“Shut up. I’ll be fine. Have you warned the others?”
“Of course. They said they’d keep themselves scarce for the weekend.”
Dec lives in a huge house he bought a few months ago. It was a bargain, and also a complete dump. He allows his mates to stay rent-free as long as they help out with the renovation. It’s worked pretty well for him, because the photos he’s sent me of the place look stunning.
* * *
“Lilly, we’re here.” My eyes pop open and it takes a couple of seconds to realise who the house belongs to that I’m staring at, and that it’s Dec shaking me awake.
“How long have I been asleep?”
“You lasted about twenty minutes.”
“Whoops. Sorry.”
“S’alright.”
“I’m starving,” I admit. Dec better get used to hearing that, because I seem to say it every few hours these days.
“We’ll order something. Let’s get you settled.”
Dec helps me from the van and grabs my stuff before leading the way. I get a whistle stop tour of the ground floor on the way up to the spare bedroom.
“This place is amazing.” The last time I was here, Dec was still living in a student flat and this place wasn’t much more than a pile of bricks.
“It’s not bad for a few novices, is it?” Dec asks, referring to himself, Liam and Ben—or BJ, as they call him—who’ve done almost all the work. I’m yet to use Ben’s nickname. I really hope they call him it because of his initials, but I’m not convinced and I’m too scared to ask.
“Can I have the WiFi password please?” I ask Dec when I reappear after a long shower. God knows how my numb arse and stiff back didn’t wake me on the journey but the power shower in the guest bathroom helped ease it.
“Sure,” he says, walking over to the router and handing me a piece of plastic with the password on. I punch it in before opening Facebook Messenger.
I’m waiting for a message, although I’m scared it may never come. When Lucas left for work on Monday I started searching for his brother. He’d been much more open about talking about his past since his initial confession on Friday, so when I asked for his old surname he offered it up immediately.
There were quite a few profiles for Marcus Knightly, but I eventually narrowed it down to a couple and sent them a private message in the hope the right one would get in touch.
I wait for the app to load and a buzz of excitement goes through me when I see a new message. I’d turned the notifications off in fear of Lucas getting to my phone first. I stare down at Marcus’ name on my screen and take a breath before opening it.
Lilly,
You’ve found the correct Marcus. What can I do for you?
My breath catches in my throat. Not only have I found him but he hasn’t told me where to go.
“Are you okay?” Dec asks when he hears my reaction.
“Yeah, fine.” I’m not ready to tell anyone about this yet. I want to see if Marcus is willing to get in contact with Lucas, and the rest of their stories aren’t mine to tell.
I quickly type a message back, giving him a little information about me in the hope it will help him to open up to me.
Dec orders us a curry and we spend the night catching up with each other. Liam and Ben don’t appear so I can only presume he’s banished them for the night. It’s great to spend some quality time together. It doesn’t happen often these days. It’s usually a phone call or a Sunday at our parents’ when I have to share him with everyone else.
* * *
“Good morning, did you sleep well?” Dec asks when I appear the next morning.
“Yes, that bed is incredible and huge!”
“Good. I’ve got a surprise for you today.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yep. Here, have breakfast; then, we’re going out.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“No, Liam’s got it covered, so we’re good.”
“Where are we going?” I ask when Dec gets me in the van.
“Can’t tell you. Actually, it’s probably best you wear these.”
“Are you serious?” I ask, looking at the blindfold he’s holding out for me.
“Deadly.”
I reluctantly do as I’m told. I’m not very good with secrets, which Dec knows, so I figure the quicker I do, the sooner I’ll find out what’s going on.
The journey seems to take forever when I can’t see where I’m going. Both babies are asleep so I can’t even distract myself with their movements.
Eventually, the van starts to slow down as we drive onto what feels like gravel.
“Okay, we’re here. I’m coming around to get you.”
“Can’t I take them off now we’re here?”
“No,” he states before jumping out and slamming the door.
I’m directed to God knows where by Dec, who is stood behind me with his hands on my hips.
“Okay, stop here.”
“Where the hell are we?” I’m totally lost. We walked across the gravel we drove on before walking up some stairs, and now I’m stood on what I think is tiles.
“Here,” Dec announces before pulling my blindfold off.
“What the…?” I ask as I spin around and take in my surroundings. “But this is…Oh my God. He has, hasn’t he?” I ask, but Dec doesn’t say anything. Instead, he grabs my hand and pulls me towards a bank of elevators.
I walk alongside him as my mind spins. While we wait for the doors to open, I look back at a hotel entrance hall I’m very familiar with. It’s perfect and exactly as I designed.
Dec hits the button for the top floor and butterflies erupt in my stomach because when I’m usually heading to the top floor of a hotel, there is one person up there—or at least his room.
“Shit,” I whisper as I wipe my sweating palms on the fabric of my skirt.
“Are you okay?” Dec asks. It’s not very often he hears me swear.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “It depends on what I’m about to find.” He winks at me but says nothing.
