The Secrets We Keep

by Hannah Davenport

  With one last, hard thrust, he holds himself deep inside. I can feel his dick pulse inside me, and just the thought sends me over the edge.

  Chapter Eleven

  Luca

  I’m trying to go easy on her, but I’m not a gentle man.

  But she’s innocent.

  So damn innocent.

  And tight.

  Knowing that I am the only man that has ever touched her, tasted her, fucked her, has me right on the edge. If I’m not careful, I’ll come before giving her pleasure, and I want her to experience what she’s been missing. But only with me.

  When I woke to the feel of her tracing my lips, I almost lost my tight control. So overcome, I forgot to put on a condom, which is a first for me. But I’m not pulling out, she feels too damn good. Her tightness is almost painful.

  I’m trying to hold out, make it last longer . . . “Shit, I’m going to come!” I thrust hard, throw my head back, and grunt, “Ahh, fuck. Ahh . . .”

  I should let her rest, but I can’t. I’m still on edge. Holding myself deep inside her, I crawl to my knees and grab her thighs, lifting her hips. I watch as my dick disappears inside her. When I glance at her face, I see her wide eyes watching the same thing.

  Ariel likes this, and it makes me want to push her sexual side, help her discover what she likes. Taking a chance, I say, “One day, I’ll do this to your mouth.” Her eyes fly to mine, and I see them dilate with even more desire. When I feel her tight channel clench my dick, I know she’s found her release.

  Again.

  Holding her hips, I pound hard, increasing my pace. She feels so good, and when I remember that no one else has touched her, it pushes me over the edge and I come inside her.

  Again.

  When I finally withdraw, I see the evidence of her innocence on my dick, on the sheets. I flop to my back and pull her into my arms. As her head tilts up, I stare into her beautiful eyes, my thumb caressing her jaw as I say, “You are amazing.” And then tenderly I kiss her lips.

  “Wow.” She says as she snuggles her head on my shoulder, wraps her arm around my waist. “I can’t believe how good that felt.”

  I chuckle and give her shoulders a little squeeze. “I think someone likes it when I talk dirty.”

  She’s silent at first, even though I know I’m right. “No one’s ever talked to me like that before.”

  “Good.” My mood turns dark at the thought of someone else touching her. She feels like she’s mine, and that scares the shit out of me.

  Reluctantly, I admit, “I’m sorry. I forgot to wear a condom. Are you on the pill?”

  I feel her stiffen. “I hadn’t even thought about that. No, I’m not.”

  I kiss her forehead, wanting to reassure her. “I’m clean, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

  “I hadn’t even thought about that, either.”

  “I’ll call my doctor and get a morning-after pill for you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The best way to describe it is emergency contraception.”

  “Okay, thanks.” She lifts up slightly to look at the clock on the nightstand. “I need to eat and get ready for work.”

  “Take the night off. Stay with me.”

  “I can’t,” she smiles up at me, “but it’s tempting.”

  I sigh loudly, not wanting to let her go. “You shower, I’ll order some food.”

  “Okay.”

  She tries to get up, but I tighten my grip. “Go out with me tonight,” I ask again.

  “I just told you I have to work.”

  “I’ll pick you up after, we’ll go to the club.”

  “And spy on people?” She grins.

  “Sure, if that’s what you want to do.” I lean in and kiss her, my hand cupping her cheek.

  “Okay.” She smiles, rolls out of bed, and heads for the bathroom, giving me a great view of her perfect ass.

  I grab my cell and shoot a quick text to Tony, telling him to bring more clothes and food.

  I’m not in any hurry to get out of bed, until I spot the picture sitting on a small triangular corner table.

  I’m out of bed, holding the picture in my hands when Ariel walks out of the bathroom, a towel around her head, another one around her body.

  “That’s me and my mom,” she says as she comes over to stand by my side.

  “How old were you?”

  “I don’t know.” She takes the frame out of my hands, turns it over. “Mom may have written a date on the picture.”

