Secret: A Stone Billionaire Series Novel (The Stone Billionaire Series Book 5) Page 13

  Just the thought of getting Leigha in my bed makes me crazy.

  I manage to make it to the washroom without alerting her to the boner.

  She’s distracted anyway.

  My erect member throbs for some sort of human contact in the shower.

  I think back to Leigha for a second.

  Her lips wrapped around my cock.

  I stroke my shaft and it throbs for more.

  Now, I picture Leigha bent over my bed, taking what I give her with screams of passion and delight.

  Oh God!

  What I wouldn’t give for that!

  I picture her in all manner of positions, until I get an unsatisfying orgasm and my jizz goes down the drain with the water.

  Goddamnit.

  That wasn’t nearly what I needed.

  I step out and start to brush my teeth when Leigha knocks on the door, and I open it without thinking.

  “Evan!” Leigha yells at me.

  I realize I’m dripping wet, naked, with a raging boner that just won’t go away.

  Leigha looks away but not before she’s seen everything.

  “What are you doing? Jerking it while brushing your teeth?” she giggles.

  “Aww, you’ve seen me this naked before, don’t be shy,” I laugh.

  “Yes. Before,” Leigha points out.

  “Come here, then,” I taunt her.

  “Evan, I’m not sleeping with you,” Leigha laughs.

  “Do something about that…thing,” she demands, pointing at my forlorn erection.

  “We’re going to be late!” she adds.

  “Maybe you could do something about it?” I suggest, innocently.

  “Are you seriously asking for a blow job?” Leigha squeals, trying to be serious.

  I can hear the laugh in her voice.

  “You know you want to,” I shrug.

  “Evan, get real,” she says.

  But, she is thinking about it, even as she closes the door.

  Leigha is waiting outside once I’ve pulled my clothes on, and all at once I can’t resist.

  My lips brush against hers, and I push her back, down against the bed.

  Her hands are in my hair as we take the kiss deeper, and she doesn’t resist me.

  Nothing about this feels wrong to me.

  “Evan,” she whispers.

  “Leigha,” I whisper back.

  “We both know where this is going,” Leigha tells me between desperate kisses.

  “And, I don’t think we should go there,” she adds.

  “I know,” I sigh.

  That doesn’t stop me from kissing her again, and again, until there’s a furious knock at my door.

  “Fuck,” I swear.

  I tuck my boner into the waistband of my pants as Leigha straightens herself out and busies herself with my suitcase.

  When I answer the door, Merc is standing there.

  “Are you ready? Or is she going to pack your suitcase all day?” he asks pointedly.

  “We’re ready,” I say.

  Though I’m not entirely sure what we’re about to walk into.

  My father’s Venice apartment has yet to be updated, but it’s got fantastic views of the Grand Canal.

  Priceless paintings are hung on the walls, Persian rugs worth thousands on the polished wood floor, and antique furniture is arranged tastefully about the villa.

  Noah Stone hasn’t touched the place since he bought it.

  “Evan!” Leigha screams my name.

  I run to her bedroom automatically.

  She’s screaming and pointing to the floor.

  I expect to find some sort of giant spider, but no, that’s not what I see.

  It’s a Goddamn condom on the floor.

  “Eww!” I scream.

  “Is that your dad’s?” Leigha screams in disgust.

  “I don’t know! Like I want to think about my dad having sex!” I scream back.

  I shiver all over.

  “I just can’t,” I tell her.

  “Evan make it go away!” Leigha screams.

  “Well, I don’t want to touch it!” I yell back.

  “You do it!” I insist.

  “You!” she screams back.

  “He’s your father!” she adds.

  “I’ll do it,” Levi says sternly.

  He picks the condom off the floor with a tissue and disposes of it without another word.

  “How did you do that?” I ask.

  “He’s your father too,” I add.

  “Yes, but it’s not a used condom, there was nothing in it. Jesus Christ! Are you both mental?” Levi asks.

