Decode (Luke Series, #7)

by Cassia Leo

  “We should have brought a change of clothes,” Brina says, holding up the damp skirt of her dress in one hand as I hold her other hand to help her onto the boat.

  A table has been set for us to have a light dessert and drinks before we retreat below deck. I guide her toward the table and she shivers as she looks around the deck.

  “This boat is bigger than yours.”

  I ask the waiter to get her a blanket from below deck as the rest of the crew prepares us for a midnight sail.

  “That hurt my feelings. Anyway, how do you know it’s bigger than mine? Have you measured my boat?”

  “Yes, once when you were asleep. I measured your boat.”

  She grins and I shake my head. I wouldn’t put it past her to measure my boat while I slept.

  The waiter arrives with a folded wool blanket. I rise from my chair and take the blanket from him so I can wrap it around Brina’s shoulder. She pulls the edges tightly and I rub her arms to warm her up.

  “Is that better?”

  “Yes.”

  The waiter uncorks the champagne and pours us each a glass. Brina holds her blanket close as she raises her glass.

  “What are we toasting to?” she asks, her teeth still chattering. I have to get her out of that wet dress.

  “We’re toasting to five years, two months, and nine days of marriage.”

  “You were always good with numbers,” she replies. “How about this? Let’s toast to another seventy-five years and zero nannies.”

  “Zero nannies? What about the foundation?”

  Though the Kingston Foundation is Brina’s pride and joy, she has often fantasized about being a stay-at-home mom. She’s never happier than when she’s spending time with the children. But she has always struggled with maintaining her own identity and having enough time to be the kind of mother she feels the children deserve.

  “I’m going to take a hands-off approach from now. I’ll attend the monthly board meetings to make sure that Ben is adhering to my vision. But I have nothing to worry about. Ben runs the show better than I ever could.”

  I down the rest of my champagne and rise from my chair. “Let’s talk about this below deck where it’s warmer.”

  I pull her chair out and wrap my arm around her shoulders as I guide her down the steps into the cabin. This yacht is much nicer and more spacious than my sixteen-year-old Columbia, but it still brings back memories from the first time I ever brought Brina onto my boat. She admitted to me once that the reason she slept with me just an hour after her interview at Maxwell Computers six years ago had nothing to do with the assignment with her former employer, NeoSys. She wanted to feel close to someone who didn’t know she was responsible for taking her brother to the hospital where he killed himself.

  Brina craves accomplishment, but more than that, she craves unconditional love. When you bear the burden and sorrow of a loved one’s death, your life begins to seem insignificant, until someone else shows you how much you are needed. The children—and I—need Brina more than the foundation does.

  “Where are you taking me?” she asks, dropping the blanket to the floor as I take her hand in mine and pull her farther into the cabin, past the sitting and dining area and through a tight hallway.

  We arrive in the bedroom and the room is awash in the creamy glow of the candlelight. I close the bedroom door and wait for her to notice the surprise in this room as she slowly walks toward the bed.

  “This looks very familiar,” she says as she runs her fingers over the comforter on the bed.

  “What looks familiar?” I ask as I approach her.

  She looks over her shoulder and grins at me. “The mirrors… on the ceiling.”

  I chuckle as I reach up and slowly slide the strap of her dress off her shoulder. I press my lips to her smooth skin and she still smells like the artificial rain from the theater. I slide the zipper down the back of her dress and it quickly drops at her feet. She isn’t wearing a bra or panties.

  “How is it possible for someone to be this beautiful?” I say as I trace my fingers lightly over her hips.

  She leans her head back and rests it on my shoulder as I kiss her neck. My hands slide forward, caressing her soft belly and luscious breasts. Her skin is cold from the dampness of the dress, but I’m going to warm her up.

  Sliding my hand between her legs, I quickly find her spot. She lets out a soft, breathy gasp as I tease her gently. I kiss her earlobe as I stroke her and she whimpers, her hands reaching up to grab my hair, searching for something to hold onto. I slide my fingers inside her and she writhes against me, which only gets me hotter. I gather her moisture and stroke her lightly, easing off as soon as I feel her muscles begin to contract.

  I know her body better than I know my own.

  Sliding my hand out from between her legs, I grab her hips and turn her around. She’s already warmed up enough that tiny droplets of sweat have beaded on her chest. She unties my bowtie and I close my eyes as she continues to undress me.

  Once I’m naked, I look her in the eye. “Lie back.”

  She smiles as she stretches out across the bed and I grab a piece of ice from the bucket of champagne on the nightstand. Sitting down on the bed, I hold the ice against her nipple. She gasps, but I don’t remove it until she whimpers with discomfort. I toss the ice over my shoulder and lean down to take her nipple into my mouth. Massaging it with my tongue, I slide my free hand between her legs again, caressing her until she begins to buck against my hand.

