by Nikki Ashton
“Are you having a good time?” Luke asked.
It was their third day in Italy, and Lucia had gone to see her brother, leaving Martha and Luke to sunbathe next to the pool. Well, there had been more kissing than sunbathing going on, and the fact that they were both in swimwear meant that things were getting a little heated. Martha was sitting between his legs with her back against his chest, while he encircled her in his arms, their fingers threaded together. She felt happy and secure and, apart from being excited about seeing Betty, she wished that they didn’t have to go back.
“I’m having a brilliant time,” she replied turning her head to look at Luke. “I just feel guilty that I’ve hardly done any cooking, or cleaning.”
“I told you, it doesn’t matter. I’ve enjoyed helping out with my brilliant cooking.”
Martha started to giggle. “Tea and toast is hardly cooking, Luke.”
“Yeah, but you have to admit it was bloody good toast.” Luke bent forward and kissed Martha’s neck behind her ear.
Martha let out a quiet moan as she nuzzled herself against Luke’s lips. He gently nipped her earlobe between his teeth as his hands moved up her thighs and along her stomach. As Luke ran his finger along her stomach, inside the waistband of her bikini bottoms, Martha felt her nipples spring to life beneath her bikini top, she pushed herself up the sunbed, pressing her back closer to Luke’s bare chest. Martha lifted her chin, giving Luke access to her neck allowing him to kiss down it and along her shoulders.
“Fuck, babe I don’t think we should do this,” Luke groaned his lips momentarily leaving Martha’s hot, sensitive skin.
Ignoring him, Martha reached up behind her and gently twisted her hands into Luke’s hair, her body writhing as he kissed up her arms. Her head was spinning, he made her feel so sexy, and wanted and every part of her body was on fire, desperate for more.
Luke was evidently turned on as his erection pushed into the small of Martha’s back. She was intoxicating and tasted so sweet and delicious, like vanilla, and he was becoming more addicted to her every day.
“Shit Martha, we have to stop,” Luke moaned slowly reaching up and untangling her hands from his hair. “Mamma will be home soon and you’re not ready for this.”
Martha whimpered, she knew he was right, she wasn’t ready in her head, but her body was primed and ready to go; all he had to do was kiss that spot behind her ear again and she knew that she’d have her clothes off quicker than Usain Bolt could run 100 metres.
Luke dropped a kiss on Martha’s shoulder and laughed. “Shit, you really know how to get a man steamed up babe.”
“You shouldn’t be such a good kisser then should you?” Martha pulled Luke’s arm around her and kissed his bicep.
“Sorry, you’re going to have to sit up,” Luke groaned with a strained voice. “Luke Junior needs readjusting.”
“Luke Junior?” Martha started to giggle as she shuffled forward on the sunbed. “I’ll go and get us a drink. Beer?”
“Please.” Luke grimaced as he rearranged his shorts.
Martha smiled and sashayed into the house, wondering how she’d got so lucky.
Chapter 17
The next morning, Luke had reverted to being moody and obnoxious, and Martha wasn’t sure why. When they’d parted for bed the previous night he’d been fine, kissing her gently at her bedroom door and then smacking her bottom. She could still hear him laughing as he closed his own door, so goodness knows what had happened during the night to put him in such a mood, unless he’d had second thoughts about the nature of their relationship. He’d banged and stropped around all morning, ignoring Martha and even snapping at Lucia, who had now escaped into the garden with her book. Well, mega rich, rock star or not, Martha wasn’t putting up with it.
“What’s your problem?” she asked Luke as he slammed his coffee mug into the dishwasher.
“I don’t have a problem.” Luke frowned and turned away to search through one of the food cupboards.
Martha, who was preparing a salad at the sink, put her knife down and crossed her arms across her chest.
“Luke, you obviously do, so why don’t you tell me what it is? I thought we were supposed to be friends. I mean, I know we don’t know each other that well, but I did at least think we got on.”
