Chapter 17: First Meet Foul: Chapter 17

The thrill of the project combined with playing some of the best games of soccer in my career put me on a high of sorts. My professor loved the outline I’d sent her and the beginning notes of who I’d spoken to.

I officially had the social passwords for the older home facility—Heath’s Lodge—and created an account for the social media accounts they were missing. Young people weren’t on the same socials as older folks, and that was okay, but after reading a quick study about Gen Z, we wanted to feel purpose and would be more likely to donate time or resources to give back. I wanted to target that age group.

The manager of the place, Tim, had contacted me this morning to see if I could come back this Saturday. A current of heat and excitement ran through me at the thought of driving there with Luca again. Things had been…interesting since our almost kiss. He hadn’t avoided me like the week before, but he kept his distance.

I caught him staring at me hard a few times, but when I met his gaze, he’d blink and return to some mundane task in his room. He was meticulous, but instead of making fun of him like I would’ve before, it made sense now. After seeing the place and meeting his grandma, I understood his direct focus and mission.

Heath’s had seen better days, and Tim hadn’t flat out said they were going under but hinted at it. The cost of everything had gone up—from food to facilities to paying wages—yet the residents there were on a set income. If he raised prices, those people wouldn’t have anywhere to go.

I made it a personal mission to help this place. They deserved to be comfortable and to enjoy the last chapters of their life. Patrick could be an asshole and raise prices, but he didn’t because he knew what it’d mean to the residents. I’d focused on soccer my entire life, making it my whole purpose, but this felt different. It sparked something deep in me, and I liked it.

I wasn’t Dean’s twin sister or the soccer girl or Eric’s sidepiece. I was a marketing consultant for an older home facility.

The only minor hitch in my plan was getting Luca to drive me up again. Mack said she could get her parents to let me borrow their car, which I would do, but I wanted to talk to Luca first.

Only problem was—it was game day, and they were leaving for the game in Ohio in an hour. They’d be back tomorrow morning, hungover if they won, pissed if they lost, and that meant my window narrowed down each second I delayed.

Groaning, I pushed up from my bed and stretched my legs. I was tight. I’d stretched and iced, but my ankle felt tender. Brushing it off, I twisted my left foot in a circle, then the other way before opening my door and staring at Luca’s room. Despite the progress we’d made, his room felt intimidating. Kind of like him with the always-shut door and silence on the other side.

If it weren’t for that fun memory of me walking in on him watching porn, I’d never guess he was human. Shit. Why did I think of that? Now I pictured him stroking himself, his face set in determination, and my skin prickled with heat. Our almost kiss had lingered in my mind all damn week, a flurry of what-ifs followed by hell-nos. He was heartbreak and hormones. I knew how it would end.

Sure, could I enjoy the middle? Probably. Yes. Fuck yes, I would. God, I shivered just thinking about him blasting me with his intense eyes and strong jaw. The roughness of his skin from stubble coming in. If he ran that scruff along my thighs, yum. Something hot and steamy coursed through me, making my cheeks flush. Shit. Get it together. I raised my hand and knocked, my heartbeat an erratic rhythm.

Thirty seconds, forty…

He might’ve left, but I’d listened for him. I would’ve heard him sneak out of the room with his heavy footsteps. No one his height could sneak around. Too much muscle and bones to be quiet. Disappointment settled deep in my gut. The thought of seeing him had more of an impact than I cared to admit. We’d barely spoken all week, just casual hellos, and now I wouldn’t see him today or tomorrow…There was no reason to be this disheartened about it.

My brain already formulated the next steps of calling Mack and ordering an Uber to pick up her parents’ car when the handle twisted. Hope burst through me, like a bird escaping out of a cage.

“Lorelei.” His gaze swept up and down my body, lingering on my bare toes for a second. His nostrils flared, and I dug my feet into the floor. I’d painted my toenails orange and black for my favorite month of the year and instantly felt silly for attempting to design a pumpkin on my big toe. It was a large orange circle and terribly done.

“Hi, hey,” I said, biting down on my top lip. Here he was and I’d forgotten words. It wasn’t my fault though. He didn’t wear a shirt, and sweat beaded on his forehead, his chest moving faster than normal. “Were you… are you… porn again?”

“What?” He blinked. “No, I was doing crunches.” He coughed into his fist, red painting the upper part of his cheeks.

