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You Can Always Go Home

Page 13

by Rogers, Desiree


  His mouth nuzzled the back of her neck, his hand snaking down between her legs, stroking and petting her swollen lips. “I want to feel you when you come. I want to see it.”

  “I can’t...Luc.” It was getting harder to breathe, a ribbon of craving tightening in her belly, her toes curled. A gleam of sweat broke out on her body, their skin sliding and slipping against each other.

  He chuckled, the sound husky and coarse with arousal. “You can.”

  A rough finger stroked over her, two fingers spreading her open, another one stroking over her engorged, sensitive clit.

  “Oh...god...” the ribbon coiled in her stomach was tighter now, wound so taut it was going to break. She bended back, her feet digging into his shins. One hand gripped the comforter, twisting it into a tight ball as her body strained towards him, towards the pulsing pleasure he was giving her.

  “That’s it. Just like that.” His voice was guttural now, nearly a growl in her ear as he caressed her, the finger on her moving stronger now, though the strokes were still slow and steady.

  His hot eyes on her, watching her every move, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. Mouth open in a silent scream, she let go, the waves of pleasure sending shockwaves through her body. Her walls convulsed around him, squeezing in a rhythmic dance. He did growl this time, lifting one of her legs up, his thrusts harder now. She held on as he pounded into her, a harsh groan of masculine satisfaction bursting from his chest as he stiffened in release. He let her leg fall back, harsh breathing filling the room as they recovered.

  Body weak, she listened as his heart settled, his breathing returning to normal. Her hand released its grip on his head, dropping back onto the bed. The overwhelming feeling of rightness that swept through her when he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her tight to his chest had her gasping, the air suddenly too thick to breathe.

  "You okay?" Luciano whispered, mouth still very close to Alexina’s ear. A small kiss to the back of her neck sent shivers down her spine. The feeling passed, after she beat it back with a bat. It was enough just to enjoy this.

  She sighed, her body sated in ways she’d never known and turned to face him, one leg thrown over his thick muscular thigh. A blasé smile in place, she looked up at him, “Ummm...I feel great.” She whispered, her voice husky with the desire that was still strumming through her body.

  His head dipped in, his lips capturing hers in a sensual, soul stirring kiss. “Good.” A hard hand slid down her back, gliding through the sheen of sweat that was just starting to fade, cupping her ample bottom. The kiss started to deepen, his tongue moving hungrily in her mouth, the penis resting against her stomach starting to twitch with renewed interest, when the phone next to her bed rang. Ignoring his groan of protest, she grinned and pulled away, reaching over him for the phone. She tried to swat away his hand that was teasing her still erect nipples, her voice breathless as she answered the phone.

  “Hello?” She tried to shift away from his questing mouth, but the hand on her back stayed her, her breasts hanging over his face like an offering to the gods. As his mouth settled on a nipple, she had to stifle a moan. This man was going to drive her crazy.

  “Alexina, this is your father.” Payton growled agitation clear across the phone lines.

  She pulled away from Luciano quickly, as if her father could see her through the phone line. She ignored the gray eyes looking at her questioningly.

  “Hi...” She managed to stutter. “What’s wrong?”

  Impatient with her and her apparent forgetfulness, her father snapped, “Did you forget?”

  The bottom of her stomach dropped out and Alexina was sure at any moment she was going to throw up. “Forget what?” but she knew. She knew exactly what her father was talking about. God, she should have paid better attention to that damn calendar she’d put up in her office.

  “That we were coming to visit this month? We’re outside your door, waiting. We’ve been knocking for 10 minutes now.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Alexina slammed her hands through the arms of her robe, belting it tightly around her.

  “Where’s the fire?” a smoky voice from the bed asked.

  Crap! What was she going to do now? She turned to look at Luciano, propped up on one elbow, watching her with interest in his eyes. She gave him what she hoped was a bland smile, a hand running through her hair, trying to calm some of the flyways.

