by Lara Norman
Luna didn’t want to be friends with Sophia. If she could, she’d hide from her for the rest of her life. “He gave me the key card to his building.”
“Good.” Iris patted Luna’s knee.
Neither of them spoke for a few minutes, and Luna decided to go up and get dressed. She thought about what her mother said and knew it was true. She’d have to face Sophia if she wanted to be with Davis, if for no other reason than because they couldn’t ignore his parents forever. He would want to visit them, and he’d want to bring her sometimes. She would have to learn to be okay with that, or become one hell of an actor. The truth was, Davis deserved for her to make it right.
She sighed as she pulled on a sweater and thick leggings. The house was a tad chillier than she preferred, but that was how they liked it. She heard the doorbell while she was brushing her hair and assumed it was friends dropping by. Not wanting to intrude, she spent a minute brushing her teeth and finding a pair of socks that would keep her toes warm.
By the time she made it down the stairs again, the living room was empty. She passed through and into the kitchen where she found her mom and dad eating. She sat at the table with them and reached for more tea.
“Who was at the door?” she asked.
Chester smiled. “A delivery for you.”
Luna paused with the teapot hovering over her cup. “What?”
“It’s in the living room. Didn’t you see it? Can’t miss it.”
Luna looked oddly at her father, but got up with her heart in her throat. She hoped it was Davis, that he’d missed her so much he’d ditched his parents to come see her. But she would have seen him when she came downstairs.
She leaned around the corner and saw nothing. Not until she moved closer to the front door did she see a large square parcel propped against the wall. With a frown, she read the sticker in the corner with her name and the address of the yellow house. She remembered Davis saying he’d sent something else, but she had no idea what it was.
She finally decided to go for it and ripped the paper off the object. It was a very detailed painting depicting a garden wedding. There was an arbor covered in flowers, white wicker chairs, and tables with floral centerpieces. She could see motes floating in the sunlight and wildflowers growing in the background. A bouquet of them rested on one of the chairs. She realized she was crying again as she stood there staring at it.
She found a note taped to the cardboard that protected the corners. She opened it and read it. Davis had spotted the painting and immediately thought of the way she’d described their wedding. He wanted her to know he would give her the world, including any kind of wedding of which she might dream. He missed her and wanted her to know someone would be coming by the following day to repackage the painting and take it back to hang it in their bedroom.
Luna felt such an ache in her chest for him in that moment. She wanted everything with him, and he wanted it, too. The only thing that stood in their way was his mother. Could she be strong enough to clear that obstacle? It seemed she would have to, or they were doomed before they made it much farther.
“Oh, that’s the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen.” Iris stood behind her. “It reminds me of our backyard in summer.”
Luna knuckled a tear from her eye. “It is, Mom. It’s the wedding I told him I visioned.”
“Baby, that’s such a sweet gesture.” Iris wrapped an arm around Luna from behind. “Where will you hang it?”
Luna pointed to the note. “He says he wants to hang it in our bedroom and then give me the actual wedding.”
Iris sighed. “Davis is good at grand gestures.”
“I think you’re right.”
“Well.” Iris stepped away again. “Are you going to come eat?”
“Sure.”
She intended to join them in the kitchen, but she couldn’t stop staring at her future.
Chapter 23
Davis sat in the kitchen at his parents’ estate. He was hiding from his mother, despite it being the day after Christmas. He’d seen her that morning, they’d exchanged pleasantries, and it had been very cordial. She tried to be warm toward her only child, but he’d refused her.
Since he was now positive it was she that said something to warn off or otherwise dishearten Luna, he was pissed. She had no right to meddle with his life, his future. To think she had the gall to tell Luna she wasn’t good enough for Davis made his blood boil. Luna had tried to tell him his parents didn’t like her without badmouthing his mother, and he hadn’t even believed her. He’d brushed off her concerns when he should have pressed for more information.
He was lucky she’d pushed past that. He could see why she wanted their relationship to remain under wraps. His parents could easily see them in the papers and put two and two together. Luna had worried they’d be discovered and something would happen to separate them.
“Thanks, Evelyn,” he said to the cook as she set a cup of coffee and a croissant on the table.
“You hiding, young man?”
He looked up at Evelyn, with her fisted hands propped on her ample hips. “Yes?”
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
He shrank back in his seat. “Telling you. I’m hiding.”
“Why?” She moved away from him and he relaxed. “Who’s bothering you?”