  The frame itself is thick and bulky. And as Ariel slides the back off, something falls onto the floor.

  Reaching down, I pick up the object, turning it over in my hands.

  “What is that?” she asks, taking it away from me and doing her own inspection.

  “It looks like a modified thumb drive of some sort.”

  She inspects the rest of the frame, but there’s nothing else there.

  “Would you like me to take it with me, find out what’s on it?”

  “No.” Her eyes are glued to the device. “I’ll try it in my computer first. It’s probably just pictures of us.”

  I swallow hard as I stare at the unusual thumb drive, dread pooling inside me. People are looking for her, maybe looking for this, but I don’t say anything. I don’t want to scare her. “Okay, just let me know if you need any help.”

  She turns, a smile sliding across her face as she looks at me. “I will.”

  When the doorbell rings, she startles.

  “It’s Tony,” I say. “I asked him to bring food and clothes.”

  “One of these days, he’ll get tired of that.”

  “I pay him well.”

  Slipping on a pair of underwear, I head to the front door and throw it open. Tony stands with his arms full, amusement on his face. “Thanks, Tony.” I relieve him of his load.

  “You’re welcome, boss.”

  “We’ll be ready to leave in forty-five minutes.”

  “The car’s waiting outside.”

  I nod, then close the door with the side of my foot. “Food’s here,” I call out as I set it down on the coffee table. “Smells like Italian.”

  From the bedroom, her voice drifts down the hallway. “Great! I love Italian food.”

  She walks out with no makeup, her hair in a ponytail, blue jeans, and a T-shirt. Extraordinary ordinary. Beautiful. She catches me staring.

  “You don’t like my clothes?”

  “You look beautiful.”

  She shrugs. “It’s comfortable. Alina wears heels and complains constantly about her feet.”

  She plops down on the couch, reaches for the food, and smiles. I don’t want to let her go.

  Ariel

  Alina keeps shooting me curious glances, but I can’t stop smiling. Jimmy also looks suspiciously at me, but I don’t care. The last time I talked to him, he pissed me off. But right now, I can’t bring myself to stay mad at him.

  Jimmy grabs his smokes and yells across the room. “Ariel, you’re up.” Alina nods at me, and I head across the room and behind the bar.

  I serve a couple of beers, place dirty glasses under the bar, and stuff the tips in the jar. I’m not paying any attention when Matt saddles up in front of me.

  “Hey, Ariel.”

  I look up at the sound of my name. “Hey, Matt. How are you?”

  “I’m okay. I just finished the construction job I’ve been working on.”

  I smile. “That’s good. You staying in town or moving on?”

  “Not sure yet.” He cocks his head to the side. “There’s something different about you.”

  I just shake my head and smile. I’m so not telling him I had sex this morning, although the glow on my cheeks may give it away.

  I turn around, grab a mug, fill it with beer. “Here you go, Matt.”

  The night crawls by, and my mind is constantly on Luca. The shift can’t end quick enough.

  Thirty minutes left before closing, so I start cleanup. There are o
nly a few stragglers in the bar.

  I work diligently, my eyes darting to the clock. Five more minutes.

  When Jimmy escorts the last guy out of the bar, Alina grabs my arm. “What’s up with you tonight?”

  I just grin, my eyes alight with happiness. Her eyes look me over before they widen. “You had sex with Luca!”

  “Shhh . . . keep your voice down.” My eyes dart over my shoulder, hoping no one heard her. I am not announcing my freshly new sex life to the bar.

  “Oh. My. God.” She grins. “How was it?”

  A blush rushes up my cheeks. “I’m not telling you.”

  A noise to my left grabs my attention. Jimmy stands with his arms folded, glaring at me. Then he shakes his head and walks away.

  “Just ignore him, Ariel.”

  My eyes track his disappearing back. Not even he can spoil my good mood. “I gotta go, Luca’s waiting on me.”

  Alina smiles widely. “You go have fun, girl, you deserve it.”

