I nod wordlessly, gripping his butt now as he unleashes a punishing rhythm and drags me with him, moaning, groaning, and grunting our releases into each other's bare, slick skin. We're motionless when it's over, both of us breathing heavily as we come back down to Earth.
Landry leans up, slipping out of me, and I wince.
"Let me clean you up."
He kisses my forehead and slips out of bed, but before he can even make it back to me, I'm asleep.
"Ignore it," I pant, as the knocking on my front door continues.
It's probably one of the girls, and I am seriously going to murder whoever it is as soon as Landry finishes what he started. I slept through most of the night, only to be woken with Landry's shaft pressed against my bare butt, ready to go. Sleep reclaimed me after, but waking up to this a few hours later, it has been another pleasant surprise that I can definitely get used to.
I feel him smile against my center, and I try to thread my fingers through his hair to keep him between my thighs, but he laughs, backing away as he stands.
"Landryyyyy," I pout.
"Let me tell them to fuck off. I'll be back, just gimme a second. Don't move a muscle."
He slips shorts over his nakedness, and I groan, tossing my head back to the bed. Suddenly, I hear yelling from my front door and then Landry's panicked voice.
"Magnolia!"
I scramble to get the sheet wrapped around me and gasp when I see who bursts through my bedroom door.
"Luca? What in the...what are you doin' here?" I squeak, gripping the sheet tighter, making sure I'm fully covered.
"You okay? This guy hurting you?"
"Jesus," I groan. "Luca, he's my boyfriend! What are you doin' here?"
"I...I want you to meet someone, but then it took you a long time to answer the door then he did without a shirt and—"
"Because we were busy," I growl through gritted teeth.
"Right, I, uh...see that now." He rubs at the back of his neck, and I shake my head.
"Let me get dressed. Go wait in the foyer."
He nods, walking out of the room as Landry shuts the door behind him.
"Well, that was...awesome, huh?" He smiles at me, slipping on a t-shirt, and I roll my eyes.
"Had so many opportunities to be the big brother, and he chooses right now," I mumble. "He didn't hit you, did he?"
I tie my robe tightly around my body and examine Landry's face.
"Nope. Just your girls' job, I guess."
I try and hold back a laugh, but I can't as it slips past my lips, and Landry wraps his hand around my head, pulling me to his chest.
"Ease up on him. He's trying."
"Yeah, yeah. It's his fault if I snap. He interrupted before you could finish me."
Landry laughs at my pout as we walk into the foyer, and my jaw drops to the floor. Standing next to my brother, almost as tall as him, is a thin brunette with a pixie cut only celebrity models could pull off. The sleek, black pants suit fits her like a glove, and there is no mistaking a pair of Manolo Blahniks. I drift my gaze up to her, and her eyes are dark, almost black, as her mouth finally parts with a smile.
"Magnolia, this is my fiancé, Gianelle Cervelli. Gia, my sister, Magnolia."
"Pleasure is all mine. Luca has told me so many wonderful things about you, and this apartment is gorgeous. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other."
Cervelli. Giacomo’s sister.
"Yeah, it’s...wow, it’s been a while. The last time I saw you, you were a little girl. It’s nice to see you again, and congratulations on the engagement. That's a big deal."
A look passes between the two of them, and Gia smiles at me, but I can see right through it. That was me. Granted, Luca isn't Giacomo, and he will treat her like a queen, I'm sure of it.
Dang, I want to hate her. I really, really want to hate her because that should be Everleigh on his arm, but she sounds so genuine, and I know exactly what she’s going through. Hell, if I were still with her brother, maybe she wouldn’t have to be doing this.
"Thank you," she says softly, breaking my thoughts. “I didn’t want it to be the elephant in the room, but for what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what my brother did to you, how he treated you. I promise all of us Cervellis aren’t like that.”
Her eyes drift to next to me, regret and apology all over her face, and I shake my head, turning to Landry and pull on his arm. Crap.
"Sorry, how rude of me. This is my boyfriend, Landry Laurent."