  Maybe if she talked fast enough, she could get her father and stepmother out the house and no one would be the wiser. Alexina did not want to have to explain to her father why a man was in her bed. According to him, she was still supposed to be in mourning. “I’m just going to get something eat. I’ll be right back.” She turned and fled, closing the door firmly behind her.

  She hurried to the door, swinging it open, a smile plastered on her face. “Dad, why didn’t you call?”

  “Your dad wanted to surprise you.” Sharise chuckled, smoothing down a wrinkle on her linen sheath.

  “Oh...well it is a surprise.” She gritted her teeth, her knees shaking. She wondered if she could keep her father from coming in. She prayed that Luc would stay in the bedroom.

  “Are you going to let us in or are we going to stand in the hall?” Peyton asked voice gruff with annoyance.

  Damn, there went that wish. She ushered them in, hands shaking as she ran them through her hair. Maybe she could stall, “Well, I’m not really dressed...”

  “I can see that. It’s the middle of the day and you’re still in your robe?” his eyes held a note of disapproval.

  Alexina bristled at his tone, the need to defend herself roaring in her blood. “I’ve been working.”

  “On what? Decorating?” Peyton waved a dismissive hand around the room, before whirling around, his face demanding.

  “Peyton, I’m sure she’s been busy with other things.” Sharise jumped in, trying to diffuse what was rapidly becoming a hostile situation.

  She had to take several deep breaths to keep her temper in check. “Why don’t you let me get ready and we can meet up at your hotel in an hour?”

  Alexina started to move towards the door, desperate to get them out before the figured out why she was in her bathrobe. The bedroom door creaked open, and she froze as Luc stepped out, the entire group turning to stare at him. This was exactly what she’d hoped to avoid. She’d known that if she’d told Luc her father was in town, he would want to meet him, introduce himself and she was not ready for that. Now, because she hadn’t said anything, he was strolling around her house, half-naked while her father stared at him with murder in his eyes. She was such an idiot!

  Head bent, his attention fixed on buttoning his shirt, he didn’t notice everyone staring at him, or the thickening tension in the room. “I was thinking we could-” looking up, he stopped short.

  The narrowing of her father’s eyes, his body going rigid with building fury, dashed the hope that this would blow over. “Who is this?” Her father’s voice cracked like a whip, her body flinching in response.

  She tilted her head back, defiance ringing in her voice. “Dad, this is Luc.” Luc stepped forward, his hand out, an awkward smile in place.

  Her father didn’t even glance at the hand offered, his mouth set in a thin line. “What the hell is going on?” Angry brown tiger eyes jumped from her to him. Sharise gripped his arm tight, anxiety tightening the skin around her eyes.

  Luc stepped back, face flushed with embarrassment. He looked over at Alexina, apologetic. “Maybe I should go.”

  “That would be a good idea.” Peyton growled shoulders tense.

  “No, this is my home, you stay.” Alexina was scared, but she wasn’t going to let her father know it. This was not going to be like the others fights they’d had and subconsciously, she needed the support of Luc being there to bolster her confidence. “Who are you to question me in my home?” she met her father’s gaze head on.

  “Have you no shame girl?” her father’s large body advanced on her “You j
ust put your husband in the ground no less than six months ago!”

  Sharise gasped her eyes wide with dismay. “Peyton-”

  Her hands gripped her robe, and she had to fight back tears of hurt and disappointment “How dare you!” she hissed “This none of your business.” When had it come to this? When had her father’s opinion of her sunk so low that he would think something so cruel of her? It didn’t matter that at times she felt the same way, often thought the same thing. Her father was supposed to love her and protect her. She felt her heart break at the look of disgust in his eyes. So, this was it then.

  “I’m your father and this is my business!” He shifted, his body taking the fighter stance, year of military training coming out. “You’ve been so busy being loose and secretive, have you even bothered to check that safety deposit box of Donald’s?”

  Alexina could only stare at him, blindsided by his statement “What-?”

  “They sent a letter to the house, asking if you were going to come clean it out anytime soon. They want the space back.” He shook a finger at her, grim satisfaction written across his face.

