by Nora Cobb
“Natalie, my dad still wants you to work for him,” he says. “You could take a year off, work in New York, and reapply to Columbia.”
“I’ll consider it,” I shift nervously. “But my uncle also wants me to work for him after I graduate college. He’s developing a new app.”
Troy stops chewing and gives me his full attention. “Your uncle is developing another app?”
I poke him again, but this time harder. “I’m not falling for this tech espionage. Don’t try to distract me with a pizza.”
Troy bounces onto my bed and lies down next to me. “That carb-induced coma’s not working yet?”
I toss the pizza crust back into the box as he cuddles up beside me. The air conditioner switches off, and we lie next to each other in silence. Troy touches my hand and holds it. I move closer to him.
“Should I go back to my room?” His arousal makes his strong voice deep.
“No,” I whisper.
We don’t speak as we move together. His hand catches my chin; I tilt it up and part my lips. Troy turns my chin until his mouth meets mine. My body curves into his, and I feel the strength of his muscles as he holds me. My hips rub against his as he kisses me gentle and soft. Troy moans, and then his kiss changes into something wild and forceful as I open my mouth. He pulls me closer as if we can’t be apart. I grab him and hold him as close as I can.
Troy covers my neck with soft, warm kisses as he runs his fingers through my hair. My breath becomes heavy as his lips barely graze my skin. My body shakes, and I have to take a deep breath. Troy pulls back and waits until I tell him it’s okay with a deep kiss. He wraps his arms around me. His touch sends jolts of pleasure through my trembling body until I’m wet between my legs.
“You have to ask,” he whispers. “This time, you’ll have to ask.”
I feel his hard bulge press against my thigh as I part my legs. I moan as I twist my body in need. I want him. I want to feel the electricity between us again.
“Yes,” I sigh against his ear. “Please, I want it. I want you.” I wrap my legs around his waist as Troy rolls his body on top of mine. My breath catches in my throat as he moves against me. His hand between us loosens the drawstring on my shorts, and I push them down, wondering if I was too eager. Troy buries his face in my hair, grabbing me close as my body responds to his touch on my hips, and my thighs. Troy teases me. His fingers touch my inner thighs and move closer and closer to my panties. His hand travels slowly over my wet panties as he watches my mouth open into a silent moan. I can feel his breath against my ear as I squirm against his body.
I sigh as he lifts my tank top and brushes his lips against my hard nipple. I moan as his tongue traces a trail between my breasts. My hips begin to twist and turn; other parts of me crave attention. Troy hooks his fingers around the thin straps and pulls them down as I lift my hips. He kisses the sensitive skin on my tummy and moves farther down as my skin flares with goose bumps.
He continues down as if he heard my thoughts, and I feel his mouth between my legs, kissing me and teasing me until I grab for whatever I can reach. I push my fingers through his hair as he licks and sucks my folds. My clit sends electric shocks through me as his tongue circles it in steady strokes, brushing across it with teasing flicks of his tongue, which cause me to scream and open my legs wider.
I shudder, losing my breath as I come hard. My body feels as if it is floating above the bed. My chest rises and falls as I look down the length of my body, sweaty and flushed, barely able to catch my breath.
“What do you want?” Troy asks again.
“I want you,” I say, reaching for him.
Troy pulls off his clothes with a strong tug and tosses them onto the floor. His muscular body moves over me. Troy smiles softly then kisses my lips, then my chin, and then my neck, nuzzling against me and breathing in my scent. I spread my legs wider, allowing him to have me.
I feel his fingers first against my swollen pussy, and I moan as he slips one, then another inside. I push against them wildly, not caring what I must look like.
I feel the tip of his hard cock press against my opening, and I clench my teeth as Troy pushes deep inside me with slow movements of his hips. My eyes flutter open as I watch his body move, his muscles flex, and his body glistening with sweat. My muscles tighten around him, and Troy lets out a low moan as he leans over me, his arms on either side of my head. His hair is sweaty and plastered against his face as he smiles down on me. I move my hips faster and give him a hint. He moves his hips against me, angling his body, and I can feel delicious pressure against my clit.
My legs wrap around him as I use my legs to pull him into me. I can feel him filling me as I writhe underneath him. My excitement builds into a long, low moan. His cock moves in me, causing my body to shiver as he rocks inside me with deliberate motion. A cool breeze blows from the A/C unit, and I shiver as I arch my back, pressing my body flat against him. Troy grabs my hips, and the slow pace heats up as he moves faster and harder in jerky movements. He’s losing his control. Jolts of emotion heat my flushed skin as I shake, and an overflow of feeling makes me come.
“Natalie,” he moans, and I pull him closer still.
Troy keeps moving, his speed increasing as I feel him deep in me. His eyes squeeze shut as his mouth opens, but there’s no sound. His eyes open dreamily as he looks down on me. His body stills, and he falls beside me, burying his head in a pillow. I hold him, brushing his hair aside, and I feel his body tremble as he calms down.
