As Luck Would Have It Read online

  “Shit, Syd, this is so something I would do. Mom’s gonna shit herself. So was he in the car when you got dropped off? That car is hot.” Natalie sipped her tea. “I can’t wait to meet Mr. Hotness.”

  “Yes, he was, and you’ll get to meet him tomorrow. I’m gonna meet him for lunch and then bring him back here. You’re gonna behave yourself, right?” Sydney sternly waited for an answer.

  “Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry. I promised you I wouldn’t sleep with any more of your boyfriends. Hell, you’re already married. I’m going to bed, that was a hell of a story. I wish I had been there to help plan the wedding, though. I’ll just have to see the pictures. And that dress is smoking.” Natalie started walking up the stairs. “Good night, Sista. Glad you’re home.”

  “Night,” Sydney called back. Wow, that wasn’t so bad.

  “Babe, you’re still up? I thought maybe you’d gone to bed already and forgot to call me,” Marcus said when she finally called him.

  “I wouldn’t have forgotten. In fact, you’ve been on my mind the entire night. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how late it was. I was talking with Natalie, and we must have lost track of time.”

  “I was up. I can’t sleep. It’s not the same without you. So what did you and your sister talk about?” Marcus asked curiously.

  “I told her everything. Well, except about the barbell. That’s my treasure, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  “So are you going to bed?”

  “Nah, I’m gonna lie here on the couch for a while. I don‘t want to go up to my bed.”

  “Has everyone else gone to bed?”

  “Yeah, they’re in their rooms. Why?”

  “I was wondering what you’re wearing.”

  “Actually, I’m still in the clothes from before. What are you wearing?”

  “Babe, when I’m with you, I sleep au natural. Only problem is, you’re not in bed with me.”

  She could picture in her mind just how scrumptious he looked lying naked in bed. “I’d have you come here, but if someone came downstairs, it would be-oh, I don’t even want to think what it would be. And I don’t know where you live. I couldn’t leave anyway, just in case someone was looking for me.”

  “God, I just want to touch you. If I close my eyes, I can almost feel you lying next to me,” Marcus said.

  “You better be careful before you pitch a tent in bed.”

  “Too late, the tent’s already up.”

  Sydney felt the tinglies coming back between her legs. She reached down to cup her hand over her sex. “Umm.” Marcus heard Sydney’s little moan and instinctively put his hand to his cock.

  “Babe, if you keep moaning like that, I’m going to have to jerk myself off. I won’t be able to lie here with this hard on.” Sydney could picture him beating off and it made her so hot.

  “All of a sudden, I have this sudden urge to touch myself. I’ve never done this,” Sydney admitted.

  “I want to hear you. Tell me what you‘re doing.”

  “Hell no.”

  “Fine, don’t hang up. I’m sure I’ll be able to hear your little moans. I’m stroking my dick right now. Nice firm strokes, from base to tip,” he informed her in his soft sexy voice.

  There was no way she was going to explain step by step what she was doing to herself, but she couldn’t fight the urge to touch herself. She undid her jeans and slipped her hand into her panties. She reached her middle finger down to touch the tingling between her legs. “Oooh, it is so wet and warm.” She slid her middle finger in slowly. “Umm.”

  “Oh, baby, are you touching yourself?”

  “Uh huh, and it feels good,” she moaned.

  Marcus began stroking harder, thinking of Sydney touching herself. “Baby, here it comes.”

  Sydney began to rub her clit with her middle finger, extending it into her pussy. “Oh yeah, I‘m coming, too.” It was the first time she’d ever felt herself orgasm with her finger.

  “Wow, Marcus. You make me wanna do bad things.”

  “We can do bad things to each other,” he joked.

  “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

  “Me neither. You should try and get some sleep. It’s going to be a very hectic week. I love you, Syd.”

  “I love you, too, Marcus. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Good night, Sydney.”

  “Good night, Marcus.”

  They both hung up at the same time. Sydney grabbed her wedding dress and sat on the couch. She didn’t want to go to her bed. It wouldn’t be the same. She just lay there hugging her dress until she finally fell asleep.

