Page 72 of Shiver

My dick twitches. Well,thatthought certainly didn’t help my current situation either. Goddamnit.

Donald Trump naked. Dead puppies. A baseball bat pummeling my dick. Maggots crawling out of my dick.

I reach down, gripping my shaft and hoping like hell that it worked, but as it appears, I’m still as hard as ever. Even the most disgusting shit I can think of isn’t working to soften this thing up.

Samara shifts, further gliding her body onto mine. I hold completely still, hoping there’s still a shot I might be able to slide out from underneath her, but when I hear her sharp inhale and feel her hands roaming over me, I know I’m not that lucky.

I hold my breath as she pats me down, trying to get her bearings, and when her hand lands on my dick, I can’t help the groan that slips past my lips. “Oh fuck.” I moan, leaning into her touch.

Just as quickly as it came, it disappears. Samara shoots up, pushing away from me. “What the hell, Luca? I said to stay on your side!” she shrieks at me.

I reach over to the lamp beside me and turn it on. The room is suddenly much easier to visualize, and when my eyes meet Samara’s, hers are wide with shock.

I hike a brow at her, smirking as I say, “Well, princess, it appearsyouare onmyside. Just couldn’t keep your hands off me, could you?” I tease her, hoping she takes the bait so we can end this awkward stare-down.

Just as I’d hoped, she huffs before rolling out of the bed and snatching her bag from the closet, dragging it into the bathroom with her.

“It’s okay, princess!” I call after her, “I love cuddles.”

“Fuck off, Luca!” she shouts back, but I swear I hear her laugh the moment the bathroom door closes behind her.

It looks like Iwillbe sleeping on the couch tonight.

***

“Do you have any plans for what we should do after breakfast?” I ask her, hopeful that she’ll include me in them.

“Yep, I’m going to drag my ass to the nearest beach that isn’t within walking distance of my parents, read for hours, and then have a relaxing massage,” she tells me, sounding excited. Her words hit me like a ton of bricks, though, as I realize not only am I not included in those plans, but it actuallyhurtsthat I’m not.What the fuck?

I put on my best smile and tell her, “Sounds great. Mind if I call Gia real quick, and then we can get out of here?” I guess my plans to take her away for the day are a wash if she’d rather be alone.

“Not at all,” she says just as the room is filled with the sound of our ringing phone. “You call Gia and Cecily, and I’ll take care of this.”

I nod, grabbing my phone and dialing Cici. She answers quickly. “Good morning, Luca! Gia, your daddy’s on the phone. Do you wanna talk to him?” she coos, her voice high-pitched and filled with joy.

I chuckle. “Sounds like you’re having a good time.”

“We are.” She sighs dreamily. “It’s really”—the line goes quiet for a moment before she finishes—“just really nice. Having her with me, knowing I have support, knowing that it’sokayto not be perfect, and finally feeling like I have a way to cope with the impending thoughts of imposter syndrome.”

My heart clenches, and I’m overwhelmed with joy at that.Maybe someday I’ll figure that out too.“That’s incredible, Cici. I’m so proud of you,” I tell her, and out of my periphery, I see Samara hang up the phone, her dark brows pulled together.

“I’m proud of both of us,” she whispers, clearing her throat. “Okay, here’s Gia,” she quickly tells me.

“Gia,mia bambina! Daddy misses you,” I tell her, and she babbles at the sound of my voice. “Your mom has sent me so many pictures of you. I bet you’re having so much fun with her.” More incoherent babbles come over the line.

Samara sits on the edge of the bed, clasps her hands over her knees, and a thread of worry spirals through me. “Hey, Gia, Cici, I’m gonna have to go, but do you mind if we do a video call tonight?”

“Of course not,” Cici assures me. “Just send me a text when you’re ready, and I’ll keep flooding your inbox with pictures and updates.”

“You’re the best! Talk soon,” I tell her and then say, “Gia, Daddy loves you. You’re my whole heart, okay? I’ll be home soon.”

Of course, she doesn’t answer, but Cici does. “Have fun today, Luca,” she says before hanging up. A couple of photos roll in the moment the call ends, and Gia is wearing a pink-and-white dress with ruffles and the cutest little matching bow, looking just like Pebbles fromThe Flintstones. I’d expect nothing less from Cici.

“Everything okay, princess?” I ask tentatively as I approach her side of the bed. I crouch down in front of her when she doesn’t immediately respond, and I can feel my heart pounding in my throat the longer it takes her to answer me.

“Yeah, it’s just…” She swallows.

“Just what?” I ask, my brow arched in question.

---