“It was wonderful,” I whisper.
But Troy won’t speak.
My brow creases. “Are you okay?”
He smiles, pulling me against him. My face presses against his strong chest securely before he speaks. “You’re my first.”
CHAPTER 18
Lucas
Cora offers me a ride home on the Bouchards’ private plane, but I decide to meet up with Jacob instead, so we can talk strategy in private. The commercial plane ride home is delayed, and then Newark airport is packed with people as usual. I’m surprised, but glad when I see Wiley waiting at the baggage claim. I’m too tired to talk to Jacob on the ride home, and he doesn’t care as his head nods, and he’s off to sleep.
When I return home to my parents’ house, Arielle isn’t there. I don’t kid myself into thinking that it’s a permanent thing. I drop my suitcase at the door, kick off my shoes, and head for the kitchen for a drink of water. But before I can get a glass, Taylor is calling out my name.
“Just a minute,” I reply.
“No, Lucas,” she shouts. “Now.”
I don’t need to be told what I’m about to hear next. I walk into my father’s office and spread across his desk are color photos of me holding Natalie in my arms at the beach. In one picture, I’m wiping a tear off her cheek. But thankfully, there are none of us kissing. And though we’re not doing anything that can’t be done in public, it’s obvious that there’s a lot of emotion shared between us.
“Explain.” My father’s jaw is so tight that I can hear the teeth cracking from the pressure. “You were told to stay away from that girl.”
“It was innocent, sir.”
“Innocent?” his palm slams on the table. “This means financial ruin for our family!”
I have to say something. I have to do something fast. Not just for myself and Natalie, but if I don’t calm my father down, he’s going to have a heart attack.
“You have to listen to me, sir.”
“Listen to you?” he shouts. “The last thing I want to do is listen to you. You have turned into a major disappointment, Lucas. I had expectations, but they are gone.”
The words sting. I know he’s angry, but the words reach past my cold demeanor and strike my heart hard. I have to take in a deep breath of air to steady myself. I still have to tell him what really happened. No matter what I may think of him right now. No matter how hard I want to lash out.
“Lucas, you’ve been sneaking out to meet this girl,” Taylor cannot
resist chiming in. “You knew what the consequences would be.”
“Is this why you went to Miami?” Dad continues his tirade. “So you could meet this girl? I know it’s been hard, Lucas. I’ve heard the fights you have with Arielle when you think no one is home.” He points to Natalie’s picture. “But this girl is not the answer.”
Taylor picks up the ball. “You knew this was important, but you acted selfishly any way. Lucas, how could you?”
My mouth lets loose in a wicked roar. “It’s not what you think. Will you both shut the fuck up and listen to me?”
Dad and Taylor stop flinging accusations because I’m the last person to dare swear at them. Taylor sits down silently on the window seat as Dad watches me hard, his hand gripping the edge of his desk. His lips thin, and his hand grips a photo on the desk, crushing it in his fist.
“I was set up,” I continue. “Arielle tried to roofie me, but when that didn’t work she hired a classmate to threaten Natalie. Jacob, Troy, and I helped her out. I wouldn’t be so stupid as to make out with Natalie on the beach.”
Dad and Taylor are silent, so I continue. “Arielle is more likely to break the fidelity clause than I am. If she hasn’t done it already.”
“Why do you think that?” asks Dad.
“She’s hooked up with this guy at school to do her dirty work. And dangling sex in front of boys is her MO.”
I hold Dad’s gaze and don’t look away. I won’t look away until he understands the situation I’m in. When I was five, did I sign a marriage contract to marry a narcissistic hellcat? No. Seriously, none of this is my fault, and for some reason, Jacob comes to mind. All the shit he’s going through with his father, but in the end, Jacob will be in control of his own life. It’s time to dispense with calling Dad “sir.”
Dad’s tone is softer, and he’s willing to listen. “She might have broken the fidelity clause already?” he asks.
Taylor shakes her head and holds out her hand to silence my dad. I’ve never seen her do that before. “Wait, what do you mean she tried to roofie you?”
I tell them the story that Troy told me, and their faces display disgust and dismay. Though Arielle has lived in our home since February, they have no idea how devious she truly is. Or how deep her hatred is for Natalie. I find it all amazing considering everything that they’ve witnessed. Finally, they realize that money isn’t the only reason to break off the marriage. A baby with Arielle would be a disaster, and she’ll get one.
Dad swallows before he speaks. “Do you have proof that she tried to do this?”
I shake my head. “I wasn’t around when it happened, and Troy told me that Anthony might have given the baggie to Arielle.”
The room is still tense, but the burden has shifted off me. We haven’t been a family lately. In fact, Taylor and Dad haven’t been a family for much longer than that. But even though things look bad, I feel maybe we’re finally going to work together. But for how long will Dad’s amnesty last?
“Obviously,” he says, “We’ll need proof.” He looks down at a photo of me holding Natalie in my arms, and then he flips it over. “The Blackwaters have hired people to help them prove a case against us.” Dad lifts his gaze towards me. “Lucas, you need to stay away from this girl until we get proof against them.”
