23
LUCA
I’ve never triedrecreational drugs. I rarely drink. I’ve never picked up a cigarette.
And yet, right now, I think I know how a junkie feels when they’re getting desperate for their next hit of whatever their vice is.
Isla is my vice. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since I had her in my bed, in my arms. And I’m desperate to see her again.
When her delicate knock sounds on my door, my head snaps up from the computer screen I was trying to focus on. “Come on in,” I call out, debating whether I should stand and go to greet her or stay seated.
Sitting would be safer. Less risk of me giving in to temptation and pulling her into my arms. Then she steps through the door, and I realize how hard this is going to be.
“Good morning, Isla,” I manage to grind out, keeping my face neutral when I see Gabe following close behind. “Gabe, what can I do for you?” There. That soundednormal, right? Isla won’t look me in the eye, she’s fidgeting with her phone in her hands.
“Oh, is this not a meeting where you need me to take notes?” Gabe asks with a neutral tone, but there’s some sort of glint in his eyes. Is it amusement? Is it suspicion?
I’m so caught up trying to decipher his expression, it takes me a second to formulate a response. Take notes? On what? How I kiss her? How I lift her up onto my desk so I can stand between her thighs and lick a path down her neck?
Fuck no, Gabe, I don’t want you to take notes.
“Thanks, that won’t be necessary. This is just a quick catch-up from last week.” My voice is rough, but steady. And thank God, he seems oblivious to the tension that feels thick in the air because Gabe just nods.
“Understood.”
Without being asked, he closes the door behind us. And then we’re alone.
“Hey, wonder woman,” I say with a smile, pushing back and standing. Fuck avoiding temptation.
But when I walk over to her, she puts a hand up, stopping me before I can touch her.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know… I can’t… We…”
Moving slowly, sensing she’s spiraling and I have to stop it, I place my hands on her shoulders and squeeze gently. “Isla. Baby. Take a breath, let’s talk.”
She nods, but I can feel her shaky breath in and out under my hands. She lets me guide her to the chairs in front of my desk and we sit down. I take one of her handsin mine, letting my thumb rub back and forth over the back of her hand.
“You must think I’m ridiculous with how I keep flip-flopping,” she starts, and I shake my head.
“Not at all. I think you’re nervous and have every right to be. All I ask is that you talk to me, let me in, don’t be nervous and alone.”
She squeezes my hand back and I take that as a good sign.
“Last weekend felt like a dream. Having that time with you, away from real life, it was amazing. And yesterday, I was desperate to see you again, and then I didn’t want to leave when I had to get Charlie. You make me feel so good, Luca. Being with you feels right, even as part of me says it should feel wrong. But I’m scared. The last time I let myself be reckless and impulsive, I ended up pregnant at seventeen. And yet, somehow, this time it feels even more risky. Charlie’s finally happy here, and so am I. If things don’t work out between you and me, I need to know I won’t have to uproot my entire life because of it. I need to know Charlie won’t get hurt, and if he gets attached to you, and then you leave…” she trails off.
I nod slowly. “I won’t pretend to know how any of that feels. And I’ll be honest, I’m not sure what I can say to reassure you that I have no intention of leaving, and even less of letting you handle any negative fallout from our relationship alone. If you want to press pause, now or at any time, we will. I want you, but more than that, I respect you. And I’m a patient man, especially whensomething is worth waiting for. And you, Isla Forrester, are worth waiting for.”
She lets her head fall forward, landing on my chest, and I can’t help it, I press a soft kiss to the top of her head. She might think she’s being irritating, changing her mind and not knowing what to do, but if anything, it makes her maturity shine through. She’s strong, and capable, and worried about jeopardizing her future. I have to respect that. Even if it’s gonna hurt like hell to walk away now that I know how good it could be.
“I don’t want to wait. Not when you say things like that, and I know you mean it.” Lifting her head, Isla looks me in the eyes. “I want you, Luca. I promise to try and stop being so nervous if you’ll keep being patient with me.”
My smile breaks free. “Deal. Can I kiss you now?”
She nods. Our lips meet, and the world is set to right. I take it slowly at first, teasing her, savouring the feel of her in my arms again. But that doesn’t last long. My restraint is a thin thread, ready to snap at any moment. And I’m not alone. Isla whimpers, pressing her mouth deeper against mine, her tongue seeking mine. Her hands come to the back of my head, tangling in my hair, holding me in place. Entirely unnecessary. It would take something drastic to make me move away from her right now.
“Why do you feel so perfect,” I murmur as my lips trail down her jawline, the slope of her neck, and finally to the patch of soft skin bared by the collar of her blouse. I shift it to the side, continuing my path along every inchof her that isn’t covered by her pesky clothes. “You’ve captivated me, mind and body.”