There was something magical about seeing a blush cover Luca’s face. It made me think of naughty things. Inappropriate, lusty, and dirty thoughts. Why was he blushing? Was he hiding something? God, I wanted to know. I tapped my toe over the frame of his room and grinned. “You are lying, Luca Monroe. You’re blushing, and that tells me I caught you doing something.”

He cleared his throat, and when I glanced up at him again, his brown eyes were almost black. A simmering volcano of heat reflected back at me. His lips parted, and he licked his full bottom one, but before he said anything, he shut his eyes and stepped back. That small movement was a cold splash of water on my libido.

Stop setting yourself up to be rejected.

“Did you need something?” he asked, an edge to his voice. If I wasn’t so stung by the huge step away from me, I’d notice the higher pitch of his tone.

“Yes.” I straightened and crossed my arms behind my back, resting them against my lower spine. “I’ve been emailing and chatting with Tim all week, and I need to go back to Heath’s Lodge tomorrow. I was—”

“No.” He worked his jaw back and forth, rubbing his hand over his chin.

“Didn’t appreciate being interrupted or having you say no that fast.” I faked a smile, not losing my bravado. Romanos were built with nerves of steel. “If you’re not able to go up there, could I possibly borrow your truck? I’ll pay for gas, obviously. Tim wants me there to interview some residents, and I had so much fun last time. I could say hi to your grandma too if you can’t go.”

“You can’t do it over a Zoom call?”

“Have you met the clientele there? For real? No one has the patience to show them how to join a dang Zoom call.” I laughed. “Even Tim, who was super kind, couldn’t do that.”

His lips quirked up on one side. “My grandma learned how to text and use gifs, and it’s been downhill from there.”

“Exactly. Now, I know you’re busy and probably not able to tag along,” I paused, as Callum walked out of his room in low-riding shorts. He’d clearly just woken up and nodded at us as he went into the bathroom. “Can I borrow your truck?”

Luca lost the blush, which saddened me, but he shook his head. “It’s big, and if you don’t have practice with it, it could be too difficult.”

I tried one more time. “And there’s nothing I could do to convince you to come with me? We could make a deal of sorts?” I lowered my voice and widened my eyes, hoping my goofy face was the tipping point. It had to be more difficult to say no to a silly face. It was science.

He pressed his lips together tight as his brow wrinkled. It seemed like he wanted to say yes but couldn’t. “I don’t think I can.”

Defeat. It sucked. “Okay,” I said, my stomach twisting. I still had to find a way up there though. “I’ll manage. Good luck tonight.”

“Did I hear you need a ride?” Callum yawned, rubbing his eyes as he exited the bathroom.

“Yes. Why? Can I borrow your car?” And I was back, baby! “Whatever you need. I’ll do it. Chores. Food. A lap dance. Okay, I take that part back. I’m shit at dancing.”

Callum laughed. “Mm, that could be fun though.”

“My mouth ran away from me. It happens in desperation.”

“Fine,” Luca growled, pulling my attention back to him. “Callum’s car is a piece of shit, and mine is safer.”

“Fine as in I can borrow yours?”

“I’ll take you.” He ran a hand over his face and sighed. “What time?”

I couldn’t believe the turn of events, and a small, weird part of me wondered if he was jealous? Did the thought of me driving with Callum bother him? No. There was no way. He didn’t get involved, ever, and that seemed involved-y-ish. I snuck a glance at Callum, and he winked at me before going back to his room.

I felt played but didn’t care enough to figure out why. I had a ride, and Luca was coming with. Spending time with him seemed precious and rare, something to never hope for but moments to cherish. I jumped in the air and let out a little cheer. “Yes! One? Does that work for you?”

“We get back around noon.”

“Okay, two then?”

“No, one is fine.” Luca sighed and studied my toes again. He seemed angry, annoyed even. He’d agreed to this after saying no, so it couldn’t have been my fault for the mood shift.

“Will you be too tired? I can drive if you want to use the time to study or watch film or sleep off the hangover. Tonight is your wild night, right?” My stomach twisted about him going out and having fun, hooking up with another woman.

His silence ate at me. He stared too much and said too little. It made my desperate need to fill the quiet come out even stronger.

“I’ll be fine.”

“No partying tonight? No hookups?” I asked, fake laughing. “Thought Fridays were your get-out-of-guilt-free cards. Where you can let loose and be a normal person.”

Luca’s eye twitched. “No hookups. Not tonight.”

Ask why. Ask it. Do it.

