by Marian Tee
“You only said that to shock me,” she accused him as soon as she put the glass down.
“True.” Luca reached behind his back to unknot his apron. “But I also meant it so hurry and finish that up.”
“But---”
“You’re not the only one hungry here so do as I say, capisce?”
The Italian phrase, which one often heard from Mafia movies, made her lips quirk, and Vivian said with exaggerated meekness, “Yes, boss.”
It was an impish response few people would dare give to the Italian billionaire, and it had him throwing his head back with an appreciative laugh.
Upon emptying her plate, she told him earnestly, “That was perfect.” And it was, it really was, so much so that a second later, she was no longer able to help it. Vivian threw herself at her husband.
Even though her impulsive reaction caught him off guard, Luca managed to stay on his feet and his arms automatically tightened around his wife’s slight frame. “Vivian?”
She hugged him as tightly as she could, mumbling, “Ti amo.”
Ah. Luca pressed a kiss on her hair, murmuring, “Ti amo anch’io.”
Pulling away, she said in a rush, “I can’t say sorry enough for missing Eula’s play.”
He shook his head. “There’s nothing to be sorry for, cara.” Settling her on the kitchen island this time, Luca stepped between her legs and looked into her eyes. “Both Eula and I understand that you’ve had a lot of your mind lately---” His wife’s smile wobbled, and he frowned. “C’e un problema?” Is there a problem?
Vivian gave her husband a shamefaced look. “That’s the thing. There isn’t a problem, and I don’t think that’s right. You should hate me---”
“But I don’t.”
“And Eula should hate me even more---”
“But she doesn’t either. I explained why you missed her performance---”
“I know. In fact, you did such a good job at explaining, I felt like a total fraud with her tonight,” Vivian admitted. “I should have remembered today was her school play. I should have---”
“There is no one to blame for this,” he said firmly, “and it’s not as if you’re going to make a habit out of it.” Luca raised a brow. “Or are you?”
“Of course not,” she answered, horrified.
“Then I don’t see any reason why we simply can’t put this behind us.” He tipped her chin up. “So no more feeling guilty…capisce?” The last word drew a reluctant smile from his wife, as it was meant to, but he could see that Vivian being Vivian, she was still fretting inside for being unable to do something in atonement.
Ah, Vivi. If that was what she truly wanted, then far be it for him to disappoint his wife.
“How do you feel about enjoying some fresh air in the terrace?”
The invitation took her by surprise, but Vivian nodded nevertheless. “Okay.” Anything that allowed her to spend more time with her often-busy husband was always a good idea.
When they were out on the balcony, Vivian blinked when Luca took one of the patio chairs without offering her one. The lack of chivalry wasn’t like him at all, and she wondered anxiously if it was because he was more furious with her than he cared to admit.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to ask, “Are you mad with me?”
“On the contrary---” Her husband gazed at her with hooded lids, murmuring, “I’m going to give you what you want.”
His words left her in a greater state of confusion, and she could only blink at him.
The billionaire crooked a finger at Vivian. “Come closer, cara.”
The sudden huskiness in her husband’s voice made Vivian shiver despite the city’s humid air. She was nervous and excited all at once, and when she saw the way his light blue eyes smoldered, her breath caught---
Vivian took one small step closer, and oh, how the simple act was more than enough to set her body on fire. Her breasts swelled behind the cups of her bra, and when Luca ordered her to come even closer, her nipples reacted to the command like the words were a caress, the pink buds painfully tightening with arousal.
“Closer, cara.” His voice was sharp this time, but her body instinctively knew that it wasn’t anger it heard. That sharp hard voice was the sound of a sensual promise, a command that guaranteed pleasure if she obeyed---
And she did, of course.
Her knees knocked against each other as she made her way to her husband, threatening to give out entirely as Luca stared at her like he was already undressing her in his mind.
Oh God.
When she finally stepped between his sprawled legs, a dangerously indolent smile curved on her husband’s lips. “What did I promise you earlier, cara?”
“T-that you’d give me what I want,” she stammered.
“And do you trust me to know what you want?”
She could only nod, feeling like she would only end up whimpering her words out if she tried to speak.
“Good.”
When he said nothing else, she slowly lifted her gaze to his, and it was as if he had been waiting for that moment---
Capturing her eyes with his, her husband commanded, “Get on your knees.”
“E-excuse me?” she choked out.
Darkness that promised something exquisitely forbidden glittered in his eyes as he purred, “You know you want to, cara. Ever since you came back home, your eyes have been begging me to punish you---”
Aaaah.
Her body trembled hard at the realization that what he was saying was true.
Oh God, it was so, so true.
“And so I’ll give you what you want.” His hard tone made Vivian wet her lips, and the sight had her husband sucking his breath.
“You want me that bad in your mouth, do you?”
His words embarrassed and aroused her, and all she could do was stare at him, her breasts aching harder and harder.
“Answer me.”
Aaaaah.
That he would force her to say such a thing out loud made her want him so, so much more, and she choked out, “Yes.”
“Then get on your knees.”
Vivian slowly fell to her knees.
