Dramatic, Mushy, Complicated Love

by Leah Sharelle

  Talking about him behind his back, divulging our personal business seemed wrong. In the past, Prue was the first one to hear about Matt and what he did or didn’t do to me the day after a date night. Complaining or bragging, Prue and I shared everything and had done since forever, Spring too.

  The three of us were thick as thieves, always together, having sleepovers and getting into so much trouble where ever we went. We stood by each other’s side when a boy broke our heart and supported the other no matter what. My friendship with Prue meant the world to me, but my budding relationship with Luca … I wanted to keep that for myself for a little longer before Prue stuck her nosy self into it.

  “Smile!” Prue shouted out, surprising me, then rapidly clicked the phone camera had pointed at me.

  “Prue, what the hell!” Trying to snatch back my phone from my crazy friend. “Don’t you send—”

  “Sent!” Tossing my phone back to me, I quickly looked to see what the photo of me was she’d sent to my boyfriend.

  “Oh no! Prue!” The photo was the worst possible image of me, I had a silly dreamy look on my face, which weirdly made me look a little romantic, but the beer beside me and the bartender behind photobombing me was not.

  “Prue, why did you send him that one!” Suddenly three tiny bubbles began to dance on the screen.

  “What? It’s cute, you look all dreamy and shit.”

  “The bartender in the background kind of kills the mood, you twat!” Sweat beaded from my pits, then poured when Luca’s message replaced the bubbles.

  Love the photo baby, it’s now my home screen. Not loving the arsehole behind you, I cut him out of the photo. Where are you?

  Damn Prue!

  As fast as I could, I typed out a reply.

  At the pub with Prue. I called her because I needed a hug. I know it’s stupid, but I don’t know what to do with you out of town. After what happened in your office … I just wanted you here with me. Ya know?

  The bubbles immediately started dancing again. I was worried he was angry with me, which in itself was new for me. My independence was an essential part of who I am, answering to a man, not my thing, usually—until Luca.

  I wish I was too, baby. You fucking blew my mind as well as my cock! I still can’t catch my breath. Be careful Meadow, take a taxi, or get a ride from Spring. If she can’t, then text Ace, please don’t drive if you are drinking. XX

  Another message came through directly after, it was Luca sharing Ace’s contact details. His mobile, office and home numbers.

  “Wow! He is definitely a keeper,” Prue told me, looking at his replies. “If that were Matt, he would be calling you a drunken hussy after seeing that photo.”

  Prue had a point about my last relationship. Matt, when he did care, preferred to control me rather than letting me be myself. Most of the time, I ignored his jealousy, mostly because I didn’t care what he thought.

  Luca? It mattered a lot what he thought.

  I won’t need to, but thank you for caring. I think I am going to go home now anyway. One beer only has been consumed. I can’t stop thinking about it either. xx

  “Wait! You gave him a blow job!” Prue shrieked. “It just computed what Luca messaged you. How come you didn’t tell me!” she accused, with a mock hurt expression.

  “Luca is … different,” I admitted sheepishly, “mine. Private.”

  My childhood friend narrowed her eyes at me. Her expression not giving away what was going on inside her mind. Prue knew me better than anyone, I knew I could say anything to her and not have her take it the wrong way or be insulted and angry with me. She also knew me well enough to read between the lines and understand what I was trying to say without actually saying the words.

  “Alright, Meadow, pay for our one drink each and let’s get out of here. Tonight I am staying at your joint.” Prue downed the last of her beer and slammed the glass down on the bar. “One beer! What is the world coming to?” Huffing and puffing, but the saucy wink at me was relieving. I was in unfamiliar territory, thanks to my feelings for Luca. Prue giving me a break and not busting my chops over it meant I didn’t have to worry about her being pissed, as well as Luca worrying about me drinking and driving. At least he didn’t get all jealous over me being out without him. That kind of behaviour would have pissed me off because one thing I am not is a cheat or a flirt. If I make a decision to be with a guy, then that is exactly what I am, one hundred percent involved.

  Wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans, I quickly assigned Luca’s photo to be my screen saver then hopped off the stool.

  “Okay, let’s go.” Taking a twenty-dollar note from my wallet, I paid our bill telling the photobomber to keep the change. “Next time, don’t steal my thunder, bud.” Getting a cocky smile in reply, Prue and I headed for the front entrance.

  “I say we pick up a whole shit load of side dishes from that pizza joint on Bakery Hill Road,” Prue suggested, hooking her arms through mine as we walked out to her car.

  “Ohhh yes! And milkshakes, topped with whipped cream and hot chocolate drizzle.” My mouth started to water, my belly grumbled, and a little of the sadness of missing Luca lifted.

  Time with my bestie. Not even a man can stop the bond and force of that kind of friendship.

  ***

  “Where are you, baby?” Luca’s smooth, baritone voice caressed my ear as soon as I put my phone to my ear.

  “Hey, honey! I’m just walking out of Coles. I thought I might make lamb kofta wraps for us for tea tonight.” Juggling my keys, wallet and grocery bags, I walked to my car, my phone lodged between my ear and shoulder.

  “An Italian-Frenchman eating Greek food,” Luca chuckled, “sounds great, baby.”

  “Where are you? Are you on your way home?”

  “Actually, I am sitting on your front porch waiting for you.”

  “What? Don’t move!” Ending the call, not before I heard Luca’s deep laugh, I pressed the button on my key fob to unlock my car. Tossing everything into the passenger seat, I quickly jumped in and started the car. Luca was home! And sitting on my porch waiting for me and I wasn’t there.

  “Good idea Meadow to go the supermarket,” I grumbled, wrangling my ten-year-old Suzuki Jimmy out of the car park faster than the speed limit allowed. Eager to get to Luca, I opted to take the side streets rather than take the more direct route and risk getting caught at traffic lights.

  Last night we talked for hours on the phone, swapping to Skype halfway through our session so we could see one another. He spoke to me about his difficult client and the issues he was having dealing with him. Luca explained that the man, Dave he said his name was, had been Luca’s father’s best friend. Luca felt that he owed Dave for helping his father make a name for himself and build the business and its reputation. But that Dave insisted on the same level of personal involvement his dad gave him back in the day, but those times had been different and not as hectic as it had become today.

  Luca said he’d tried to reassure Dave that he had the best crew available to get the job done in his absence, but Dave refused to budge. He wanted Luca to oversee the project and that was that. I saw the tension and stress in Luca’s face as he told me this, heard the anger in his voice. He explained he put together such a capable crew, so he didn’t have to be on-site as much, that his design work kept him busy and happy.

  I loved that Luca opened up so much about those aspects of his life that he felt he could confide in me, trust me to listen, and not insert my opinion but just listen.

  Turning into my street, the first thing I saw was Luca’s big Ford FI00 sitting in my driveway and Luca sitting on my front steps, looking better than a man had the right to do.

  “Yay!” I yelped, swinging my red rocket up the bumpy drive and parking it right behind Luca’s car. Hastily throwing the car out of gear and unbuckling my seat belt, I practically threw myself out of the front seat and hit the ground running.

  “Beautiful!” Luca shouted, pushing to his feet and boltin
g down the steps two at a time. We ran to each other like a scene from a cheesy romance movie, Luca covering more ground than me because he was … well faster than me, plucked me off the ground and twirled me around.

  “Dramatic much?” I giggled, loving the feel of his strong arms around me again. Just over twenty-four hours for cripes’ sake without him, and here I was acting like it had been days, not hours.

  “I believe that is your department, baby,” he laughed but still held me to him.

  “Shut up and kiss me,” I demanded, “it has been far too long.”

  Luca smirked that smirk before his lips descended and devoured mine in a kiss that had scorching hot written all over it. While kissing me mindless, Luca turned us and started to walk us back towards the house.

  “Groceries,” I panted against his mouth, not willing to lose our connection.

  “It’s not that hot out, they will be fine for an hour or so,” he insisted, taking us up the steps without any effort at all.