  With a wave over my shoulder, I grab my purse and head out the back door. Luca leans against the limousine with his arms crossed. A smile spreads across his face when he sees me.

  When he opens the door, I slide in and toss my purse to the side. When I spot the pill bottle, the one I meant to return, my eyes widen. “Oh, shit! I forgot to go to the pharmacy.”

  “What are you talking about?” Luca asks as he slides in next to me.

  “Some guy left his medicine the other night and I meant to return it to the pharmacy.”

  His hands cup my cheeks, turning my head so he can look me in the eyes. “I’m sure he’s replaced them already.” Then his mouth crashes down on mine. When he breaks the kiss, he whispers, “I missed you.” His mouth moves down my neck, pushing up my dirty shirt.

  “What about Tony?” I absently ask as I enjoy the feel of his lips as he sucks my right breast into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the nipple.

  “Soundproof,” I barely hear as he talks with his mouth full. When his mouth leaves my breast with a pop, his face is inches away from my own. “Are you too sore?”

  I don’t think so, and if I was, I wouldn’t tell him. It felt too good today and I wouldn’t mind a repeat. I shake my head and watch as his eyes darken. I love it when he gets bossy, talks dirty. I never knew how much that would turn me on.

  I see the gleam in his eyes when he sits back in the seat and, holding my gaze, uses one hand to unbutton his pants.

  My eyes fly to his enormous erection and I’m not sure what to do.

  “Suck it,” he orders. And just like that my panties are soaked. With one hand stretched along the back of the seat, he snakes the other one around the back of my head and guides me down until his dick slides into my mouth. “That’s it, baby, suck it, swirl your tongue around it.”

  I can’t believe I’m actually doing this. And in the backseat of a car. It doesn’t take me long to find my rhythm, but before I can make him come, he lifts my head up. “We’re here,” he says, taking my lips with his.

  After adjusting his pants, he leads me out of the limo and up to his office, telling his guards to stay outside. “There’s something I want to try,” he says as I stare at the dance floor, “something I think you’ll like.”

  The club is packed again with scantily dressed women. I turn, my heart pounding with excitement. “What?” I ask.

  Luca walks over. Power radiates from every inch of him and I know this is the man I saw the first time I visited. But he doesn’t scare me now.

  Without a word, he holds my gaze as he grabs the hem of my shirt and pulls it over my head. He slides the bra straps from my shoulders, unhooking it between my breasts. “You are so beautiful,” he says as he leans down, licking them both. I’m too lost to notice he’s taking my jeans off, until I’m standing naked in front of him.

  My mind swirls with desire, my body’s on fire. Standing upright, he sears me with a kiss, cupping my face and walking me backward.

  I’m lost.

  He breaks the kiss, a seductive gleam in his eyes, and his voice lowers to a growl when he says, “I hope you enjoy this.”

  I don’t understand until he spins me around, my hands plastered against the glass, all the bodies bumping and grinding below. My legs are spread wide, and I feel him between my legs, licking at my entrance as I watch the others.

  My knees are weak. I’ve never been so turned on in my life. When he spears me with his tongue, I lose it. My hips buck as my legs give out. But Luca holds me up.

  I hear his zipper and know he’s undressing. At least part way.

  Standing behind me and holding my arms above my head and on the glass, he laces his fingers with mine. He thrusts hard inside me, his mouth next to my ear.

  “Do you like this? Like being fucked in front of all these people?” I know they can’t see us, but just the thought of it . . .

  “Tell me . . .” He thrusts again. And again.

  “Yes . . .” I groan.

  He’s fucking me hard and talking dirty. “Would you like me to fuck you on one of those tables down there?”

  My mind flies to Jimmy and the waitress, and what he did to her in front of me. With his finger. And she didn’t care.

  “Tell me, Ariel, would you like to be fucked in front of a room full of people?”

  A scream of pleasure tears from my lips as I come again, and soon after, I feel him empty himself inside me.

