“Elise?”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t hear a word I just said, did you?” Jax asked, looking smug.
“No, sorry. I was…”
“Picturing Luca naked?” Jax offered. He wasn’t wrong. Didn’t mean I was about to admit it though. “Don’t worry, I was too.”
“And, with that, let’s eat,” Luca said, changing the topic.
It was weird. Luca and Jax didn’t shut up as they ate. I might as well not even been there. For two guys who had absolutely nothing in common, they were talking a hell of a lot of crap. When Luca invited Jax to Phoebe’s birthday party, I choked on my wine. Even more so when Jax agreed.
“You know it’s a three-year-old’s birthday party. The food will be fairy bread and meat pies,” I confirmed, wanting Jax to know exactly what he was getting into.
“It’s a family birthday party. It’s just going to have a unicorn cake and more marshmallows than any human should be allowed to consume,” Luca redefined. When I looked at him with questions written all over my face, he continued. “Jax is family. He should be there.”
“And I will be.” Jax smiled widely.
I knew how important being accepted was to Jax. So many times he’d been tossed aside because of who he was. Having Luca accept him without question just confirmed how freaking perfect he was.
After dinner was done, I shooed them into the lounge while I cleaned up. Seeing them sitting there, shooting the shit, made my heart soar. Luca fit so seamlessly into my life it was like he’d always been there. Wiping my hands, I tossed the tea towel on the bench and went to join them. A normal person would’ve been able to walk into the lounge room and sit down without any drama. Not me though. That’d just be way too easy. I tripped on the pair of heels I’d dropped by the couch, twisted and fell into Jax’s lap with a thud.
“Shit, Elise!” Jax exclaimed, adjusting me in his lap.
“Are you okay?” Luca asked.
I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. Only I could humiliate myself by tripping over my own shoes.
“I’m fine,” I grumbled as I scrambled off Jax’s lap.
Luca reached out and grabbed my wrist, gently tugging me towards him. When he settled me into his lap, I tried to wriggle off, but he wasn’t having it.
“What happened?”
“I tripped over my bloody shoes! See, Jax? I told you they were going to kill me!” I was blaming Jax, after all, it was all his fault. He was the one who made me buy them for the event the other night and somehow, I’d survived.
“Blame the shoes,” Jax teased.
“They looked damn good on,” Luca offered before leaning up and whispering into my ear, “and they were pretty damn hot digging into my arse too.”
I couldn’t believe he’d said that. Well I could, but I didn’t think he’d say something like that with Jax sitting there. Obviously, their bromance was blossoming, and I had a sinking feeling I was going to be the butt of many of their jokes. Bastards.
“And on that note, Elise, I’m going to love you and leave you,” Jax announced, rising from his chair.
“You’re not staying?” I asked, but it came out as a whine.
“Not tonight.”
I can’t remember the last time Jax didn’t stay. Things were changing, I guess. I didn’t know if I liked it or if I was ready for it, but it seemed Jax was making the decision for me. Something to be thankful for I suppose.
“Oh. Okay.”
“You’re coming on Saturday, right?” Luca asked.
“Yeah. I’ll bring Elise, but I’m assuming you’d be okay with making sure she gets home?”
“I think I can manage that,” Luca agreed with a wink.
“Excuse me, but I’m sitting right here,” I reminded them.
Jax blew a kiss in my direction, and Luca squeezed my thigh. “We know, beautiful,” Luca cooed, trying to dig himself out of trouble.
Jax grabbed his phone and keys from the kitchen bench before coming over and kissing my forehead and shaking Luca’s hand.
“Enjoy the week, man. It’ll be an awesome game.”
“Thanks.”
Once Jax was gone, I snuggled deeper into Luca’s arms and closed my eyes while he twisted my hair around his fingers. We didn’t talk, but we didn’t need to. We just lay there in comfortable silence.
“Stand up for a second,” Luca said, causing my eyes to flicker open. It was probably a good thing. I was only seconds away from falling asleep.
