Even as we both lay here in silence, my heart is racing in my chest. Hearing everything he said made me feel sick like at any moment I might either burst into tears or lose my dinner all over the floor.

Thinking of any child being treated that way is horrific and unnerving, but imagining Luca, so small and innocent having to go through that, it makes my heart hurt.

I’m quickly beginning to soften toward Luca and even find myself smiling at his childish ways and immature jokes. And now this information has turned my whole world upside down. It was only a few days ago I assumed he had no depth, that he was just another one of those guys who liked to joke and treat women like they’re inferior. He’s slowly begun to let me in, and I’m now starting to see the gaping wound inside him that he so desperately tries to cover and fill.

He’s far more complex than I could have ever imagined.

Neither of us speaks for probably close to ten minutes, until Luca finally clears his throat. “I’ve never told anyone that before,” he confides, sounding like maybe he’s regretting letting everything out.

“Why not?” I ask, turning my head to look at him.

He continues to stare at the ceiling, his jaw tight and clenched hard. I give him a moment, and he finally relaxes and turns to look at me with a heavy sigh. “Because I know what it’s like to feel weak, to appear weak, and I don’t ever want to be in that place again.”

“Sharing something as painful as that, it doesn’t make you weak, it makes you strong,” I tell him with absolute sincerity. He rolls his eyes, and I squeeze his hand a little tighter, drawing his attention again before he can make some joke or some stupid comment to cover his emotions. “I’m serious. You’re not the only one who’s been through hell or felt heartache, but it takes so much strength to admit that you don’t always have your shit together and that you need help.”

I take a deep breath, wondering whether I’m really about to go to a place where I don’t often visit, a dark hole that took me a long time to drag myself out of, and that caused me more pain than I’ve ever known before.

“When my dad died, I felt like my whole world had fallen to pieces,” I whisper, fighting against the instant swell of emotion I know I’ll never escape.

“Everly…” Luca croaks. “You don’t have to.”

I shake my head, ignoring the out he’s giving me, determined to make him feel better, to help him to understand. “I didn’t want to do anything. Even climbing out of bed in the mornings was one of the hardest things I had to face, knowing I’d have to survive another day without him.” Even after six years, I still feel that ache inside me whenever I think of him not being there to see the person that I’ve become. “When Jack showed up, it was like both mom and me were given this new purpose. He listened, even when I didn’t want to talk, he gave me a purpose and reminded me that my dad might not be here, but his legacy and his memory still were. And if I didn’t honor them, then I wasn’t respecting everything he’d done for me and for us.”

“Are you trying to be my psychiatrist now?” Luca comments sarcastically.

I pull away. “If you’re going to try and humor your way out of this then I guess we’re done here…”

He grabs my arm and yanks on it, pulling me back onto the bed. I lay there for a moment, trying to decide where to go from here, and I guess Luca decides for the both of us. “Fuck it,” he curses under his breath before rolling onto his side and grabbing my hips, lifting me effortlessly.

I squeal in fright as he drops me on top of him, so I’m straddling his hips. We stare at each other for a moment, my face one of shock while his is far more intense like something’s finally clicking inside his head.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. I don’t know how to do this. I don’t really do emotions. Well, at least, not the serious ones.”

I place my hands on his chest to hold our bodies apart, just that little distance I need to keep my head straight. “Why did you feel like you could talk to me? Why did you come here when you could have gone anywhere, or to someone like Kace, your best friend?”

“I just started driving and this is where I ended up,” he tells me. “I don’t know why. I really didn’t want to be alone.”

I can tell it’s hard for him to admit that he’s hurting, but to acknowledge he’s scared to be alone, hell. I think about how supportive my mom and dad were, even when my dad was really sick, he always put me first and was there when I needed him. He always had been. When I lost him, I still had my mom, I had Andy, and other family members and close friends—people who have been there for me forever, and who would never leave me or let me down.

Luca learned a long time ago that he was the only one he could rely on. He had to do everything for himself, and the one person who should have been there to support him, she gave him up, tossed him out like the trash.

He may drive me crazy at the best of times, but I still love to see him smile and would never want him to ever have to feel that kind of pain again. He needs someone to be there for him, someone he can trust, and in all honesty, I can be that person. Right here, right now, and for as long as he needs me.

“Well, now you’re not alone,” I tell him with a gentle smile.

He grins back, it’s genuine and happy. “I think I need to try this again,” he murmurs, his eyes watching my mouth. I frown in confusion, but his hands reach out and frame my face. His eyes move to mine as if this time he’s deciding to be a gentleman and ask for my permission—not like earlier where he’d just stormed through the door and mauled me.

Not that I didn’t entirely hate it…surprisingly.

I should pull away.

Is this really the right time? Is he really in the right headspace?

The energy whipping around us is intense and pulsing, and while my head wants to pull back, to be cautious and sensible… my heart wants to totally give in.

And the heart wins, every damn time.