"Nice to meet you both," Landry says with a smile, shaking Gianelle's hand and then Luca's.
All four of us just stand there now, wondering where to go from here, and I clear my throat. "So um...did y'all visit for a specific reason or…" I trail off, wondering where to go from here.
"Just...making sure my sister is taken care of, that's all."
I scoff, crossing my arms over my robed chest. "Oh, please, Luca. Don't act all knight in shinin' armor now."
"Hey, things are different now, Nolie. I told you they would be, right?"
"Yeah, I'm sure they are. You have a habit of sayin' one thing then doin' another, and you know I hate when you call me that, dammit!"
"All right, all right, we don't need stress with the baby," Landry says, holding up his hands in between the two of us.
"Baby?" Luca looks at me, confused, and I sigh.
"You're gonna be an uncle."
His eyes widen in shock, and he looks down at my belly. "N-no shit?"
"No...shit," I laugh.
I see his lip curve up into a smile, and the next thing I know, I'm lifted in the air, trying not to pee myself from laughing or throw up because he's spinning me.
"Luca, Stop! I'm going to puke on you!"
He slowly puts me back down to my feet and cups my cheeks, staring at me. "Jesus, Nolie. How the hell did this happen? I thought you couldn't—"
"I couldn't," I assure him. "At least that's what they said, but...things happen, I guess."
I feel soft fingers rub at the back of my neck and sigh, dropping my head to Landry's chest as my brother takes a step away.
"Well then, I guess congratulations are in order, you two," Gianelle says with a smile. "Treasure it. That's amazing news."
I smile at her and mumble a thank you, but I can't help but notice the haunted look in her eyes. Her beauty is so intoxicating you would probably miss the tragedy of it if you've never seen that same heartbreak in your own reflection. From an outside view, she's the picture of chic elegance and perfection, but from where I'm standing, her empty eyes mirror my own for so many years.
"Well, let's get going then, shall we?" Luca interrupts.
I nod, saying goodbye to the two of them as Landry does the same, and we shut and lock the door behind them.
Before we can speak or pick up where we left off, my phone buzzes on the island.
I recognize Quinlin's number and swipe to answer it. "Hey, girl. What's up?"
"Hey, can we meet and talk?"
I sense panic in her voice, and my protective instincts kick in. I don't know much about her, only that she was in an abusive relationship and moved down to Atlanta to get away from him. She's closed off, but I can't say much because I was too. It takes time to trust people. Hell, I still don't trust many people aside from the girls and now Landry.
"Of course. I'll be at the club tomorrow or—"
"No," she says quickly, too quickly. "Not the club. Can I...can I come over tonight?"
"Is everything okay, Quinlin?"
"It's not him, I swear. I just...I have a problem, I think, and you're the only one that would understand."
"Okay, Landry was just about to leave. Come on over."
He looks confused, but then understanding crosses his features, and he nods. He's perfect—so freaking perfect.
"Oh, no, no. I don't want you to kick him out. It's okay; it can wait."
I try and gauge the tone of her voice, but she masks any indication I would harp on. "Quinlin, it'
s okay. We can order some food and—"
"No, it's okay, have fun, we'll talk soon. It can wait."
She hangs up, and I shake my head, feeling a pit in my stomach.
"Everything okay?" Landry asks, massaging my shoulders.
"It's Quinlin, my protege, remember?”
“Yeah, I remember. What about her?”
“I...I don't know." I sigh and close my eyes, letting the movements of his fingers lure me into relaxation.
"Want me to drop you by her?"
"That's okay. I don't even know where she lives."
I feel my stomach drop again and hate that I've been so absorbed in my own life I haven't really checked in with her. It's hard to help someone that doesn't want help, though. Baby steps. The club. That phone call.
She'll come when she's ready, Magnolia.
13
Magnolia
I wake up wrapped in Landry's arms, sensing his staring before I even open my eyes. "What?" I sleepy whisper.
"Just can't believe in a few months we'll have a baby with us."
He kisses my nose, and I open my eyes, gripping his cheek as I plant a long kiss on his lips.
