek. She accepts my kiss, patting my arm.

  “Hello, Luca dear. I see you’ve still got this old place.” She turns her nose up at the patrons milling around her, smiling vaguely. “Would you be a darling and get me a gin martini? The ride here was dreadful and now I find myself a bit parched.”

  I force a smile. My mother is rarely without a drink. It’s always been that way. “Of course.”

  My father extends his hand. “Son.”

  I take his hand, shaking it firmly. As usual, he turns it into a show of strength, squeezing my hand so hard that my fingers turn white. It’s important that I don’t react, though. I learned that very early on.

  “Dad,” I greet him simply.

  He looks around at the now-empty stage and the slowly dispersing crowd. “It’s too bad about this place. Really solid idea, I suppose. But maybe your next venture will pan out.”

  His analysis sets my teeth on edge. “We’re doing just fine here, Dad.”

  He looks at me, an air of puzzlement surrounding him. “Oh? Well you wouldn’t know it. Maybe we are just used to something different. You know, we’ve been on the Continent for so long now, spending our days at sea and our nights in establishments that are more…” He sniffs, casting a glance at the crowd. “Elegant.”

  The way he says the last part gives me rage. But I do what I always do and stuff it down. I only see my parents every couple of years; there is no reason that the couple of days they’ll stay should be unpleasant.

  I cross my arms and say nothing.

  “Do you mind getting me that drink, dear?” my mom chimes in. “Or should I perhaps try that little place down the street? It looked like an adorable sort of wine shop—“

  “Your mother needs to sit down,” my father says, looking around with a frown. “Preferably somewhere that’s not in a dusty old attic.”

  My jaw clenches. I shoot a look at Bradford, then raise my arms toward the doors. “Yeah, that wine bar is fine. Let’s go there.”

  My mother is already heading for the exit before I finish the sentence. I roll my eyes, wishing like hell that Luna was here. She is the golden child and usually helps to bail me out of this kind of situation.

  I almost make it out the door before I hear Cate behind me, calling my name. “Wait, Luca! If you’re going home, I need a ride there—”

  I cringe and then turn toward her. “Not now, Cate.”

  My father doesn’t miss a single trick. “Who is this, Luca?” He casts an eye up and down her body. “Some kind of angel that you know?”

  I’m surprised by that. I hadn’t thought to introduce Cate to my parents. Honestly part of me fears whatever kind of judgment my parents will pass on her. They have always hated anyone I chose to introduce them to as my girlfriend.

  Especially Madisyn.

  But my mother comes tottering back inside the front door to see what’s holding us up and now she and my father are looking at me expectantly.

  I clear my throat. “Mom, Dad, this is Cate. She’s… uh… living with me.”

  Cate flushes, extending her hand to my mom. “It’s temporary! Just while I figure out… you know, what needs figuring out.”

  “Nice to meet you,” my father booms. “You’ve got a nice handshake there, sweetheart.”

  My eyebrows rise. Sweetheart? And since when does Cate have such a magical handshake?

  “So nice to meet you guys,” Cate says. “I was just trying to catch Luca—”

  My father barks at her. “Nonsense! You must be close with Luca here if you’re staying at his house. Come have a drink with us.”

  “Oh yes!” my mom says, lighting up. She grabs Cate’s elbow and starts steering her out the door.

  “Oh no,” Cate tries to protest. “I am still working—”

  My father claps me on the back so hard that it stings. “Luca will forgive you for cutting out early. Isn’t that right, son?”

  He doesn’t wait around for me to agree though. He pushes through the heavy door, rushing to catch up with my mom and Cate.

  I trail after them, watching anxiously as my mom leads the way into the dimly lit wine bar. The place is pretty romantic and intimate, with lots of little black leather booths and a few tables peppered here and there. Behind that is a wall of wine bottles, organized by wine varietal and region.

  Without waiting to be seated, my parents pick a booth, my dad squeezing in with my mom on one side. I sit beside Cate across from them, a sigh on my lips.

  “Is there even service here at all?” Mom asks, peeling her coat off. “I swear, Luca, once you’ve been in the Greek Isles for a while, you get used to their style. They like fast service, bam bam bam.”

  She squints around. A waiter comes up as she is saying it, smiling pleasa
ntly.

  “Good evening,” he begins.

  “Yeah, look. We need a bottle of your finest beaujolais, stat,” my dad interrupts. “And some kind of bread.”

  The waiter looks unruffled. “Very good, sir. Four glasses for the table?”

  “Yes!” my mother says. “Now go, go go.”

  She shoos him away. “I’ll tell you, I wish we were back home. They know our order without asking us. When we get into any restaurant, they have someone opening our bottle before we even sit down.”

  She waves her hand. I glance at Cate, who looks like she thinks that if she’s quiet enough, she will legitimately disappear.

  Under the table, I put a reassuring hand on her knee. She blushes but when she looks at me, she seems grateful.

  I repress a sigh. “That’s nice, Mom. Speaking of that, why are you two in town? And with no notice on my part…”

  The waiter comes back, pouring the bottle of wine into four glasses and setting down a basket of breadsticks. My mom immediately gulps her wine, so my father steps up to answer.

  “We have to spend at least three days here to maintain our residency. Don’t worry, we’ll be on a plane tomorrow to Hawaii.”

  My mom smiles. “We haven’t been there for almost eight years! Aloha.”

  “Wait, I thought you had to be here for three days?”

  “Well, we have been. We’ve just been busy.” My father sips his wine, staring at his glass. “I’m not sure that this is what I asked for.”

  So they were in the state of Washington, they just couldn’t be bothered to tell either of their children? I would be shocked, but honestly that’s pretty typical for my parents.

  “Cate, dearest, tell us all about you,” my mom says. “Where did you grow up?”

  Cate goes red, pushing her dark hair out of her face. “Here in Seattle.”

  “Oh really?” My mom takes a sip of her wine. “Where did you go to high school?”