I bow my head to avoid his stern gaze. It’s hard to lie, but I can’t promise something I can’t do. I glance at another photo on the desk, and Natalie has a soft look in her eyes as she gazes up at me. I can’t promise I’ll stay away from her when I want her so badly. Being with Natalie keeps me hopeful.
“I’ll avoid her when I can,” I reply.
Dad’s hand slams down on his desk again. “Not avoid her when you can! Lucas, you are ordered to stay away from Natalie Page until this is all over and done with.”
“We go to school together.” I look Dad in the eye. “I have a class with her. I can’t promise I won’t see her.”
Taylor steps forward and leans casually against the desk. Her long fingernail spins a photo around, so she can look at it better. “When you leave here in the evening, Lucas,” she asks. “Where do you go?”
My eyes narrow, but before I can answer, she answers for me. “You go to meet her. Don’t you?”
I have nothing to say as I look at the floor and wait for the onslaught of reprimands for my careless behavior. I want to ask my dad how he handles his situation. But we’re not the same. I love Natalie. She’s not a sidepiece because I’m bored with my family.
Another moment passes before I decide to look at my father again. His expression is surprisingly tranquil, but his mind is at work as he taps his index finger on his chin. His cool gray gaze meets my eyes, and he thoughtfully stares at me. What can he say to me for cheating on a woman I was forced to marry, with the woman that I love deeply? What can he say to me when he cheats on Taylor with his hot fling of the month?
“All these photographs prove is that you know the girl in them. I’m sure our lawyers will agree with me.” He says, “Lucas, I need you to keep a low profile while we figure out a way to get proof that Arielle is cheating.”
“Do you have a plan for that?” I ask.
“Not yet.”
“Well, I might have one,” I reply.
***
Monday morning, Arielle’s busy at work spinning the rumor mill out of control. It got back that she was asked to leave Cora’s party, which Natalie hosted. But Arielle claims that she was asked to leave when she confronted Natalie on wrecking her marriage. She claims that her intended target for the hot cup of coffee was Natalie, not Cora.
And to further misdirect the nastiness away from her, she even involves Troy. She claims that he had the boys crash the shower, and their drunken behavior ruined a special evening for her dear friend, Cora.
Arielle sits at the first table as she describes the events in Miami from her point of view. Cora sits across from her with her arms folded and rolling her eyes. She can no longer conceal her disgust for Arielle’s behavior. But Cora remains at the table because she refuses to be the one that leaves.
“You know that’s not true,” says Cora. “My party was a success despite what you are saying to everyone.”
“Cora,” replies Arielle. “You know that it could have been better, but you’re just pretending to save face.”
“I’d like to do something to your face,” Cora mutters.
“Excuse me,” Arielle leans across the table, her face in a threatening scowl. “Do you want to speak up, if you dare?”
Cora’s eyes start to glisten with tears. “You’re lying, and you know there was nothing wrong with my party. You’re just jealous because you’re always jealous.”
“I’m jealous,” scoffs Arielle. “Why would I be jealous of you or anyone else?”
Cora sits up straight and uncrosses her arms. “Because your marriage sucks. Your husband won’t even sit near you at lunch.”
Arielle looks over at the second table, where I’m sitting with Natalie, Beth, Jacob, and Troy. There’s one empty seat.
Arielle grabs her bag, walks over, and sits down beside me.
“You’ve got nerve,” says Beth.
Arielle ignores her. “Lucas, I know we aren’t getting along, but you could make an effort.”
I want to laugh except she’s dead serious. “An effort for what? You only make an effort when you want something.”
“I want our marriage to work,” she replies.
“Is that why you sent photos to my parents?”
The table is quiet because I chose not to share that information with Jacob and Troy. Not because I wanted to conceal it but because I needed to keep my hand close to my chest. Arielle looks over at Natalie and then back to me.
“I wanted to enjoy our honeymoon,” replies Arielle. “And start over, but your friend is intent on stealing you away from me.”
I scoff at her meaningless words. “It’s hard for her to steal me when she already has my heart.”
I don�
��t realize how loud I spoke until almost the whole room is quiet. Arielle’s face turns red, but I cannot tell if it’s from embarrassment or anger until she flings my lunch on the floor. The soup scatters and hits the wall while the chicken sandwich lies open in the middle of the slippery mess.
I stand up, and that may have been a mistake because Arielle also stands, but this time instead of flinging food, she throws her open palm at me. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s a nuisance, and there’s nothing I can do. I’m twice her size, and if I touch her, that would be the end of it for me.
Ms. Petrenko is on lunch duty. She runs over at top speed, and unfortunately, she tries to intervene by stepping in between Arielle and me. She yells out in pain and grabs the side of her face. “Stop it!” Ms. Petrenko shouts. “Stop it right now.” She grabs again for Arielle’s swinging arm, but Arielle hits Ms. Petrenko back.