  “I love how strong you are.” My voice was panting from our kisses.

  “I love how sexy you are in those jean shorts and that tank top,” he growled, his mouth working its way down my neck and over to the soft spot behind my ear—pausing to take the lobe between his teeth and giving it a sensual bite.

  “I can’t concentrate when you do that,” I moaned but still tilted my neck to give him better access.

  “And I can’t concentrate when you are with me,” he retorted, “keys.”

  Shaking the sexual fog off, I handed him my keys, which I don’t remember bringing with me, and he leaned down and unlocked my door.

  “You know, you can put me down,” I sassed, pretending to be put out.

  “Not on your life, baby,” Luca countered, pushing the door open. “I’m not letting you go for the rest of the night.”

  “You’re sleeping over?”

  “No sleeping will be taking place, but yes, I am staying the night. Got a problem with that?”

  “Only if your mouth doesn’t go near my pussy,” I quipped back, feeling the heat already spread through me in anticipation of Luca feasting on me again.

  “Oh, that will be happening again, Meadow, that and so much more,” Luca promised, kicking the door closed behind us then headed for the hallway.

  “Third door on the left?” he asked, still administrating tiny bites to my throat.

  “Yeah,” I breathed, desperate for his mouth to be elsewhere. Not that his love biting wasn’t enjoyable, a wonderful and sexy prelude to what was coming. I didn’t want to wait anymore, sure my plan had not lasted long, but when you knew, you knew.

  “No more waiting Luca,” I whispered into his ear, his stumbled step telling me he not only heard, he understood.

  “Meadow, I don’t mind waiting. There are so many other things we can do.”

  “Yeah, and we will be doing them, but I want you to make love to me. I need to feel you deep inside me. I know you are the one, honey, like you said, it is quick but so right.”

  “Fuck baby, you humble me. Your trust in me, I never knew I needed that so much until you.”

  The fifteen steps to my room took an eternity to take, but once Luca reached my door, he hurried inside and went straight for my bed, putting me on my feet but not before he slid me down his body. Taking it extra slow when my belly hit his crotch.

  “Feel that, Meadow? That is how I have been since I walked out of my office yesterday. How I have been since the first time I laid eyes on you.” Making sure I was balanced, Luca then lifted my tank over my head and tossed it to the carpet, then doing the same with his simple black polo shirt. His tanned, muscular chest rippled under my scrutiny and I couldn’t help flattening my palms on his heated skin.

  “But it is more than about getting my cock inside you, Meadow,” he continued, looking down at me, his hands coming up to cover mine sliding them to rest over his heart.

  “Feel that? That out of control beat? That also hasn’t stopped since I met you. This is so much more than my cock and your pussy.”

  Tears clogged my throat, making it impossible to do anything but grunt and nod. The way he articulated his feelings, not holding back his truth, was such a breath of fresh air and so damn beautifully mushy. I loved it.

  “I thought I was the mushy one,” I choked over the lump in my throat.

  “We both are,” he countered, moving his hands to my back, unsnapping my bra, and slowly pulling it down my arms. Heated blue eyes flared, fingers traced my nipples, and the sounds of panting filled the room.

  Chills spread across my skin, leaving goosebumps as Luca administered his delicious torture. His thumb and forefinger gently squeezed one nipple bringing the blood to the surface of the sensitive nub, while the other nipple experienced a lazy circling.

  Luca pushed his face into the crook of my neck, his hot breath both tickling and driving me crazy. I wanted that hot breath elsewhere, but this was really nice too.

  Lifting one leg, I pushed myself deeper into his crotch—the hard bulge pressing against my belly, sending pulses of need through my every cell.

  “Do you need more, baby?” Luca gritted out, grabbing my leg and holding it higher, his work-roughened hands sliding the length of my leg.

  “Yesssss,” I moaned, then hissed loudly when his knuckles brushed over my knee.

  “Ouch.” The burn on my knee stretched uncomfortably when I lifted my leg, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t handle, Luca brushing over it though, yeah, that hurt.