I move down, pressing my lips against his and kiss him. The light set of stubble on his jaw tickling my skin as his tongue enters my mouth. The kiss starts off slow and passionate like he’s testing the waters, like he’s making up for attacking me when he first got here. It’s nice, and warmth fills me from deep inside as I straddle him on my bed. His hands move from my face, one sliding under the top of my two-piece pajama set, his hand warm and inviting on my bare flesh, and the other threading up into my hair. His fingers lace through my tendrils, and he grips a little firmer, the kiss becoming hotter, deeper as my body moves in line with his in every way, just needing to be close to him.

I grind down on his cock, surprising myself at my actions as a small moan exits my mouth into his. I’m trying to keep myself in check, but Luca’s doing things to me that I have no control over. He turns me on, no matter how hard I fight it.

His cock begins to stiffen against my pussy as our kissing intensifies, this is not just a sensual kiss now, this is full on—bodies grinding, teeth clashing, making out.

Suddenly, he rolls me over, so I’m beneath him, and I let out a gasp with the force of his movement. He’s so strong, and I love that he has the power and energy to move me like this. He looks into my eyes as he lays me beneath him and our lips part, both of us panting for breath.

“I need you, Everly,” he murmurs. His voice isn’t broken, it’s not out of sadness or hurt from before. His voice is hard, stern, and full of desire as his eyes light up intensely taking me by surprise.

I can’t deny him even if I wanted to, his pull is just too strong right now. Biting my bottom lip, I simply nod, and a sly grin appears on his face, not his usual cocky grin that he’s known for, but one much sexier, one that tells me I’m in for something undeniably amazing.

He leans up shuffling out of his leather jacket, throwing it to the floor and I grin laying back on my comfy white bed, my heart racing in my chest like this is the first time. It’s obviously not, but Luca makes me feel like this is all new to me. He makes me giddy like a school girl, and I hate that he has the power to make me crumble beneath him. But I love it just as much.

He moves in, his eyes running up and down my body, my legs either side of him as his hands move to the buttons on my pajama top.

He starts undoing them.

Slowly.

His eyes on mine the entire time.

My breaths are coming in short and sharp as he takes his time, the tension rippling between us as he tortures me with his delay tactics. But he knows what he’s doing. My clit begins to throb in the unknown of what he is like—in anticipation of all the things he might do to me.

Luca’s fingers undo the last button, and he gradually slides the two sides of my top open, revealing my perky breasts. He takes a deep breath as his nostrils flare in appreciation, and that sly smirk is back on his lips as he shuffles me out of my top. Luca shakes his head, his finger moving up to my collarbone and gently trailing down. His gentle touch unexpected as it tickles and delights while he slides down my skin, his fingers grazing slowly further down my body. I writhe under his touch. His eyes boring into mine, neither of us saying a word as he gnaws on his bottom lip.

His finger reaches the edge of my nipple, and I arch my back into his hand as he moves in caressing my breast firmly. The pressure of his hand around me fills me with energy as I wriggle against the bed.

Luca tweaks my nipple as he leans in taking my other nipple into his mouth. My eyes roll into the back of my head as I let out a gasp, the warmth of his mouth encasing my nipple is like heaven as he sucks on me hard, his teeth grazing my bud making me shudder in appreciation.

“Mmm,” I murmur as his hand moves from my breast to my pajama pants. Pulling back from my nipple, removing his teeth with a pop, makes me gasp as he slides down the end of the bed. Grabbing the hem of my pants he wastes no time in pulling them off me along with my panties, leaving me completely naked in front of him.

I chew on my bottom lip feeling at a disadvantage. He’s fully clothed except for his leather jacket, and I’m lying here on my childhood bed unashamed and leaving nothing to the imagination. But the way his eyes are running up and down my body makes me feel alive. The bulge in his pants certainly lets me know he’s appreciative, and I know I’m on fire with how he’s treating me so far, so I can’t wait to really get this party started.

Luca slides back on the bed between me and grabs my legs yanking them apart. I open my eyes and grin as he moves up in between them, his eyes hooded and full of lust. “I love you spread and open for me like this.”

Chewing on my bottom lip, my head falls back into the mass of pillows and stuffed toys as his lips connect with my upper thigh. My eyes clench closed, and I relish in his kiss. He’s so attentive it blows my mind. His kisses lead straight between my legs, and I tense up slightly waiting for the impact. His tongue darts out flicking my clit, and my fingers dig into the comforter in reaction. My body bows off the bed as I let out a moan of delight, while his tongue continues to rotate on my clit in a delicious fashion.

Luca’s other hand moves in, a finger teasing, as he pushes his way inside me. I writhe with the welcomed pressure as he assaults me with his tongue and fingers. He’s a magician, and I love every magical second of this beautiful torture as he works me higher and higher to the precipice. He flicks his tongue at the same time he thrusts his fingers inside me and then swirls them both, and it’s like an all-new heaven on earth.

My hips raise slightly off the bed needing to be closer to him. My hands fisting in the bed comforter even more as heat builds inside of me. The pressure reaching a crescendo. Panting hard and fast, my head flops to the side of the bed as my eyes clench tight, lights flashing behind them so brightly I see stars as my back arches off the bed, and I climax hard, exploding in a fit of bright lights.

