Dean laughed and hit the top of the staircase banister before heading down. Once he disappeared from view, I stepped back into my room and felt Luca’s penetrating stare.
He didn’t say a word before marching past me, making sure our bodies didn’t touch at all. “We leave in an hour.”
He shut his door, but Dean’s words repeated in my head.He’s been smiling more.I loved that, and even though I wanted to kiss him more than my next breath—I couldn’t. I refused to be put second again, and Luca would only break my heart.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Luca
There were core memories that would live with me forever. The first time I played on a football field, the first Christmas with my grandma, and seeing Lorelei touch herself while sayingmyname.
I shuddered, unable to think about anything else. I was a man obsessed. Yet, every time I let myself finish the sentence ofwhat-if,the memory of Dean almost catching us smacked me in the head. But even as I’d stood there, holding my breath out of fear he’d know I hid behind the door, all I could look at was Lorelei. The flush of her face, the smoothness of her neck, the way the silk robe clung to her curves. The indent of her calf muscles and even the Halloween colors on her toenails. No woman had ever, in my life, had a grip on me like this.
She loved her brother, which in a weird way made me like her even more. She was kind and so damn smart and strong, andthis isn’t helping.I adjusted my grip on the wheel and wet my lips. An hour into the trip to visit my grandma, and we’d barely spoken. It wasn’t a painful silence. I’d lived through those. This one was more comfortable. It was clear we avoided chatting since I’d stayed in her room and saw her naked.
I should’ve jacked off before this.
I cleared my throat, my cock swelling as the images of her dark pink nipples and full, heavy breasts plastered across my eyelids. My mouth watered. Needing some air, I asked, “Care if I crack the windows?”
“Not at all. I love the smell of fall in the air.” She smiled but didn’t look at me. I’d watched her out of the side of my eye the entire time, studying her like a playbook. She crossed one leg over the other, the same lush curve of her lips acting like she had an inside joke with herself.
I wanted to know the punchline so badly. What had her so happy?
“Thank you, Luca, for driving and coming with me this afternoon. I know this takes away from our routine. Two weekends in a row too! I really appreciate it.” Her voice grew soft, and it fell over me like my favorite song.
Shit.I hadn’t thought about my routines once since I got back from the game. What did that even mean? My usual films and post-game rituals never happened, and that hadn’t crossed my mind untilnow.A surge of panic shot through me as loud as a lightning bolt. I’d planned to watch tape, but I heard her say my name, and well, her naked body was why I hadn’t gotten anything done.
I sighed, and she tensed.Oh no.I’d taken too long to answer, and I worried her. “I’m glad I could help.”
“I’ll find another way to get here next time. It doesn’t have to be every weekend, you know? But kicking off the project requires face time.” The frown lines left, and her usual grin replaced them.
It was wild how her smirk calmed me down. The world wasn’t right if Lorelei Romano wasn’t smiling. It was law. “If you know what weekends, give me a week’s heads-up or so, and I’ll see if I can move my routine around.”
“Really?” Her face lit up.
“Yeah.” My neck got hot, and I ran my fingers through my hair. “My grandma always wants me to visit more, and I enjoy spending time with you.”
“Wow, Luca, that was the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” She laughed. “Well, besides the goddess comment.”
“Today only confirmed that statement,” I said, my voice low.
“Ah.” She faced the window, hiding her reaction from me. She twirled a silver ring around her thumb three times before she eyed me. “I’m surprised I’m not more embarrassed. I’ve never doneanythinglike that before with anyone.”
“Meaning?” My muscles went rigid, ready to pounce. Those words threatened my entire future because it made me want to devour her, to say hell with my plans.
“I’ve never let someone watch me do that. But with you…”
“With me,what?” I barked out, my voice raspy and deep.
“It felt normal. Hot. I really liked it. That’s what makes this zing between us so complicated. We clearly are into each other, but we know nothing will happen. Maybe it’s the forbidden, off-limits thing that makes it so naughty?”
She had to stop talking about this and using words like forbidden and naughty. My cock was so damn hard it could drive the car itself. Yet, it was clear she wanted to talk this out, and I could grant her that. “Maybe it’s that, yeah.”
She chewed her top lip and stared out the window again. “I didn’t ruin our friendship, right? I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, and I respect the hell out of you. Dare I say I even like you? If I broke that in any way—”
“You didn’t.”
“Are you sure?”