Luke turned to face her, his brow furrowed and his eyes hooded.
“Going to the cinema together and a few kisses doesn’t mean that I have to tell you all my inner secrets, Martha.”
Martha shook her head. “All that by the pool yesterday was just a few kisses was it? And what you told me on the plane wasn’t an inner secret then?”
“Yeah, well maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.” Luke turned back to the cupboard and continued searching.
“What are you looking for anyway?” Martha moved and stood next to him.
“I want something to eat.”
“Lunch will be ready soon, so get out of the cupboard and please look at me when I’m talking to you.”
Luke swung around and stared at her.
“Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“Well stop acting like a stroppy teenager and being rude by not looking at me when I’m trying to talk.”
Luke stopped what he was doing and turned to Martha, thrusting his hands to his hips.
“Excuse me,” he said, “but we’ve been friends for all of five minutes. I pay you to cook for me, so don’t think it’s okay to speak to me like that. Do you…”
“What Luke, do I know who you are? Yes I do know, thanks for pointing it out. I get it, you’re my employer, so don’t worry I won’t be bothering you again.” Martha turned and marched from the kitchen, slamming the door behind her and making the crockery on the dresser shake.
Luke let out a groan. He hadn’t meant to behave like such an idiot, but tonight was the party for his uncle’s birthday and it was filling him with dread. He was also desperately trying not to start a little party of his own with a bottle of alcohol, just to get him through the ordeal He didn’t want to go down the road that Skins had followed. He knew he wasn’t going to be the centre of attention, but the family were bound to try and get him to sing and play guitar, just as he’d done at every family occasion since he was six years old. How on earth could he tell them that he could no longer get anything like a tune to come out of his mouth, unless of course Martha was nearby? Now he’d not only upset his mamma, but also insulted her again. All he’d had to do was tell her what was upsetting him - she’d understood when he’d told her on the jet coming over, so would understand today - but no, he had made a total mess of things coming on like the big rock star. He would find her and apologise, and hopefully she’d forgive him.
Martha was picking apples in the orchard when Luke found her. He watched her, silhouetted by the sun, and could tell by the slump of her shoulders that she was upset. The fact that he’d started to have feelings for her so quickly, and that he felt like an absolute shit for upsetting her, was all so surreal to him. This just wasn’t how the great Luke Mahoney was around women. He’d told her he didn’t know what else he could offer at this stage, but it was becoming more obvious to him that he wanted to offer a huge part of himself.
Martha was absolutely furious with him. He’d made it quite clear that she was nothing to him but the hired help – the hired help that he obviously just wanted a little bit of fun with to pass the time. Well, friends didn’t treat each other like that, particularly friends who had shared some unbelievable kisses, kisses that he’d instigated every time . As Martha quietly fumed, and put some more apples into her basket, she felt a presence behind her. She knew immediately who it was.
“What do you want?” she asked without turning around.
“How did you know it was me?” Luke asked a small smile on his lips.
Martha wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t feel it appropriate to say it was his smell – the mixture of mint and his citrusy aftershave that was imprinted in her memory.
“Who else would be sneaking up behind me?” she replied, turning around to face him. “So, what do you want?”
Luke reached across and took the basket of apples from Martha and placed it on the floor.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry.” He reached over and took her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of it gently. “I shouldn’t have said what I did, and I know that you were only trying to help.”
“No, you shouldn’t have said those things. I didn’t deserve it, Luke. Aside from the kisses, I thought that we got on and were friends, and in light of what you told me on the plane, I thought that I might be able to help. Whatever is upsetting you can’t possibly be worse than that, and if it is all you had to say was, ‘I’m sorry Martha, I don’t want to talk about it’, you didn’t have to be rude.”
“I know, and I am sorry, yet again. I didn’t mean it, I don’t just think of you as just the cook, and we are friends, more than friends, I hope.” He moved forward a step and held his hand out to Martha.
