Beautiful Storm (San Francisco End Game #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Amelia

I never would have guessed I’d be dating Luke Bennett, but here we are. And I don’t hate it. At all. In fact, I like it. I want more.

Luke steals chaste kisses throughout dinner, but it’s not until the dishes are in the sink that I sense a shift in the air.

“Have you had a nice day?” he asks as he walks toward me, before grabbing the elastic of my waistband and pulling me closer.

I ignore the goose bumps that coat my skin and smile. “I have. You did good.”

“Thank you. Does that mean I’ve earned a proper goodnight kiss?”

“That depends? Are you kicking me out?”

“Nope. Just taking it early.”

“I’ll allow it.”

He tugs me closer until our bodies crash, and before a breath has left my lips, his hands are cupping my face as he presses his mouth to mine.

My fingers glide under the cotton of his tee, skimming over the ridges of his abs, and he groans at my touch, deepening the kiss as his hold turns possessive. And for the first time, I want to give back. I want him to burn for me like I burn for him. I want to please him.

Pulling my lips from his, I push him back and unbuckle his belt. Without breaking his stare, I flick open the button on his pants and slide the zipper down, a new confidence taking over me.

His muscles tense under my fervent gaze, but when I slowly crouch down, dragging his jeans along with me, he lets out a tortured groan.

My lips pull into a victorious smile until he catches me by the arm and lifts me to standing.

“You are a fucking goddess, Amelia. But you are not getting on your knees for me.”

The sternness of his tone catches me off guard, but I stand firm. “What if I want to?” What if I need to?

“If you want it that badly, you can wait until after our baby is born. I’ll be more than happy to accept your offer then.”

My heart jolts but I roll my eyes and open my mouth to complain. Only to stop myself. I can’t pretend his argument doesn’t make him sexier, and there are other ways I can please him; I just have to get creative. “Okay.” I give in. “Do you want to watch a movie or something?” I sass, knowing very well that’s not what he wants to do.

“No, Amelia. I do not want to watch a movie. I want to lay you back on the counter and spread your legs until your pussy is on display for me. Then I want to take my time eating my dessert, and when I’m done and you’re screaming my name, I’m going to drop your feet to the floor and fuck you from behind while you watch us in the mirror.”

Oh God. My knees go weak as my arousal pools between my legs and my center throbs. I have never wanted sex this much in my life, and I really hope it’s not just the hormones taking over.

“That works,” I squeak out, making Luke chuckle.

“Is now good?”

“Yep. Ready when you are.”

Luke smirks at my quick response as he steps out of his jeans. “I bet you are.”

The two sides of Luke can be a mind spin, but God, do I appreciate them both.

Without waiting another second, he pulls my leggings down before my panties follow, and when he removes my shirt and bra, leaving me completely naked in front of him, my stomach knots while his eyes drink me in. The heat in his gaze as he slowly rakes over me makes me want to shy away, but I don’t. I never have with him, and while it’s new, I like that he brings out a confidence in me.

But I need him.

“Didn’t I mention I was ready? Now,” I pant, not bothering to hide my desperation, and I wait for him to laugh. But the heat in his eyes turns to fire, and before I know it I’m in the air as he carries me over to the counter, spreading me out exactly as planned.

He slows then, his eyes on my center as he pumps his cock and his tongue sneaks out to coat his lips. I wriggle under his stare but keep my legs locked open, loving the way he’s watching me.

An idea comes to mind, and I skate my hand down my body, waiting for him to notice. His gaze snaps to my fingers as I glide them through my heat, and a guttural groan rips from within him.

“God, Amelia.” His eyes linger as I massage my clit. “Fuck, I’d love to keep watching.” He pumps his cock in rhythm until he stops suddenly. “But I can’t hold back. Not again. I need you.”

He groans again before his mouth is at my core, replacing my fingers with his tongue. He laps at my center, his fingers spreading me apart, and within seconds I’m writhing beneath him.

