Star-Crossed Secrets

by Kali Brixton

  “Luca Giordano—dinner and a movie?”

  There’s some of that southern sass that was missing when she got here.

  Her right hand finds her hip. “I didn’t take you for an old-fashioned date kind of guy.” Her eyes widen at her words. “I mean, not that this is a date or anything…” Pearly white teeth sink into her bottom lip and pull sideways.

  “Did you think I was gonna let you ravish this amazing body without some dinner first?” My hand skims my body from chest to thigh, earning an eye roll from her. “What kind of guy do you take me for?”

  A playful swat lands on my shoulder as she shakes her head at me. “It’s just thoughtful. Thank you.”

  I scoop out a couple of slices onto a plate and hand it to her. “My pleasure. Been a long time since I’ve had some Hot Rod’s.”

  “Me too,” she comments, her voice muffled by the fridge door, emerging a moment later with two bottles of cherry cola.

  We settle ourselves on the couch and situate the food and drinks between our laps and the coffee table. I nearly dropped my first piece when I looked over and saw Ev’s lips close around the tip of her slice. Her moan lights my ears on fire as I watch her eyes close in ecstasy. “My God, this is glorious.”

  I can’t wait to hear those moans in my ear when I’m balls deep inside you. My dick nudges against the underside of my plate, relishing in her sounds as well, and snapping me back to reality. Hang in there, dick. We’ll hopefully get our wish very soon. “You sound like you haven’t eaten anything today either.”

  A piece of pineapple plops in her mouth, her lips licking the sauce from her fingertips. “I don’t eat pizza much anymore and theirs is the best, so…”

  “Why don’t you eat it much?” The question has me wondering why she’d deny herself something that made her react like that.

  She examines the second piece now in her hand; her gaze rueful. “Too many carbs.”

  My brows scrunch in confusion. “Why are you worried about carbs? Your body’s amazing.”

  Red splashes across her cheeks as she shrugs. “I’ve worked hard to get it to where it is right now. A lot of training. A lot of…dancing.” Her throat bobs as she swallows that last word. “I don’t want to go back to being fat again.”

  She’s pulling my leg, right? “Ev, you were never fat.”

  “Luca, don’t lie.” Her bright green gaze turns icy.

  “I’m not.” My words are quickly chased by another big bite as I digest her words. “I mean, who doesn’t go through that weird baby fat stage? We all did.”

  Her mocking laughter rings out between us. “It hit some of us harder than others, Mr. Six-Pack,” she muses, setting her plate on the coffee table.

  Following suit, I set mine beside hers, and stretch my arm across the top of the couch, catching a lock of silky black hair between my fingers. “Checking me out all those years ago?” I grin so hard, I’m sure my dimples are popping out in full force.

  “I might’ve noticed a thing or two,” she admits, the red in her cheeks spreading as her head drops. “Don’t go gettin’ the big head or anything.”

  For someone so strong and sure of herself, these little moments of vulnerability are just as intoxicating as when she’s in a fury about something. Two sides of the same coin, both just as valuable as the other.

  My fingers find the bottom of her chin, coaxing her to look at me. “You’ve always been beautiful, Ev. Don’t deny yourself something you love because you’re worried about putting on a little weight.” Searching her face, then casting a long glance down all the hills and valleys of her figure, my voice drops to barely above a whisper. “I happen to like having something to grab onto with a woman’s body.”

  We stare at each other for several moments as the heat between our bodies grows, waiting for something to douse the flames. Slowly, our faces inch towards each other until our lips are only a couple inches apart, neither of us coming closer. All the reasons I shouldn’t do this come flooding back… Her brother, my family commitments, this Cinderella deal that only lasts until she leaves in the morning. Fear creeps into my mind for a moment, but those lips begging mine to meet them, those eyes asking me to take the leap with her?

  Fear can go fuck itself. For once in my life, I’m going to decide based on what I want instead of what others demand of me.