"We will. You excited to find out what it is soon?"
"Yep. I'm calling boy," Landry says, putting his hand over my growing belly.
I roll my eyes and cover his hand with mine. "I think you just want a boy. I'm feelin' girl."
"Hmm, they always say mothers know these things, but we'll see." He kisses my forehead as he climbs out of bed, pulling his shorts up over his nakedness.
"Hey, why are you gettin' dressed?" I pout.
"Gotta feed you, Mama. As much as I wanna just feed you my cock…"
He leans down on the mattress, caging my body in, and I sigh. "Yes, please. I think that's just what the doctor ordered."
He laughs, kissing my lips, then pulls back too soon, and I pout again like a child. Damn him.
"Come eat some real food, and then we'll talk."
He takes his t-shirt off the floor and tosses it to me, and I growl, watching his bare back constrict as he leaves my bedroom. I reluctantly put on his t-shirt and reach for my phone, remembering Quinlin's cryptic phone call from yesterday.
Without beating the subject by overthinking, I dial her number and wait.
"Hello?"
She sounds out of breath, and I realize it's only seven in the morning.
"Crap, Quin, I'm sorry. I didn't realize how early it was. Did I wake you?"
"No, no, you didn't. What's up?"
"I was going to ask if you wanna come over for lunch? Hang here for a little. Then we can go to the club together tonight?"
"It's okay, Magnolia, really. I can just see you there tonight. I'm fine; I figured it out."
"Quinlin, it's really okay. You can come here, and we can—"
"I gotta run. I'll see you tonight."
She hangs up again, and now I'm starting to get angry. Was this what it was like dealing with me a few years back? Good Lord, why didn't someone slap me upside the head. She clearly isn't okay.
I pad down the hall to my kitchen, smelling bacon but feeling nausea creep up at the smell of the eggs.
"Oh no," I groan.
"What happened?"
"It's the eggs. This baby ain't a fan of eggs."
Landry shuts the stove in seconds, dumping the eggs into the garbage and turning on the overhead fan to suck up all the remnants of the smell in the air.
I laugh, holding my stomach as the feeling slowly subsides.
"Better?"
"Thank you."
He pours me a glass of orange juice and then a cup of tea as he sets it down next to the bacon.
"What's on the agenda today?"
"Nothin' aside from this. I work at the club tonight."
"Oh? I may have to make a pit stop after work then," Landry whispers, moving closer to me along the island.
"I thought I had to eat?" I sass, arching an eyebrow as I sexily eat a piece of bacon, licking the crumbs off my lips.
"You do. So do I."
He moves the high-top chair that I’m on, sitting on his butt on the floor with his back against the island, and I look down, eying him curiously.
"What are you—"
My words are cut off as he drags the chair with me on it toward him, his face inches away from my bare center now as I realize I didn't put my underwear back on.
"Landry."
"Slide forward a little more and eat, baby. We're both starving."
I nod, leaning my elbows on the island as I slide my body forward, and my center connects with his warm, wet tongue.
"Oh, God," I moan.
I wrap a hand behind his head as I keep my body braced on top of the island, moving my hips forward and back, riding his face. I keep my hand behind his head, careful not to bash it through the island as I hear the legs of the chair start to scrape against the wood floors.
"Hey, preggo. You wanna do a spa day before our night tonight?"
I freeze, my blood running cold as Addison, Eden, and Everleigh all come walking right into my kitchen. Luckily, the island is angled away from the door, so Landry is fully covered, but he makes it very clear he doesn't care about an audience when his tongue continues to flick against my clit.
"I, ahem...I…" I clear my throat, trying to suppress my moan, but everything is heightened, and I fail, closing my eyes as I grit my teeth. I grip Landry's hair, trying to pull him away, but he's not having it. "Just...let me finish eating," I sigh, finally open my eyes.
Eden's smirk is first, and then I watch as Addison and Everleigh's follow.
"Wait for you to finish eatin' or Landry?" Eden asks, arching an eyebrow.
I whimper, squeezing my legs around his neck, but he doesn't give two craps.