When we are stood outside of what I presume is the penthouse, I let out a huge breath to try to steady myself. I could be wrong about what’s inside, but I’m pretty sure I’m not.
“Lilly, you’re shaking. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Just open the door, Dec.”
He does as I say and the door flies open to reveal plush cream carpet, a gorgeous oak unit and a huge mirror inside the entryway to the suite. Dec once again grabs my hands to get me to move. He slowly pulls me through the entrance to a living area. Just like downstairs, it is exactly as I designed it. Every piece of furniture, every colour and fabric… it’s perfect.
My heart drops a little when I realise the living room is empty. That is, until Dec coughs loudly as if announcing our arrival and starts moving towards a closed door.
My eyes automatically shut as he reaches out for the handle. When I open them, I find exactly what I was expecting. Lucas is stood in the most stunning bedroom I think I’ve ever seen. My hands come up to cover my mouth as tears begin to stream down my cheeks.
In no time at all, Dec has left my side and I’m being wrapped in Lucas’ arms.
“It wasn’t meant to make you cry,” he whispers in my ear soothingly.
“Lucas, it’s…it’s incredible. How did you—?
“I took copies of your designs one night when you were asleep.”
“The hotel?”
“It’s what I was doing while I was away,” he admits. “Once I realised I’d made a catastrophic mistake I thought maybe I should do something to show you how serious I am about us.” He places a hand on my belly. “So I found this place for sale and worked my arse off to get it ready for you. I want everything perfect for our family, and that includes you being near your brother.”
“You want us to move here?”
“That’s what I was thinking. How amazing will it be for these two to grow up by the sea? We can have birthday pa
rties on the beach, Dec can teach them to surf…” he continues to paint this amazing picture of our future and I can’t help but get carried away.
“That all sounds amazing-”
“But?” he adds for me.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not bringing two kids up in a hotel.” I look over his shoulder at the two cots that sit at one side of the bed.
“There’s more. Come on.” He takes my hand and once again I’m being pulled along behind him with no idea where we’re going. I’m almost disappointed that I don’t get a chance to check out the rest of my designs, but the anticipation of what’s next distracts me.
“This is for you,” Lucas announces as he pulls into a driveway. I look up to my left at the dilapidated house sat into the cliffside, with incredible sea views.
“What?”
“This house, it’s for you. Do whatever you wish to it to make it our home. We’ll move in here once it’s done.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope,” he says, holding the keys out for me.
“Oh my God,” I squeal as I take the keys from him.
I let myself in and run around the downstairs. I come to a grinding halt when I come across a bottle of champagne, a small carton of orange juice and a little black box sitting on the kitchen worktop.
“There’s one more thing,” Lucas says when he comes over and sees where my focus is.
“I don’t think I can cope with any more,” I admit, but it doesn’t stop him.
He walks over to the box and picks it up and turns to look at me.
“I want us to be a proper family, and that means we all have the same name. I love you, Lilly. Will you marry me?”
“Lucas, this is crazy. We’ve only just got back together. You’ve been gone for weeks. This—”
“I know all that, Lilly. But no amount of time will make me surer of what I want. I want you. I want these two,” he says, caressing my belly. “I want us forever.”
“I do, too,” I admit.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes, it’s a yes.” Before I’ve finished talking I’m up in Lucas’ arms and spinning around the room. His lips descend on mind and I lose myself in him. I forgot how all-consuming one kiss from him is.
When he pulls back, I’m shamelessly panting, my pregnancy libido well and truly stoked.
“You’re going to be Mrs. Lilly Dalton,” Lucas says with a smile.
“Take me back to the hotel, Luc,” I say.
“I didn’t think you were ever going to ask.”
Lucas sweeps me up in his arms and carries me back out to the car, along with the bottle of champagne and carton of orange he swiped off the side on our way out.
Chapter Eighteen
Lucas
The hotel and the house were well planned. The proposal was a little more of a spur of the moment thing. I realised Friday night that I never want to be without her again. So the first thing I did Monday morning when she thought I was going to the hotel was head into town to a few jewellery shops. That was an experience. I must have looked so lost after all the questions that had been thrown at me in the first shop that the shop assistant took pity on me and explained everything I might ever need to know about rings and diamonds. She didn’t need to tell me all that though, because I knew the one the second I laid eyes on it. It was a simple 1.5 carat, brilliant cut diamond on a platinum band. Okay, so maybe I did listen to her diamond master class. She seemed pretty happy about my choice, although I’m pretty sure that had something to do with the hefty commission I’m sure she’ll get from the sale.
Waiting for Dec to arrive with Lilly was the most painful wait of my life. I was fairly confident she would love the hotel—after all, she designed almost every inch of the place—but waiting to see the look on her face when she walked into the bedroom was hell. The same can’t be said for letting her walk ahead into what is going to be our new home. I knew that ring was sat on the worktop and I was so nervous I could have thrown up. I never get nervous, ever. But there I was, feeling like a right pussy in case my girl turned me down. Let’s face it, she had every right to after what I’ve put her through.
