Unspeakable Lies

by Alice Tribue

  “Ev, you ready?” Luca calls from the living room. I toss my phone in my bag and make my way out to him.

  “I’m ready,” I say reaching the living room. For the last two days, we’ve been going on mini outings aka dates to get coffee, the movies, and now dinner. It’s our way of taking things slow and being respectful, even though at times we just want to rip each other’s clothes off.

  “You look beautiful, baby,” he tells me, and I melt because Luca makes me feel beautiful in a way that no one ever has. It’s the way he looks at me, like no one else exists, like no one else can compare to me, and I love it. He takes my hand and leads me out to his car, a cherry red pickup truck; he opens my door and waits till I’ve buckled my belt before closing it.

  “You good with Italian,” he questions, fastening his own seatbelt.

  “Sounds good.”

  He turns up the music, and we drive in silence. It gives me the chance to think through what’s just happened and come to terms with how drastically my life has changed. When we reach the restaurant, Luca comes around and helps me out of the car; he holds my hand and leads me inside. The strangeness of this is not lost on me—being here with my husband’s best friend—and how it would look to anyone who knows us.

  “Ev? How are you doing with everything that you’ve learned in the last few weeks?” Luca asks after we are seated and have placed our orders. I sip on my sweet red wine mulling the question over in my head.

  “I’m dealing with it, starting to process that things weren’t always what they seemed.”

  “I am sorry you know.” I hear the sincerity in his voice, and I know he wouldn’t have wanted me to go through this upheaval, but none of this was in his control.

  “I know you are and this helps.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I just… Every day I wake up and I hope to see something different. I hope that it was all just a bad dream and then I realize it’s not and I can’t help but wonder if I made a mistake.”

  “A mistake how?”

  “A mistake in falling in love with the wrong man.”

  “Ev…”

  “He loves me, Luca. I know that, I have never doubted that not even once. But he also lied, and I deserved to know the truth and there are times when I think that I deserved more. I deserved someone who could be honest, someone who would love me enough to trust me. I would never have judged him. He has an addiction, and I can see that. I can rationalize it, and I would have stood by him. But I would have liked to do it with eyes wide open. I didn’t deserve what I got.”

  “No you didn’t.”

  “He’s filing for divorce,” I tell him as I finger the rim of my wine glass.

  “He’s doing what?”

  “Yeah, he sent me a text earlier. He said it was for the best.”

  “How do you feel about that?” he probes.

  “I’m sad but I agree. I would have probably waited a little while to spare his feelings, but we based everything on lies and it’s hard to move on from that.”

  He nods, seemingly satisfied by my answer. “I can understand that.”

  “You’re not a rebound, you know? I don’t want you to think that I’m trying to pick up the next guy I saw after my marriage blew up in my face.”

  He gives me a chuckle and a confident smirk. “I know that, baby.”

  I smile back at him, loving how easygoing he is, how he takes everything as it comes and makes it possible for me to maneuver through the messiness of my life.

  We make it back to Luca’s apartment, and I throw my purse down on the kitchen table before turning to face him.

  “I was thinking that maybe I should go stay with Morgan for a while.”

  He removes his jacket, tossing it on a chair. “Why?”

  “This thing between us is new. I’m not divorced yet, and I don’t want it to fizzle out or outstay my welcome because we didn’t take things slow.”

  “I’ve wanted you for four years; how much slower can we get?” he says, walking over to me.

  “You know what I mean,” I declare with very little conviction.

  “Let’s talk about this later,” he says grabbing onto my hips and pulling me to him. His lips are on mine again, and I’m done—done thinking and done fighting. If I’m going down, I’m going with this man who I’ve secretly and subconsciously wanted all along. I go up on my toes to give him better access and cling to him as though my life depends on it. His hands move down my body, grazing my ass and reaching the back of my thighs to haul me up. I wrap my legs around his hips, never breaking the kiss, and the next thing I know we’re on the move. Luca is walking through a doorway and then we’re down on his bed, me on my back and him on top of me.