“Nothing you can do about it, Evelyn.” He watched steam puff up in her face as she lifted the lid of the pot on the stove.
“Bullshit. I have a big ol’ wooden spoon. Whose ass do I need to beat?”
He chuckled. “It’s my mother.”
“Oh.” She paused, seemed to deflate as she put the lid back. “Screw that.”
“Like I said.” He tore off a piece of the croissant and let it practically melt on his tongue. “These are amazing.”
“I know it.”
He chuckled again. “You’re a jewel, Ev.”
“Know that, too.” She kissed the top of his head as she passed behind his chair.
Tabitha entered the kitchen. “Door’s for you, Mr. Davis.”
He frowned. “Who is it?”
“I can’t say.”
“What kind of answer is that?” He pushed back his chair and got to his feet. “Can you bring them back here?”
“Yes, Mr. Davis.”
“Stop calling me that!” he shouted at her retreating back.
Evelyn snorted. “She ain’t gonna stop calling you that ‘til you’re the one signing her paychecks.”
Davis sighed and remained by the table in anticipation. He didn’t really know anybody in Richmond, but he supposed it could be a minor acquaintance that heard he was in town.
“He’s straight through here, Miss.”
His jaw dropped when he spotted familiar red hair.
“Thank you.” Luna turned from addressing Tabitha and smiled shyly.
“What in the hell . . .” He sprinted across the space that separated them and grabbed her in a hard hug. “Why are you here instead of at your parents’?”
“I couldn’t stand the thought of being away from you after they delivered the painting. It’s simply perfect.”
He hugged her again, hardly able to comprehend that she was really there. “It’s such a long drive, Luna. Aren’t you exhausted?”
She nodded against him. “It was worth it.”
He looked over Luna’s head at Tabitha. “Is there a guest room ready that she can use?”
“Mr. Davis, I have placed Miss Luna’s belongings in your room.”
Davis caught the woman’s grin, though she tried to straighten it out and appear solemn.
He took Luna’s face in his hands. “Damn right, you’re staying with me.” He kissed her gently before taking her hand in his. “Let’s go upstairs so you can rest.” He caught Tabitha’s eye again. “She’s not here until she’s rested.”
He needn’t have used the stern tone of voice; Tabitha would keep their secret. “Of course not.”
Davis ushered Luna up the back st
aircase and to the third floor. She looked around her at the massive house and gilded accent pieces. “This house is even bigger than I imagined.”
“All the easier to hide away in.”
He opened the door to his room and let her step in before he closed the door behind both of them. He turned the lock.
“Do you want a shower, or to sleep? Should I have gotten you something to eat before we left the kitchen?”
Luna put up her hand to stop him. “I just want you to hold me.”
“That’s easy enough.”
He brought her back into the circle of his arms and held on. She rested her head on his shoulder; he sighed in contentment.
“Not that I’m even considering complaining, but what really made you come? You could have thanked me for the painting when we got home.”
Her arms tightened. “I was upstairs when it arrived. When Dad told me I had a special delivery, I thought it was you coming to surprise me.”
“Fuck, I wish I’d thought of it.”
“It’s okay. I saw the painting, the perfect representation of our future, and I couldn’t stand the thought of being away from you.” She gripped the material of his shirt in her hands. “Especially since I have something to tell you.”
“I already know.”
Luna pulled away enough to look at him. “You do?”
“I talked to my parents when I arrived and told them about you. Dad is completely thrilled, but Mom . . . not so much. I saw the way she pretended to be happy for me, but she couldn’t quite convince me. I spent yesterday being a good son and acting like I’m not furious with her, but I couldn’t do it anymore. I was hiding from her in the kitchen.”
Luna rubbed circles over his back. “Have you asked her about it?”
“No.”
“Okay, well, um.” She released Davis and spun away to pace his room. It appeared to be the size of her entire apartment. “That time they visited, about four years ago,” she began.
“I fucking knew it. I’m sorry I didn’t listen when you tried to tell me. What did they say?”
She shook her head. “Not they. Her. You went to the bathroom and your dad went to get a drink from the fridge.” Luna sucked in air. “She said I’m a gold digger.”
He swore viciously. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“And that if I were to date you, she’d disinherit you. I’ve tried for so long not to love you; I just wanted what’s best for you.”
“You’re what’s best for me!” he exploded.
She shrugged and wiped at the tears she couldn’t stop from falling. “Maybe. The point is, I knew you were working toward getting hired in your dad’s company. I didn’t want you to be cut off when you were following their rules and going to college, trying to do good in the world with your allowance.”