  The house was quiet when Salvatore and Samantha came home. Samantha leaned over her mother on the couch. “Hey, Mom, we’re home.”

  Salvatore rested his hip against the kitchen counter. “What’s that she’s holding?”

  “Beats me,” Samantha shrugged. “Mom, wake up.” She shook her mother’s shoulder.

  Sydney stirred. “Hey, guys, when did you get home?”

  “Just now, what’s in your arms?” Salvatore asked. Sydney looked at her wedding dress still clutched in her arms. “Ah, a dress I got in Las Vegas.” She got up to put it back in the bag.

  “How was your trip?” Samantha asked, sitting on the stool next to Salvatore.

  “I have a lot to tell you guys but want to do it when everyone is together. Sam, would you go and wake up Aunt Nat? Sal, go and wake up Micky and Dom. I’ll make some coffee and breakfast.” Sydney reached for her phone. She texted Marcus. G’MORNING. WISH ME LUCK. I LOVE YOU. C U SOON. ♥ YOUR WIFE, SYD.

  Sydney’s phone chimed back with a text from Marcus. GOOD MORNING, HOPE YOU SLEPT WELL. GOOD LUCK, AND IF YOU NEED ME CALL ME. I LOVE YOU TOO! XOXOXO MARCUS (YOUR HUSBAND). Once the coffee was brewing, she started to make breakfast. All of her kids were in the kitchen by the time breakfast finished and on the table.

  Sydney watched them scarf down their food and wondered if they had eaten all week. “Hey, didn’t anyone eat this week?” They looked at her like she was crazy. “Before anyone leaves the table, I have a few things I want to talk about.”

  Sam asked, “Is it about your trip?”

  Sal wanted to know if they were in trouble.

  “Yes, it’s about my trip, and no one is in trouble. Unless there’s something someone isn’t telling me about,” Sydney looked around for any replies, and the kids just shoveled more food in their mouths.

  Sydney drank her coffee, hoping her sister would come down to back her up when she told them the news... Everyone was just about done eating when Natalie came down. She grabbed a cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen counter.

  “I know we don’t usually do these family meetings, but I want to make sure everyone hears exactly the same thing. A lot has changed since I left for Vegas. Aside from the fact that the trip was already paid for, I went to get myself back together. You all know how much I loved your father. He was everything to me, besides you kids, and without him I wouldn’t have any of you. I am so thankful to him for giving me all of you. You may or may not understand what I’m about to tell you, but I need you to give it a chance. “

  “Mom, just tell us,” Michaela blurted out.

  “A man sat next to me on the plane-well, not next to me, but in the same aisle. Sydney still wasn’t sure just how to word what had happened.

  “We get it, Mom,” Micky rolled her hand impatiently for her mother to continue.

  “Well, when I got to the second hotel, because I couldn’t stay at the first, he was there. He asked me to dinner, and I went.”

  “Like a date?” Dom asked.

  “Yeah, a date.” She remembered the date in her head. “We had a lot of fun, and it made me feel alive again. I really liked him, so I saw him again the next day.” She waited for a reaction, but their faces were blank. She looked over at Nat, who was shaking her head from side to side and had a huge grin on her face.

  She gave her a quick smile and continued, “I really like him. In fact, I fel
l in love with him.” That got a reaction.

  “You fell in love with someone in a week?” Sal blurted out.

  “What does that mean?” Samantha wanted an explanation

  Michaela still didn’t look like she cared or was paying any real attention to the conversation, and poor Dom just looked confused.

  “Listen, I haven’t felt this happy since I met your father. That’s how I know this is real. I thought about your dad a lot while I was there. Some really strange things happened, too, and I’m pretty sure he’d be okay with this,” Sydney said, as she began to clean the table to calm her nerves.

  “So that’s it. You fell in love with this guy. Now what? Sal asked.

  “Well, before we left Las Vegas, we got married,” Sydney put away the milk, hoping the refrigerator would hide her.

  “Wait a minute. You got married, and we weren’t there?” Michaela finally joined the conversation.

  “Yeah, and you weren’t at my first wedding, either.” Sydney replied.

