by Vivian Wood
I look off over the marina, absorbing that. I should do what makes me happy, even if it involves sacrificing my pride… shouldn’t I?
Malkia reaches across the table and smacks me hard on the arm. “Do not sit there with the stupid look on your face. Go to her right now.”
Sucking in a breath, I stand up. “Thanks, Mal.”
She flaps her hand at me, going back to eating. “You already owe me forever. Now go!”
Smiling at her, I head toward my car.
34
Luna
Consider him fired.
I grin down at my phone. For the first time since everything blew up a week ago, some news arrived that lifted my spirits. After threatening me, Fletcher Montgomery is going to lose his position at the University of Washington.
It required some advanced maneuvering on my part. All right, I called my father and told him my tale of woe, including a few tears.
Not two hours later, my father texts me the news.
Good. Thank you, Daddy, I text back.
I call Dr. Montgomery, my lips curling into a smile as the phone rings.
“Hello?” he answers.
“Dr. Montgomery! Luna here. I just wanted to call and wish you good luck.”
There’s a pause. “What are you talking about?”
“Well… as you know, my parents have the kind of money that makes you and your parents look poor. So when my father expressed his displeasure to the Dean of Medicine…”
“Dean Winchester? He’s one of my father’s best friends!”
I shrug. “It hardly matters. Anyway, I was just going to wish you luck in your job search… and let you know that the Leone family has dealings with almost every major medical school in the United States. So… maybe try Europe? Well, not like anywhere in Europe. Our family is also close with British, Swiss, and French hospitals… so I’m thinking somewhere in eastern Europe, maybe?”
“This is ridiculous,” Dr. Montgomery mutters. “You are a stupid little bitch.”
I sigh. “I hope that the next resident advisor feels differently. But what do you care? You won’t have to deal with me ever again.”
He starts winding up for some angry words. “Let me just tell you something— “
“Bye, Fletcher. Have a nice life,” I say, disconnecting the call. Then I block his number, feeling satisfied.
Throwing my phone in my purse, I take the keys out of my ignition and get out of my car. Opening the back of my SUV, I purse my lips at the enormous pile of shopping bags in front of me. Okay, maybe I went a little crazy. Who can even blame me?
I thought I was going to die of loneliness only six hours ago. And despite my mood being temporarily boosted, I’m not at all sure that my feelings of acute isolation won’t return.
I cock my head, a sigh on my lips. Filling my arms with bags still only gets about half of them out of the car. When I turn to shoulder the door closed, I come face to face with the last person I expected.
It’s Gabe, looking tall and handsome as ever. He rubs his neck, his blue green eyes pinning me in place. “Hey.”
I just stare at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. I hug my shopping bags to my chest. My heart races out of control.
His lips pinch. “Can we talk for a second, Luna?”
I find my voice. “Yes. Just…” My gaze slides over to the still open car. “Give me a second.”
Stepping forward, I put all the bags back inside the car and close the trunk. Then I turn, blushing pink under Gabe’s raised eyebrow. “I can get that stuff later.”
I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. He’s silent, so I start heading toward my apartment’s front door.
“Come on,” I say, trying to act nonchalant. It’s hard though because inside I am screaming and jumping around.
What does he want? Why did he decide to come here?
The hundred steps or so to get into my apartment are pure torture. Not to mention that I realize my hands are shaking when I unlock the front door. I usher Gabe into the kitchen, clearing my throat.
“Why are you here?” I ask.
He winces at the tone of my words. Dropping his gaze, he folds his arms across his broad chest. “Well… I owe you an apology.”
My heart threatens to stop. I look at his face but I’m unable to read his expression.
“What for?” I ask softly.
Gabe looks up, his brow lowering. “I wasn’t fair to you. I judged you by a stick I made for my last relationship. I shouldn’t have jumped to such an extreme conclusion… and I definitely shouldn’t have told you that I couldn’t see you anymore.”