  My hands are everywhere, tugging his shirt off and desperately exploring the muscles of his back, his hips, his thighs, trying to make myself familiar with every part of him at the same time giving him permission to do the same. His hand rests on my stomach and slowly begins to slide up and underneath my shirt, his touch warming me all over. His thumb swipes at the swell of my breast and my back arches involuntarily, a moan escaping my lips. His fingers graze my nipple, causing a rush of wetness to gather between my legs. It’s never been like this before, where I so recklessly abandon all self-control, where my only focus is on maximizing the sensations and nothing else. He breaks the kiss, and I cry out at the loss of him, I don’t want this to stop. He looks down at me, his face serious but the desire in his eyes is unmistakable. He wants me as much as I want him.

  “Everly, I’m giving you two seconds to get up and walk out of here before I rip your clothes off and bury myself inside of you.”

  His mouth is so close that all I can think of is getting it on me. I suck his lower lip, gently nipping at it before letting go. He needs me to reassure him of my decision. He needs to know that I want him, and I have no problem giving that to him. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Take your shirt off, Ev. Show me that you want this.”

  His voice is hypnotic and soothing, making me want to give him what he wants. Without hesitation I sit up, grabbing the hem of my t-shirt, and pull it over my head. His eyes focus on the black lace of my bra, just his look of lust and hunger sends a jolt of electricity through me. He runs a finger over the scalloped edges of my bra before pulling the cups down to expose my breasts to him completely. There’s no time to protest because his mouth is on me almost instantly, sucking on one breast while working the other one with his fingers, tugging and circling my nipples and making me cry out in pleasure.

  “Luca, please,” I whimper, not recognizing my own voice. I sound desperate and needy, and at the moment, that’s exactly how I feel. I can’t get him close enough; every touch just leaves me wanting more.

  He responds by lifting his torso up and off me, undoing the button on my pants, and tugging them down my legs leaving me in only my underwear. I reach around my back to unfasten the clasp of my bra and shrug it off. I’ve only been this exposed for one other person, and right now, the man standing in front of me blurs all thoughts of him.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he says, eyes locked on mine.

  I’m breathless now, panting for air as his hands go to the waist of his pants. He has them down his legs and off before I can move, and I barely make out the sound of them hitting the floor. The sight of him takes me aback—his bare chest, broad shoulders, and the beautiful muscles that line his abs. My gaze travels down, and I swear I can feel my heart rate quicken. Luca is beautiful, from head to toe, completely and utterly blessed.

  He leans down, placing a kiss on my lips, his hand down my panties causing me to whimper into his mouth. His finger slides through the folds of my wet pussy and my body convulses. The feeling of him caressing me is mind-blowing, almost too much to handle, but I crave it, need more of him, as much as he can give.

  “Fuck, baby, you’re so wet for me.”

  “Condom,” is all I can manage to get out of my mouth. He reaches over to
his nightstand, pulls out a condom, and quickly rolls it on.

  “You’re ready?” he asks looking down at me again.

  “Yes.”

  He pulls my panties down and off in a split second, a gust of cold air hits my naked body before he’s over me again, covering me with his body, and kissing me again.

  “Last chance, baby.”

  “Please, Luca,” I beg, and he positions himself between my legs, his hard cock at my entrance, making me want him all the more. I jut my hips up to let him know exactly what I want, and thankfully, he’s in the mood to give me exactly what I want. He growls as he slides in, filling me up and making me cry out at the initial shock of him there.

  “Fuck, you’re tight,” he strains out.

  I feel free, I feel alive, and moments like these are rare in my life as of late. He looks down at me, assessing the situation, and I can feel the tension in his muscles. His need to make sure I’m all right overshadows his need to move. “You okay?”

  “Yes,” I reply, on a breath. I relax my muscles, allowing myself to acclimate to his size. I lift my head up to capture his lips with mine, tasting his tongue. I grip his shoulders to urge him to go on. Slowly, he begins to move his hips, and I throw my head back, savoring every single sensation that travels through me. Every thrust is like a conduit, lighting me up, setting me on fire, and making me beg for more.

