Unspeakable Truths (21 page)

We collapse onto the bed, still panting, coming down from the intensity of what just happened.

“Are you alright?” he asks, looking at me, I can see the question linger in his eyes.

“Yes.”

“Did I hurt you, was it too much?”

“You didn’t hurt me, it was different.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it was good different Luca. I like that you’re creative in bed,” I say with a smile.

He reaches over and runs his fingertips gently across my cheek. “I like to have fun but I never want to hurt you or scare you okay, you can tell me if it’s ever too much.”

“Are you like a dominant?”

“No,” he replies with a chuckle. “I’m just a guy who likes a little adventure in bed. How I smacked your ass before…that’s about as much as I’ll ever do. I’m not into whips and chains or anything.”

“I love how you make me feel.”

“How do I make you feel?”

“Alive.”

We shower together and Luca dresses in his clothes from yesterday then heads into the kitchen to make coffee while I get myself ready for work. He brings me a cup into the bathroom once it’s done and then turns on the news, patiently waiting for me to finish. Once I’m done we drive back to his place where I hop in my car and drive to work, leaving Luca at home to change into his work clothes.

We both have busy days so even though it was nice to see his face around the office, we didn’t actually interact. There’s no clear cut rule about dating coworkers here, but it’s best for everyone involved if we don’t make our relationship public knowledge, so I’m fine with keeping our distance.

My office phone rings late in the afternoon, and I can tell by the caller ID that it’s Morgan.

“Hey chickie,” I say when I pick up the receiver.

“Hey, how was your weekend?”

“It was pretty good how ‘bout yours?”

“It was bleh. Did you have time to think about the Luca and Janine situation? You’re not still mad at him are you? Did you talk to him today?”

“I’m not mad. He told me he kissed her but that was it and I believe him.”

“So you straight up asked him at work if he slept with Janine?”

“No. I asked him on Friday night when I confronted him like a crazy person at his house.”

“Everly!” she says, clearly astonished by my insanity.

“I know.”

“Oh. My. God.”

“I know.”

“Was he pissed?”

“Yes. Right up until the point that I threw myself bodily at him.”

“WHAT?” she shrieks, making me think that I may have just blown an eardrum. “Tell me everything.”

“I can’t talk about it here. Come by my house after work, I’ll make you dinner.”

“I’ll be there at six, and I want to know everything!”

“Okay, I’ll see you later,” I say just before disconnecting.

I glance at the clock on my computer screen, thankful that I only have a half hour longer to work. I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and look up to see Luca standing over my desk.

“Hi,” he says, before taking a seat.

“Hi.”

“How’s your day been?”

“Productive. Yours?”

“Same.”

“Is there something I can help you with Mr. Jensen?”

He slides a hand over his tie and grins at me. “I was hoping I could take you to dinner after work.”

“I can’t, Morgan’s coming over to get all the sordid details of our weekend together.”

“Ohhhh she is, is she?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, it’s good that you spend time with her. I know she’s happy to have you back in her life.”

God he’s such a good guy. “Are you sure, I can cancel.”

“No. Do your gossipy girl thing. I’ll call you tonight.”

“Okay.”

“Alright seriously, I can’t take it anymore. Please tell me what happened.”

Morgan and I are halfway through dinner, and I’ve been putting off talking about me and Luca—partly because I want to torture her but also because I don’t know what to say.

I look up from my plate, tilt my head, and avert my gaze focusing instead on the small window just over her shoulder. “Well you know I was obviously pissed off when Janine said what she did, and I felt the overwhelming need to confront him. I needed to know the truth.”

I move my head back to look at her as she waves her hand around, indicating that I should get on with the story. “So what happened?”

I let out a sigh and slouch down in my chair, kind of wishing that I could disappear. “He was pissed and he got in my face. I got in his and then I threw myself at him. Literally.”

Her eyes go wide with astonishment. “What did he do?”

“He carried me into his room, stripped me down, and screwed my brains out.”

“You’re lying,” she challenges, shaking her head.

I take a sip of my wine. “No, I’m really not.”

“
You
had sex with Luca?” she questions, not even trying to hide the disbelief in her voice.