He’s barely had time to lavish my clit when I’m squeezing my legs shut and begging him to stop.

“Wait. I know you want this, but I want to watch and I need you inside me.”

Without a response, Luke slides me to the edge of the counter and lowers me to my feet, spinning me around. But instead of standing behind me like he said he would, he bends me over and turns my face toward the mirror before dropping to his knees.

“I wasn’t finished eating.”

Jesus Christ. A rush of heat floods to my middle as his tongue flattens against my most sensitive areas. He licks slowly, working his way to my back entrance, making me squirm when he stops just before he gets there and makes his way back. He repeats his actions torturously slowly until I’m bucking against his face, then he pulls back and smirks at me in the mirror. “This is the part I love. When you fuck me with abandon.”

“God, Luke,” I cry out as my middle pulses with need, waiting for him to give me more of his tongue, but he stands and lines himself up with my entrance, sinking into me in one go.

I scream out his name as he rolls his hips into me, and when I stare at our reflection, he groans, his expression highlighting his restraint. “Don’t hold back. I need more, Luke. Don’t hold back.”

His eyes widen before he grabs my hips and slams into me. With one hand wrapped securely around my stomach, I use the other to push against the counter, meeting his intensity, thrust for thrust, as my orgasm builds.

Luke grunts as I cry out, and when I’m hovering on the edge of ecstasy, he glides his hand around to my heat and circles my clit, sending me flying.

“Yes, oh God, Luke. That’s…”

“I know. Fuck, I know.”

He continues to pound into me, and when he finds his own release, he groans out my name before folding his body over me, grabbing the counter to support his weight. My eyes lock on his in the mirror and a moment passes between us. A perfect moment, like two souls finally connecting.

My breathing slows, and just like last time, when we both come down to earth, Luke carries me to his bed, but this time, he slips in beside me, engulfing me in his warmth before falling asleep. And I was right; his bed is phenomenal. I take a moment to just be and then drift off to the soft sound of his breathing, thinking about how easy it is with Luke, not just the sleep, but everything.

And it terrifies me because I could get used to this. Only there’s one question standing in my way… Am I ready to risk my heart again?

W ork is crazy over the next month, so we only manage to sneak in a few moments together. And other than taking Shadow for a quick walk, it’s never in public. And it’s never enough.

I miss him. And I wish there was some normalcy between us, but that’s not in the cards just yet.

I ache for him. For more. But that’s the nature of both our jobs, and I’m used to it from my time with Preston. Not that I want to compare any part of my current relationship with my past, but it’s impossible not to find similarities. They’re both in the public eye—Luke more so than Preston—and they both have jobs that take them away for extended periods. And while that was never my issue with Preston, suddenly with Luke at an away game, I’m lonely.

When the game’s set to begin, Hayley comes over for a viewing date, armed with some fancy ice cream flavors and a smile. I can’t help but laugh as I dig in to my mix of chocolate, caramel, and cookies and cream.

“This is much better than my own concoction. Though I did love the popcorn and ice cream.”

“You did? I was just throwing out random fun stuff.”

“I figured that out when you said Vegemite.”

“I will get you to try it one day.”

“We’ll see.” I laugh to hide the fact that the thought makes me nauseous.

“So… I—”

“Shhh.” Hayley shushes me as she rushes over to her phone and turns up her music. I start to giggle but when I hear a familiar voice, I gasp. “Is this…” She trails off as her eyes flash to mine.

“It is.” It’s Preston’s song. The one he wanted my ideas for.

“I like it.” Hayley smiles. “It’s more emotional, more angsty. It’s—”

“About me.”

“What?” Her eyes widen as she clicks through her phone and starts the song again. “Dammit, it doesn’t have the lyrics. Do you know them?”

“By heart.” I nod.

“It sounds like unrequited love. I thought you were married when you were kids.”

“We weren't kids.” I roll my eyes. “I was in my twenties when we married, and we didn’t actually get together until after our junior prom.”