On my feet, I stretched, hearing a crack as I rolled my neck from side to side. Luca toed off his shoes leaving his feet bare. I don’t know when I’d started to find bare feet sexy, but there was something about Luca’s feet which had me questioning who I was. Lying down across the couch, his shirt rode up, exposing those abs that made me stupid.
“Stop licking your lips like that,” Luca grumbled, reaching for me again.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m an ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day.”
“You mean, you aren’t?”
“Elise…”
“Yes, Luca?”
“You’re teasing me.”
“Am I?” I asked, dropping to my knees.
When I walked my fingers across the bulge in his sweats, Luca groaned, dropping his head back against the arm of the couch. Feeling him thicken beneath my fingers pumped up my confidence. Luca’s hand snaked down and cupped my cheek, making me lean into his touch. When I looked up at him, he was staring at me with dark, lust-filled eyes.
I tugged down his sweats, and his proud cock popped out. It was long, hard and oh so tempting. Spying the bead of pre cum balanced on the tip, I snaked my tongue out and lapped it up, tasting the salty, musky taste that was uniquely Luca. A taste that I’d come to crave.
“Elise…” My name was a gravelly plea as it fell from his lips.
Ignoring his weeping dick, I worked his sweatpants down his legs, Luca lifting his arse to help me. When they were out of the way, I reached up and rolled his balls in my hand. I was tripping on the power when Luca’s hips lifted, searching for more.
Wrapping my hand around his shaft, I stroked him from root to tip. As I stroked, I watched his face as pleasure took over. Leaning forward, I wrapped my lips around him and swallowed as much as I could take. Luca was big, something I really enjoyed when he was pushing inside me, but it meant I couldn’t take him all. I sucked and slurped, working him with my hands and mouth as much as I could.
Luca’s grip on my hair tightened as his cock grew. A minute later, Luca’s restraint snapped and he was fucking my face like a man on a mission. Moaning around his cock, I traced my tongue around the head as Luca’s fingers dug into my scalp.
“I’m gonna…”
He didn’t even get the rest of his sentence out. He exploded with a grunt, flooding my mouth. Swallowing it down, I smacked my lips together, licking them clean barely a second before Luca hauled me up and shoved his tongue down my throat.
“That was…”
I looked up at him, meeting his sleepy, satisfied eyes. “Delicious?”
“I was going to say fucking incredible.”
“That too.”
“You know I wasn’t expecting you to do that.”
“I know. But I wanted to,” I told him with a shrug.
“Thank you.” He kissed me again. “Come on. Let’s go to bed.”
“You’re staying?” I asked, surprised.
“If that’s okay,” Luca replied, sounding unsure.
“Of course.”
When Luca stood up and lifted me off my feet, I squeaked. Adjusting me in his arms, he carried me down the hallway, bridal style, pausing to flick the lights before setting me down on my bed. Stripping off his shirt and pants, he crawled into my bed and held the covers back.
“Come on, beautiful. I want to snuggle.”
How was a girl supposed to turn that down?
Chapter Thirty-One – Luca
Today was the
day.
The end of an era.
I was terrified.
I was excited.
I was ready.
Chapter Thirty-Two – Elise
The crowd was electric.
The noise was deafening.
The atmosphere was incredible.
Jax picked me up this morning and we’d gone for brunch. After stuffing myself on pancakes and eggs, yep I was eating my emotions, we’d arrived at the stadium early. I think my fidgeting was driving Jax crazy.
I’d been worried I’d gone overboard with my outfit, but as I pushed through the turnstiles at the gate, I realised I had nothing to worry about. I was wearing a jersey with Luca’s name and number plastered across my shoulders, a scarf wrapped around my neck and a beanie. I’d drawn the line at painting my face, but Jax hadn’t been able to resist.
As we passed through the gates, we were handed a huge cardboard cut-outs of Luca’s face on a stick. I couldn’t help it. I snorted when Jax held it up and started making comments. At first, I wasn’t going to take one, but the idea of using it to taunt Luca was too good to turn down.