"Just...dammit, Landry, stop it," I hiss.
He finally breaks, a shit-eating grin on his face as he lifts a hand above the island top with a wave, still sitting where he is.
"Morning, ladies," he says smoothly.
"Mornin' Landry," they all sing-song back.
"Ah, if every morning started like that," Everleigh sighs.
"Good boys pray to Jesus in the morning; bad boys pray to pussy. Keep him, Lia. He knows where I live if you kick him to the curb, right, sap?" Eden says with a wink.
"Out!" I snap, pointing my finger to the front door as the girls laugh, holding their hands in the air, and leave. "I need to change the damn locks."
Landry laughs as he gets to his feet, kissing the angry off my lips, and I smirk against his.
"I've never...tasted myself on someone before aside from you. I...I like that you don't...you don't wipe it off."
My cheeks heat with vulnerability. I can't believe I just admitted that out loud.
"Why the fuck would I do that?"
I shrug, not wanting to go into details about Giacomo only doing that to me once my whole life and then wiping his mouth like I had a man-eating disease. I don't have to say it, though, because he knows.
"I'm not him, and I never, ever will be. I'd wear your fucking smell like a badge of honor all damn day, Magnolia. You're mine now, and I'm going to show you what being with a real man feels like."
"Promise?" I whisper, rubbing my thumb along his bottom lip.
"Hell yes."
Landry and I walk into the back doors of the club with our hands linked. He kisses me quickly outside the locker room, but I drag him back by his jeans to keep his lips on mine for a beat longer. I smile against his lips when he untangles my bag from my hand, dropping it to the floor. He grabs my hand, putting it around the back of his neck, and when he drags his fingers slowly down my forearm, across my bicep, and then up around the back of my neck, I moan.
"I can always skip the main dance," I whisper against his lips.
"Fuck no, you can't. We haven't danced together since the night this guy knocked you up. Get your ass in there," snaps a woman's voice from next to us.
I laugh, leaning my head
back against the wall, and glance to my right, rolling my eyes at Eden.
"I'm not going anywhere. Have fun out there and find me later," Landry whispers, kissing the side of my neck.
I pull him back again one more time as I lay a long, lingering kiss on his lips and wink, watching him walk down the hall toward the club.
"You mother fuckin' fiend. Where did my quiet, subdued, Magnolia go?" Eden smirks, linking her arm through mine as we walk into the locker room.
"No clue but God, I like this Magnolia," I laugh, dropping my bag and starting to change.
I struggle a little, clipping my corset top behind my now fuller breasts, but Eden helps me, and I watch her lips tilt up with a smirk.
"What?"
"I like this little minxy Magnolia. You look hot as fuck all glowin' and confident," Eden drawls.
"And those tits. Where the hell did those things come from," Addison gasps.
"Oh, shut up," I growl.
"What about this honky-tonk badonkadonk!" Everleigh yells, slapping my butt as she walks toward her locker.
"Ya know what, screw all y'all. Just jealous that this mornin' I got my…"
All three of them stare at me with smiles on their faces, and I press my lips together, knowing some of the other girls are probably listening in too.
"Got your what?" Everleigh asks cheekily.
"Y'all know what I was gonna say," I mutter.
"Yep, she's still the old Magnolia," Eden says, arching an eyebrow at me.
"You're just jealous that I had a man's face between my legs this morning, eatin' me like a starved animal," I blurt out, my breathing heavy and crazed. "Happy?"
Silence stretches throughout the locker room. Then I hear soft claps which turn louder, and my face heats like it's never heated before.
"Yas, girl!"
"Get some!"
"About fucking time!"
All the girls cheer and yell, and I shake my head, pressing my lips together to keep from laughing and slap Eden's bare shoulder.
"You're the worst. You know that?"
"Own it, girl. That confidence is the sexiest thing I've ever seen you wear, and you wear some sexy shit."
She winks at me, and I squeeze her shoulder, kissing her cheek as I walk toward hair and makeup.
Delivered in Sin Page 16