I cover my face with the palms of my hands and peek at her through my fingers. “Multiple times.”

“Oh. My. God.”

“I know.”

“Did you have to do the walk of shame?”

“No,” I answer, dropping my hands back down to my lap. “I spent the night and then we hung out the next day, and then he asked me to spend the night again.”

She smiles so wide I’m afraid her face might actually freeze. “So you spent two amazing nights at Luca’s”

“Yes and one amazing night here.”

“What?”

“He took me to the aquarium yesterday. He remembered that I’d always wanted to go,” I say with a smile on my face. “By the time we got here it was late, sooo he spent the night.”

“So are you guys like together now?” she probes.

“I don’t know. I mean, yes. I guess so. Yes, totally,” I stutter.

“Alright, you know I have to ask… How is he in bed?”

I laugh at her question, knowing that it was only a matter of time before she asked it. “Honestly? He’s unbelievable,” I reply dreamily.

“Eek… I wanted you to say that. You deserve unbelievable Ev.”

“I’m a little scared.”

“That’s normal, you’ve been through hell and back, opening yourself up to anyone is going to be scary, but Ev, I think it’s going to be worth it. You deserve the chance to move on and if Luca is the one that gives you that chance then so be it.”

“It’s just that sometimes I feel guilty, like I find myself comparing things that Luca does to Tyler.”

She nods her understanding. “And what’s the verdict?”

“I’m not saying that Luca is better, I’m not, I’m just saying that he’s very different and the way he’s different, I like a lot.”

“If Tyler were still here, you’d never have explored those things. You’d never know that there are things that Luca does that you like more, so you have nothing to feel guilty about. This isn’t cheating, it’s not betrayal. You have been alone for a very long time, and it’s natural for you to make those types of comparisons since you only ever knew Tyler, he was your only boyfriend. The comparisons will eventually stop.”

This is a typical Morgan speech, always finding the positive, always telling you that things will work out the way they’re supposed to, that everything happens for a reason, and right now that’s exactly what I need to hear. “You’re right.”

“Always.”

“Just don’t let it get it your head,” I say, and she smiles, making me so grateful that she waited around for me to stop being a bitch for the past four years.

I’m lounging in bed reading a magazine but not really reading it. I’m thinking about what Morgan said about moving on with Luca. About how amazing spending the weekend with him was—how natural it felt, how explosive it was. He’s got a hold of me now, and I’m sensing that he would not let me go without a fight, not that I want to go. I don’t. But the magnitude of how badly I want to be with him is a little bit frightening. I’m thinking about how no matter what I do, I can’t stop thinking about him, when my phone rings. My stomach flutters, I don’t even bother looking at the caller ID, knowing that it has to be Luca.

“Hello?”

I smile at the sound of his deep voice. “Hey. How was dinner with Morgan?”

“It was good,” I answer honestly, unable to hide the excitement in my voice.

“Did you tell her all about our hot sexual exploits?” he questions with a chuckle.

I giggle and throw myself back against my pillows feeling more like a teenager than an adult. “I’m a little more discreet than that.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that I told her all about it without giving her all the seedy details,” I tease.

“Seedy? We’re not seedy babe, our sex is hot.”

“It is hot,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper, my body temperature spiking.

“What are you wearing?” he asks. I can tell by his tone that he’s smiling.

I laugh. “No, no, no mister. I’m not falling for that trap.”

“Aw, you’re no fun.”

“I’m way more fun in person.”

His voice goes soft making my body melt at the sound of him. “Yes you are. So good in person, I wish you were here right now.”

I wish I was there right now too but instead of admitting that I say, “I’m going to see you tomorrow.”

“Work doesn’t count.”

“I guess you’re right.” I sigh, relaxing my body and closing my eyes.

“Meet me here after work. I’ll order some dinner, we’ll spend some time together, have some fun.”

“Okay.” I mentally chastise myself after realizing how quickly I agreed to see him. God maybe I could at least try to play a little hard to get.

“Bring your overnight bag, because I want to take my time with you.”

“Okay.” It comes out breathy. So much for playing hard to get.

“Goodnight Ev.”

“Goodnight Luca.”