by Caragh Bell
‘Oh, it’s cold. I’ll just turn on the heating.’
Luca didn’t notice. He watched her fiddle with the thermostat and nodded when she offered him a beer.
She took off his bomber jacket and draped it on the kitchen chair.
‘Don’t forget this when you leave,’ she warned. ‘It’s freezing outside.’
‘Sure,’ he said, ‘when I leave.’
They took their beers into the living area. Luca sat on the couch and patted the space next to him. Lydia pointedly sat on the armchair.
Rubbing her toes, she grimaced. ‘I don’t know why women torture themselves by wearing heels. I always regret it.’
‘Are you in pain?’ he asked, concerned.
‘Like you wouldn’t believe.’
He got up and placed his beer on the coffee table. ‘Here, let me massage them.’
He knelt down and took her foot in his hands.
She pulled back immediately.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ she said, blushing.
‘Why not? It’s just a foot rub.’ He pulled her foot gently towards him once more. Slowly and rhythmically he started to knead her skin, working out the aches with his strong fingers.
Lydia sighed in pleasure. It felt amazing. Maybe it was because it was Luca massaging her feet that it felt so good. She glanced down at him as he worked: he was holding her foot like it was a precious piece of china.
‘This feels so nice,’ she murmured, sighing.
He said nothing.
‘Now the other one.’
He began caressing her again, rubbing the sole of her foot gently, massaging all the time. This time however he didn’t stop at her foot. Like a feather, the hand started to move up her leg, kneading her calf and then her knee.
She opened her eyes with a jolt and found him looking at her with half-closed eyes. Pointedly, she pulled up her skirts to reveal her smooth thigh.
She moaned and parted her legs. It was so erotic. She took his hand and edged it upwards. Her intentions were clear. Pulling her lacy thong aside, she invited him to stroke her.
Luca pulled his hand away.
‘You don’t deserve it. Not after the way you’ve treated me.’ His eyes were dark. ‘No one treats me like that.’
‘Please.’ Her voice came out in a whisper.
‘Tell me how much you want me.’
She bit her lip in frustration. It would kill her to say it. Having said that, she was wet with desire and needed him to touch her.
‘Touch me,’ she whispered hoarsely.
He looked surprised for a second but did what she asked, moving his finger in circles, driving her wild. She arched her back, her cheeks flushed as he increased the pressure, pressing on the tiny nub over and over.
‘Oh my God!’ she almost shrieked as his long fingers disappeared inside her.
His face was unreadable as he brought her to orgasm. Her body tensed and then released.
‘Was that nice?’ he asked thickly.
‘Amazing.’ She was breathing heavily.
She pulled her dress over her head and unclipped her bra. Throwing her thong to the side, she stood before him, completely naked and wanton with desire.
Luca took a deep breath. He was trying to play it cool but this was too much. Tearing off his T-shirt, he unfastened his belt and dropped his jeans. His erection was clearly visible through his boxer shorts. Lydia pulled him towards her and pulled the waistband down. His cock sprang out like a Jack in the Box.
Wrapping her lips around the tip she started to suck gently, swirling her tongue around and around until she felt him press against her lips. He groaned in pleasure and pressed her head against him. Then she pulled away, leaving him gasping.
‘Finish it,’ he panted.
‘Finish me,’ she replied, getting to her feet and running into the bedroom.
With a growl, he ran after her and, grabbing her from behind, pushed her onto the bed. She parted her legs suggestively and looked at him from over her shoulder.
‘You want it from behind, huh?’ He held down her hands. ‘You got it.’
She was so wet, he slipped into her easily. Pulling herself up onto all fours, she met his thrusts with fervour. On and on he pounded into her, driving them both higher and higher. Just as he was sure he’d explode, she pulled away from him again.
‘Are you trying to kill me?’ he gasped.
‘I want it to be the best orgasm of your life,’ she answered, pushing him on the bed and climbing on top. ‘Now, I control it.’
She moved up and down, sliding up and down the full length of him slowly.
Luca saw stars; he couldn’t believe how good it felt, how much he wanted to come, how turned on he was. She increased the rhythm and then slowed it down, tantalising him, making him crazy.
Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. Flipping her over, he drove his cock into her before she had a chance to object. Opening her legs wider, she pulled him in deeper. Burying his face in her neck, he came, crying out as he got his long-awaited release. She followed soon after, screaming out his name. Afterwards they lay in a pool of sweat, his body heavy on top of hers.
‘That was fucking awesome,’ he gasped.
She kissed his forehead.
Laying his head on her breasts, he closed his eyes. He had never felt so happy in his life.
Chapter 33
He woke up to find the bed empty.
Like all good things, he was waiting for its end.
He set himself up mentally for a nuclear fall-out but surprisingly none came.
Lydia arrived into the bedroom in a nightie with a cup of coffee and a slice of toast in her hands.
‘Morning,’ she beamed. ‘Are you hungry?’
He didn’t know what to say. This was so weird. Why wasn’t she kicking him out with the whole ‘it’s a huge mistake’ routine?
‘Sure, a coffee and toast would be great.’
‘Coming up.’