I opened my mouth but chickened out. I had zero reason to feel sick with worry thinking about him with someone else. It made sense for him to hook up with someone out of town. That was his favorite flavor—one and done. No feelings, just pleasure. My mouth dried up. Luca deserved to have fun, even if it wasn’t with me. “You should! Yeah, you should have the best sex ever tonight. Go to pound town.”

Oh my god. What is wrong with me?

Everything, apparently.

Amusement danced on his face, his gorgeous smile teasing me. “Pound town? Really?”

“I… regret saying that.” My face flushed. “Not my best moment.”

He smiled for real this time, two dimples popping out on either side of his chiseled face. I wanted to poke each one, just to feel how deep they went. The smile felt like the best prize, and I grinned, giddy for no damn reason.

“You are ridiculous,” he said, but there was warmth in his tone. “The most ridiculous.”

“I’m aware.” I bowed because my god, all normality had disappeared. The dimples short-circuited my brain, and I couldn’t quite unplug and plug myself back in. “Well, have fun tonight. Be wild. Safe. Fun. All the things. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Without a backward glance, I went into my room and leaned against the shut door. The familiar, breathless feeling of a crush knocked the wind out of me, and that wouldn’t do. I’d been down this road before, and just because a hot guy flashed dimples at me, it didn’t change a thing. Not a one.

No one would ever call me ill-prepared. After last weekend, I knew the zing between us would flare in the truck, so I took matters into my own hands. Literally. I wouldn’t be so pent up if I got off before being around Luca for hours. They weren’t due home for another hour—the perfect amount of time to get my vibrator.

I only felt secure enough to use it when no one was home. I could lock my door and turn music on loudly, but the dull vibration sound carried, and it would be the worst if Callum or Luca heard it. That meant taking advantage when they weren’t home.

I lay on my bed, naked, and put on The Weeknd. His voice was the absolute sexiest, and all I had to do was picture Luca and oh yeah. Hot tingles of pleasure danced along my skin, swooping deep in my gut. It had been a while since I’d gotten off, and my body could tell. I was tense as hell, and I applied some lube before sliding the vibrator inside. Groaning, I turned the clit stimulator on and fuck. “God, yes.” I angled it perfectly as I arched my hips and fucked myself.

Sweat beaded on my skin as I rocked against my bed, the pressure absolutely lethal. My clit swelled, and my muscles tightened as an orgasm closed in. Without permission, my mind went to Luca and that day I walked in on him.

His hand had fisted around his cock, his heavy and large one. His face had been tight in concentration as he stroked himself. God, his hands were huge, and his dark eyes lit up with pleasure. I wanted to see his face like that in real time, his jaw working left to right as he moaned.

What would I do to see Luca lose control? I shuddered as the pleasure built up into a symphony. “Yes!” I shouted, closing my eyes as the music dulled at the roar in my ears. I wanted Luca to suck on my tits and put his strong mouth between my thighs. “Luca,” I shouted as the orgasm was so close. I thrashed on my bed, using my free hand to pinch my nipples as the tingles exploded

“You okay?” A deep voice penetrated the air.

I gasped, absolutely frozen at the sight. Luca stood, in my room, mouth parted and his eyes wide. I couldn’t stop the orgasm though. It came fast and aggressive, and I bit my lips, groaning as I came hard.

I panted, and not once did I look away from Luca. He watched, his chest heaving and his dark eyes absolutely feral. Instead of feeling shame or embarrassment, him watching got me hotter. Needier. I thrust the vibrator with my other hand.

His nostrils flared, and he panted as he watched me. And watch me he did. He swallowed so hard it sounded like thunder as his eyes roamed over my chest. He licked his lips, then stared between my thighs. The vibrator hummed, and I rocked up and down, spreading my legs wider.

He blinked and stepped back, running into my dresser in a loud crash.

“Stay,” I demanded, his presence alone sending my body into overdrive. Goose bumps broke out over my skin, my body fully sweaty now. I pulled my nipple hard, loving how a vein popped out on Luca’s forehead.

He seemed intoxicated from me, and I drank up the power. I moaned loudly as I shuddered, and the combination of the dildo and vibrator along with his stare undid me.

“Yes, yes.” I arched my back, slamming my head into the pillow as a second orgasm hit me. “God, I wish this was your mouth, Luca.”

He growled. A deep, guttural sound escaped him as I rode out my orgasm. My ears rang, like the time I went to a concert and couldn’t hear correctly for a few days. Sweat dropped down my chest, pooling between my breasts, and I reached down to turn off the device. Two orgasms were good for me. Three would knock me out, and I needed a little energy to deal with the aftermath of this because I knew there would be some.