  I close the distance between us and fuse my mouth to hers, tasting her kiss for the first time as I cradle and command her face to mine. Her shock wears off, and she returns it with a fiery passion, holding her hands over mine as Everleigh takes as much as she gives. Our lips glide against each other’s, a dance somehow new and familiar at the same time. I nip at her bottom lip, garnering a groan from her, which spurns me on. Her sweet scent envelopes us and mingles with my spicy cologne as our tongues now battle for dominance.

  God, she’s intoxicating.

  I hoist her over by the waist to straddle me, a squeal of surprise escaping her before we find each other again. The slight adjustments in her thighs as our tongues intertwine once more cause her to grind against my erection, a move that steals an appreciative groan from deep within.

  The pull of her lips into a smile is evident against my mouth, and she grinds again, this time with more purpose. Little minx. My palms drop, gliding across soft denim to cup her ass, squeezing those round globes as she softly rocks against me, her hands holding onto my shoulders for leverage.

  The loud blare of a movie beginning startles us. The remote which somehow has lodged itself against my ass cheek gets tossed onto the other end of the couch as we both catch our breath. Feeling the heat of her apex against my cock makes it ache with the need to bury itself inside her warmth. I smooth my hands over her thick, firm thighs. “I think it’s time for our little pajama party, don’t you?”

  Nodding as she dismounts me, my body quickly cools where her warmth just was. She strides toward the bathroom, slipping through the door as I get up and head to my bedroom, quickly discarding articles of clothing along the way. “I’ll give you fair warning, Luca,” she calls through the door. “I came to win.”

  My heart pounds in my chest as I slip back into the living room with my non-existent sleepwear. I throw down a blanket of mine and nestle in, the warm fleece meeting my bare ass.

  So did I, Evergreen. So did I.

  A few minutes later, the light clicks in the bathroom, and the door swings open slowly. Standing there in a pair of booty shorts and a tight tank top that dips low into her ample cleavage, Everleigh clenches her hands together, looking slightly unsure of herself. That is, until she takes in my bare chest—a chest that’s been firming up since I started hitting the weights more seriously this year.

  She walks tentatively toward me, that beautiful, natural sway in her stride so mesmerizing. As she gets closer, my gaze lifts from her elegant neck that’s now showing where she pulled her hair up. Taking in her attire, a laugh escapes me before I can contain it. Leave it to Ev. “Are those...”

  Two yellow-and-white splatters cover the bulk of her breasts, one yolk smiling and one winking. Below those perfect graphic placements, a banner reads, “You crack me up!” The shorts she’s sporting have a recurring ham pattern, with a peek of something more when she turns to round the coffee table.

  I grab her wrist and pin her to the spot before she joins me on the couch. “Hold up. You’ve gotta spin around.”

  Slowly she rotates to the side, revealing two gloriously larger hams perched on her ass, one on each cheek. I burst into laughter as she cocks her brow, grinning like a Cheshire cat. When the hell did breakfast get so sexy?

  “You said we were having a pajama contest. I brought my favorite pair,” she adds as her free hand showcases her attire in true Vanna White fashion. Her eyes squint as she takes in the large pillow I have sitting across my lap. “Where are yours?”

  I shrug. “I sleep naked.”

  Those green eyes grow comically big. She looks down at her attire once more, the confidence once there
is now gone. “Oh, shit.”

  Curvy legs make a move toward the bathroom once more, but I use my grip on her wrist to haul her back to me, causing her to stumble and half-land in my lap and on the couch. “I’ve gotta hand it to you, Ev. I didn’t think it could be done.” Taking in her get up, I trail a finger down the strap of her tank, goosebumps rising in the wake of my light touch. “Now every time I see ham and eggs, I’m gonna get a hard-on.”

  She bites her lip as she watches my finger. “That could make breakfast with the roommates a little awkward, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, no yolking.” She chuckles at my terrible joke before bringing her hand to her mouth, stifling a yawn. “Tired?”

  “Sorry,” she says, waving it off as nothing. “Carb crash is kicking in. I didn’t sleep much this week.”