She disappeared again and he sat up. He couldn’t believe that he was in her bed. Looking around the room he noticed it was as messy as when he first saw it. Books and articles were strewn everywhere. Clothes covered the old armchair in the corner and shoes were scattered all over the floor.
Burying his head in her pillow he inhaled her sweet smell. If someone had told him in Elixir last night that this was going to happen, he would have laughed. It had turned out so perfectly.
Lydia pushed open the door with her foot, balancing a tray with two cups and two slices of toast in her hands.
‘I put jam on it, is that all right? We don’t have any marmalade.’
‘Jelly? Sure.’
She handed him a cup and sat cross-legged on the end of the bed.
Sipping his coffee, he eyed her warily. What was with her? She looked young and happy, nothing like that sullen girl he had left in St Johann.
‘Don’t you mind me still being here?’ he asked, looking at her straight.
She paused and then spoke. ‘I’d be lying if I said that I planned it. I just want to forget about everything else while you’re here. It’s the only way I can reconcile things.’
‘Reconcile what?’ He was curious now.
‘When we came back from skiing I hated myself. I was so upset that I had betrayed Dom that way. I couldn’t cope with the guilt. I pushed you away because I blamed you. I held you responsible.’
He said nothing.
‘Last night I realised that it’s me: I’m the problem. I can’t stop myself around you; I come alive when I’m with you. It doesn’t make it right, but it feels so good. If I keep things separate in my head I’ll get through it. If I don’t think about my real life when I’m with you, I can do this.’
Luca frowned. Her real life? Why wasn’t he part of her real life? Was he just some stud she wanted to play with?
‘I’m not sure that I’m cool with that.’
She leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. ‘That’s all I can giv
e you,’ she whispered.
‘But I want more.’
She shrugged. ‘Let’s not talk about this. I can’t take it in. Let’s just enjoy today and tonight before they all come back and we have to be normal again.’
Luca half smiled but inside he felt uneasy. The roles had been spectacularly reversed. He was the one who called the shots. He was the one who decided about things. How did things change so quickly?
‘What do you want to do today?’ he asked, changing the subject.
‘Let’s do a John and Yoko. Let’s stay in bed.’ She pulled her nightie over her head, revealing nothing underneath.
Luca forgot about everything else.
Later, as the sun set, they lay naked and entwined.
‘So, why were you called Luca? I thought that was an Italian name? Not French anyway.’
‘Well, it happened like this. Mom came to the States when she was like seventeen or something like that. She worked as a waitress in an Italian restaurant. Papa saw her there and got obsessed. He stalked her until she agreed to go on a date.’
‘Stalked? Really?’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘You give him such a hard time.’
‘Okay, okay, “pursued” I guess.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘Anyway, the owner of the restaurant was really good to Mom. She was real close to him. His name was Luca.’
‘She named you? I thought an old family name like Louis or Pierre would have won that battle.’
‘I don’t think my grandmother Mimi was happy. Papa didn’t care. So, Mom named me.’
‘I’m sure he did care. He probably wanted to please your mum.’
‘Whatever.’
‘Why are you so negative about him?’ Her finger trailed the muscular swells of his pecs.
‘I’m not.’
‘You are,’ she said gently. ‘He is your dad after all.’
Luca sat up straight. ‘He just doesn’t get me, you know? He’s always telling me what to do and everything I do is wrong.’
Lydia said nothing.
‘He treats Mom so badly. It drives me insane.’
‘You’re protective of your mother?’
‘Always.’
Reaching up, she pulled his head down and kissed him softly on the lips.
‘Don’t get upset. Let’s order some takeaway. Do you want pizza?’
He grasped a stray lock of hair and put it behind her ear. ‘Take out is good with me.’
‘Great. I’ll phone in an order and then I’m having a shower. I feel so sticky.’
‘Do you wanna get more sticky?’ Luca grabbed her wrist.
‘Not yet. Let me order. You don’t realise how crazy I get when I’m hungry.’
‘But I’m hungry ...’
‘Later. Now what pizza do you want?’
‘Pepperoni,’ he answered sulkily.
‘See you in a minute.’
She walked naked into the sitting room and picked up her phone. There were seven missed calls from Colin and two from Dominic.
Immediately her skin grew cold. Dominic was going to New York in two days and she hadn’t even given him a ring. What was going on? She didn’t feel like herself. It was like a stranger had taken over her body. All she wanted to do was kiss Luca Jacob. She would have a shower and ring them back afterwards.
She rang in her order and padded into the bathroom. Turning on the shower, she grabbed a towel from the shelf.
Seconds later, she was standing under the powerful jet of water, scrubbing her hair with shampoo and humming gently.
Suddenly two strong arms encircled her waist from behind and started to fondle her breasts. Like clockwork her knees turned to jelly and she pressed against him. His erection nudged her thighs. The water coursed down, creating bubbles as the shampoo rinsed from her hair. He used the soapy water to caress her body, washing her stomach, her thighs and her shoulders.
Turning her around, he pushed her gently against the wall and lifted one leg up. Kneeling down, he started to lick her navel, moving lower and lower. She grasped his blonde head in ecstasy as he sucked and licked, teasing her with his tongue.