“Unzip me.”
Her fingers shook as she reached for his zipper, and when she was finally able to free his erection from its confines, Vivian couldn’t help drawing her breath. Even now, the impressive length of his manhood still intimidated her, and the thought that she would soon have it inside her mouth---
Wetness flooded her throbbing core, drenching her lace panties.
Luca’s fingers threaded through her hair, and Vivian’s heart slammed hard against her chest.
He started to push her head down, and her heartbeat sped faster and faster.
The head of his erection knocked against her mouth, and slowly her lips parted.
His erection slowly and steadily slipped into her mouth inch by inch, forcing her lips to part wider.
“More,” her husband commanded in a guttural growl. “Take all of me in.”
And even though it felt impossible, she fought to keep her throat relaxed as Luca continued to push deeper into her mouth.
When he was all the way in, Luca said tightly, “Start sucking.” His wife obeyed, and his body shuddered in agonized pleasure as the warmth of her mouth closed over his erection.
Ah.
His fingers tightened around her hair, and he began to guide the movements of her head. “Exactly like that.” He closed his eyes. “Yes, cara. Suck it hard…” As Vivian continued to pleasure him with her mouth, Luca managed to look down---
Big mistake.
The sight of his wife’s dark head bobbing up and down on his erection was too much, and he could feel himself tightening.
“I’m going to come,” he gritted out.
But Vivian’s mouth didn’t let go of his erection.
“Vivian---”
At his groan, his wife sucked even harder.
Damn.
It was too damn m
uch, and with his grip on her hair tightening, the billionaire came with a rough, harsh growl, the movements of his hips becoming feral and uncontrolled as he plunged his erection in her mouth fast and hard.
When the last of his release faded, Luca pulled out of his wife’s mouth and ignoring her soft mewl of protest, he hauled her up and kissed her hard. “Was that punishment enough?” he demanded against his lips.
Eyes clouded with love and sexual satisfaction stared back at him as she whispered, “Y-yes.”
“Then it’s my turn.” And without any other warning, Luca ripped the panties under her dress and even as she cried out in shock, he was already pulling her down on him, his still-aroused manhood plunging deep inside of her.
Vivian threw her head back with a cry, her hands clutching his shoulders hard as she started to ride him. By the time she came in his arms, she was limp with exhaustion and she could only think longingly of sleep.
But her husband had other plans.
Bringing her back inside the house, the billionaire made love to her once more by the staircase and made her come again when they made it to the upper hallway. By the time his lovemaking came to an end, they had just made it to his bedroom, and dawn was already breaking outside their windows.
“Sleep in today,” he urged softly as he pulled the covers over her. “I can take Eula to school.”
She shook her head sleepily at him. “You’re too busy---”
“While you’re barely able to keep your eyes open.” Luca placed a soft kiss on one naked shoulder. “If you truly wish to please me then do as I say, cara, and just sleep in.”
And so she did.
The house was quiet when Vivian woke up, and a quick check around the place told her that both Luca and Eula were indeed gone. Remembering last night’s marathon lovemaking made Vivian blush, but even so, she couldn’t stop happiness from unfurling inside of her.
How wonderfully cunning her husband was, to “punish” her in such a way.
But it was also uncanny, the way he had known she wouldn’t be able to feel right until she had done something to atone for her mistake.
After taking a shower and changing into a floral blouse and black skirt, Vivian looked at herself in the mirror, thinking, Forget about yesterday. Forget about the past. Today is the start of a new chapter in your life, Vivian Day-Valencia. From here on, your life will be a mistake-free zone, and you will work hard and succeed at becoming the ideal wife to Luca and mother to Eula.
She nodded determinedly. “Got that?”
Satisfied with her private pep talk, Vivian turned away and left the bathroom with her spirits fully restored. Disconnecting her phone from the charger, she checked it for messages but the first thing that caught her eye was the email from Google Alerts, telling her that there were about a hundred of articles suddenly posted about Luca’s ex-wife Maria.
Vivian chewed on her lip, torn with indecision.
Did this qualify as stalking? Yes.
Did this mean she was insecure about Maria? Yes.
So what was the best thing to do?
Delete the email without looking, obviously, Vivian thought.
That was the best thing to do, which was why she ended up doing the worst thing she could do.
Curiosity killed the cat, Vivian couldn’t help thinking as she clicked the message open.
Multiple headlines from different websites greeted her, but they all amounted to the same thing, and they all shared the same photo.
Vivian whitened.
It was a photo from Maria’s Instagram account, and it showed the older woman attending Eula’s school play.
The hashtag: #happyfamily
Chapter Three
Vivian flashed Eula a smile, and the little girl smiled back at her. With classes starting late, she had just enough time to pick Eula up at school and drop her home before heading to class. Which was a good thing, she thought numbly, considering what she had found out this morning.
Vivian cleared her throat. “So…” How should she bring up Maria without sounding like she was an intrusive, jealous, insecure, and paranoid stepmother?
Eula looked at her expectantly. “So…” The little girl mimicked her voice perfectly, and despite everything Vivian couldn’t help grinning.