“Jesus, it always comes down to money somehow, doesn’t it?”
“I never wanted it to. I don’t want it, but I won’t tell you how to spend it.”
He scrubbed his hands over his face. “So when I wanted you so badly a few months ago that I suggested friends with benefits, why did you agree?”
“I’m so weak.” She gave a humorless laugh. “I’d spent too many years fighting my need for you, and I had a weak moment. We’d both just started working, and we weren’t seeing each other as much. I wanted to see if we would be as good together as you always knew we would.”
“We were.”
“We are. And then you got the job you wanted, so what was I supposed to do? Let your mother cut you off at the knees because I was too weak to stay away?”
“God, baby.” Davis pulled her into his embrace again. “I can’t blame you, but you should have told me.”
“I’m sorry. I thought if I was happy with someone, you’d stop worrying about me and find someone else.”
“I wouldn’t have stopped loving you if Luther had turned out to be your one true love. I would have suffered.”
She made a distressed sound. “That’s why I gave in. We were both unhappy with how things had turned out, and I knew I could at least make you happy for a little while. I expected it all to come crumbling down around us.”
“But you agreed to move in with me. You described our wedding.”
“Told you I’m weak.”
He kissed her. “You’re not weak.”
“For you, I am. I can’t live without you. I planned to tell you when we got back and moved in, but I realized yesterday morning that it couldn’t wait one more day.”
Davis placed kisses along the side of her neck. “We’ll have to have a talk with them both.”
“Not today.” She tilted her head to give him better access.
“No, not today.”
He picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. Luna looked around her in shock when he set her down on the vanity. “This is ridiculous.”
“It is,” he agreed. “But you’ll love the benefits.”
“What benefits?”
Davis turned on the waterfall showerhead.
“Oh, those benefits.”
While the water ran, Davis peeled off his clothes. Not to be outdone, Luna removed her sweater and bra, standing to toe off her shoes and pull off the rest of her clothes. They came together, kissing and groping before he maneuvered them into the shower. The heat of the water felt good on her muscles after sitting in the car for so many hours. Davis touching her body felt magnificent after so many days without him.
He kept her away from the majority of the spray so he could pin her to the wall. All he really could think of was having her nipple in his mouth, so he started there. She gasped and fisted his hair, so he knew he’d hit the right spot.
“Oh God, Davis. Please, just fuck me.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice.”
He lifted one of her legs and angled it so he could push into her.
“God, yes. Please, I need you to fill me.”
“When did you get so talkative?”
“Too tired to care.”
He conceded that point and thrust faster. Her upper back and head were the only parts of her making contact with the tiles. Luna held onto his biceps and he held onto her hips, a give and take that brought them closer to climax.
“Can’t take it. Fuck, oh, Davis. Davis.”
He hissed when her inner muscles clamped down around his cock, and he released her hips to slap his hands by her head. He fused his mouth to hers as he emptied inside her, feeling lightheaded and hollowed out.
“I missed you so much.” He kissed her lightly and urged her under the water.
“I can tell.” She grinned at him before closing her eyes and letting the water fall on her head.
“You’re beautiful, Luna. You’re just stunning.”
“Mm.” She held him to her. “I’m never going to get used to you saying that.”
“You will if I have anything to say about it.” He got some of his body wash and stroked it over her shoulders and down her arms. “Did you even sleep?”
“I stopped at a rest stop for a few hours. They had a security guard, so I felt safe.”
“Christ,” he muttered. “Of course, you could potentially knock a guy out with these muscles.”
She grinned as he worked the lather over her shoulders and down to her ass. He got more soap and focused on the front, careful not to arouse her again. She needed to sleep more than he needed round two.
“You’re glad I’m here.”
“Yes.”
“You love me.”
“Yes.”
“Your mom isn’t going to stop us from getting married.”
“Hell, no, but would you give me a minute to propose?”
Her eyes fluttered open. “Now?”
He chuckled as he ran his hands up her legs. “No, sweetheart.”
“Oh.” She stuck her bottom lip out and he sucked it into his mouth.
“But if we’re not careful, you won’t make it into bed.”
“Bed sounds he
avenly.”
“Yeah, so no sticking that lip out. I can’t resist it.”
He turned her until she was completely rinsed and turned off the water, then grabbed the towel hanging on the rack outside the shower and wrapped her up.
“Your bed awaits, madam.”