For a second, we stay there, my mouth open as I pant, his jaw hard, a nerve popping in his temple. Everything else in the room fades as I cling to him. He hauls me up so I’m balanced on his thighs. Then he’s inside me.
53
Luca
I wanted to see her before she went on stage and tell her to break a leg. But then I saw she wasn’t wearing my ring, and that animal part of me had rushed to the fore. Oh, I understood why she couldn’t. Why she had to be in character when she went on. But goddamn, I wanted to stamp my mark on her, inside her, one last time. Wanted to ensure she smelled of me when she left this room, so everyone would know who she belongs to. Now, as I bury myself balls deep inside her, I wonder if I’m making a mistake.
I should tell her what I’m about to do… Only then, she’d stop me. And I don’t want that, because this is the only way to keep her safe. They went after her to get to me, but if I make myself a target, I’ll take the focus off of her. It’s the only way to keep her safe. There’s no way I could ask her not to go on stage today. This is her dream. She deserves to live it. As for me? I’ll ensure no one harms her while she does it.
I plant my hand against the wall and my biceps tense. I balance her weight on my thighs while I grip her hip to hold her up. I lean more of my weight into her, and tilt my hips so my pelvic bone rubs up against her clit. Her body jolts and she rises up and off the wall. Her breasts thrust out and into my chest. Sensations burst to life under my skin, and the rest of my blood rushes to my groin. I pull back, then rock into her, and she moans. She tightens her hold about my neck, and digs her heels into my back. I piston my hips forward, plunge into her, and feel every centimeter of her melting channel as I sink into her. One of her shoes falls off and hits the ground with a thump. It only adds to this craziness that burns in my chest. I pull back until my cock is balanced at the rim of her opening, then glare at her.
"Who do you belong to?" I ask.
"You," she replies.
"Damn right." I tilt my hips and sink into her, going impossibly deep inside her. She gasps. Her spine bends. Her pupils dilate. She opens her mouth and I lock mine over hers. I release my hold on her hip, only to wrap my fingers around the back of her neck. I suck on her, drink from her, and all the while, I fuck her. Then I release her mouth, stare into her eyes, and command, "Come."
Her pussy squeezes my dick, the orgasm crashing over her. She flutters around me as I impale her over and over again, until with a hoarse cry, I empty myself into her.
I push my forehead into hers. Sweat slides down my back as I memorize her features. Then I pull out of her. I lower her to the ground, my fingers still curled around her slender neck. I straighten her clothes with my free hand, not breaking the connection of our gazes.
"I love you," I whisper against her lips.
Her gaze widens. Before she can say anything, I pull another tampon from my pocket, slide it into her hand, then pivot. Yeah, I came prepared that way. I fix myself as I stalk out of the room.
The door swings shut behind me. I walk up the corridor, away from my love. My life.
Penny heads in my direction, a worried look on her face. "Is she okay?"
"She will be." I jerk my head in the direction of the door behind me. "She needs you."
"Did you hurt her?" Penny’s expression grows fierce. "If you did, so help me, I’ll kill you."
"You care about her?" I tilt my head. "That’s good. She needs her friends around her."
Her forehead pinches. "What do you mean?"
I sidestep her. "Isn’t it getting close to curtain call?"
"Oh, hell. Of course it is." She heads past me and into the room. "Jeanne, you ready, babe?"
54
Jeanne
Penny walks into the room. I stare past her at the door, wondering what just happened. He fucked me and walked out. He told me he loves me, and left me with his cum dripping down my thigh. I squeeze my legs together. At least he didn’t tear off my panties, though I was sure he was going to do just that at one point. Perhaps because he knew I was going on stage very soon. Why had he seemed so somber? So serious. More growly than usual. He seemed like someone on a mission. Someone with a secret. Someone who fucked me as a goodbye... I stiffen, then push away from the wall.
"Jeanne?" Penny crosses the floor toward me. "It’s almost time to go on stage."
"I know." I walk toward her. "I need to see Luca, one last time."
"I saw him come out of here. Didn’t the two of you already say your fond farewells? You’re going to see him after the show, after all."
I bypass her as I head for the door. "It’s just..." I shake my head. "He seemed preoccupied, out of character."
"Probably already missing his wife. It’s what? Only the second day that you’re married."
"Our first day as husband and wife, actually. But it’s not that; he just seemed... Not himself." I grab the door handle.