Lex and Lu(69)

Willa had always been the eat-’em-up-and-spit-’em-out girl. She’d spent some time thinking about what Lu had said to her during her visit. She could admit that Lu’s experience had dictated her course, because at nineteen Willa knew there was no way any man was going to leave her loving him more than he loved her. At the funeral, she’d imagined spending a couple of nights with Pete and moving forward. Maybe if she had simply explained that she just wanted to fuck him, this would have all been so much easier.

When Willa overheard his conversation with Lu, though, she felt herself fall. There was no other way to describe it. It was as if the earth all around her had crumbled away, but she managed to remain right where she was in this more amazing place. And that had scared the shit out of her.

Looking at Pete now, she could see the exasperation in his eyes. In all her memories of Pete, she didn’t have any with him wearing the expression currently adhered to his face. He was all patience, understanding, and optimism. He saw the fertile ground under the dog shit she saw. For Pete, this wouldn’t be quick and easy—it would be long, passionate, and easy. And although she didn’t want to think about the consequences, she didn’t think their families could handle any more trauma. But she was tired of thinking about things. His hands drifted to his side, and while he studied her he started to slowly shake his head as if he was trying to talk himself out of something. All Willa could think was Fuck it.

Her hands crossed in front of her. Grabbing the bottom of her tank top, she pulled it over her head. Pete tried—she could tell he was trying to keep his eyes glued to hers—but they slipped and took in the view. While he did that, she pushed her shorts down and let them pool at her ankles. Stepping over them, she walked over to Pete and placed her arms around his neck, clasping her hands in back. She left some space between them. She needed him to give.

“I don’t think we have anything else to talk about,” she said.

Pulling her to him, he smiled—one of those smiles that lit the room and she felt down to her toes. “I don’t think I can do much talking with you naked,” he quipped.

“Moaning?” she asked impishly.

“Hmm, yes, let’s see about moaning,” he said as he kissed his way down her neck and pulled her more snugly against him.

Her giggle quickly turned into a moan as he nipped at her neck.

“I think I won that round,” he teased, pushing her back toward the bed until she hit it.

“You know you should never throw down the gauntlet with me, Petey Boy, and right now you have way too much clothing on,” she said as she sat on the bed, and pulled him between her legs. She quickly unbuttoned his shirt, then moved to his belt and jeans.

When he stood naked in front of her, she paused, maybe for dramatic effect. Then she moved up the bed and he followed, coming down on top of her, between her legs. “I didn’t think we’d ever get here,” he remarked as he bent to kiss her. She wanted to respond to the comment, wanted to tell him that she never had any doubt that she’d get him into her bed, but she knew that wasn’t what he meant. She tried to hold on to the thought, but his soul-searing kisses were making it difficult to sustain them. As his hands moved reverently over her body, Willa got lost in him. For the first time, she didn’t dictate what happened. She surrendered completely. When she absorbed his body into hers, she came so quickly she almost laughed and he smiled, obviously proud of himself. It was at the moment when she gazed up at his smiling face in the aftermath of her climax that she realized there was nowhere else for her to go. Pete Pellitteri was home. Then she couldn’t do much more than wrap herself around him as he quickly found his release.





30





Jo walked wearily toward the front door, dragging her suitcase behind her, wishing for a valet or porter—someone to lighten the load. The ride back from Tallahassee had been long and arduous, much like her weekend, much like the last eight months. She’d known that attending Lu’s graduation would be difficult, but she couldn’t pass on the opportunity to see Lu, Nina, and Pete. Even so, spending time with Chris and Amber now took a lot of effort on all of their parts. Gone was the easy friendship built over the lifetimes of their children, during those trying years. She’d never thought about what her life would be without Mike. But she’d imagined that she would draw upon the strength of their friends. Instead, she felt herself withdraw from all of them. It was easier for her to not participate in their rituals, allowing her the free reign to not draw upon memories of him. Perhaps in time, basking in those memories would bring her comfort, but for now they only brought pain and resentment.