Pulling his ears, she motioned for him to stand up. Getting unsteadily to his feet, she kissed him hungrily, wrapping her leg around his waist. He pulled the other leg up and pinned her against the wall, his cock sliding into her slippery warmth.
‘Oh yeah, oh my God,’ she moaned as he lifted her hips to meet his thrusts. Her hair clung to her head as she coiled around him like a python.
He kissed her passionately as they moved, his hands cupping her buttocks.
‘You are so sexy,’ he said hoarsely as he pounded into her. ‘I can’t get enough.’
Bending his head, he sucked savagely on her nipple and she called out.
They climaxed together under the hot water, his face buried in her neck. Switching off the water, she dislodged herself from him and frowned.
‘I forgot to put conditioner in my hair.’
He looked short of breath. ‘What?’
‘Can you get out now so I can finish my shower?’
‘Get out?’
‘Yeah, leave. I want to condition my hair.’ She kissed his nose.
‘You sure know how to make a guy feel special.’
She smiled sweetly. ‘See you in ten.’
They ate their pizza companionably on the couch, watching a rerun of Friends.
‘I love pizza,’ she groaned. ‘It’s so good.’
‘You like your junk, huh?’
‘I suppose.’
The closing credits came up on the screen so Lydia switched off the TV.
‘I have to ring people. Can you tidy up?’
‘If you want.’
‘I’ll just go into my room? See you in a sec.’
She pocketed her phone and closed the door of her bedroom.
Colin first, she thought, pressing his number.
‘Lyd! You’re alive. Thank God you got home okay.’
‘Yeah.’
‘You were supposed to call me.’
‘I know. Sorry about that.’
‘I hope you resisted temptation.’
‘Of course I did.’
‘What you up to?’
‘Just watching TV. I feel pretty hungover actually. I’ll probably go to bed soon.’
‘I have to go to that bloody play with Val. The Playboy? I’ll never survive it.’
‘It’s good. Just relax.’
‘Phone you tomorrow, hon. I have to go.’
‘Bye, Col.’
She hung up the phone. Her heart started to pound as she scrolled down through her numbers to find Dominic’s. He was probably working.
Unless ...
She gasped. He could be on his way to surprise her. It would be exactly the type of thing that he would do.
Hurriedly, she dialled his number.
‘Lyd!’ He sounded sleepy. ‘I keep thinking that you’ll arrive on my doorstep and surprise me.’
Lydia let out a deep breath. ‘I thought the same thing.’
‘How’s the assignment going?’
‘It’s good – it’s great actually. Are you all set?’
‘I’m all set. Flying out at six on Monday.’
‘In the evening?’
‘No, the morning. So, what are you up to?’
‘Oh, this and that.’
‘I’m lying on the couch, exhausted. I had a tough day today.’
‘I’ll ring you tomorrow.’
‘Okay, I’ll be looking forward to it,’
‘Bye then.’
‘Lyd?’
‘Yeah?’
‘Are you all right? You sound weird.’
She took a deep breath. ‘I’m fine. Never better. Except for the fact you’re going, of course.’
‘Okay. Talk tomorrow. I love you.’
‘I love you, too.’
Luca closed his eyes, his head against her bedroom door.
I love you too? What the fuck?
He bolted back t
o couch before she emerged.
‘Do you want a drink?’ he asked brightly when she returned.
‘No, I’m fine.’
She didn’t look fine. He frowned. He didn’t want her thinking about Dominic. He had to get her back somehow.
‘Want to rent a movie?’
‘Not really.’
‘Want to go out?’
‘What? Are you crazy? Someone might see us.’
He didn’t see a problem with that. They were in such different places.
Reaching out, he stroked her arm. She snuggled into him and rested her head on his shoulder. Relieved, he kissed her temple. He had half expected her to kick him out.
‘Let’s just watch some TV then.’
She smiled. ‘Okay.’
His expression was dark as she flicked through the channels. He felt unsure of everything; it all seemed so fragile.
He had to regain power somehow. She had to give in to him completely.
Chapter 34
Samantha rang at ten the next morning.
‘I’m leaving now. Do you want me to pick up anything from home?’
Lydia rubbed her eyes. ‘No, I’m all set. See you in an hour.’
Luca pulled the pillow over his face. ‘I take it that I have to go?’
Lydia nodded. ‘She’s on her way.’
‘I don’t want to leave.’
‘I don’t want you to.’ Her green eyes were huge.
His heart rate increased. That was very positive.
‘So, let’s tell people. Let’s be together.’
She took his hand in hers. ‘I didn’t mean that, Luca. You know that can’t happen.’
‘But why? Why not? I want you to be my girl, Lyd. All mine.’
‘That’s impossible.’
‘You’re a coward.’ He folded his arms petulantly.
‘Look, let’s get up. You really need to leave soon.’
Scowling, he pushed the quilt back and stood up.
Life was so complicated sometimes. The most natural thing in the world was to be with him, yet it was so wrong. It would hurt so many people.
When he was fully dressed, he paused. ‘Will we see each other again or are you going to go all weird on me?’
‘Weird?’