“Okay, so why the song?”

“He wanted me and didn’t think I wanted him. Only I did.”

“But…I sense a but.”

“But I’d recently kissed Luke and I was all messed up over it and because Preston and I were close friends, I’d told him about it.”

“He wrote this when he was sixteen? Damn.”

“I told you. He’s talented, he just got stuck on the wrong path for a while. Maybe things are turning around for him.”

“Thanks to you.”

“The song was him. My ideas just gave his record label the push they needed to release it.”

“You don’t seem as bummed about Preston and the divorce anymore.”

“Bummed?”

“Yeah.” She laughs.

“I’m not as bummed. I’m in a good place. I might even be happy.”

Hayley bites back her smile. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain football player you’re dating.”

“How did you know we were dating?”

“I didn’t. I was joking because the two of you keep spending time together. Not to mention, you’re carrying his child and you’re married. But you just confirmed the dating part.”

Dammit. I bury my face in my hands. “God, this is so messed up. Falling for Luke is a bad idea. No, having any kind of feelings for Luke is a bad idea.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve been there before.”

“After you kissed?”

“Yes, no, I don’t know. It wasn’t exactly like that. Yes, I got butterflies when he kissed me, but that wasn’t what broke us. It’s the lack of trust that almost destroyed me. Despite the fact that you and I became friends almost instantly, I don’t trust easily. Luke was a big reason for that when I was a kid. And then I stupidly put my trust in him again. He had it for no more than an hour and he shattered it. I don’t know if I can do that again.”

A flash of pity crosses Hayley’s face before she schools her features. “You were both sixteen. A lot has changed since then.”

“Has it though?”

“I hope so. At least I hope it has for me because I was an awkward sixteen-year-old and I just got the role of a badass heroine.”

“You got it?” I squeal and throw myself awkwardly into her arms. “I didn’t want to ask because it’s been weeks and they were supposed to tell you already.”

“They were delayed when the director got sick. But I got it. You are looking at the next queen of the big screen.”

“Yeah, I am.” I can’t stop my widening smile. “I’m so happy for you. And you’re right, people can change. You certainly have. But I refuse to let anyone blindside me again.”

“Good. You shouldn’t. But you can’t close yourself off. He’s trying. And the way he stares at you—”

“Nope,” I cut her off but smile. “I’m not ready for that yet.”

“Okay.” Hayley bites back her smile before giving me a nod. “But for the record, if anyone looked at me like he looks at you, I would be dropping my panties like nobody’s business.”

I laugh until my smile fades. “I really like him, Hayley.”

“Well, duh.”

I roll my eyes and laugh just as my phone rings on the counter in front of Hayley. She glances down at the screen before her eyes flash to mine.

“It’s your mom.” Her nose scrunches for good reason. I still haven’t told my mom about Luke because I’m not ready for her to tell the world. Like she always does. And even though it doesn’t seem like she’s mentioned the baby to anyone, it’s more crucial to keep this a secret.

“Leave it. I’ll call her back later. You don’t need to be witness to that conversation; she’s still annoyed that I had to work over Thanksgiving.” I’m not avoiding her calls. I just like to be prepared when we speak.

“You didn’t have to work, we—”

“I know. Not the point.”

“Right.”

Hayley pushes the phone away and it cuts off a few seconds later. But we barely get time to resume our conversation when her phone rings and she gasps.

“I don’t think it’s about Thanksgiving.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s calling me.” Hayley holds up her phone to show my mom’s name on the screen. They met one time and Mom got her phone number to what? Put Hayley on her gossip call list?

“I think she’s calling about something else.” She frowns as I groan. “It doesn’t mean—”

My phone rings again, cutting Hayley off as her phone continues to blare and panic takes over me.

It’s my dad.

“No, no, no, no, no. This is bad. They know about Luke.” I’m only guessing, but I have the strongest feeling that’s what it is.

And if I’m right, it means Mom told him about the baby too.

Fuck my life.