This Love's Not for Sale (31 page)

“I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time, Tuck.
”

“Don’t, mom,” Tucker sighed.

“Don’t what? You two are so much alike. She challenges you and that’s exactly what you need. What are you so afraid of? Not everyone is like Aubrey. You have to let what she did to you go, son.”

“I know that and I have let it go. I’m not afraid of
anything; I just don’t want to dive in head over heels like I have in the past. Lilly isn’t interested in getting married and neither am I. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we just met a month ago.”

Charlene reached a hand out and squeezed Tucker’s forearm. “I knew on our first date that your father was the one.”

Tucker chuckled softly. “That was different.”

“Why?” Charlene asked with her brows raised.

“Times were different,” Tucker tried to dismiss her.

“Time is irrelevant when love is concerned,” she smiled kindly.

“Love? Jesus, mom, don’t go getting your hopes up. I just want to enjoy this thing with Lilly for what it is.”

Lilliana’s
glow faded. What was it that Tucker thought this thing was? And what had Aubrey done that hurt him so badly. Lilliana shifted, and Tucker and Charlene glanced in her direction. Embarrassed to be caught eavesdropping, she made her way to the sink.

“I thought I could help with the dishes.”

Charlene excused herself and Tucker moved next to her. “What do you want me to do?”

“I’ll wash, you dry.”

Lilliana filled the sink with hot soapy water and began to clean the few plates and silverware that were left over from dessert. She remained silent, thinking about Tucker’s words.

Tucker skimmed his fingers down her arm. “How much of that conversation did you hear?”

Lilliana didn’t want to do this with Tucker. Their weekend had been wonderful so far. “Just dry the dishes.”

“Lilly…” Tucker tried to turn her body sideways but Lilliana resisted.

“Don’t. You’re right. Let’s just enjoy this thing for what it is, however short term that may be.”

Tucker’s mouth set into a thin line
and he shook his head. “I never said anything about short-term.”

Lilliana turned her head to face Tucker.
“What did Aubrey do to you?”

Tucker’s body stiffened and he reached for the towel. Grabbing a wet plate from her hand, he dried it. “No. Huh-uh. I’m not talking about that. I’ve let all that shit go and I don’t need to talk it out like I’m in therapy.”

“I see. So you get to know all of my dirty secrets, but yours get to remain hidden away? I have to live with the ghosts of your ex’s whose pictures you keep close by?”

Tucker laid the plate down loudly. “You saw those?”

Lilliana’s cheeks blushed. “Yes. I’m sorry to have been nosy, but I just wanted to know more about you.”

When Lilliana found the courage to look into Tucker’s eyes, he looked beyond irritated. “Fine. You want to know? She lied
in order to get me to marry her. She bought a positive pregnancy test online to convince me that she was pregnant,” Tucker snapped.

Lilliana’s
throat tightened. What a horrible thing for someone to do and what an awful thing to lie about. Buying a positive pregnancy test? She had never heard of such a thing. Lilliana stood silent, ashamed for having forced a confession out of Tucker.

“She knew how much I wanted a family of my own. She even faked doctor’s appointments. I showed up unannounced to her supposed OB physician
only to be told she didn’t have an appointment, and that they had never seen or heard of her. I checked her computer and found the invoice for the fake test.”

“I’m so sorry, Tuck.”

Lilliana touched Tucker’s arm and he pulled out of her reach. “For what? I told you I’m fine. You wanted to know and I told you.”

Lilliana’s stomach knotted under Tucker’s sad, withering stare. She wanted to hold him, but she knew by the look on his face to let him be. Tucker tossed the towel aside and left Lilliana in the kitchen alone. Lilliana finished the rest of the dishes and lingered in the kitchen, upset with
herself for having brought up the subject. Still, she was glad to know what kind of despair lived in his heart. They had both been lied to and hurt by people that they loved, and it was just another thing they shared in common.

Wanting some fresh air, Lilliana stood on the back deck. The night was cool and dark, and she hugged her body for warmth. She gazed at the big dipper that was bright in the sky. Tucker McGrath… the name formed on her lips and she silently mouthed it as if wishing
him into existence.