“You’re too cute.”
“You’re too cute also.”
Vivian wriggled her brows.
Eula wriggled her brows back at her.
“Why are you copying me?” Vivian asked laughingly.
She expected Eula to say something funny, but instead Eula said with quiet seriousness, “Because I want to be like you.”
Oh! Vivian’s eyes smarted at the unexpected words, and she drew the little girl close, hugging Eula tightly to her. “I love you, principesa.”
“I love you, Vivi.” Eula hugged her back just as tightly.
For a few moments, they stayed like that, with only the gentle hum of the air-conditioning breaking the silence within the Rolls Royce’s luxurious interior. Vivian absently watched the shadows play on the leather seats of the car as she struggled to keep all her worries at bay.
So what if Maria had come yesterday?
Maria was Eula’s birth mother, and she had every right to attend her daughter’s event if she wanted to. As a stepmother, Vivian had to understand---
“Mummy was at school yesterday,” Eula suddenly said.
Vivian nearly jumped in her seat. “Really?” The word came out a croak.
Eula pulled away, looking up at Vivian as she continued in a noticeably wary tone, “She talked to me.”
“O-oh?” Vivian forced a smile. “That’s a great thing, isn’t it?” But the little girl didn’t answer, a withdrawn look crossing Eula’s face, and Vivian’s forehead creased. “Eula?”
Eula snuggled back to Vivian wordlessly, and when she looked down, the little girl had her eyes squeezed shut tightly, obviously pretending to sleep.
By the time they made it back home, Eula had truly fallen asleep, and although the nanny offered to carry the girl up to her room, Vivian insisted on doing it herself.
Laying the little girl down on her bed, she pressed a kiss on the forehead, murmuring, “Ti amo, principesa.”
Turning away, she could feel her eyes smarting again, and for no seeming reason at all this time.
Eula was precious to her as much as Luca was.
What would she do if Maria came to take both of them away?
Even by the time classes had ended, the thought continued to stalk her, and when she made it back home she had half-convinced herself that Luca was going to leave her for Maria.
Entering the bedroom she shared with the billionaire, the first thing she saw was her husband in the act of undressing himself.
Luca lifted a brow when he caught his wife gaping at him. “Why are you looking at me like I’m not supposed to be here?”
“Umm.” It was hard to be coherent with every inch of his pure, bronzed, muscular perfection completely bared to her eyes.
“I’m about to take a shower---”
“Oh?” The sound came out strangled.
He crossed his arms over his chest, asking, “Do you want to join me?”
“Er.” She wished she could say something that could classify as an actual word but how could she when she had just noticed that her husband also happened to be fully aroused?
Even now the sight of it left her throat dry. It was just so impossibly large, so wonderfully thick---
Seeing what his wife was staring at, Luca’s lips twitched, and he drawled, “You know you can do much more than stare, si?”
Sheer horror over being caught ogling finally made Vivian find her voice, and she choked out, ‘I d-don’t know what you’re talking---ah!”
Luca had come to her side and hauled her up, placing Vivian over his shoulder caveman style.
“Oh my God, Luca!”
Her husband didn’t pay her any heed as he walked back to the direction of their bathroom.
“P-put me down!” But even so she couldn’t help laughing, couldn’t keep her heart from beating faster and faster.
This, she thought deliriously, this was the Luca Valencia that only she knew.
To the rest of the world, the Italian billionaire was infamous for being aloof and ruthless, with not a second to spare on anything outside business.
But for Vivian, he was the most imaginative and tender lover a woman could ever ask for…and she wanted that to be just her secret alone.
Was that so bad?
The billionaire turned the shower on, and hot water gushed down at both of them, making Vivian shriek as she found her clothes completely drenched in seconds. “Luca!”
Her husband let her back to her feet with a grin, saying mockingly, “Vivian!” And then he started unbuttoning her blouse.
“You’re crazy,” she half-gasped, half-giggled.
“And you still have too many clothes on.” His tone was impatient, but the gleam in his eyes was wicked and tender, and oh, how she melted at the sight of it. Soon, all her clothes had been kicked to the edge of the shower, leaving Vivian naked as he was.
“Aaaah!” Luca hauled her to him and whirled her around to have her back pressed against the wall. Jets of water continued to slosh down at them as Luca bent his head, and her breath caught as his fingers cupped one swollen breast.
“L-Lucaaaaa.” She moaned his name out loud as he took one nipple in, his fingers squeezing her breast hard. His other hand roamed down her body, teasing the already moist folds under the curls, and she moaned his name again.
Luca lifted his head, his blue eyes capturing hers. “I’ve been dreaming about this all day,” he groaned. “The whole time I was stuck in a boring meeting, I was thinking about how I’d make you scream as I did this---” His head bent, his teeth clamping around her nipple. And then he was biting hard, and she let out a little scream, the intense mix of pain and pleasure making her body shudder hard against him.
“Vivi…” His breath tickled her ear, and she shuddered anew. “Fatti penetrare.”
Oh God.
His thick accent, combined with the sexy timber of his voice, and the meaning of those words---
