Page 55 of Shiver

He groans loudly, gripping the base of my skull and tugging at my roots.

My tongue trails down along the underside of his dick, and I toy with the cool metal barbells, letting my saliva coat him. “Just like that. You’re perfect,” he moans out.

I open my mouth wide, ready to take him to the hilt and feel him as he fills my throat.

Loud screams jolt me out of my lust-filled fog, and I realize at the same moment as Luca.

“Fuck,” he grits out, gently pulling me up onto the couch before wrenching his shorts back up his legs and running over to the kitchen sink. “Just one second, Gia!” he shouts to his daughter as if that’ll help calm her at all.

He’s frantically washing his hands, and then his entire face is in the sink before he dries off and sprints into the room for his child.

“It’s okay, Gia,mia bambina, it’s okay. Daddy’s got you, baby girl.”

My face and neck feel impossibly hot as embarrassment rushes through me. I push to stand, my eyes searching the room quickly for my things. I run around the couch, grabbing my bag and hoping to make it out of here before Luca can send me out, but the moment the crying stops, I know I wasn’t fast enough.

He steps out of the room, shirtless again, with Gia lying against his chest, wriggling in his arms. “It’s okay, honey,” he coos to the little girl as he softly strokes her dark peach fuzz hair.

“I’m sorry, Samara,” he tells me, his brows pinching together.

“It’s fine, really. I’ve, um,” I stammer, and my eyes bounce around the room for something to rescue me, landing on a stuffed pink kitten sitting on top of a pile of baby blankets. “I’ve got to feed my cat,” I rush out. I’m not even totally sure why I’m so humiliated other than the fact that I came here with very different feelings toward Luca than the ones I’m leaving with.

He arches a dark brow at me. “You have…” He says the words slowly, dragging out every syllable. “A cat?”

“Yep, sure do,” I confirm with one firm nod.

I definitely don’t have a fucking cat.

He gently shakes his head, his lips curving in a smile as he laughs softly, peering down at the ground. “Alright then, can I at least walk you out?”

“That’s really okay. Thanks though. Have a good night, Luca, and thanks for dinner,” I say, trying to avoid the rest of this awkward conversation as I make my way to the front door.

“Thanks for dessert,” he says with a wink that has my ears burning. “And thank you for everything else too,” he tells me, walking himself and Gia over to me. He presses a kiss to each of my cheeks and unlatches the door, holding it open for me.

I give him a curt nod and hightail it out of there, resisting the urge to look back as I rush over to my car.

What was I thinking?Clearly, Iwasn’t. This isLuca, myfake boyfriend, who I absolutely shouldnotbe getting involved with, let alone allowing him to eat me up like a five-course meal. He has a child and a whole life that I don’t fit into.

I’ve got to get out of here.

Chapter forty-seven

Samara

Ireally,trulyhave not a single clue what came over me tonight.

Yes, Luca is gorgeous. I’m done denying that because, frankly, it’s exhausting. His eyes are stunning, and there isn’t a single speck of his body that doesn’t look like it was carved by the most skilled sculptor. But that doesn’t mean I can go lose myself in him and give in to my body’s whims.

I’ve already made some horrendous decisions by agreeing to let him be my fake date for this vacation,which is apparently an even worse idea than I’d originally thought.

I need to prioritizemyselfbecause the woman I once knew myself to be would haveneverlied to her mother about something like having a goddamn boyfriend. I’d have just told her straight up that it was none of her business.

Clearly, I have some things I need to work through, and Luca is the last person who needs to be there for that. He has entirely too much on his plate right now. He's navigating so much of his life changing with an infant in the mix.

Regardless ofall that, my mind still can’t seem to stop thinking about that infuriating man.

***

It’s not a surprise when I can’t seem to sleep despite the exhaustion weaving through my brain.

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