Forbidden Obsessions (Deviant Desires of Bennington University #2)

Chapter Twenty

Olivia

I blend into the back of the lecture hall seamlessly, choosing a seat at the back. It’s Friday, two months to the day since I became Mrs. Tomas DeLuca and one month since Mom passed.

Watching my husband lecture was both a good and horrible idea. Good, because holy hell is he sexy when he’s in his element, and horrible, because we’re heading to the cabin, where copious amounts of people are already waiting on us.

Given his safety concerns the last time I gave him road head, I doubt there will be any reprieve for the inferno-level of horniness I’m getting from Anatomy & Physiology II. “Any questions?” he asks, his rich brown eyes scanning the room.

I raise my hand. “Yes, Miss…?” He narrows his eyes in recognition.

“How difficult is it to bruise your pharynx?” I ask, stifling a laugh. The class laughs nervously.

“Are you in my class?” he questions, giving me a steely glare.

“No,” I say brightly. “You’ll probably want to call security.”

“Class dismissed. Remember to study for the exam next Tuesday. It’s online. You don’t have to show up. Have a nice life,” he calls as they exit. Waiting until the last student has left, he shuts and locks the door.

“Just begging for trouble, aren’t you, Mrs. DeLuca?” He smirks, pulling me in for a kiss that leaves me breathless and my knees weak.

“Always. I grabbed your bags from the bedroom. Did you need anything else?”

“That was it,” he says, eagerly pulling me toward the door. We had been in the throes of planning a huge wedding, but we stopped, asking ourselves what we hoped to get from that. The people who mattered, minus Tomas’ parents—who are questionable at best anyway—were there.

Instead, we opted for a different plan. School is wrapping up for the semester. We tossed around a variety of ideas for a honeymoon, a memorial service for Mom, and a wedding. Today is the beginning of the culmination of those plans.

“The house is only a little over an hour away. If we forget something, we can drive back from the cabin,” I say, shrugging. With impeccable timing, Mia catches up to us as we head toward the parking lot.

“Are you two lovebirds already headed up?”

“Yep. Is that okay?” Tomas asks, giving her a pointed look.

“What are you two up to?” Mia and Tomas share a conspiring glance. Mia’s pursing her lips so hard it looks like she’s about to burst.

Tomas heaves a sigh. “Just tell her the need-to-know part.”

“What part is that? Because I’m so fucking excited. I can’t wait for her to see the stri—” My eyes bulge as Tomas clamps a hand over her mouth.

“What she’s trying to tell you is the bachelorette party you didn’t get to have is happening tonight,” Tomas says grinning.

My heart skips a beat. “What about a bachelor party?” I question.

He shrugs like it doesn’t matter. I want him to have the same experience I do, though. If we do it right, he’ll only have one wedding. I don’t want him to miss out on anything. Mia looks between me and Tomas with the same devious look.

“No,” Tomas emphasizes.

“Too late, Professor. Your fate has been set. By the time you get there, it’ll be too late. Stop and get a late lunch. I want to get there ahead of you,” she calls, already heading in the opposite direction.

We settle for a small cafe in town.

“Hi, hun,” a sweet older woman says as we walk in. Her eyes light up as she eyes Tomas. I stifle a laugh, not blaming her one bit. He is attractive.

“Hi. Can I get a latte with almond milk?”

“Of course, you can, sweetie. You don’t even need to tell me what you want, baby. I got you,” she croons to Tomas. Tomas goes rigid and shakes his head discreetly.

“You two know each other?” I ask suspiciously.

The woman bites her tongue and lowers her head, gray curls bouncing in her face. “A little bit,” she recovers. “Enjoy the surprise.” She winks and turns away.

“What was that about?”

Tomas shakes his head and sips his latte. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His smile tells me there’s more to the story.

We caffeinate and share a few donuts. Somehow, I end up more tired than I was to begin with. That fades quickly when we pull into the driveway.