My heart seizes. My eyebrows fly up. I place a hand against my chest, over my heart.
I’m speechless.
“Will you forgive me, Luna?” he utters. “I know that I might be too late—“
I launch myself at him, flinging my arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. He smells so good; the feel of his arms surrounding me is enough to make my nonchalant facade crumble. Burying my face against his chest, I start crying immediately.
“Yes,” I manage to get out despite my tears. “Yes, Gabe. I thought— I thought I would never see you again!”
His arms come up to my back. He clutches me against him, nuzzling the top of my head with his nose.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I’m so sorry, Luna.”
I lift my head, my mouth finding his like a compass finding its bearing. Hot and slick and salty-sweet, his mouth tastes like everything I’ve been missing for the past week.
I swear, my heart is hurting but at the same time I’m grinning and kissing him. After a minute, I pull back, looking at him carefully. His beautiful expressive face, his elegantly carved cheekbones, his otherworldly eyes.
“Are you sure?” I ask, sniffling. “Because if you let me, I promise I will love you until my dying breath. But if you’re not a hundred percent sure…”
He cups my cheek and presses the lightest of kisses against my lips. “I’m sure,” he rumbles. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my whole entire life.”
I kiss him again, pouring absolutely everything I feel into the kiss, gripping his shirt in my fist. By the time he breaks off the kiss this time, we are both gasping for breath. I need him, need to feel his body pressed against mine, need to feel him stretching out every part of me, his huge size filling up every last inch of room inside me.
“I love you, Luna,” he swears to me. “I think I’ve loved you since I first laid eyes on you. I know I’m not nearly good enough— “
“Gabe— “
“No.” He shakes his head. “I won’t even pretend to understand your lifestyle. You are wealthy beyond my wildest imagination. I’m just a poor man who can’t even buy you a ring.”
I bite my lip. “That doesn’t matter. I have enough for both of us. Besides, even if I didn’t… I choose you. I love you. I want to be with you.”
He looks directly in my eyes. “I swear, I will never stop trying to be the man you deserve.”
My lips curl upward. “You already are, Gabe. You are more than I ever hoped for. More than I knew I needed.”
Gabe kisses me again, harder this time, more demanding than ever before. He scoops me up in his arms, carrying me back toward my bedroom as if I were weightless.
I lay my head on his chest for a second.
This is real.
He’s all mine.
We might have some struggles up ahead of us. But there will be no doubt that we love each other ever again.
That’s my version of a happily ever after.
35
Gabe
Six Months Later
When we finally get home from the engagement party, I’m worn out. Everyone and their sister was there in their Sunday best… and they all had to meet me. Luna looked like the princess I know she is, showing off her engagement ring.
A sparkling sapphire that has been in my family for almost a hundred years. Gifted to me by my own moth
er, who came to me to mend fences once she found out that I’m engaged.
I was glad to finally meet Luna’s parents and have them meet my family… okay, maybe glad is the wrong word for it. Luna was vaguely stressed out the entire time her parents were around, making catty remarks.
Luckily my whole family was there to support us. They are pretty fucking great and I am really grateful to have them… even my mom. Who loves and dotes on Luna, by the way.
But damn. My social battery is running on empty after all that.
That’s okay though… because I’m still full of nervous, jittery energy. And I know just where I’m going to put all that momentum.
Luna turns to me, looking ravishing in a floor length white gown. She cocks her brow.
“Did you have a nice time?”
Instead of answering, I tug at her hand, leading her into the bedroom we share. Turning her around and sweeping the hair off her neck, I place a single hot kiss on the skin I just bared.
She turns in my arms, her eyes dancing with merriment. “What?”
“Forget the party,” I whisper. “I think we should just elope. Then I could legally take you, here and now, as my wife.”
Luna giggles. “You know we can’t elope. But we can pretend. Show me just what you mean, Mr. Byrne.”