  “Me neither,” I admit, my hands smoothing over her curves wherever I can reach them, loving how every inch of her responds to my touch so easily. A thought occurs and even though it’s delaying the goal of this evening, may put us both at ease. I stretch back, maneuvering her with me, and tuck her in between myself and the couch. “How about we watch a little of the movie or rest our eyes for a few, then move this party into the bedroom?”

  It’s only eight o’clock. What’s a little twenty-minute catnap going to hurt?

  “Sounds good to me.” She tries to stifle another yawn but fails. “Just a few minutes, though.” Her body nestles into mine as I bring a blanket over us. The pillow that once covered my naked dick now lays behind me, propping my neck up. Her body burrows further into the little cocoon I’ve made for her, with her hand braving the naked terrain of my own, tracing the contours of my stomach muscles. The trail of excitement her touch leaves in its wake is electrifying and comforting all at once, especially when instead of continuing southbound, she rests it directly over my heart.

  Making sure the movie is going before we grab our quick, inevitable shuteye, I toss the remote to the coffee table and settle in, covering her hand with mine. “Deal.”

  4

  Luca

  A black TV screen and an eerily quiet apartment come into view as I peer through half-open eyelids. Well, shit. Fell asleep on Dreidan’s couch again. My left arm aches to stretch, but when I go to move it, a warm weight pins my torso and left leg to the couch.

  So, it wasn’t a dream that Ev came over last night.

  I gently brush back the mop of dark hair obscuring my view from the girl that’s anchoring me to this position. That high ponytail of hers has worked its way loose, fanning black strands over us both. Her full lips are partially parted, and her breaths are slow and steady, still dreaming soundly. I’ve gotta say, she’s pretty damn cute when she’s not snarling at me.

  According to the time on my dying phone, that little cat nap turned into a long winter one. I need to get us both in my bed because we’ll both be sore sleeping on this lumpy couch for much longer, but when I look down at her body snuggled into mine, I realize I’ll never get another chance to just look at her like this. Usually, Ev’s handing someone a verbal or physical beatdown—well, me or Kieran, at least. To see her so at peace, without a war raging beneath the surface, it’s easy to see why we have to warn off so many guys.

  Her don’t-fuck-with-me vibe challenges every red-blooded male looking to conquer the unconquerable. Which means even after this night is over, I’ll always be behind the scenes, warding off unworthy assholes who see the beauty in her she doesn’t see herself and the innocence she radiates without knowing. Not because she needs it, but because she deserves it.

  Just like Lia did.

  Shaking that last thought from my mind because there’s nothing but heartache in it, I refocus my attention on my fingers, which are threading their way through her waterfall of silky ebony locks. I stroke through them with long, gentle strokes until I feel her left hand twitch where it rests on my chest.

  Fingers tipped in a sparkly red glint in what little light is visible in the living room. I go to move it from my chest to get up, but the second her hand falls into mine, it curls up, clutching mine with a firm gentleness. Sneaking a peek to see that she’s still out cold, I bring our hands closer to my face and examine them. I’ve never noticed how delicate Ev’s hands are, from the softness of her fingertips to the narrow nail beds she possesses.

  It’s funny how much you can notice about a person when you get a chance to look at them—I mean, really look your fill without fear of detection. How all the little things stand out in a way they never did before.

  I wonder what she sees when she looks at me.

  An odd thought presents itself. As I mull it around in my brain, I know I shouldn’t do it. My head’s telling me not to play with fire, but when is this opportunity ever going to present itself again?

  Fuck it. If she wakes up, I’ll pretend to be asleep so she’ll assume it happened while we were napping. Allowing our hands to maneuver, I twist and turn my own as I hold hers up until her fingers lock in place with mine. Warmth meets the cool touch of my rough hand as little pinpricks of excitement radiate where we’re now connected.

  Huh. Didn’t expect those. Or the ones now traveling to my dick.

  Even though we didn’t sleep together, it’s nice to just be with her like this.

  Ev stirs beside me, causing me to panic and let go of her hand. Slightly thumping on my chest, her eyelids flutter open, looking around at her surroundings before settling on me.