“Oh no,” Tomas and I murmur simultaneously. On one side of the driveway marker is a life-sized inflatable dick. The other is a concerningly battered, dark-haired blow-up doll.

“At least they scaled the cock to size,” Tomas chuckles, grabbing the bags from the car.

“Jesus Christ. Mia! I said no construction!” Tomas booms ahead of me. The stripper pole, front and center on the enclosed porch, stops me in my tracks. Mia even set up play money.

“Who’s stripping?” I laugh. My jaw drops as I walk into the kitchen. “Mia, it’s literally a sea of dicks.” Seriously—inflated, baked, beaded, and beyond lay scattered throughout the room.

“Don’t worry. The boys have blow-up dolls. Tomas has a Fleshlight,” Mia says proudly.

“I’m not touching that thing with a ten-foot pole,” Tomas yells from the master bedroom.

Lex holds the door for Brayden, who’s carrying a keg. Tim trails behind, carrying what looks to be an industrial sized box of liquor. “Holy shit, are we going to live through the night?” My liver shudders in terror. I haven’t really drank since the night with Nathan. Even two shots of tequila fucked me up.

“The night? You lovebirds are stuck with us for days,” Matt laughs, rubbing his hands together and draping an arm around Mia. I haven’t seen them together in ions. They look happy.

I watch Lex’s face fall as they beam at one another. She looks away from the pair of them, typing something into her phone.

Brent walks in and waves with a shy smile.

“I’ve missed you, friend.” I pull him into a hug. Tomas claps him on the back.

“Welp, this looks like it’s going to get interesting,” Brent says, looking around. He eyes the stripper pole with trepidation. I’m surprised he showed up. We’re much more wild than him.

I look at it warily, too. “Tomas, are we going to have to pay for damages or something for installing the stripper pole?”

“Nope,” he says, turning his attention back to the conversation with Brent. That doesn’t make sense. How could the owner just be okay with the installation of a stripper pole?

“Alright, you filthy fucking heathens,” Mia calls with a megaphone. This girl was made for this. No wonder her sorority loves her.

“First up: shots. After that: shots. And then: strip Twister.”

Tomas glares at me. “Don’t you give me that look. You agreed to this,” I tell him.

“Let’s go outside,” Tomas prompts, dragging me. I expect Mia to protest, but she watches with a wry smile.

“Okay, but only if we’re back in time for strip Twister.”

“Deal.” Tomas leads me out onto the back porch, into the backyard.

“They planted a garden.” There are rows of various yellows, pinks, and purple flowers, blooming happily in the spring late afternoon sunshine. Beyond it, there’s a variety of budding fruits and vegetables.

“This is awesome,” I say, walking through excitedly. I’ll have something to take care of all summer. Besides rotting my brain with smut and adjusting to married life, I have no plans. Well, learning how to live without Mom, too.

“I have a feeling this summer is going to be exactly what I need.” Tomas pulls me close and guides me to the bench overlooking the garden. I’m about to sit when I notice the inscription.

In loving memory of Maura Eliza Hamilton, 1974-2024.

“ Tomas, did you facilitate this?”

“Yes,” he says with a somber smile. “I figured you’d get a lot of use out of it.”

“I will,” I promise as a sob chokes me.

“The owners didn’t care?” I lay my head on the crook of his shoulder, remembering how I did the same while Mom was in the hospital. She was just coming to terms with her prognosis. It seems so long ago, but really, it wasn’t.

“Close your eyes,” Tomas says abruptly. I do, waiting until he tells me to open them. “Okay, open.”

A brass key sits in my hand.

“Is this what I think it is?” There’s no way. Is this real life? Tomas gives a soft nod, then brings his lips to my knuckle.

“The lady in town. You had met her,” I exclaim.

He beams as I catch on. “The cabin was hers. She’s widowed and wasn’t really using it. She says it’s too big for her. She was happy to support the cause.”

“I love you, husband. Thank you for giving Mom everything she wanted and me everything I didn’t know I needed.”

“And I love you, wife. Thank you for being everything I needed and more.”