Echoing her sentiment with an appetite all my own, I bend her backward, trailing kisses down her neck. I grab her by the waist and bring her down to the ground, spreading her thighs and bringing us together. My mouth descends upon hers, hungry and demanding.
She opens her mouth and her thighs for me, drawing me in without a second of hesitation. Her hands slip around my neck, fingernails lightly scoring the flesh of my shoulders. I palm one of her breasts, then pinch her nipple, drawing a cry from her lips.
I trail kisses down her jaw, skipping over her neck, and bend down to nuzzle the space between her breasts. I feel her legs wrap around me, her heels digging into the backs of my legs, pulling me as close as possible.
It takes some skill to unzip the dress and get her out of it, but I find her bare underneath. I groan as I rip off her dress, kissing her newly exposed breast. I know I’m not being delicate with her, but I’m too entranced to care.
She doesn’t seem to mind, her head thrown back. She’s making these little oh sounds that are killing me, every second I’m not inside her.
Fuck. I need to have her, right this second.
She kisses me, and I bite her lower lip. She grabs my head and bites me on the neck, which I swear makes my cock pulse.
“Talk dirty to me again,” she whispers. The feel of her whispered words against my suddenly sensitive ear is another turn on.
“Fuck!” I grit out. “You don’t know what you do to me, princess. You are such a bad, bad girl.”
I squeeze one of her breasts hard, and she gasps.
“Bad enough to get punished?” she whispers.
“Ohhh fuck,” I say, pushing her down against the ground. I look at her for a second, searching her face. “You don’t really want that.”
She struggles under me, trying to push me off. “Maybe I do.” She says it with a smile curling her lips. I lick the side of her face, just needing to touch her with my tongue.
I bring my hand up to her neck, fitting my fingers around the slim white column of her neck. I apply just a little bit of pressure, making her gasp and writhe beneath me. When I release her, she tries to pull me closer for a kiss. I allow it for a moment, but then I pull back. There is much more I want to do to her.
I move back, kneeling on the ground, and ruck her dress the rest of the way down her legs. I cast it aside, then I strip off my own tuxedo jacket, pants, and shirt.
Her eyes are immediately drawn to my cock, which jumps at the attention she pays it. She looks up at me, biting her lip.
“Can I taste you?” she asks quietly, seeming unsure.
God, could Luna be any sexier? I’m so fucking lucky that this woman even looked my way a second time, much less that she’s ready to get on her knees for me now. I reach down and stroke my cock with one hand, hesitating.
“You sure you’re ready to give me head?” I ask. “We’ve only ever done it for a minute…”
Her eyes twinkle a bit, and she pushes herself up on the bed. “I think I’ll do just fine. You just have to guide me… tell me what feels good. Tell me what you like.”
She reaches out, brushing her fingers along my length. I grit my teeth as pre-cum leaks from the tip of my cock. She watches it as it pools at the tip, forming a pearly droplet.
Luna looks up at me and spears me with her gaze as she licks just the droplet from the sensitive head of my cock. I suck in a breath.
“Well, if you insist,” I say, unable to look away. She presses her free hand against my chest, turning me onto my back. I go willingly, trying not to flutter my eyes closed as she moves down, kissing as she goes.
When Luna circles her wet tongue around the head of my cock, I can’t breathe for a second.
“Like this?” she asks, looking up at me. She shifts so that she’s on her knees.
“That’s… perfect. Jesus, you’re hot when you’re on your knees like that.”
Swallowing, I look down at her heart-shaped face. Her pouty lips part as I guide my cock to her mouth. The second I touch my cock to her lips, the sensitive head probing the wet heat of her mouth, I have to close my eyes for a moment.
My dick twitches, and it takes everything in me not to just bury myself in her hot mouth. I imagine how I would do it. How good it would feel just to put my hand in her hair, to let go and fuck her mouth and throat.