  Pulling my hand away before she can come, I retrieve another piece of ice from the bucket and perform this same ritual on her other breast. She’s soaking wet and about to explode, but I won’t allow it. Not until I’m inside her.

  I settle myself between her legs and she pants heavily with anticipation. Sliding my hand beneath the small of her back, I lift her gently and groan as I glide into her.

  I lean down to kiss her slowly as I bob in and out of her with the ease of the calm seas beneath this boat. This is where I belong.

  She grabs my ears and pulls my head back, her eyebrows scrunched together as she looks me in the eye.

  “I love you,” I whisper.

  “I love you most.”

  I lean my forehead against hers, breathing heavily as we both find our release. We lie still for a moment before I turn onto my back next to her. We gaze at our reflections in the mirror above us and suddenly we both begin to laugh.

  “That was much better than the first time we had sex on a boat.”

  “I guess it’s time to get a bigger boat.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Brina

  Open barrels of coffee beans stand in the corner of Café Verlet in Paris. Next to the barrels are display bowls with mounds of crystallized fruits, individually wrapped nut cakes, crispy thin cookies. The atmosphere is thick with the aroma of coffee and alive with chatter as patrons enjoy their coffees and each other’s company. This is not the quiet atmosphere of Greene’s Coffee and Tea, but I think that’s a good thing today.

  A woman in a black sleeveless top and colorful scarf arrives at our table with our espressos. She sets them down in front of us and smiles without uttering a word, aware that neither Luke nor I speak French very well. Though, we were able to place our order easily enough. It seems espresso is one of those universal words that almost everyone understands, like “Coke” or “okay.”

  While most Americans were fast asleep at nine o’clock, Paris time, Luke and I were enjoying the view from the balcony of our Presidential suite, while enjoying each other. Now, as I sit here with a steaming cup of espresso in front of me, I can’t help but recall my first trip to Greene’s Coffee and Tea with Luke. I gulped down my espresso on that date and Luke vowed he would get me to appreciate espresso the right way—slowly.

  I bring the tiny porcelain cup to my mouth and the moment it touches my lips, Lucas pulls down on my sleeve and whines. “Mommy, this cocoa is too hot.”

  “You have to be patient, baby,�
� I say as I set down my cup and use a napkin to wipe the drops of espresso that spilled onto my jeans. “Just blow on your cocoa as you wait for it to cool.”

  Luke grins at me. Rhianne is sitting in his lap and she giggles softly as he plants a loud kiss on her cheek. No more nannies meant bringing the kids along on our second honeymoon, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

  Maybe espresso is one of those universal words because it’s a little like life. You have to enjoy life slowly, savoring every single moment so you don’t miss anything important. Like your brother’s despair and your own self-destruction. Like surprise honeymoons and your kids growing up before your very eyes.

  Slow down, pay attention, and drink it in. And don’t forget to share it with the ones you love.

  LUKE SERIES PLAYLIST

  Daydreamer by Adele

  Twice by Little Dragon

  This Love Will Be Your Downfall by Ellie Goulding

  Everything and Nothing by The Boom Circuits

  Bullet Train by Stephen Swartz (feat. Joni Fatora)

  Sometime Around Midnight by The Airborne Toxic Event

  Eyes by Kaskade (featuring Mindy Gledhill)

  Decode (Acoustic Version) by Paramore

  House of Cards by Radiohead

  Leave the Lights On by Meiko (Culture Code Remix)

  Can’t Keep Your Mind Off by Data Romance

  Turning Page by Sleeping At Last

  Hallelujah (Acoustic Version) by Paramore

  Listen to the playlist on YouTube.

  Listen to the playlist on Spotify.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you, once again, to the most awesome beta readers on the planet. I know I’m not the easiest author to work with and you all are saints for dealing with me leaving you with one cliffhanger after another.

  Thank you to Samantha Stettner for showing me that Luke was worth one more book. And for showing us all how much you like big boats.

  Thank you to all the Luke lovers who have taken the time to write reviews, recommend the series, and discuss the books with me. I love your enthusiasm and I hope Luke stays in your hearts for a very long time.

  Thank you to my best cobber, Paula Jackman, for showing me that Luke is worth fighting for. We shall settle this custody battle in court someday.

  Other books by Cassia Leo

  Relentless (New Adult Romance)

  Shattered Hearts #1

  Pieces of You (New Adult Romance)

  Shattered Hearts #2

  Bring Me Home (New Adult Romance)

  Shattered Hearts #3

  CHASE Series (Erotic Romance)

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time watching old reruns of Friends and Sex and the City. When she’s not watching reruns, she’s usually enjoying the California sunshine or reading—sometimes both.