  “Baby?” Luca immediately pulled back to look at me, his face full of sweet concern.

  “Did I hurt you?” he asked, dropping my leg.

  “No, no you didn’t. It’s just that I have some … it just hurts, that’s all.” I finished lamely, suddenly shy to tell him I had carpet burn on my knees from yesterday’s activities in his office. If I planned on making that a thing, Luca was either going to have to swap out the harsh office carpet or get a soft fluffy rug. Preferably shag pile.

  Luca narrowed his eyes at me, and then his mouth thinned out into a grimace. Without saying a word, Luca led me to my bed, pushing firmly on my shoulders until I was sitting on the edge. Dropping to his knees, he inspected one knee cap then the other.

  “Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Luca cursed. “Baby, I am so sorry.”

  “Huh?” Sorry for what?

  Gathering me around the waist, Luca crawled up the bed on his knees, with me held to his chest, my legs straight out behind us.

  “Luca, it isn’t that bad—” I began to debate with him, but my man was about to show me his stubborn side.

  “That will never happen to you again, Meadow.” His stern tone broking no argument, at least that was what he thought.

  “Oh, yes it will be,” I argued immediately.

  “No, it won’t. Baby, your knees are all scuffed up and, in some places, raw. Nothing is worth you going through that.”

  “You’re wrong there, Spunk.” Wrapping my legs around his V-shaped waist, I hooked my ankles together, ignoring his protest for me not to bend my knees. If he thought for a second that I was not going to pleasure not only him but me as well, he’d need to think again. Surprising Luca, the way I did had been the most liberating thing I have done for a very long time. I was no prude but never had I done that before. His reaction made it even more special and I intended on doing it often.

  “Meadow, let me up! Your knees!” Luca protested, pushing up on his arms pulling me up off the bed with him.

  “No! Luca, they are fine, a little stiff and stinging, but fine. Now stop this or I’ll …”

  Luca stilled instantly, his body coiled tight like a stiff spring. “Or what? You’ll leave me?” His voice low and shaky, his eyes wide.

  “What?” I breathed, shocked that he would even say such a thing. “No!” Shaken but also pissed off, I unwrapped myself, dropped back down the mattress, then quickly rolled off the bed. Dressed just in my shorts and nothing else, and not caring that my breasts were
bare, I planted my hands on my hips and glared at Luca.

  First fight coming up? Tick!

  I fucked up. And Judging by Meadow’s angry stance and the fire spitting from her green orbs, monumentally. Even half-naked, she was fucking spectacular, though by now, I expected her to be under me and moaning my name as my tongue slid up and down her pussy, but my mouth got in the way, and not the way I wanted.

  “Meadow,” I stammered, quickly moving towards her, then halted when her hands came up in a defensive move, stunning me.

  “No! You had your say, now it is my turn.” Meadow paced away from me, then whirled around and pinned me with her angry eyes.

  “How could you even come to that conclusion, Luca? Before you opened your mouth and said the most stupid thing you could come up with, we were about to make love for the first time. Do you honestly think that is how I roll? That I am going to control you with threats? Because if the answer is yes, then I guess we are—”

  “Don’t say it, please don’t say it,” I gritted out, hating that I put those words in her mind at all.

  “Why not?” she yelled back at me. “You did. You thought the worst straight away–that I would leave you. You didn’t even let me finish, just jumped to the wrong conclusion.”

  “I’m sorry, I am. I saw your knees and shame like I hadn’t never experienced before invaded me, baby.”

  Meadow softened briefly. “Luca, it is just carpet burn. I get worse at work crawling on the floor fixing shit.”

  “But I didn’t cause that, Meadow.” Taking the chance, I moved two steps closer to her, grateful that she’d stopped backing up from me.

  “And you didn’t cause this either. I really enjoyed doing that, Luca, and I was hoping to do it again, but it seems you think you can command me not to. No one commands me to do anything, Luca, and you need to know that before we move on.” I went to argue, but Meadow held up her hand to stop me.