Starter Wife (The Jilted Wives Club Book 1) by Bethany Lopez (a court of thorns and roses ebook free TXT) 📕

“When Marcus left me, he didn’t take away my husband, he took away my family. It was unexpected and hurt more than you can imagine. I mean, I didn’t know the last time I saw them that it would be the last time. And the loss I felt was so much more than simply losing the life I’d built with my husband, but it was like he took everything from me, except my children.”

“You don’t still see them?” I asked, the pain on her face making my heart hurt.

She shook her head sadly.

“No, it would be too weird. Marcus is married to Crystal now, and they aren’t exactly going to invite the ex-wife on family vacations. Oh, I’ll see them occasionally when it has something to do with Stella or Silas, but it’s not the same.”

“I’m sorry.”

Whitney covered my hand with hers and squeezed.

“I was already scared of my feelings for you, but when I saw how wonderful and close your family is, and I could picture myself becoming a part of it, I really freaked out. Then everything happened with Charlotte, and, really, don’t worry about that. We spoke and she apologized, and I totally understand where she’s coming from as a new mom and all … I didn’t shut down because of what she said, I was simply overwhelmed by everything.”

“I can understand that. I was scared too, you know,” I admitted.

“You were?”

“Of course. Taking you to meet my family is a huge deal, and not just because I wanted them to like you, but I wanted you to like them. I know they can be a lot to handle, and I worried they’d come on too strong. Then Char walked in spouting that bullshit and I thought I was going to come unhinged. I acted like a jerk because I was in an unfamiliar situation and I didn’t know how to make things better.”

“I can relate,” Whitney said with a laugh. “And I really love that you can talk about it like this with me … It was something I never had with Marcus.” She took a big inhale before looking at me from beneath her eyelashes and saying, “I went to see him after I left your parents.”

“Marcus?” I asked, trying to ignore the stab of jealousy that hit.

She nodded.

“We never really had the big discussion about what went wrong and why he left … why he cheated, and I realized I’d never be able to properly move forward with you. To trust you and give you all of my heart, if I was still hanging on to these unresolved issues from my marriage.”

“And did he give you the closure you needed?”

“He did.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and grinned.

“I’m happy to hear it, because I wanted to tell you … the reason I was so off-kilter and everything is because I have never been so terrified of losing someone as I am of losing you. And the reason I feel that way, is because I’m in love with you.” I let out a disbelieving laugh. “I’ve never said that to a woman before … I mean, a woman I was in a relationship with … you’re the first and only woman I ever want to say it to. I love you, Whitney Spaulding, and I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she smiled a big, beautiful smile at me, and then she said the most wonderful words I’ve ever heard. “I love you, too, Luca.”

Thirty-Seven

Whitney

I’m not sure which one of us moved first, but suddenly we were on our feet and in each other’s arms.

When his lips met mine, my body heat went from zero to one hundred in two seconds flat. Luca met my fervor with a gusto and within moments we were groping and tearing at each other’s clothes.

“Now, now, now,” I said hurriedly as I tried to undo his pants so I could get my hands on him.

At the same time, he placed his palms on my thighs and moved them upward, taking the bottom of my dress with them. I felt the cool air hit my lace-clad bottom just as I reached my prize and wrapped my hand around his hard, straining cock.

“Fuck, yes,” Luca managed between the kisses he was raining over my neck and chest.

I squeezed his cock tightly and began to move my hand the best I could while his pants and underwear were acting as a roadblock. I moved material aside enough to spring him free just as I felt, and heard, the panties being ripped from my body.

When he maneuvered us back toward the wall and placed his hands on my ass, I hopped up eagerly and held on to his shoulders as Luca anchored me against the wall.

He entered me in one deep, swift thrust as I wrapped my legs tightly around him and did my best to meet him thrust for thrust.

It wasn’t graceful, or tender, but god, it was hot, and it didn’t take long before I was digging my nails into his shoulders and crying out into his mouth as he fucked me like there was no tomorrow.

Luca moaned his release and then chuckled as he leaned us against the wall in an effort to stay upright and catch his breath.

When I heard, “Mom, is everything okay?” I came quickly out of my sex-induced haze and met Luca’s wide eyes with my own.

“Your kids are here?” he asked, shocked.

“Holy…” I cried. “Yes. Crap. How could I forget? I told them to stay upstairs while we talked, and I’d tell them when it was time for dinner.”

“Jesus,” Luca managed as he disentangled himself from me and struggled to right himself. “Don’t let them come down here.”

“Yeah, babe, everything’s fine. Just give us a little more time,” I called back, hoping I didn’t sound like a woman who’d just been fucked hard against the wall. As I