Pushing up onto my elbows, a sliver of worry danced down my spine. Luca still stood there, but instead of lust, anger radiated from him. His sweats tightened against his bulge though, so he could pretend to be unaffected, but I saw the truth.

“I…” he trailed off, his gravely low voice sending a shiver down my spine.

I played offense as well as defense, and I noted the second his guard went up. His eyes shuttered, and he fisted his hands at his sides. If I didn’t say something, he’d push me even further away. Even back out of driving me.

“Now we’re even.” I arched a brow, hoping my flushed face wasn’t showing vulnerability. I slid the dildo out of me and stood up, loving how he sucked in a deep breath at my nudity. I grabbed a silk robe from the closet and covered myself. “I saw you, and you saw me.”

“You said my name.”

“I know.” I walked up to him, my legs shaking from the impact of the orgasms. He might not have given them to me, but he’d helped. “I wanted to get my horniness out of my system before we left together.”

He breathed like he sprinted up the stairs, and he hadn’t moved a single body part since he fell against the dresser. The guy was a statue. Except for his eyes, those gave the flurry of emotions away.

“You moaned my name,” he said, each syllable drawn out in his deep growly voice.

“We established that, yes.” I crossed my arms, the post-orgasm glow fading as Luca remained there, unmoving with his tone sharpening. “This isn’t new, Luca. We’ve admitted we’re attracted to each other.”

His jaw clenched.

“We can’t… I can’t…” He gulped, running a hand over his face as he let out a huge groan. “I’m sorry I walked in on you. This was wrong.”

I arched my brows, something ugly plucking down the back of my spine. “Wrong? What do you mean by wrong?”

“I stayed. I should’ve left. You’re… Dean’s sister.”

Anger flared. “I know who I am, thank you. Not sure what my family has to do with the fact you watched me get off, but whatever.” I shook my head and gripped the tie of my robe to do something with my fingers. “I should get dressed before we drive together, and honestly, you should do something about that.” I jutted my chin to the press of his cock against his sweats.

He cleared his throat, not bothering to hide his reaction. “Lorelei—”

Footsteps thudded outside my room; a familiar whistle sounded. “Monroe, you stole my sweatshirt by accident.”

Dean.

Luca’s eyes turned so wide they were like two large olive pizzas at this point. I pointed behind the door, and Luca quietly fit there. Since the door was already cracked, Dean would surely ask me if I saw Luca.

My pulse hammered against my ribs, and it was like Dean’s presence doused me with freezing cold water. What was I doing? Teasing Luca like that? My skin heated, and my stomach twisted with regret. I’d crossed a line…but he did too. He’d stayed and watched.

“Monroe?” Dean was right outside my door, tapping the doorframe.

I moved toward my frame, putting me six inches away from Luca’s body. He stood rigid, panicked, and a part of me felt bad for him. He cared about the team so much, and this might’ve jeopardized that even a little bit.

“I haven’t heard him.”

“Ah, damn.” Dean faced me, his frown growing. “Okay, I’ll text him or something.”

“Nice stats last night,” I said. Did I stream the game? Yes. Was it for my brother? No. School spirit? Also no. It was to watch Luca.

“Thanks, Lo.” He sighed and walked to the stairs. “Hey,” he said, not quite turning around. “I’m glad you and Luca are becoming friends. I never expected that to happen, but it makes sense.”

“Oh?” A warm and gooey feeling enclosed around my heart. “Why do you say that?”

I swore Luca tensed even more next to me.

“He doesn’t let a lot of people in, and we’re protective of him. His family life… well, he has to work twice as hard. He’s been smiling more since you moved in, which trust me, I don’t get it because you generally suck as a human, but what I’m trying to say is thank you.”

My breath faltered. Act chill. “There was an insult in there too.”

“I can’t be nice to you. It’s in the sibling handbook to compliment and insult at the same time.”

I snorted. “Right, duh. Chapter seventeen.”

Dean laughed and hit the top of the staircase banister before heading down. Once he disappeared from view, I stepped back into my room and felt Luca’s penetrating stare.

He didn’t say a word before marching past me, making sure our bodies didn’t touch at all. “We leave in an hour.”

He shut his door, but Dean’s words repeated in my head. He’s been smiling more. I loved that, and even though I wanted to kiss him more than my next breath—I couldn’t. I refused to be put second again, and Luca would only break my heart.