  She wasn’t going to let him see the guilt in her now. Later, when he was gone, she would let it all out; let herself feel the biting pain of her father abandoning her. “Are you reading my mail now?”

  “How else am I supposed to know what’s going in your life? You move across the country and you barely call me. You don’t tell me anything!” Naked pain and regret flashed across his face, before he pulled it back, his face a cold mask of indifference.

  “How does it feel? How does it feel to have your whole life changed and have no one tell you till after it’s done?” she yelled, the loose she grip she’d had on her emotions breaking, letting the flood of hurt and rejection sweep her up. Everything she’d been holding onto she was letting go. What was the point of keeping it all in when it wasn’t going to matter, when it didn’t make a difference?

  Sharise moved, her eyes large with confusion. She stood between Peyton and Alexina, her honey eyes fixed on her step-daughter. “What are you talking about Lexi?”

  Peyton’s whole body tensed, his arm grabbing onto Sharise’s elbow. “Honey-”

  “You should know! It’s all about you. Always has been.” Alexina was past the point of caring. It was all her fault. The reason her father never looked at her with love, never talked to her with pride in his voice.

  “I don’t understand.” Sharise shook her head, hands twisting in front her, face tight with agitation. “What are you talking about?”

  “Alexina-” Her father started sharply.

  “I mean, why else would my father marry you and not tell me until after everything was said and done?”

  The entire room went silent; the only sound in the room the harsh breathing of Alexina as she stared at the shocked look on Sharise’s face and the horrified betrayed look on her father’s face. Surprisingly, she didn’t feel any better at her outburst. It seemed that the heavy feeling in her heart was just getting worse.

  Sharise gaped at her with wet eyes, “I didn’t-”

  She might as well finish what she’d started. “One of my cousins who was at the wedding told me about it. I had to call my father and have it confirmed. I never knew he was dating.”

  Sharise turned to stare at Peyton, her eyes narrowed with rage. “You never told her?”

  Peyton gulped, his eyes bulged with trepidation. “I-”

  “All these years and I thought she just hated me because she thought I was trying to take her mother’s place!” She roared; hand on her hips, eyes shooting fire.

  He reached out, “Honey-”

  “No! I’m going to the hotel.” Turning, she stormed away, the door slamming shut behind her.

  Alexina could only stare at her father, her soul bleak, body limp from the release. Oh god, what had she done? She hadn’t known, had no idea of the truth. Her father stared at her, his eyes full of pain and betrayal. She flinched beneath the stare, fearful of what was to come.

  “I hope you’re satisfied.” One last look and then he turned and walked out.

  She reached out, wanting to take it all back, pull her father into her arms and fix what she’d broken, but she came back empty, her eyes burning with tears unshed.

  “I’m sorry.”

  She jumped, having forgotten all about Luc. She looked at him, humiliated to realize he’d been there the whole time. She wanted him to hold her, ease the pain, but she couldn’t let him in. He’d seen her at her weakest and he probably just felt sorry for her.

  “You should go.” She started to walk past him towards her room.

  His arm shot out, stopping her progress. “You wanna talk about it?”

  She spun away from him, arms crossed over her chest in defense. “NO! I just want you to leave.”

  Luciano held his hand up in a truce “Look, I’m just trying to-”

  Feeling caged, she rounded on him. “You know what, this was a mistake.” That wasn’t true. Having him in her bed had been the earth shattering. Something she’d been dreaming of for years and she’d ruined it by hiding behind secrets. “I should never have let you-”

  He advanced on her so quick, she barely had time to register that he’d moved, his hands tight on her upper arms. “You think you’ve made mistakes?”

  She tried to yank out of his grip, but he had her tight. “Let me go Luc.”

  His eyes were cold and flat, but his voice had her shaking, harsh with anger. “Would you like to know what happened the year after you left?”

  Just the question had her heart in her throat. “I don’t-”

  He dropped her arms and backed away, “That year, it was like I shut down. Nothing mattered to me anymore. You were gone and you hadn’t even told me you were leaving.”