  Wrapping his arms around my waist, he carries me over to the couch and holds me tenderly on his lap. I’m a little embarrassed as I admit, “There must be something wrong with me.”

  “Why would you say that?” he chuckles as he brushes my damp hair away from my forehead.

  “How can you know that doing those things, saying those things, would turn me on like that?”

  He kisses my forehead. “It turns most people on. They just won’t admit it.”

  After a few minutes we both dress, and Luca has Tony bring us a bottle of wine.

  Sitting on the couch with a half-filled glass of red, Luca asks, “How was work today?”

  “Busy but slow.” I smile. “I couldn’t wait for it to end so I could see you.”

  “Neither could I.”

  “What did you do?”

  Luca takes a sip, then says, “Signed some paperwork, made phone calls. Just work stuff.”

  I turn and face him. With a teasing smile I say, “One of these days, you’ll have to show me where you live.”

  With a playful knock to my shoulder with his own, he smiles. “I would’ve shown you already, but you won’t hardly leave that damn apartment of yours.”

  I know he’s right, and I’m okay with that. I like him at my place, where I’m comfortable. “You coming home with me tonight?”

  “I wish I could, but I have an early meeting in the morning. How about I come by afterwards?”

  “That sounds good.” After a moment, I ask, “What are you doing?”

  “I have to have brunch with my parents.”

  “I’m sorry . . .”

  “Don’t be. Maybe one day you’ll get to meet them.”

  I don’t think I’m ready to meet any parents right now, so I don’t respond.

  “Oh, did you find out what was on the thumb drive?” he asks.

  I shake my head no. “I haven’t had a chance.”

  “Want to use my computer?”

  Hmm. It may be best if I do. Just in case. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “No.” He smiles and stands.

  He sits down at his desk then pulls me down onto his lap. We watch as letters and numbers and symbols fill the screen. It looks like gibberish.

  “What is that?” I ask, my face screwed in confusion.

  “That, my dear, is an encoded thumb drive.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I don’t know. I can have someone decode it for you, if you would like?”

  I want to say no, leave it alone. But what if it has information about Mom
on there? My gut clenches, and as much as I don’t want to open a can of worms, my curiosity gets the best of me.

  “You won’t tell anyone about me?” He kisses my forehead and shakes his head. “Okay, then.”

  “I do have one request, and you can say no.” With hesitation, I nod. “What is your first name?” Before I can say anything, he rushes on. “Just your first name, that’s it.”

  I bite my lower lip, thinking. “You promise?” He nods his head. “It’s Brylee.”

  “Brylee,” he says for the first time, and I like my name on his lips. “An uncommon name for an unusual lady. I like it. It suits you.”

  “I’m not used to hearing it. My mom always used nicknames.”

  “Well, Buttercup . . .”

  “Please don’t call me Buttercup. Ariel is a great name.”

  He laughs and strokes my hair. I love the way he looks at me. “As much as I don’t want to, it’s late and I need to get you home.”

  “Early meeting?”

  He shakes his head. I slide off his lap and take his outstretched hand.

  The ride to my apartment is in comfortable silence, the wine making me sleepy. When we arrive, Luca walks me to the top of the steps, kisses my lips, and says, “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  “Okay.” With the key in my hand, I walk to the door, turn, and wave goodbye.

  As I head to the kitchen and pour another glass of wine, I spy my computer sitting open on the counter.

  Glass in hand, I wake the computer and see that Altruist has left several messages.

  Are you up?

  Hello, Syrah?

  Hello?

  I set my glass down and type. Sorry, I’ve been sick, and then working.

  That’s okay. I’ve just been worried about you. Everything okay?

  I think about Luca and smile. More than okay.

  My cell phone rings. I don’t recognize the number. “Hello?”

  “Ms. Hancock?” A deep masculine voice asks.

  “Yes.”

  “This is Officer Daniels. I’ve arrested Alina Moretti and I need you to come to the station.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “I’ll explain everything when you get here.”

  I swallow hard. “Okay. Thank you, officer. I’ll be right there.”