by Nora Cobb
“It can be the prom theme,” laughs Beth.
“No,” Cora’s lips are pressed thin. “We are doing Monte Carlo.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t pick Paris or Moulin Rouge,” I say to her.
She shakes her head. “I’m raising money for a worthwhile charity.”
“Is it to buy Mancuso table manners?” laughs Troy.
“You can be petty, Troy Saunders,” snaps Cora. “I’m thankful I’m not marrying you.”
“How is your little brother?” asks Troy. “Still pulling up his jeans?”
“Don’t start,” Cora warns him. “I’ve seen your little sister. And she dresses like Victor, not a Victoria.”
“And she could teach your brother how to dress.”
“Okay, guys,” Lucas interrupts. “Let’s remember that we are friends.”
“Yeah,” adds Jacob, “wait until after graduation to argue.”
It never occurred to me that Cora wouldn’t want her brother marrying Vicki Saunders. But in a way, it would make sense. Lumberjack plaid doesn’t go well with French Provincial.
CHAPTER 5
NATALIE
“It isn’t a boat, it’s a zip code,” I gasp.
Lucas smiles as we board his family yacht at the Long Island Yacht Club. The luxury yacht is set to sail along the coast of Long Island Sound toward Martha’s Vineyard. The sleek exterior looks like a boat, all shiny and new, but the inside looks like a house except when I look out the window, and I can see the water.
“Is this part of the settlement?” I ask, running my hand along the smooth fiberglass surfaces.
Lucas shakes his head. “My father would have sunk his yacht first before letting the Blackwaters have it.”
I hug Lucas, delighted that we’re on our first real date in months.
“There are many small towns along the coast,” he says. “We can use one of the smaller boats and go ashore for lunch. Then I can ask you a question.”
I tilt my head, knowing what he’s going to ask. “What’s that?”
He smirks. “Can’t wait, can you?”
I take Lucas’ face in my hands and kiss him softly. I pull away slightly and brush my lips against his. He moans as he places his hand on the small of my back and pulls me in again. I lean back when he tries to kiss me.
“Can you wait, Lucas?”
His gaze falls on my lips. I want to wrap my legs around his hip and ride him until we’re sore. I’ve been very patient.
He smiles. “Okay. Will you go to prom with me?”
I laugh and immediately say yes. Jacob will have to share me.
After lunch in a quaint diner onshore, the captain finds a secluded anchorage near a private estate, but we can’t see the house.
“They can probably see the yacht,” explains Lucas, “but that adds to the ambience of their ocean view.”
We spend the afternoon sunbathing on deck. It’s a bit cold for late May and being on the water, so I put on my hoodie. Then I cover my freezing legs with a towel.
“You want to go down below?” he asks, wrapping a towel over his shoulders for warmth.
“No, it’s okay.” I shiver, hugging my body tight.
Lucas grabs me in his arms and carries me below deck. The hallways are narrow, and I have to cling tightly to his broad shoulders. He enters a private bedroom that’s more bed than room. The king-sized bed dominates the pale yellow cabin. My duffel bag is on a chair, and his is on the ground beside it.
I nod toward the two bags. “Will we be making up for lost time tonight?”
He kisses my neck. “No one will hear us down here.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Do you plan on making that much noise?”
Lucas smiles and then tosses me, screaming and laughing, onto the bed.
He pulls off his trunks as he climbs onto the bed that takes up the cabin. His lips move along my neck as he traces my collarbone with his tongue. By the time he kisses my lips, he’s completely naked. His swimming trunks are hanging off the edge of the bed. His lips feel tender and soft against mine, and I lick my lips. Lucas pauses and stares at my bikini while I lie back in the center of the bed. His gaze runs over me, and my skin tingles everywhere. He is so built and sexy that I can barely wait to feel his body against mine.
“I’ve missed you,” he says in a rough whisper.
“I can tell,” I smile, “You’re skimping on the foreplay.”
I rise up on my elbows and look up and down his sexy body, making it obvious with a fiery look that I want him. I untie my top and let it fall off my breasts then run my hands over my nipples, making them even harder. Lucas watches as my hands move down my stomach and don’t stop until they’re between my legs. My fingers dip under the waistband, and when I pull them out, they shine with my juices. I hold my index finger up for him to taste me.
“I’m so wet for you,” I whisper.
Greedily, he grabs my finger and sucks the wetness off it. “I’ve thought about this day,” he says. “Thinking about you kept me going.”
Kneeling, he leans over my wide open legs, and presses kisses against my inner thighs. One kiss at a time, Lucas moves up my delicate skin, and I spread my legs wider for his mouth.
He reaches my bikini bottoms, which are soaked with want. Lucas lets out a low growl as he presses his mouth against the material, running his tongue underneath the elastic and along my slit. I let out a moan that makes him lick me again and again.
“Lucas,” I moan as I wiggle my hips, “Make me yours again.”
I watch as he yanks off my bottoms and tosses them away. Glistening, I’m soaked, imagining what’s to come. Closing my eyes, I can imagine Lucas hard and stiff between my legs. I suck in air as he slides his finger into me, and his thumb traces circles around my clit. I toss my head back, holding my legs apart as my body starts to tremble.