“Oh God, Luca,” I call out as he flicks his tongue on my clit once more for good measure making my entire body spasm as I come down from my high.

Luca pulls his fingers from me and stands up from the bed, leaving me dazed on the mattress in a stupor of lust. I turn to look at him to see him take his shirt off. It’s enough to break me from my haze induced trance. Sitting up on the bed, I throw my legs over the side in front of him.

My hands reach out, grabbing at his belt buckle and I undo it frantically, and he looks down at me with a chuckle while I undo his jeans and yank them down. He steps out of his boots, and his jeans then threads his fingers into his trunks, and I hold my breath, blatantly staring at his junk waiting for the unveiling. He pulls down his trunks, and I open my eyes wide as his perfect, giant cock springs free. A lump catches in my throat while I slowly look up to meet his eyes as he smiles at me. As he steps back to the bed, right between my legs, his cock is basically at my eye level.

“Do you have any condoms?” he asks.

Staring at his cock right in front of me, I raise my brow. It’s perfect. And I want to feel every inch of him.

“I do, but I don’t want to use one with you. I’m on the pill. I just want to feel you, Luca, all of you.”

A low groan erupts from his chest as he bends down and lifts me abruptly from the bed. I squeal as his hands loop under my ass, and I wrap my legs around his waist while he turns taking me over to my desk. I giggle threading my arms around his neck, my fingers lacing into his hair as he looks into my eyes.

“You’re fucking perfect, you know that?” he asks.

As he places my ass down on my desk next to my cheerleading trophies, I grin and shrug, then shake my head.

“And now, I want to find out just how fucking flexible you really are, little miss cheerleader,” he says glancing up at one of my trophies.

I raise a brow as he grabs my legs and hoists them up. I let out a little shocked gasp as my hands clench onto the edge of the desk for support. But he pulls my legs up, so my ankles are sitting on his shoulders, and I smirk at him as his hands lace in around me holding me supportively. It’s not comfortable, but fuck it’s going to be fun.

He looks into my eyes as he lines his cock up with my pussy and doesn’t hold back, thrusting up inside of me, without pause. I let out a moan as he fills me completely and then he stills letting me acclimatize to his size. I pant heavy breaths as his eyes don’t leave mine. Something passes between us, a spark, a passion ignites inside of us, something shifts, and it’s like the world rotates a little slower. Like it’s just us, and nothing else matters.

He pulls back and thrusts in again. It’s so deep, and it shocks me how undeniably fucking good this feels. I’ve never had anything like this, his size, his strength, this position, it’s all new to me and fuck if I don’t love every second of it. It’s fast. It’s hard. But the way he’s looking at me like I mean so much to him is only heightening the mood. It’s building the pleasure as it wracks through me.

My skin is prickling with sweat as he thrusts into me against my desk, the force of his thrusts so powerful that the entire desk is vibrating with the movement. My trophies shaking and threatening to fall over at any given second.

Our rushed breathing is becoming loud as we pant heavily, trying to keep up with our pace. We’re going strong, and the passion between us is immeasurable. We may not be kissing, but we don’t need to. The lust is there as we stare at each other, and it says it all. The burning in his eyes for me has me quivering on the inside.

He thrusts up, pulse after pulse, wave after wave. The pleasure is undeniable as he holds onto me tightly making sure not to let me go. Heat builds, that unmistakable surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. My skin prickles in goosebumps as I bite my bottom lip. My fingers dig into the edge of the desk as I hold on for dear life, riding out the wave as my muscles clench and I gasp, staring right into Luca’s eyes. I see it in his too, the moment we both feel it. The connection we share as we both reach our climax. His muscles tense, his body shudders at the same time as mine, and we dare not look away as we stare deep into each other’s eyes as we come hard. I shatter, my body shaking violently against him as he comes inside of me with a long groan.

My body ignites like the fucking fourth of July. It’s all fireworks and cannons and fucking explosions. I can’t contain myself as I let out a long moan along with him, as we stare at each other taking in our pleasure.

Panting hard, he leans in, our foreheads touching as he lets my legs flop down to the sides while he runs his hands up my back soothingly.

We both try to catch our breath, foreheads touching, and I finally close my eyes needing a moment to gather myself.

Luca’s hand comes up caressing my cheek, and he leans in kissing my lips in a tender moment from him. The kiss is soft, delicate, and absolutely lovely. I kiss him back and open my eyes to see him smiling. The sad, broken man from before all but gone, and now a renewed, alive Luca is staring back at me, the one I’m used to.

“Totally flexible,” he teases, and I giggle while shaking my head.

Luca chuckles while pulling out of me, but reaches out grabbing hold of my body, lifts me up and starts walking me back over to my bed.

I grin. “Is that all you’ve been thinking about since you found out I’m a cheerleader? How flexible I am in bed?”

He chuckles, throwing me down on my bed and nods. “Absolutely. And I knew you wouldn’t disappoint. Now get on all fours, I wanna try something else,” he demands, and I raise my brow.

“You can go again?”

He smirks. “Oh… Everly, I can go all night.”