  “Well, I was, and I wasn’t invited to this one,” Natalie said, raising her hand, trying to lighten the mood.

  Sydney shot her a dirty look. “You’re not helping.”

  Dom panicked, “Do we have to move away? I don’t want to leave my school and friends.”

  Michaela agreed with Dom. “Yeah, I don’t want to have to leave my friends, either.”

  “Marcus only lives five miles from here, so no one has to change schools and you can keep your friends.”

  “Good, then I don’t have to leave my room,” Michaela continued to play with her phone.

  “His name is Marcus?” Sam asked.

  “Yes, his name is Marcus Matthews, and he lives in Rockford Park, over in Wilmington.”

  “There are some really big houses over there.” Salvatore commented.

  “I’m not sure just how big the house is, but I’m sure there are plenty of bedrooms for each of you.”

  “That means I won’t have to share a room with Sal anymore?” Dom asked happily.

  “Yup, everyone will have their own rooms.” Sydney waited. She knew someone would object to the move.

  “What if we don’t want to move?” Micky snarled.

  “I know it seems odd. It just makes more sense for us to move into Marcus’ house,” Sydney said. “You’ll be going off to college in two years anyway. It will fly by.”

  “How am I gonna get to go to college when those two are still here?” Michaela pointed to the twins.

  “I’m going to sell this house, and there will be plenty for everyone to go to college.” She smiled at both Sal and Sam. “Hopefully, if the house sells quickly, you two will be able to go next semester. There will still be a room for each of you at the new house.”

  “Mom, this all sounds great, but when do we get to meet him?” Sam asked.

  “Yeah, when do we get to see Mr. Hotness?” Natalie chimed in.

  Sydney shot Natalie another dirty look.

  “Who’s Mr. Hotness?” Dom asked.

  “That’s what your Aunt Natalie calls Marcus. Don’t pay any attention to her. I’m going to have lunch with him this afternoon, and then I’ll bring him back here to meet everyone. Including you, Nat.” Natalie’s huge grin returned.

  “I guess we don’t have a choice,” Michaela said, under her breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear. She pushed her chair back and left the room.

  “That went well,” Natalie commented.

  “Yeah, but I didn’t tell them that Marcus would be staying here until we move everything to his house. Actually, Marcus doesn‘t even know he‘ll be staying here,” Sydney declared, pouring herself another cup of coffee.

  “What do you mean, he doesn’t know?” Natalie asked.

  “We never discussed it, and I can’t go another night without him,” Sydney confessed.

  “Damn, Sista, did you run out of batteries?” Natalie laughed.

  “Shut up! And I don’t need batteries. He’s the whole package and then some.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Sydney made certain that the shirt she was wearing totally covered her belly. She hadn’t told anyone about her piercing wasn’t going to. Even though it was October with a slight chill in the air, Sydney couldn’t resist wearing her flip flops. She wasn’t ready to start wearing her sneakers, and they made her feel like she was still in Vegas.

  Reaching for the garage door, she yelled out to anyone who was listening, “I’m heading out now. I’ll be back later with Marcus.” Stepping into the garage and seeing her Yukon XL, she realized just how big her family was. How can I expect Marcus to handle all of this? I should just go back in the house and deal with the hand life has dealt me.

  As she was standing there staring at the truck, her cell phone chimed. HEY, I’LL SEE YOU IN TEN. CAN’T WAIT, I’VE MISSED YOU. XOXOXO MARCUS (YOUR HUSBAND) Shit, he’s not even here and he’s reading my mind. She got into the truck and headed to the restaurant.

  She met Marcus at a restaurant in downtown Wilmington. Marcus waited outside for her. Just seeing him standing there in his jeans, his leather jacket, and his black boots, sent tingles through her body.

  Sydney parked the truck and got out, immediately feeling like she wanted to run to him, wrap her legs around his waist, and kiss the shit out of him. She remembered what Marcus had said about controlling themselves in public. When she got close enough to him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “Well, hello to you,” Marcus said. “Babe, are you alright?”