We fall silent as I pull the car to a stop back outside the hotel again. Lilly has only said a handful of words of the drive back. I’m hoping she’s just overwhelmed by everything and not having second thoughts.
Before I get to say anything, she’s out of the car and heading towards the main doors. I jog up behind her and grab her hand. My thumb rubs over the new piece of jewellery wrapped about her finger and my stomach flips over. She’s going to be my wife.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m a little overwhelmed, Luc. This was all a bit of a shock but I’m good. I’m more than good, actually.” The smile she gives me when she looks up at me warms my entire body.
The second we step into the lift, she presses her front to me—as best she can with the bump—and places her lips to mine. When I feel her tongue run along my bottom lip, a bolt of electricity shoots down my spine. It’s been so long since I’ve kissed her properly, held her, loved her.
“I need you,” I mutter against her lips.
She doesn’t respond. Instead, she kisses me deeper as her hands run down my back and cup my arse. I completely lose myself to the kiss and to images of what I want to do to her that are running through my head. It’s not until I feel her pull back and grab my hand that I realise the lift doors are open. She pulls me out and down towards the room. She doesn’t stop in the living area like I expect her to; she just keeps going until we’re in the bedroom.
I stop by the door as I shut it behind me and watch her continue over to the bed. Lilly doesn’t waste any time. She slips her flip-flops off before pulling her dress up and over her head. It gets thrown of the floor before she turns back towards me.
My hands clench at my side as I take her in. She was always beautiful, but now, with my babies growing inside her…Fuck. She looks unbelievable. Her tits are fuller and her belly rounded.
“Are you sure about this?” I ask, trying to do the right thing. She said she wanted to take it slow and I’m more than happy to do that. I think.
“I’m sure, Luc. I need this, you, please.”
She hasn’t finished talking and I already have my suit jacket and tie off. I’m halfway through undoing the buttons when I step up in front of her and she bats my hands away to continue herself. Once it’s undone, she runs her hands up the length of my exposed skin before pushing the fabric from my shoulders. The feel of her hands against my skin has me containing a groan. I can’t even put into words how much I’ve missed her and her touch.
She immediately goes for the waistband of my trousers. Her slim hands fumble with the button and I take over for her.
“You’re in a hurry,” I comment as she sits back on the bed in her lace underwear.
“You’ve no idea what these two have done to me.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask with a smirk. I read all about raging hormones and their side effects.
“Yeah. I’ve needed you for weeks,” she says, and the little reminder is like a knife to my heart. Although I know she doesn’t mean it, it hurts.
“Well then, let’s see what we can do to help you out. Hands and knees,” I demand.
She immediately does as she’s told and I reach out to pull the fabric of her knickers down over her arse and off her ankles. I drop my trousers and boxers before adding them and my socks to our pile of clothing.
I look at Lilly lying there, squirming as she waits for me, and I can’t help but think of the difference from the first time we were together. She was a little unsure of herself then. Right now though, she is anything but. She knows exactly what she wants, what she needs.
I lower down and blow a gentle stream of air across her sensitive skin. I see her whole body shutter at the sensation.
“Are you ready for this, Lilly?” I ask. My nose is so close to her centre that the smell of her makes my mouth water for a taste.
“Yes.” Her voice is already a little husky, like I’ve had her screaming for me.
I blow out again just to see her reaction, but I can’t hold off any longer and I latch my mouth on to her clit. She says she needs this so I’m going to have her crying out in a matter of minutes.
“Lucas, oh my god. Luc,” she whimpers as I continue lick and suck at her clit. When I slide a finger insider her, she starts chanting, “Yes, yes, yes.”
“I fucking love how much you want this,” I admit when I pull back for a second.
“Keep going,” she pants and I can’t deny her. I put my mouth back and increase the tempo inside her until she screams out my name. Her muscles squeeze down on my fingers, making me wish I had my dick inside her. I grab on to myself as Lilly comes down from her high. I pump myself a few times before she looks back at me. Her eyes drop down to my cock and she smiles. She goes to turn but as good as her mouth will feel right now, what I need is her pussy.
“That can come later. I need to be inside you right now.” She doesn’t argue; she just turns back and sticks her arse higher up in the air, giving me a great view. “Fuck, Lilly. Your body is so fucking sexy right now.”
“Really?’ she asks, showing her first sign of insecurity about her pregnant body.
“Fuck me, yeah. Your curves are fucking perfect.” The second I finish talking, I line myself up against her. “This isn’t going to be gentle,” I warn. We both let out moans as I seat myself inside her.
I hold still for a moment, mainly because it’s been a while for her and I want to make sure she’s ready, but also so I can steady myself a bit. This has been a long time coming and I don’t want it over before it’s really started. I can only hold off so long though, and when I feel her wiggle her arse, the only thing I can do is start to move.
“I’m going to own this arse on day soon, Lilly,” I warn. She groans in response so I take that as an approval.
Falling For Lucas (Falling Book 6) Page 22