  I lift my legs and one by one wrap them around Luca’s waist, deepening the connection even further. His cock feels impossibly large inside of me, stretching me to the max, enhancing the already intense sensations passing though me. He kisses and suckles at my neck and starts to increase his pace, thrusting his cock harder and faster with every passing moment. I circle my hips, doing my best to meet his movements; I can barely register the sound of my own cries as my pleasure intensifies. I know it’s coming, the buildup of pressure starting in my stomach and shooting out to my nerve endings. He groans in my ear, and I know he’s close.

  “Oh fuck, Everly.”

  “Harder,” I cry, and he complies, thrusting with a relentless rhythm making me delirious. I feel like I’m breaking apart into a million tiny pieces, and I welcome it. I need him to shatter me in order to make me whole again. Our lips crash together again, tongues tangle, and with one final push of his hips, I’m coming undone falling down a spiral of bliss so huge I don’t know if I’ll ever recover. Luca collapses on top of me, and I hold tight to him as his release shoots into me. I hear his grunt of pleasure and can feel the pulse of his cock as he comes, leaving me sated and spent.

  Luca nuzzles my nose with the tip of his. “Jesus Christ.”

  I close my eyes, enjoying the aftershocks of pleasure, and his lips on my mouth, my chin, my neck. I hear him let out a sigh, and I whimper as he slides out of me. He kisses me one last time.

  “I’ll be right back.” He moves out of the bed and walks into the bathroom in order to discard the condom. I close my eyes, letting myself relax and not allowing myself even a moment to think about or regret what just happened. A few minutes later, the bed depresses. My eyes flutter open, and I’m looking up at Luca’s beautiful face.

  “Open your legs, baby,” he commands softly. My pussy spasms at the sound of his words, but I do as he asks and spread for him. He uses a warm rag to clean me up, tossing it on the floor once he’s done. He climbs back into bed, settles into his pillows, wraps an arm around my waist, and pulls me into his body. I like this, like how it feels to be in his arms and in his bed, so I rest my head on his chest, my arm around his waist and relax into him. I close my eyes, and strangely enough, it doesn’t take long for me to let go and fall into a peaceful dreamless sleep.

  The sun is beaming down on me, and I can feel it on my skin through my closed eyelids. Why didn’t I shut the blinds? I’m feeling a little parched, overheated like I’m wrapped up in heavy blankets. I take a minute and open my eyes, looking out the window… not my window. I look down on a sharp intake of breath to find that I’m completely naked. I’m about to freak when I feel movement behind me, an arm thrown over then tightening around my waist…Luca.

  The events of last night come flooding back—our date, us coming back here and making love.

  “I know you’re awake, Ev.”

  I catch my breath at the sound of his voice then slowly turn around to face him. He looks unreal first thing in the morning—hair tousled, sleepy eyes, and a sexy grin. My heart flutters just looking at him. “Hi,” I whisper.

  He smiles at me, sending a rush of warmth right through me. He looks happy that I’m here and that thought makes a little bit of my embarrassment fall away. “Hi.” His lips come down to mine, and he gives me a chaste kiss.

  I use his silence as my opening. “Luca.”

  He cuts me off with another kiss, this one deeper, hotter. And just like that, I want him again. I open my eyes when he breaks the kiss to find him smiling again. He clearly sees the humor in this situation.

  “Babe, whatever’s running through your mind right now, let it go. We had a good time last night, and that’s all that matters.”

  “No, I know. It’s just that…”

  “Just what?” he probes, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

  “I’ve never really done this before, I’ve only been with one other person. I’m not sure what happens now.”

  He pushes slightly off me, still hovering but now looking more than inviting.

  “You feel something for me, and I know sure as shit that I feel something for you. This wasn’t about just fun, but it also doesn’t have to be so complicated. This was us breaking down a barrier, and now we can explore what’s between us.”