  She finally released her hug and kissed him. “I’m great now. Being with you for the past seven days, I feel like I’ve known you forever. Last night was horrible. I don’t want to spend another night without you.” She put her arms around his neck again and kissed him more passionately.

  “Let’s have some lunch, and we can figure out what our next move will be.” Marcus led Sydney into the restaurant. “Should we get a table or sit at the bar?” Marcus asked.

  “Definitely a table. I’m not sure I’ll be able to control my hands, and we’ll be more concealed at a table,” Sydney answered with a slight smirk.

  As soon as they were seated at a booth in the far corner of the restaurant, Sydney scooted closer to Marcus. “I was thinking last night as I was relaxing on the couch. I can’t stay at your house until the kids are all settled, so I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind spending the nights at my house until then.” Sydney made a point of looking at the menu to make the topic seem more nonchalant than it actually was. What she hadn’t figured out was where exactly they would sleep. She couldn’t even bring herself to sleep in her own bed. She shared that bed for twenty years with Philippe. It was too weird to think of sharing it with Marcus. Whatever the sleeping arrangements would be, she couldn’t go another night without having Marcus there.

  “Syd, I hardly slept a wink last night myself, but I’m not sure about living at your house. Your kids haven’t even met me yet. I would feel awkward spending the nights there.” He reached for her hand. “We need to come up with a solution because I don’t want to go another night without you next to me.”

  “I mentioned to them this morning that I would bring you back home to meet everyone, including Natalie after lunch.” She rolled her eyes in disgust.

  “Do you not want me to meet your sister?”

  “Not that I don’t want you to meet her. I would have just preferred it happen after we were a little more settled.”

  Marcus wrapped his arms around Sydney and snuggled her closer to him. “I couldn’t be more settled with my feelings for you. As you once told me, ‘I’m all yours and only yours.’ There’s nothing your sister could do or say that would change my feelings for you,” He leaned into her and kissed her senseless.

  When the waitress came to take their order, Marcus and Sydney grinned at each other, “We’re actually gonna skip lunch,” Sydney advised her. Marcus grabbed Sydney’s hand and led her out of the restaurant. Once outside, Marcus headed toward the
motorcycle parked on the side of the building. “What are we gonna do on that thing?” Sydney asked, cocking her head.

  “I’ll take you back to my house. Get on.” Marcus motioned with his head.

  “As hot as that bike is, I can’t wait until we get home. I want you now. All the seats go down in the Yukon. Let’s go,” she said, walking towards her truck. “Don’t worry. My windows are tinted.” She looked back to make sure he was following her.

  Of course he followed her, watching her ass the entire time. Shit, that ass looks so good in those jeans. I know it looks even better out of them. I’m going to get that ass soon.

  Sydney used her remote to unlock the doors. She opened the passenger door, tossed her keys on the front seat, and proceeded to fold down the middle seat. The back bench was already down, so she started to climb in. As soon as she lifted her foot from the ground, she felt a hand on her ass. Marcus was behind her, pushing her into the back of the truck.

  “I’m going, babe. Don’t worry,” Sydney said.

  “I know you are, but people are coming out of the restaurant. We don’t need an audience.”

  “That might be fun to have people watch us have sex,” she said jokingly.

  “Yeah, but not now.” He closed the door behind him and crawled over to where Sydney was propped up on her elbows with her legs extended and her ankles crossed.

  “You look so fucking hot crawling to me,” she said, quickly shrugging off her jacket and reaching to remove Marcus’. Marcus hastily tore off his own jacket while Sydney grab the hem of her shirt and pull it over her head. She wore a pretty lace bra.

  “Hey, that’s not one of the bras we bought in Vegas.” Marcus noted.

  “No, I have nice bras, too-not that I wore them often-and I have the matching thong on.”

  Marcus couldn’t control himself any longer. He lunged at her and tried to remove her jeans. “Babe, a little help here,” he said, tugging at the waistband of her jeans.

  Sydney lifted her hips, and Marcus pulled off her jeans. He stared at the matching thong and moved his eyes upward. “Wow, you look so sexy in that.” He fumbled to unfasten his own jeans.