Could I imagine us here on the first day of class? Absolutely not. Tomas was supposed to be a quick way to build confidence and help me get over my shitty, abusive ex-boyfriend. He did that and beyond. Every day, he puts us first. He’s patient and loving and all mine.

“Thank you for sticking with me to get to this place, Liv. It’s been a rollercoaster. Between Vanessa and Nathan, I’ve dragged you into violence and so many dangerous situations. I stand by what I said before your mom’s oncology appointment. You’re too good for me, but I am so thankful for whatever good karma I’ve managed,” Tomas says, swallowing thickly.

Tomas cups my chin, tilting my lips toward him for a tender kiss. As if on cue, Mia returns with her megaphone.

“Okay, time’s up. Get in here and prepare to strip,” Mia calls.

“Uh, it looks like everyone just about lost,” I say, laughing at our friends, twisted in various painful positions, and in various states of undress.

“Nope, we’re starting again,” Lex says, getting up to pour another shot. She brings it to her lips and downs it in a single gulp. There’s a soft knock at the door. Our heads swivel in surprise.

Lex drops the shot glass from her hand as the woman enters. “Hope everyone doesn’t mind, but I invited a friend.” I recognize her. She was there the night of the masquerade ball. She and Lex disappeared for a while. From what I gathered, they spent the night together.

Judging from the daggers Lex is shooting Mia, she does mind.

“Hi, Dagny,” Mia says, excited . Lex’s face turns crimson. I don’t know what’s going on, but it doesn’t seem good.

“Lex, you remember Dagny, right?” Mia says innocently. Dagny’s heated gaze perusing Lex’s bra and panties tells me she sure as hell remembers her.

“Uh huh,” Lex gulps.

“Excuse me,” she says before practically running from the room. I’ll give her a few minutes to calm down and see if I can help. Dagny watches her trail down the hallway through knitted brows.

“Hi, I’m Olivia,” I tell her with a warm smile.

She looks between me and Tomas.

“Dagny. I hear congratulations are in order.”

“Thanks. We’re already married. It’s kind of a complicated story. My mom died,” I blurt out. She averts her eyes. It’s something I’ve experienced almost daily since Mom died. I’ve been trying to roll with it, but I loathe the looks of pity and general awkwardness.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” she says softly. I decide I like Dagny already. Other than her obvious propensity for black and piercings, she has friendly green eyes, as vibrant as clover. Her short red hair reminds me of flames. “I like your mohawk. I wish I was brave enough to do something with my hair.”

“Thanks. I always try to do something fun with it. So, you’re a freshman or a sophomore?”

“Freshman, going into sophomore year. What about you?” I am definitely going to have to get Lex. She hasn’t reemerged from the bedroom.

“Sophomore going into junior year. I’m in Mia’s sorority.”

“Ahh, yes. I remember this conversation. Sorry, my head’s been a mess.”

She waves me off. “Completely understandable.”

“So, I have to ask. Why is Lex hiding in the bedroom from you?” Dagny licks her lips. That is probably an answer in itself.

“That’s for her to answer.” She shrugs.

“Was there a fight?” Another shrug.

“Not exactly,” she admits.

“What, then?” I prompt. Should I be asking? Maybe. Lex probably hasn’t told me, since we’ve been running in fifty directions. “Lex will tell me, eventually.” It’s a last ditch effort, but apparently, it works.

“A lesson. I taught her a thing or two.” A suggestive smile plays on her lips. Eventually, Lex reemerges.

“Having fun?” Tomas asks, pulling me into his arms. I nod, but all I want is to get him alone.

“Yeah, but can you help me with something in the bathroom?” I prompt.

He gives me a knowing look as I lead him down the hall. The door closes behind him as I drop to my knees.

“Is this safe enough for you now?” I ask, undoing his belt buckle.

He rolls his eyes. “You don’t let anything go, do—” I take him to the back of my throat, forcing a groan from his lips.

“A good little whore and the love of my life. Does it get any better than this?”

No, it certainly does not.

The End