“Want a beer?” Jax offered.
“Yep.”
Heading towards the van with the longest line – the one selling booze – we joined the queue. While Jax played on his phone, I listened to the conversations around me. Everyone was excited for the game, but more were eager to see Luca for the last time. It was truly hard to hear. It sounded like he was dying. Like this was the end for him. I guess in a way it was, but I had no doubt that whatever he did next, he’d be nothing short of amazing.
The other night when we’d been snuggled in bed, I’d asked Luca what he thought he’d do next. We’d already talked about it a couple of times, if you counted dancing around the issue talking, but he’d never really had an answer. Even now, I don’t think he was sure.
When I’d given voice to one of the fears that’d been festering in my head for the last couple of weeks, Luca had been quick to dispel my worries.
“Do you think you’ll stay in Sydney?” I’d asked, my voice shaky.
“You trying to get rid of me?” I could feel his smile against my shoulder.
“N-no.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
I’d heaved a sigh of relief. I’d only just found him. I wasn’t ready to let him go. I didn’t know if I ever would be.
Luca had rolled over so he was lying on his back and I was splayed out across his chest. “I’ve travelled all around the world. I’ve been away a long time and I’ve missed so much. The last thing I want to do is move away from my family.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” I’d said, trying to hide the disappointment from my voice. I mean, I got it. Luca was very much family first and he was unapologetic for it, as he should be. I’d just gotten my hopes up that he’d want to stay for me too.
Luca had flipped me under him before hovering over me, using his elbows to keep his weight off me. With his hands cradling my face, he’d bent down and dropped a feather-light kiss on my lips. “And if you think I’m going anywhere without you, then you don’t understand just how much you mean to me, Elise.”
In the dark, I couldn’t see the colour of his eyes or the look on his face, but just hearing the strength of his conviction in his words had my heart soaring.
“I love you,” I’d told him again, the words coming out easier the second time around.
“I love you too. And anywhere you go, I go. We’re a team now. You can’t get rid of me.”
Propping myself up on my elbows, the moment my lips touched his, a light had exploded behind my eyes. This was home. Luca was my home. My future. My person. I couldn’t imagine not having him in my life.
When I got shoved forward, I snapped back to focus on the here and now. Turning around, I spied a guy standing behind me with his greasy hair slicked back and the opposition jersey stretched across his bulging beer belly. As much as I wanted to say something, now wasn’t the time to start an argument.
Shuffling forward, I folded my arms over my chest and bit my lip. Beside me Jax snorted. He knew how hard it was for me to keep my mouth shut when people were being arseholes.
Eventually we made it to the front of the line in the same moment I was nudged from the side. I’d had enough of being bumped and shoved like I wasn’t even there. Spinning around, I was ready to give whoever it was that thought they were the most important person in the world a mouthful, only to find Sienna standing there with a cheeky smile on her face.
“Whatcha doing?” she asked, tucking Phoebe in front of her protectively.
“Getting a drink. Want one?” I asked as we were called forward to the counter.
“That’d be great,” Sienna replied, fishing through her bag and pulling out some cash which I waved away. I might not be married to an AFL superstar, but I could shout a round of drinks.
Once we had drinks and snacks, including a delicious red slushy for Phoebe, we made our way towards the stands. Weaving our way through the crush of the crowd, I spotted Luca’s family filling up a whole section. Every time I’d come to a game, Luca’s family always had representatives here, but it’d never been the whole contingent. Today though, today was different.
His mum and dad were sitting in the stands surrounded by grandkids. The boys were loud and boisterous and having the time of their life. Ari and Josh were sitting back relaxing, chatting with the couple behind them while Izzy and Nathan watched the kids.
As Jax led us to our seats, tickets courtesy of my very sexy boyfriend, Gabriella flashed me a beaming smile before standing up to wrap me in one of those mum hugs I’d come to love.