  “What time is it?” she asks with a yawn.

  “A little after four.”

  She stretches as much as the couch and the position of my body will allow her to, working out the kinks. “Sorry. Must’ve been more tired than I realized.”

  I chuckle softly. “Me too. Good nap at least?”

  “Mmhmm,” her voice trails off dreamily, the stiffness in her body before we fell asleep now long gone.

  I run my palm across her head, stroking it down her hair once more. “Ev?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can I be honest with you about something?”

  Her body tenses slightly.

  “I was nervous as hell about tonight.”

  A moment passes by before she speaks. “Why?”

  I shrug. “Because it’s you. And because I know this night was supposed to mean something to you.” It would’ve meant something to me too. “But I’m glad we got to spend the night together.”

  Her gaze travels over the surrounding darkness, then meets mine. A wicked grin settles into place. “The night’s not over yet.”

  Her fingertips travel across my chest before following my happy trail. I swallow hard. “I take it you’re not tired anymore?”

  That dark head of hair shakes back and forth slowly. “You?”

  I stretch my body to lay more fully on my back, causing my dick to tent the blanket. “Does it look like I’m tired?”

  She bites her lip, hunger blazing in those round emeralds as she brings her touch to where I’m dying to have it. “Not at the moment.”

  An inferno builds in my groin as her hand gets familiar with my hardness.

  She seems so unsure of herself at first, caressing me almost clinically until she gets the hang of it. My balls tighten and release with each teasing movement of her hand, especially when she reaches down to pay them some attention. I cup her face and bring her mouth to mine as she explores me with tentative touches. Under her caresses, soft at first, then firmer, my dick swells as she palms me and takes a few strokes of my shaft.

  Groaning against her lips, my hips involuntarily pumping in time with her tugs and pulls, the tightness of her grasp and her speed increasing. I’m able to contain myself until her strokes catch the underside of my sensitive mushroom head. I buck myself into her grip, a sharp curse and a moan coaxed from my lips as she smiles against them.

  Every move she makes pushes me closer to the knife’s edge of orgasm until my balls tighten uncontrollably. I’m going to lose it right here. I grab her wrist to stop her moveme
nts and try to calm myself down. “That’s enough.”

  She looks at me with uncertainty in her eyes. “Did I do something wrong?”

  That innocence. “No, but if you kept doing that, I was going to make a mess of us and this blanket.”

  Even in the apartment's darkness, I can see the redness in her cheeks. “Can we go to your room now?”

  I don’t even answer as I scoop her into my arms and carry her toward my room, nearly stumbling over the blanket that somehow got tangled between us. Her giggle carries into my bedroom and a squeal breaks loose from her as I plop her down on the bed, crawling onto the comforter and capturing her lips once more.

  Her hands pull at my face as she yanks me on top of her, never breaking the kiss. My dick nestles in between her thighs, her pajama bottoms a barrier between us. I grind into her, letting her feel what she’s done to me, as little moans escape. “I want to feel you against me, Ev.”

  She nods and I rock back on my heels, tugging at her pajama bottoms while she discards her top.

  Two separate thuds of clothes hitting the floor ring out as my eyes bulge out at the sight before me. The soft glow of the moonlight filtering in paints her skin a paler shade than normal. “Holy hell.” My eyes bulge at the sight before me, taking in the satin and lace white thong that covers next to nothing and the matching bra that can barely contain her full breasts. “You mean you’ve had those under here the entire time?”

  She glimpses down before giving me a smirk. “You mean these were a better entry into the pajama contest?”

  I push her breasts together, loving the feel of them in my hands as the lace and silk create novel sensations under my fingertips. “What contest? These just blew everything else out of the water.”

  My hands leave her bra in search of that scrap of fabric she calls underwear and gently trace down the hourglass shape of her torso. Ev’s hands fly over top of mine, stilling my movement. Her body winds tight. I go to move again, but she keeps my hands where they are, squirming at the slightest movement.