  She did not want to hear this, but she couldn’t stop the train wreck that was about to happen. “I didn’t-”

  “I started drinking again. Nothing too heavy, since I’d already been down that road. I stayed away from the drugs too. Couldn’t afford to end up like dad. I hooked up with this girl. She reminded me of you a bit, I guess that’s why I was interested.” He gave a mocking laugh at that last bit, his mouth twisted.

  “She did?” she managed to squeak out the sentence, but she could see that Luc wasn’t listening to her, his eyes focused inward.

  “We were hot and heavy for a while, at least until she got pregnant. I made her take care of it.” His eyes burned into hers, waiting until the full meaning of his words dawned on her.

  She backed away, her mind whirling with what his statement meant and the guilt she felt for it. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “The only person who knew what had happened was my mother. It was the only time I had ever seen my mother give me the same look she used to give my father when he came home drunk. That look of disappointment and sadness and betrayal. It was like a slap in the face.” He moved back over to her, his eyes bright with some indefinable emotion.

  “Luciano-”

  “Why don’t you call me Luc anymore? Sometimes you slip up and call me Luc and it’s like the sun shining. Then other times, most of the time, you call me Luciano and it feels like I’m drowning in quicksand.” The tone of his voice changed, soft and caressing, the pleading undertone flooding her with guilt.

  “What am I supposed to say to all this?” she cried out, knee buckling under the pressure. So much was happening at once and she couldn’t concentrate on anything. Luc was telling her everything she’d ever wanted to hear and her mind wouldn’t focus. “I...can’t deal with this right now.” She shifted towards her bedroom, suddenly needing to lie down.

  His eyes widened, his hand held out in a pleading gesture. “Lexi-”

  She jumped away, her hands to her heart. “Don’t-I just need to be alone. Please...please.” She sank to her knees, heart about to burst in her chest. Only love could make her feel like this she thought hysterically.

  “Fine. Before I go, I want to sh
ow you something.” He bent down over her and reached into his shirt, pulling out a silver chain with a small diamond pendant hanging from it. “I remember the day you gave me this chain. It was our three-month anniversary. You gave me something else that day too, remember? I told you then that I would always be there for you and that you would always have my heart.”

  Alexina shook her head, the memory of that beautiful night they’d made love under the stars bursting behind her eyes. She remembered, but she didn’t want to. Not now, when everything was falling apart.

  He huffed and straightened “You may not remember, but I sure as hell do. You’re not the only one who’s hurting.”

  He turned and stormed out of the condo.

  ~***~

  Peyton drove back to the hotel, the silence in the car deafening. He gripped the wheel tightly, “Sharise-”

  “I don’t want to hear it.” She twisted her face toward the window, her profile stiff.

  “I can-”

  “How do you plan on explaining it? You never told her we were getting married? All this time and you never said a word!” she kept her face averted, hands twisting in her lap.

  How was he going to explain this? How could he explain the feelings that he’d been drowning in before their marriage. “I didn’t think-”

  This time she did turn to him, her gold eyes blazing. “That’s right, you didn’t! How could you? Do you have any idea of the damage you did by your actions?”

  The car went quiet, each of them sinking into their own world. Peyton pulled the car into the hotel parking lot. He opened his mouth to speak, but Sharise jumped out of her seat, slamming the car door as she walked off to their room.

  Peyton came in the door a moment later, his face haggard. He sat down in the nearest chair, a weary hand rubbing over his face. He watched Sharise stomp around the room, her movements angry, muttering under her breath. Taking a deep breath, he began speaking, “The day my son died it was like my whole life ended. I still had my wife and daughter, but the hole was too big. I shut them out. I couldn’t beat the pain and I didn’t want any help either. When my wife Savannah died, I was so numb I could barely function. I had just started to dig myself out that hole and life kicked me back in. All I had left was my daughter. I couldn’t lose her too, so I shut it all away.”

 

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