  I almost feel like I’m going to vomit.

  Levi is as dignified as a soldier.

  I respect him.

  “Now that the messy bit has been disposed of, can we focus, please?” Levi asks.

  Leigha whips out a pad of paper and a pen.

  “We’re going to a Gala tonight to support The Donato Wildlife Fund. Now, the Donato’s are very well known in Venice. It’s a very high-class event. You’ll have to wear a tux, Evan. Leigha, do you have anything suitable you can wear?” Levi asks.

  “What?” Leigha stares at him.

  “Something high-couture?” Levi asks.

  Leigha stares at Levi as though he’s an alien.

  “She doesn’t wear that kind of stuff,” I explain.

  “Hey, I can if I want to,” Leigha interjects, defensively.

  “When have you ever?” I ask.

  “Plenty of times,” Leigha spits, rolling her eyes.

  She’s lying.

  She avoids these things at all costs, and always shows up when she has to, in a simple black dress.

  “I’ll take you shopping,” Levi suggests.

  Leigha mulls this over for a moment, then she looks to me, as though she’s asking if this is okay.

  “Yeah, go with him,” I nod.

  “Okay,” Leigha nods.

  Maybe she sensed the tension between us earlier?

  I feel a bit inadequate compared to him.

  Is Levi is the man that I could’ve been?

  If Merc hadn’t presumably been killed in front of me?

  If Vic hadn’t died?

  I sigh.

  There’s no knowing, of course.

  But, I have an impression that Levi is who my father would’ve been, had it not been for Elizabeth.

  “Why are we going to this gala exactly?” I ask.

  “The Donato’s are intertwined with Elizabeth,” Levi explains casually.

  “She’ll be there,” he adds.

  “Next thing you’re going to tell me, is that they’re a crime family, right?” I ask.

  “Yes, they are. However, they aren’t that way in the sense of the Ventretti’s; they’re old school. There’s a big difference between the Ventretti’s and the Donato’s. That’s not the point. The point is that Elizabeth is going to be there tonight, and we’re going to follow her,” Levi says.

  “How exactly are we going to walk in and find her, when everyone is wearing a mask?” I retort.

  “It’s a masquerade-themed gala,” Levi has the answer.

  “Oh,” I say.

  I have no idea why that makes any difference.

  “I gotta hand it to you Levi, you’re on the ball,” I say, anyway.

  “Always, Evan. Always,” Levi says.

  Then, he smirks, and I realize just how alike we are.

  “So, go find a tuxedo, please. It starts at seven,” he reminds me.

  Levi lays a ticket on the table.

  “Right, I’ll go get Merc,” I nod.

  Levi and Leigha go shopping, and I find Merc staring at a painting.

  It’s a war scene.

  “It’s interesting,” Merc comments.

  “We need tuxedos,” I mention.

  “I have one,” Merc says casually.

  Clearly, he’s been privy to Levi’s plans before I was.

  “Listen, I know it’s always
been you and Leigha. I’m not going to stand in the way of that, okay?” Merc asks.

  “Okay?” I ask, confused.

  “I just don’t want you to keep beating me up because I have a conversation with her, it’s annoying,” Merc explains.

  “I get that, I’m sorry,” I apologize.

  “You know, I don’t understand what it is. Every time I see her talking to another guy I want to blow their brains out, and it doesn’t make any sense,” I explain to Merc.

  “Did you ever think that maybe you’ve always loved her? You were just too proud to admit to yourself? Even now?” Merc asks.

  “I can’t now. There’s too much riding on what we’re doing. I can’t have her distracting me…” I trail off.

  “The truth is, Leigha’s always distracting you, Evan. She is your distraction, because you want her. You don’t understand why you want her, because Vic just died, but you know whatever feelings you have for her, they are there, and present, and they won’t go away,” Merc says.

  “They’ve never fully gone away,” I admit.