But no. I open my eyes again, breathing hard. She’s looking up at me, her lips on the very tip of my dick, her eyes telling me that she trusts me. I have to remember that.
“Open your mouth a little, and stick out your tongue,” I encourage her, pressing the blunt head against her lips.
She does, rolling out the velvety tip of her tongue. It caresses the head of my cock, and sends tiny lightning bolts of electricity down to my feet. My toes curl.
“Fuuuuuuck,” I whisper. She nudges my fingers out of the way, closing her little hand around my cock. I put my hand into her hair as she sinks her mouth down on my dick.
She starts to work her head forward and back, fucking me oh so slowly. I groan as she picks up the pace a little, closing my eyes and leaning my head back.
Usually when I’m fucking a girl’s pussy or ass, I’m in a position of complete control. I can stop or slow down as often as I want, which helps me keep from blowing my load before I’m ready. Even with throat-fucking, I am in control more than I am now.
And control is something I have desperately needed… until now. Until this girl.
With Luna, I challenge myself to let go just a tiny bit, to let her lead just for a few moments.
I can’t scare her off of going down by grabbing her and fucking her throat. And as much as I’d like to cum in her mouth, I know that I can’t. It’s too much.
“Fuckkkk,” I hiss. Her mouth feels incredible, it’s going to be hard to restrain myself. “Jesus. Okay, okay. You have to stop, otherwise I’m going to finish in your mouth.”
I gently grab her face and push her back. She sits back on her heels, wiping at her mouth with the back of her hand.
“You taste good,” she says, her eyes scanning my face. She licks her lips. For a second, my eyes are on her mouth, watching her tongue.
Yeah, I would’ve finished there without a problem.
“Your mouth is incredible.” I pin her onto her back. “I just didn’t want to cum in there, when there are so many other places that call my name.”
She giggles for a second. “Like where?” she asks, a big smile on her face.
I grab her knees and force them apart, leaning down to kiss her breasts. Then I go straight for her pussy, spreading it with two fingers and licking her clit.
Luna cries out and buries her hands in my hair, her back bowing. I trace
figure eights around her clit and dip my tongue into her pussy, loving the scent and taste of her. Just as she gets worked up, her juices flowing, I press her knees up and lick my way around the tiny pucker of her ass.
“Oooh!” she cries, startled.
I kiss and lick it for a second, penetrating her ass with the tip of my tongue. Then I break away, kissing her inner thighs, kissing and biting her breasts.
“I want you to touch yourself again,” I whisper in her ear. “While I’m taking you from behind, I want you to make yourself come.”
She nods eagerly and I flip her over, almost shaking with the need to fuck her. She braces herself on her knees and elbows, showing her pretty pussy and ass to me. I grasp my cock, pressing the head to her entrance.
“Touch yourself,” I order. She reaches under her body and starts to play with her clit.
I plunge inside her and hear her gasp. It feels so hot and so tight that I have to go slow, otherwise I’ll come right away.
“Oh my god,” she gasps. “Gabe, your cock feels so good. It’s so, so good.”
I grab her hips and use them as leverage while I fuck her, working my cock in and out of her pussy. She begins to tighten her pussy even more as she plays with her clit. I focus, closing my eyes, and try to hit her g-spot every time I thrust.
Finally she bursts, coming with a shout. I speed up as soon as I feel her begin to spasm, letting myself pound into her like a jackhammer. She cries out my name, which has never sounded better than it does when it pour from her lips.
“Gabe!”
I feel my cock start to twitch and pulse as I drive home again and again. I feel like I’m coming like a fucking fountain, her pussy milking my cock for everything it’s worth.
“Fuck!” I shout. “God damn, Luna.”
It takes a long ass time before I’m drained, but eventually I do pull out of her pussy. I catch myself before I slump face first into her back, diverting my weight to fall beside her instead. She doesn’t move, she lies on her stomach, facing away from me, her breathing ragged.