Lucas leans in and slowly licks his tongue against my clit. I shake as he flicks his tongue while stroking me with his fingers. I fall back completely onto the bed, rubbing my nipples as he makes my pussy swell. I want him in me, but Lucas continues to suck and lick me, making sure I remember why I missed him so bad. I make throaty sounds of pleasure as I press my pussy against his tongue.
My thighs tighten around him as he licks my aching clit until I’m squirming for his hard cock. My whole body starts to shake, and I can’t hold on. Shaking and groaning, I beg for my orgasm, holding his head between my legs. My climax rocks me, but I can’t tell if it’s the boat or my orgasm that’s moving my body up and down.
Sitting up, his lips and chin shiny and wet, Lucas softly strokes my panting chest, proud of what he’s done.
“I just started the pill. Do you have a condom?” I ask breathlessly.
He doesn’t answer as he grabs his duffel bag and rummages through it. Lucas starts to tear open the foil but stops when I crawl toward the end of the bed with a devilish look in my eyes.
“I want to taste you first,” I tell him.
“Yes,” he says, “put that sexy mouth around my cock.” Standing at the foot of the bed, he moans as I reach for him.
I place my hand on the base of his shaft and open my mouth wide, taking in the whole head. It feels so wonderful in my mouth as I slide my tongue around the smooth ridge of his tip. I hold my hand on his pelvis to keep him from pushing forward too fast as I take in one sweet inch at a time.
Groaning, Lucas tangles his fingers into my hair and closes his eyes. I slowly take more into my mouth. When I’ve taken in all I can, I moan, and my lips vibrate around his thickness. My mouth is so full of him, and my pussy twitches, needing him deep in me.
Lucas gasps and grabs my hair until my scalp tingles. I wonder if he’s going to erupt. I start moving my head in a steady rhythm up and down. Each downward stroke, my hand pumps him until I can feel his tip hitting the back of my throat.
He lets go of my hair. “Natalie, I’m going to come. I don’t want to come until I’m inside you.”
Very slowly, I ba
ck away, watching him put on the condom.
Lucas bends down to kiss my lips as he crawls onto the bed. We taste each other on our lips. He wraps his lean body around me and nuzzles my neck while grabbing my breasts. Moaning, I can never be apart from this man again. Lucas lies down on top of me, and I pull his hips hard against mine and wrap my legs around his waist. He kisses me deeply for all the times we couldn’t kiss.
“I know it’s corny to say it,” he whispers, “but I’ve dreamt of you, Natalie. I really have.”
“I know,” I whisper, “Because I’ve been dreaming of you. I’ve missed you so much.”
Lucas lines his solid cock up to my entrance and presses deep into me. He buries his face against my neck as he groans into my hair. His cock pushes me apart as he slides farther in. I move to meet him, tightening my arms around his shoulders. Watching me, Lucas pauses then pushes until he’s entirely in me, I can feel every thick inch as we pump our bodies in sync.
Sweaty, he gasps, “You’re tight … just like heaven.”
I giggle. “Heaven must be a weird place.”
“Not if you’re a guy,” he replies.
Lucas builds his rhythm as he pushes back and forth inside me. He grits his teeth as we move. His eyes flutter shut, and his mouth opens in ecstasy. Pleased by his beautiful expression, I squeeze my pussy around his stiff inches, and he lets out a wild moan. I arch my back, pressing flat as I can against him. Shaking, I let out a cry as I come again.
I looked into his handsome and sweaty face, and groan as I try to catch my breath. He moves against me steadily, then faster, losing control as he bangs his hips savagely. He can’t get enough of me, and my nails dig into his shoulders as he pounds me against the bed. I float away on another sensation and the way Lucas makes me feel is like being wrapped in a wonderful, warm wave of vibrating sensations. I look up at Lucas with tears in my eyes, and he’s looking down at me. His eyelids almost shut as he smiles, then he closes his eyes tight. Lucas turns his head and his movements become erratic against my sore body that aches for him.
I moan as the feelings start inside me again. It’s love to feel this way. To trust Lucas with my body, my soul, and my heart. I bend my legs, and he grabs my knees, driving in harder and faster.
I scream, and my pussy squeezes tight around his gorgeous cock. My last orgasm pushes Lucas over the edge, and I feel his entire body shake as he collapses on top of me.
***
The day is beautiful, and I would stay the night, but I forgot to bring my birth control pills. This is my first month, and I’m going to be careful. After I get home, I go to my bedroom and get my pills out of my bedside table. I open the pack and see that I’m on my iron pills, but my period hasn’t started. I grab my phone and start checking the dates.
A chill goes down my spine as if the central air is on full blast in the house. I haven’t had a period since coming home from Tampa. I’m very late. I’m never late.
I gasp as my eyes widen with realization, staring at the almost empty pack in my hands. Troy and I didn’t use a condom. We didn’t plan on having sex. It just happened.