  I have to face the truth: would Vic and I have worked out, or would I have gone running back to Leigha like I always do?

  Would she have even taken me back?

  There’s that familiar pang, like a shot to the gut.

  I remember the day that I got back, and all I wanted to do was hold Leigha in my arms, and suddenly, she had this new boyfriend.

  I know I told her not to wait for me, but a part of me was always hoping she would wait.

  I deserved that.

  Leigha and I have been through so much, but somehow, we’re always pulled back together.

  “Just one thing, Evan. If you’re going to try to make it work, make it work. Make her your priority, and do not let her down, no matter what you do. Don’t you dare break her,” Merc says sternly.

  “That’s what I’m afraid of. What if I can’t do it?” I ask.

  “You’re fully capable. Can you honestly tell me any of your relationships have been healthy ones?” Merc asks.

  “No,” I admit.

  “Then, a healthy relationship would do you some good, Evan,” Merc says.

  “Have you ever had a healthy relationship?” I ask.

  I immediately regret the question.

  “You gave up a lot, to serve your country. I admire that Merc,” I tell him softly.

  “Thanks, Ev,” Merc nods.

  The pain in his face is so apparent.

  He left his girlfriend, Sarah, behind.

  Now she’s married - with three kids.

  I’m sure Merc doesn’t know and doesn’t plan on asking where she is.

  “Evan, just dive in head first, and take what comes at you, like the mature man that I know you are. Sometimes,” Merc encourages me.

  “Thanks, Merc. For what it’s worth, I’m so fucking glad you’re alive,” I tell him.

  “Me, too,” Merc says, honestly.

  Then he smirks that devilish grin, and I remember why we were the team to beat.

  “By the way, the best tux tailor is Vivaldi’s, over on Villa Cuatro. It’s where I always buy mine,” he says with a wink.

  22

  Leigha

  March 10, 2018

  Levi has a calming effect on sales clerks.

  All the girls put on their best behavior, charming him, and trying to get his notice.

  We go right into a pricey little boutique, and the sales girls measure me.

  They bring racks and racks of dresses, and I stand in front of Levi in every single one.

  “No, that’s too sexy,” Levi says.

  “I agree,” I say.

  I’m slightly uncomfortable with the sheer panels of the dress.

  “Next,” Levi says.

  It’s nice to be pampered and fawned over.

  The sales girls compliment my eyes, even my figure, though I know I’m not skinny by any means.

  Curvy is “in,” apparently.

  “I have, the dress,” the sales girl announces, brightly.

  Her broken English is cute.

  She shuffles me into the changing room and removes the previous dress.

  I’ve never tried on anything so luxurious before, let alone all these dresses.

  But, when she zips up this particular dress, it’s a perfect fit.

  I look in the mirror.

  The gorgeous black ballgown, with a beautiful neckline, and pleating that accents my cleavage in just the right way.

  My waist looks smaller than ever.

  I don’t dare to breathe.

  And, the beautiful black skirt!

  Miles of gorgeous taffeta that flows almost like the waves of the ocean.

  “Oh!” I gasp.

  When I step out of the dressing room, Levi is clapping.

  “That’s it, that’s the one!” he tells me.

  I nod in agreement, and bite my lip.

  Levi hands over his credit card, assuring that the dress will be ready by that evening’s event.

  The clerks nod and smile, and Levi let’s them know they will have to rush the alterations.

  “Lunch, next? Please? I am starving!” I say.

  “You’re going to need it. We still have to take care of your hair, makeup, nails, and shoes,” Levi says.

  “Really?” I groan.

  “You have to look like you belong in this world, Leigha. But don’t worry. You do,” Levi tells me.

  It’s not that I don’t do my nails, but it’s been months since I really took care of myself.

  I used to look perfect for work every morning, but since I’m not going to work anymore, I didn’t see the need for make-up every day, or painting my toenails regularly.

  I’m far from a girly-girl.

  I like clothes on sale that fit.