  His reply scares me while at the same time making me happy. How do I reconcile the fact that a few months ago I thought I hated this man? And now I’m here occupying his bed and wanting so badly for it to not end. “This is bad.”

  “What?” he questions, shaking his head.

  “Oh shit.” I’m panicking; so many obstacles stand in the way of Luca and me developing a relationship. He’s my husband’s best friend. I have a husband, and I know that I left him last night and technically I’m free to move on with whoever I want, but I know how people talk and I don’t want to deal with that.

  “Everly, don’t go there.”

  “But…”

  “No, we did nothing wrong. You walked away from him, and you ended it. Have you changed your mind?”

  “No.”

  “Then we’re fine.”

  “Luca.” It’s a plea. I need him to untangle the mess in my head, to unravel the ball of knots in my stomach and tell me that everything is going to be all right, that we can get to know each other without worrying about what the potential for disaster is.

  “We did nothing wrong,” he says again. He cups my chin with his hand forcing me to look him in the eye. “I want you, you want me; he asked for a divorce, there’s nothing to stand in our way. If I have to, I’ll handle Tyler.”

  “Okay,” I breathe out, feeling slightly better.

  “Are we good?”

  I nod my head, and his forehead drops to mine. His eyes are heated, and his voice is husky as his hand slips down my torso and cups my sex. “We don’t have to figure anything out today.” His fingers find my already swollen clit and start circling. Instinctively, my hand comes up and I hold onto his neck, keeping him connected to me. “All that we need to do today is this. Enjoy what we have right now.”

  “Yes.” I sigh, loving the feel of his hands on me.

  His lips come down possessively, taking mine in his, and suddenly, I’m all for his plan for the day. In fact, his plan for the day is exactly what I want.

  For the next two days, Luc and I are literally inseparable, both of us barely getting out of bed. We are living in a bubble of our own creation, and it’s been amazing. Our bubble burst this morning when Luca was called into work. He’s been doing per diem hours at a local law firm, and he couldn’t say no. I decided to use the free time to go to
my house and pack more of my things since I’ve been walking around in nothing but Luca’s t-shirt for the past few days. I pull into the driveway instead of the garage since I’m not planning to stay for more than a few minutes. I barely make it out of the car before I sense someone behind me. I turn to find two men I’ve never seen before standing in my driveway, two huge men.

  “Mrs. West?”

  “Yes, can I help you?”

  “We’re looking for your husband, Mrs. West.”

  “He’s not here, and I haven’t seen him in days. Can I give him a message?”

  “Yeah, we have a message.”

  I never see it coming. His fist connects with my jaw, and I’m down, my head barely misses the concrete as I cry out in pain.

  “Wait,” I plead. “Please, I don’t know anything.” I try to get off the ground but one of them pushes me down while the other one kicks me. He shows no mercy as the metal tip of his boot connects with my gut. The pain is so sharp that it radiates through me, like being stabbed with a knife. He kicks me again and again, and I think I may pass out from the pain. I’m not sure how long it goes on, but I’m filled with relief when it finally stops, only to have him pull me up to my knees by my hair. His face is close to mine, not caring that I can see his face, not caring that he’s likely broken a rib. There is no remorse, not on either of their faces, and this is what Tyler has brought to our door.

  “Tell your husband to come see us, Mrs. West, because if we have to come back, no one will be able to recognize that pretty little face of yours.” He releases me and I fall to the ground never shedding a tear. I wait until I hear the sound of the car pulling away before struggling to my feet and picking up my purse from where it landed on the grass. I pull out my cell and search for the number hitting send once I’ve found it.

  “Hey baby, you okay?”

  “Luca, I need your help.”

  “Ev? What happened, what’s wrong?”

  I quickly recap what happened, and he loses it.

  “Motherfucker. I’m going to kill Tyler myself. Get in the house, baby, lock the doors and stay away from any windows. I’m on my way, okay?”