My hands shake as I type out a message to Troy. I erase the first one and type a shorter one. I can’t tell him what I think, not even over the phone. It has to be face-to-face. I send him a message telling him that we have to talk tomorrow.
CHAPTER 6
NATALIE
The weekend started out wonderfully and then did a nosedive into hopelessness. I barely remember getting out of bed on Sunday morning. Without thinking about what I’m doing, I hold onto my tummy as if my bump is already showing. I can’t believe I was so careless. I can’t have a baby and attend college for marine biology. No sane professor would let me in the water nine months pregnant.
My body is too tired to get up as I fall backward across my bed. This isn’t supposed to be my story. Only stupid, careless girls get themselves pregnant and become a national statistic. I’m not stupid or careless, but I’m pregnant. I just don’t understand.
And being knocked up will confirm what every rich kid at Montlake thought about me since the day I stepped onto the campus. I’m not going to be remembered as the queen of Montlake. Or as the outsider that took down the worst bitch in the school’s history. I’ll be remembered as trash, a slut, and a whore. Trashalicious will be printed underneath my yearbook photo.
Somehow, my phone is in my hands. I don’t remember tapping send, but Troy’s phone goes to voice mail. I don’t leave a message because my voice might crack. I send him another text.
Self-pity overtakes me, and I start to cry. I mourn the girl I was yesterday—the one that had only to worry about herself. I feel pathetic lying in bed as the sun shines brightly outside my window. I ought to do something. I’m a fighter, and I can do this. But I can’t. Not alone. I’m not the fun, carefree girl the captains fell in love with. Now, I’m a burden with a baby. The boys have demanding futures to pursue. Jacob will be a quarterback on a pro team. And Troy will probably follow his dad into investing in cutting-edge technology. Lucas wants to move to Manhattan and form a start-up that makes plastic recycling profitable. Are they going to stop in the middle of an important meeting to change diapers and feed a screaming baby?
My shoulders shake as sobs wrack my body, and I only stop crying when my phone chimes with Troy’s text.
We agree to meet at his house. My reason to visit is to talk to Greg Saunders about Uncle Phil. My uncle’s company has lost another major backer who gave vague reasons for pulling out. None of these people who applauded my uncle have the nerve to voice the real reason. Shameful assholes. We live in a time when technology is advancing rapidly, but that seems to be the only thing advancing.
Somehow, I get up and get dressed. My jeans are old, with holes, and I put on my old West Lake T-shirt. Looking at my reflection, I resemble a Victorian orphan about to knock on doors and beg for gruel. I can’t go to Troy’s house looking like a shabby mess. I guess I have a little pride left. I put on mascara and lip gloss, and a white tuxedo shirt that looks like I care about my appearance.
In a few minutes, I’m there, and my feet drag across the driveway as I walk toward the front door of Troy’s house.
***
“Natalie,” Greg smiles as we sit down in his study. “Rest assured that I have no plans to take back my funding in your uncle’s company. It’s unfortunate to have his personal life in the news, but his personal life doesn’t have an impact on my business decisions. If it’s Phil’s personal life, then it’s not my business. Make sense?”
I nod, relieved that Greg is the kind person he appears to be, and it’s not some marketing act.
“Hey.” Troy stands in the doorway of his father’s study, wearing a white button-down shirt that matches his threadbare jeans. He really is a handsome guy with sparkling blue eyes and high cheekbones.
“Looks like I got the dress code right.” Troy smiles, and my heart hurts.
My smile barely reaches my troubled eyes, and he notices. He walks over and gives me a chaste kiss on the forehead in front of Greg. His dad doesn’t seem to mind the mild display of affection. I wonder if Greg will mind later when I’m waddling up the walk, wearing a tent to cover my protruding belly. Unfortunately, if I am pregnant, my personal life will be his business.
Troy and I aren’t allowed in his bedroom, not alone or with a third party. Maya Saunders makes that very clear before my visits. She wants us where we can be seen. Too little, too late, helicopter mom.
Maya isn’t home during my visit. She’s spending Sunday with another one of her women’s groups to discuss a book on parenting children at risk. I don’t comment when Troy mentions it, but he rolls his eyes. Vicki follows us through the house, and I doubt it’s because Maya told her to.
We sit down on the couch in the rec room. She follows us with her phone and sits on a chair on the opposite wall. Her face is pointed at her phone and not the television. Troy glares at his little sister, who is obviously the third w
heel, but she keeps her eyes glued to her phone and laughs every once in a while as she scrolls. It might be okay if she talked to us, but she makes it a point to ignore us when we look over at her.
Troy won’t confront her. He grabs my hand and tugs me off the couch. We’ve barely sat down in the kitchen nook, when in walks Vicki.
“Vicki, do you want something?” He glares at her.
Her gaze stays on her phone as she shakes her head. “I might eat something.”
We watch her as she leans against the kitchen island, her feet in front of her as her legs form a side of a triangle with the counter and the floor. Her toenails are painted red, and she wiggles her toes as she reads another message, then she laughs, not sharing the joke.