Martha looked down at his hand, but ignored it. “If you have changed your mind about being friends, or whatever this is, then just tell me. I know I’m not up to your usual standard of highly experienced woman, but I’m not stupid or fragile either. I’ve been through a lot Luke, so I’m not going to crack up if you decide that we aren’t a thing you want to carry on with.”
“No, way, of course I haven’t changed my mind. I definitely want to see where this goes, I promise, and I assure you, you’re far better than my usual standard of woman.” Luke sighed; she really didn’t know how beautiful she was.
“Okay, well if you do change your mind tell me, don’t just leave me dangling like a teenager who’s the last one to know that she’s been dumped by the school hottie after one quick grope.” Martha knew instantly that she’d gone red, her words echoed exactly how Luke had behaved with the girls at school.
Luke looked down and scuffed his foot in the dirt. He also knew exactly what Martha was saying, and instantly recognised himself in her words. He’d done that all his life, just left women hanging without telling them it was over, or that is was only ever a one night thing. That also included Rachel. Whenever he’d had enough of her he just didn’t call for a while, he’d never told her, until this last time, that it was over. He knew he was a coward where women were concerned, but he wanted to change that with Martha.
“So, do you want to talk to me about it, or not?” Martha stooped to look up at Luke, who still stared at the ground.
Luke smiled. “Please, that would be good. Can we sit down?” He pointed to a bench under a pear tree.
Taking Martha’s hand in his, Luke led her over to sit down, letting out a sigh of relief.
“Well, it’s Uncle Gio’s party tonight and I’m dreading it.”
Martha smiled widely and cupped Luke’s face with her hand.
“You’re an idiot, why didn’t you just tell me that?”
“I know, I’m a fuckwit at times.”
The tension seeped out of Luke and his shoulders dropped and the knot in his stomach unravelled.
“Why is it worrying you, if it’s a party for your uncle?” Martha shifted herself around to look at him.
Luke pulled her onto his lap and dropped a kiss onto her bare shoulder. To him it was the most natural thing in the world to do but it made Martha’s heart thud and she struggled to catch her breath with the simple intimacy of the action.
“Ever since I was little, and people realised I could sing and play guitar, I’ve been expected to perform for the family. You know how the Irish and Italians like a party, so that’s an awful lot of performing.” Luke ran a hand up Martha’s thigh, stopping at the hem of her shorts.
Martha swallowed, wondering if he would continue up her leg, but he didn’t, and she was glad. This wasn’t the moment to get excited.
“So you’re worried that they’ll want you to perform tonight, is that it?”
“Yep, and I can’t string two notes together babe, so how the fuck am I going to sing a whole song?”
“Not one?”
Luke sighed. “Can I tell you a secret?” Martha nodded. “The only time I managed to sing something that sounded reasonable was last week in the studio.”
“So that’s great, but was that because no one was watching?”
“No,” Luke whispered against her ear. “It was because you were. You just being there calmed be somehow, it helped me to sing.”
Martha gazed at Luke, unable to find any words to express how that made her feel. How special she felt. She leaned forward and kissed Luke’s lips while gently cupping his face with her palm.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, Martha resting her head against Luke’s shoulder while she thought.
“How about you feign a sore throat?” she said finally.
“Hmm, it might work, but I don’t even sound like I have a sore throat. Good idea though.”
“Well imagine that you’re singing to me then, if you think it will help,” she stammered.
Luke shook his head. “As much as I think it would,” he replied, “I have to get some proper help with this and even though I can sing it won’t to the standard that they’ll be expecting.”
“Okay, there is something else, but you’re going to have to tell your mum the whole truth. She needs to be in on it, otherwise she’ll be worried.”
Luke leaned back and shook his head. “No, I’m not sure about that. I don’t want her worrying about me.”
“Just hear me out and see what you think. A lot of singers end up with nodules on their vocal chords, and if they don’t rest their voices it can be dangerous for them, so that’s what you could say,” she said triumphantly. “You’ve got nodules and until they’re operated on you’re not allowed to sing. But, you should tell Lucia, otherwise she really will be worried.” Martha grinned at Luke, she thought it was a great idea.