  We pick a little pizzeria that Levi says I will love, and walk to the counter.

  “This place will put all other pizza places to shame,” Levi explains.

  He orders a thin-crust pizza Margherita for the both of us.

  “You know, I have had pizza Margherita before, Levi. I have traveled,” I tell him.

  “Yes, but you haven’t had pizza here,” he tells me.

  Then, he asks something I don’t expect.

  “What exactly is going on with you and Evan?” Levi asks.

  “I….” I just trail off.

  There’s no way I can explain Evan.

  “Nothing,” I say finally.

  “So, you always kiss when you’re drunk?” Levi teases.

  “Always,” I laugh.

  “It was our thing back in school, we’d get drunk and make-out. That ended more than one of his relationships,” I laugh.

  “So, you guys never got together?” Levi asks.

  “It’s just too complicated,” I say, trying to be honest with him.

  “Try me,” Levi insists.

  I explain the whole story, from beginning to end.

  In detail.

  We were best friends, of course.

  Then there was also Merc, whom I had feelings for.

  But, it was nothing compared to how I felt about Evan.

  I didn’t want to hurt either of them.

  With Evan, I just couldn’t resist.

  I’m still talking when I realize that my pizza is in front of me.

  I take a piece and put it on my plate, then begin to eat it with a knife and fork.

  “Such a lady,” Levi laughs.

  He might be teasing me, but when I look across the table, he’s doing the exact same thing.

  He’s right, about the pizza.

  The crust is perfectly crispy, the sauce is fantastic but not overpowering, there’s a hint of garlic and the cheese is melted and gooey in the best way.

  “Okay, I concede, best pizza I’ve ever had,” I admit.

  “Until you go to Florence,” Levi corrects me.

  We both laugh.

  “So, why not now?” Levi asks.

  “Because, E
van has to focus, and he doesn’t need the distraction,” I explain.

  I wonder if that’s a lie.

  “If your timing is always off, could it be that this time, maybe, is the right time?” Levi asks me.

  “I don’t know if there’s even going to be a right time. Evan was going to propose to Vic, and… and I don’t think he’ll ever see me the way he saw her. She was perfect, tall, gorgeous, sculpted body, always looked her best,” I explain.

  “You don’t think you’re good enough for him,” Levi surmises.

  “I’m just…,” I try to defend myself.

  It’s the truth.

  I don’t think I’m good enough for Evan.

  I’ve seen the women that he dates, and I am definitely not in their class.

  “Leigha, he needs you,” Levi says, simply.

  “I know, but he needs me as a friend, Levi. He doesn’t want me. He thinks he does, but he’s not over Vic. I know him,” I explain.

  Levi nods.

  The dead fiancée card.

  Even if it was a farce…

  “Besides, he’s into all that BDSM, and I’m not,” I explain.

  “But wasn’t all that with Vic? He wasn’t always like that, right?” Levi asks.

  “That’s true,” I reason.

  “I think their games were just a way of controlling each other, because she would never commit,” I explain my theory.

  “You’re probably right,” Levi says.

  He sips some espresso.

  “I’m just saying, if you guys love each other, why don’t you just try and deal with the consequences later?” Levi explains.

  I don’t answer because I never told Levi that I love Evan.

  With my hair elegantly curled down my back, in the first strapless dress I’ve ever worn, I feel nervous for the first time in my life.

  I’m not used to being all dolled up like this.

  “You really think the make-up isn’t too much?” I ask.

  “You’ll be wearing a mask, anyway,” Levi reminds me.

  I selected a gold mask with beautiful black feathers all around it to match my dress.

  We wait for Evan and Merc, masks on, just outside the Gala.

  They show up slightly after seven, which annoys Levi.

  “Lady Leigha,” Evan gallantly offers me his arm.

  He’s a devil in a tux, and for some reason, I regret not giving him that blow job.

  The truth is I’m dying to have sex.

  It’s been months since I slept with anyone.