Evelyn
Clara had given me a bunch of tips as she came downstairs, whilst I was still blushing from the moment Jacob had fed me fruit salad. Within the hour, both she and Dad left, and suddenly, the house felt too quiet.
The silence had been comforting when they were around. Even though Jacob worked from home most days now, we both craved the presence of familiar company-especially me. I loved when Bianca visited, or when Rosaline and Enzo surprised us with bags full of pastries and endless stories.
But now, it was just me and Jacob. And the quiet felt… hollow.
Jacob glanced up from his laptop, noticing the bored expression I wore as I absentmindedly picked at the snacks in my lap. Without hesitation, he closed his laptop and made his way over to me.
“Done already?” I asked, surprised as he plopped down beside me and effortlessly pulled me onto his lap. These days, I wouldn’t be surprised when he did that-he’d been doing it that fucking often.
“Not exactly,” he murmured, brushing his lips along my jaw before placing a soft kiss at the corner of my mouth. “But work can wait. I can’t have the love of my life sitting here bored and lonely, can I?”
“You shouldn’t neglect your work because of me,” I mumbled, though I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling the familiar scent of him. My fingers traced lazy patterns over the tattoo on his chest, something I had memorized long ago.
“I’m not neglecting anything, baby,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to my temple. “It’s just a short break. I’ll finish everything before night, so don’t worry.”
I hummed softly, my gaze falling back to the inked designs on his skin. I didn’t know why they suddenly felt so mesmerizing, considering I had every detail burned into my memory.
“You’re really pretty,” I whispered, a small smile tugging at my lips as my fingers ghosted over the lines of his tattoo.
Jacob chuckled softly. “Oh, am I?” he teased, pretending to be surprised. “And what made you realize that all of a sudden?”
“Silly,” I laughed, pressing my forehead against his. “Did you forget about my little crush on you when I was a kid? I always thought you were pretty-too good to be true.”
His smile widened against my lips, arms tightening around me. “How could I forget that, huh?” His voice dipped, sending shivers down my spine. “And how could I forget what you did to make me lose my shit?”
I raised a brow, challenging him with a playful smirk. “Oh well… can you say you didn’t like it?”
“I loved every second of it, baby,” he whispered, his voice low and rough like gravel. “And you know what? I’m so fucking glad I finally let go-let go of that twisted control, that bullshit sense of right and wrong.” His hand wrapped around my throat, firm but gentle, as his lips brushed against mine. “But there’s one thing I hated-every agonizing second I had to hold myself back while you stood there, tempting me, begging to be claimed. Every time I saw you, I fucking shattered inside, dying over and over just to keep my hands off you. All I wanted was to ruin you…again and again. Fuck you like there was no tomorrow.”
My breath hitched, heart pounding against my ribs. “Speaking of which,” I whispered, locking eyes with him, “when was the last time you actually fucked me?”
His gaze darkened, a sinful grin curling on his lips. “Last night, baby,” he chuckled darkly. “I remember every filthy detail of how I fucked you last night. Raw.”
I bit my lip, a wicked smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Funny…I don’t remember a thing,” I teased, though the memory blazed through me, igniting every nerve. “Guess you’ll have to remind me, Mr. Adriano.”
Desire flickered in his eyes like an unquenchable fire. Without another word, he lifted me effortlessly into his arms. “As you wish, Mrs. Adriano,” he growled.
And with that, he carried me to the bedroom, ready to make me forget-and remember-all over again.
***
“I thought you’d be too sore to walk for days, baby,” Jacob teased, his fingers lacing through mine as we strolled along the quiet pavement. The evening sky, painted in hues of amber and violet, cast a soft glow over us, while the gentle breeze kissed my skin-It was comforting. Mostly because I had the love of my life beside me. “But here you are-walking perfectly fine.”
A chuckle escaped me. “Or maybe,” I teased, arching a brow, “you’ve lost some of that strength. We are getting older, after all.”
I expected him to be offended, maybe even challenge me back. Instead, he swiftly pressed me against the cool brick wall, his body a solid heat against mine, completely unbothered by the curious glances from a passing couple whispering something about young love.
His lips hovered dangerously close to mine, his breath hot and tempting. “Are we really going to pretend you don’t know I went easy on you because of our baby?” His voice was low, gravelly, every word a deliberate stroke against my already burning skin. “You and I both know that if I wanted to, you wouldn’t be able to walk for weeks. You’ve experienced that before, haven’t you?”
Oh, I had. Vividly.
But that wasn’t what occupied my mind right now. No, the real problem? Jacob didn’t even have to try anymore. Pregnancy had turned my body into a live wire. All he had to do was exist, and I was aching for him. Dripping wet. Ready to beg him to fuck me.
His dark eyes flickered with realization as he caught me staring, my lips parted, breath shallow.
“If I slip my hand inside your pants right now,” he whispered, voice dropping to a rasp, “will I find you wet for me?”
“Why don’t you find out?” I dared, my voice barely above a whisper.
His jaw clenched, the fire in his gaze intensifying. “Fuck, Evelyn,” he growled, pressing me harder into the shadows of the corner, shielding us from prying eyes. “Don’t tempt me. Because if I do, you know damn well I’ll forget we’re in public… and I’ll fuck you right here. Raw. And we’ll both kiss our reputations goodbye.”
I bit my bottom lip. God, I need him right now. I wanted Jacob to ruin me the way he used to-raw, unrestrained, and merciless. But lately, he’d been careful, gentle… because of the baby. That wild, unbridled passion we shared? We’d kept it locked away for too long.
“I guess we’ll have to wait, then,” I whispered, forcing myself to rein in my spiraling thoughts-the kind that were dark, dirty, and oh-so-detailed. Memories flashed through my mind, unbidden and sinful. Every touch, every moment we had stolen since that destination wedding, all of it crashing over me and making me hot and restless.
“Yeah,” Jacob exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. “And I need some fucking water… just to cool down before I take you home and bury my face between those sweet thighs.”
Heat surged through me, and my cheeks burned at his words. He noticed, of course, a devilish smirk tugging at his lips. “Wait here, baby. I’ll grab a bottle of water,” he nodded toward a small shop just a few feet away. I gave him a quick nod, and he was gone.
I leaned against the wall, trying to steady my breathing, when something-or someone-caught my eye.
A man in a black hoodie.
It wasn’t the hoodie that unsettled me, but the mask covering the lower half of his face, leaving only his eyes exposed. Those dark, piercing eyes felt like they were staring straight into my soul, sending a chill down my spine.
Our eyes met for a fleeting second as he walked past me, his cologne lingering in the air-sharp, intoxicating, unforgettable.
But just as he passed Jacob, something made him turn back. Our eyes locked once more.
And then it hit me.
Memories crashed over me like a tidal wave.
I knew those eyes. I knew that scent.
Tyler.