Luke thought for a few seconds and then nodded his head slowly.
“It might work, no one would force me to sing, but you’re right I need to tell Mamma the full truth. Okay, I’ll do it, then all I have to cope with is the people.”
“Does it feel as bad as when you’re on stage?” Martha brushed her hand down Luke’s cheek. “You know, do you want to be sick and have cold sweats?”
“No, it’s nowhere near that bad.” He shook his head. “My heart just pounds like one of Skins’ drum solos and I get real sweaty palms.”
“Well you’ll have your mum there with you, she’ll take care of you.” Martha pecked him on the cheek and ruffled his hair. “Mamma’s bambino.”
Luke caught hold of Martha’s hand and frowned.
“You’ll be there too.”
“Oh, I didn’t think I’d be invited, with it being a family party.” Martha lowered her eyes.
Luke tucked his finger under her chin and raised her face to his.
“Of course you’re coming, you’re my friend.” He leaned closer and gently kissed Martha on her lips. “In fact, as my girlfriend I insist that you come with us.”
Lucia took Luke’s news about his stage fright extremely well. She was obviously worried about him, but was glad that it was nothing more serious and was something that could be resolved with some counselling. She agreed that they would keep it amongst themselves, and not tell anyone else in the family.
“While we’re being honest, Mamma, there’s something else I need to tell you.” Luke coughed nervously.
Martha frowned, wondering what other secrets Luke had. Surely learning her son had major stage fright was enough for Lucia for one day.
“What? Tell me,” Lucia said, catching hold of Luke’s hand.
“Well, I think you should know that Martha and I are starting a relationship. We’re just getting to know each other at the moment, but I guess you could say she’s my girlfriend.” His eyes darted across to Martha, hoping he hadn’t moved things along too quickly. “I know it seems quick, but we really like each other, so why waste
time, eh?”
Martha’s smile couldn’t have been any more obvious, she agreed. While she was still scared of what this might bring, and what the consequences could be, she knew that she wanted to try and make it work.
“Well, that explains all the giggling in the pool the last few days.” Lucia smiled. “To be honest, it’s not totally unexpected. I’ve seen what good friends you’ve become over the last few weeks, so I’m pleased for you both. You must be some woman, Martha, I don’t believe Luciano has had a proper girlfriend before, because let’s face it Medusa doesn’t count.”
Martha felt the colour rise up her neck as she stifled a giggle.
“I…thank you,” she replied, not quite sure what to say.
“Well, I’m going up for a bath,” Lucia announced. “We need to leave in about three hours, so can you organise the car Luciano, please?”
Luke nodded and sat down on the sofa, pulling Martha down with him.
“Sure Mamma, enjoy your soak.”
After Lucia had left the room he turned to Martha and said, “So, was that okay with you?”
Martha bit on her bottom lip and nodded.
“Yes,” she said, planting a kiss on Luke’s cheek. “As long as you’re sure?”
“I’m definitely sure. I don’t know what it is about you Miss Bright, but I can’t get enough of you, and definitely want to see where this is going.”
“I’m not too boring for you am I? I mean, I’ve only ever lived in two places. The only other times I’ve been out of the country were a school trip to Belgium and on a booze cruise to Calais last year. Plus, I’m not exactly au fait with the Karma Sutra.” Her smile now dropped as she held Luke’s hand and traced patterns over his palm with her fingers. “Seriously Luke, I know it’s really early days, but you should know that I’m really inexperienced sexually, I mean really inexperienced.” Martha felt that her fears were totally justified. She knew that she could make Luke laugh and hold a decent conversation with him, but she really wasn’t experienced where sex was concerned and was afraid that he would find her dull, if it ever got that far, but if he kept being sweet and gentle, and not acting like a spoiled rock star, then it wouldn’t be long before she was asking him for more.
