Placing my beer on the table, I grab the cutlery from the drawers and move around setting the kitchen table.
Lilly brings over two large bowls and positions them on the table.
“I took a risk making Spaghetti Bolognese for an Italian, but it was quick and easy.”
“You do know that Bolognese isn’t technically Italian.” My family would kill me if I didn’t do my service preserving the Italian culture.
“I know. My nanny would kill me for serving this to you, but I like it.”
“It smells delicious.” The herbs and garlic aromas filter through my nose making my hunger pangs spike. “Plus, I’ve worked up an appetite.” My heated words make Lilly stop mid-fork full, her cheeks turn a light shade of pink at my innuendo.
“Saluti.” I hold up my beer.
Lilly places her fork back down in her bowl and holds up her beer bottle.
“Saluti.” She cheers me back, then we both dig in.
“This is delicious,” I say between mouthfuls.
“That means a lot coming from an Italian.”
“Now, if you can find me some proper coffee, I might have to think about marrying you.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen around here. So, you better call off the priest now.” We both laugh at the silly joke.
The conversation flows between us easily. She tells me about her childhood nanny and the crazy things they got up to, she also tells me about her nan and the fun times she had sitting in this cottage. This is a far cry from the privileged upbringing I had.
“Wanna play a game?” Lilly asks.
My brows rise. She’s kinky as well? This girl is full of surprises.
“Get your head out of the gutter, Luke. I was meaning a board game.”
I don’t remember the last time I played a board game, or even if I have. “Um… sure.”
“Don’t look so scared. I promise to go easy on you.” Lilly winks at me as she excitedly jumps up from the kitchen table and rustles in the hallway closet. She walks back with a dusty box and places it down on the table.
“Monopoly. What’s that?”
“What?” she gasps. “You have never played Monopoly?” Lilly looks at me as if I’m some rare breed of alien.
“No. We didn’t play board games in my family.”
“Oh, my… I feel sorry for you. What kind of childhood did you have that there was no Monopoly?” she says it jokingly, but little does she know how rigid a life I grew up in. “It’s one of the greatest games on earth. I thought you being a businessman and all that this would be right up your alley.”
“Be warned, I’m a ruthless businessman, and I’ll be an even more ruthless opponent,” I tell her, taking my seat back at the table.
“Game on, then.” She glares at me over the table.
“What? No! What do you mean I have to pay you rent? I don’t have any money left,” I exclaim, looking at the board.
“You have to sell everything. Pay or declare bankruptcy, and I win.”
How on earth did this woman beat me at a game of real estate?
“Take pity on me, woman. This is my first time,” I tease her.
“Hell, no. I’m one of the most competitive women you’ll ever know. There’s nothing you can offer me that will make me change my mind.”
Challenge accepted.
I stand and walk around to her side, then start kissing her neck.
“Wh… what are you doing?” Her voice is shaky.
“You said there was nothing in the world that would make you forfeit the game, and I’m testing this theory.” My lips trail all over her skin while tiny goosebumps prickle under my lips.
“This is cheating, you know…” her words trail away as my lips continue their assault.
“Or, I’m switching to a new game, one we both can win at.”
She laughs. “That seems like a valid suggestion.”
I walk around the chair and ask for her hand, which she gives me willingly. I pull her up and out of the chair, then throw her over my shoulder.
“Luke, Luke,” she screams with delight, thumping my back.
Luckily, the cottage is small as I rush toward my room, kicking the door open and throwing her on the bed.
“You’re crazy.”
“I guess your crazy is rubbing off on me.” I give her a wide smirk. I open the bedside table and pull out a condom and throw it onto the bed, her eyes widen at the action.
“Guessing the game is getting serious.” Her eyes darken to an almost sapphire as she starts to undress, the timidness that she’d shown before now gone as she feels more comfortable in my company. Good.
I follow her lead and strip off my T-shirt and track pants. She throws her leggings at me, which makes me laugh. I settle myself over Lilly, hovering enough that I don’t squash her.
“You were a pleasant surprise.”
She smiles up at me. “So were you.”
The moment settles between us, both of us surprised at the ease we find ourselves in, seeing as we’re very much strangers, but at this moment in time, I feel like I can be myself and not the person my family wants me to be.
No responsibility.
No pressure.
No pretending.
Just me.
Slowly, I nudge at her entrance, her legs falling wider for me. I let the head of my dick slide between her wet folds, teasing her, making sure she’s ready for me. Looking down at her beautiful face, I’m in awe that of all the cottages, she ended up in mine.
“You’re so beautiful, Lilly.” I let my hand caress her face.
“You don’t have to woo me, Luke. I’m a sure thing.”
A tiny frown falls across my face. “Can I not give you compliments?”
“I don’t think what this is needs compliments.”
Her words sting a little. “No matter how temporary this is…” I state while rubbing my thumb across her cheek. “It doesn’t mean you deserve less.”
“I’m not used to compliments,” she confesses.
Jesus, her ex really was a dick to her.
“Maybe I need to make you get used to them.”
Her cheeks flush in embarrassment.
How