“You made it!” she exclaimed, bending down to drop a kiss on Jax’s cheek.
“We had to stop and get refreshments,” I explained, holding up my beer.
“Good call,” Luca’s dad said, raising his own plastic cup.
Settling into my seat, I looked around at the sea of purple filling the stadium. But it wasn’t the purple that was unsettling. It was the sheer number of cardboard Luca faces staring back at me that I was finding more than a little odd.
“This is wrong,” Sienna grumbled beside me.
“What’s that?”
“The faces. One Luca is enough, we don’t need this many.” I couldn’t help but laugh. She definitely had a point there.
“Speak for yourself. Luca Conti is a god. He’s an incredible player and we’re going to miss him,” a busty blonde in front of us scolded as she turned and gave us the stink eye.
Sienna and I looked at each other not really sure how to respond. What the hell were we supposed to say? We could crush her dreams and tell her he wasn’t actually a god. Well, except in bed, but I wasn’t going to share that nugget of information with her. Or we could let her stay in her little Luca Conti bubble.
Sienna leant over and whispered into my ear, “I think we’re going to have to behave this afternoon.”
“I agree,” I added, raising my glass and clinking it with hers, beer splashing over the side and soaking my hand.
Ten minutes before the game started, I headed for the bathroom, dumping all my rubbish in the bin as I passed. Lined up, leaning against the concrete wall, I dug my phone from the back pocket of my jeans.
Elise: Good luck today
I had no idea if Luca would get it or when, but I needed to send it.
He hadn’t told anyone, and it’d taken every trick I knew to weasel it out of him, but I’d finally got him to admit he was worried. He had no idea what would happen when the final whistle blew or what his future held. But the thing that was eating at him the most was letting someone down. He didn’t want to be the centre of attention when he wasn’t alone out there on the field. I’d done what I could to persuade him to enjoy the moment, and although he murmured his agreement, it wasn’t convincing.
When my phone vibrated in my hand, I almost dropped it.
Luca: Thanks
Luca: You’re going to wait fo
r me after the game?
With a smile on my face that pinched my cheeks, I read his message.
Elise: Yep. See you after your game
Elise: Enjoy yourself out there. Can’t wait to watch you xoxo
Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I shuffled along until it was my turn to duck into the bathrooms. After taking care of business, I washed my hands and dried them on a paper towel before heading back out.
On a mission to get back to my seat before he ran out onto the field, I weaved around people before ducking under the railing and heading for my seat.
When I smacked straight into someone, I looked up, prepared to apologise. But then I saw who it was I’d walked into, and I stumbled backwards.
“Whoa! Are you okay, Elise?”
“Yeah. Fine. What are you doing here, Corey?” I asked, stepping backwards and putting some much-needed distance between us.
“I’m here for the same reason you are. The big game.”
Corey was so full of shit I was surprised it wasn’t dripping off his chin.
Overhead, the speakers crackled and announced it was time to welcome the teams to the field. I refused to miss Luca running out for what could be the very last time. I needed to be there. I needed to be part of it. Not just for Luca, but for me too.
“I’ve gotta go,” I told Corey rudely before dashing off.
I made it without any time to spare. As soon as my butt hit the plastic, the fireworks lit up the afternoon sky, the drums pounded and the team song echoed around the stadium. The crowd stood as one. My heart was beating out of my chest. My palms were sweaty. I didn’t know why I was so nervous. It wasn’t like I was about to play.
Beside me, Jax reached down and took my hand in his.
“Breathe, Elise. He’s got this. Get out of your head and just enjoy it for him,” Jax instructed.
“I’m trying.”
“Look.”
Jax pointed to the tunnel where Luca had just stepped out, decked out in his full uniform into the afternoon sun. He had a serious look on his face, one I’d seen each time I’d watched him play. When his name was announced over the PA system, he turned and glanced up into the stands.
Overtime (Playing The Field Book 1) Page 20