As if he heard her silent wanting, Tucker’s arms wrapped around Lilliana’s body. “I don’t know where this thing with us will go and how long it will last. That’s the reality of any relationship. But
right here, right now, I want you. End of story.”

Lilliana was excited
for the evening festivities that were planned. While Tucker dressed, her thoughts wandered to the previous weekend. It had ended far too quickly and Lilliana already missed the kindness of his family. Tucker seemed to warm up and relax after their return, and the preceding few days had been like a dream for Lilliana. On occasion she had to pinch herself just to reassure herself Tucker was real.

Their nights had been spent alternating between her home and hi
s, and it seemed to work out nicely. Lilliana felt a sense of euphoria when Tucker would gaze out longingly at the sunset with her, and she no longer had doubts as to his intentions, and threw her suspicions to the wayside. She wanted to believe in Tucker and she did.

Lilliana floated around the room on a cloud of exhilaration as she got ready for party. She had brought a dress of her own, but Tucker had surprised her with a dress he had picked out himself. It was a sweet gesture that no man had ever done before.

When she opened the long box on the bed, her thrill dissipated rapidly when she was faced with a hunter green, taffeta, strapless dress that looked to be about four inches too short, a full size too small, and as if someone had inadvertently shrunk it during dry cleaning. What did Tucker think she was, a freakin’elf? She scanned the tag and was shocked to see that is was actually the correct size.  What the hell kind of cocktail party were they going to - a leprechaun hooker convention? She didn’t want to be rude but there was some ˊsplainin’ to do.

“You picked this out?” she asked Tucker who was still in the dressing room, trying her best to hide the disgust in her voice. 

“Not exactly, my clothing consultant picked it out.”

Well that explained a lot.

“I asked for something in green,” he continued.

Oh, it was green, just the completely wrong
shade, wrong style, and hideous.

Tucker stuck his head
out of the dressing room door, his eyes sparkling with zeal.

“Do you like it?”

“Umm… not exactly,” Lilliana spoke in a stifled and unnatural voice.

Tucker came out and she lifted the dress up to him.  She figured he would be
equally as appalled, but to her astonishment, he simply shrugged, not understanding why she wasn’t pleased with it.

Tucker was dapper as hell and sexy as a rock star in his
black Valentino suit and puce tie. Lilliana didn’t understand how the same consultant could have picked out his outfit and her unsightly dress.

“Does the same consultant pick out your
clothing, too?” Lilliana asked, still staring at nasty garment.

Tucker shook his head and chuckled, “No, I’m a big boy. I pick my own clothes.”

“So why do you have a clothing consultant?”

“It’s not for me, it’s for my…” Tucker stopp
ed himself and cleared his throat. A faint blush ran over his perfectly sculptured face before he disappeared into the dressing room again.

The light
instantly went on over Lilliana’s head. Tucker had a clothing consultant for his surfeit of groupies.

“Ewww.” It came out before sh
e even knew it was in her head. “You may want to reconsider keeping this so-called “
clothing consultant”
on payroll, unless you enjoy your dates being dressed like high-class hookers with no sense of fashion.”

Lilliana tossed the dress on the bed and dug out the dark pink, knee-length, off the shoulder frock she had originally planned on wearing. As she dressed, she became more and more irate with the fact that Tucker would be okay with her wearing something so completely sleazy and allowing someone else to pick out a gift for her.

Lilliana approached Tucker as he fixed his hair. “Please don’t do that again,” she pleaded as gently as possible considering how annoyed she was.

“Wha
t?” Tucker asked without looking at her.

“If you’re going to give me a gift, then pick it out yourself, please, or just don’t get me anything. I don’t want your gifts anyway; they make me uncomfortable. And seriously, that dress was… Good God, Tucker, did you really look at it? Is that how you want me dressed on your arm? Like a skank?”

Tucker glanced toward her with a stupid grin on his face, and Lilliana fought the urge to slap some sense into his gorgeous head.

“But you would’ve been the be
st-looking skank there,” he joked.

“I’m serious, Tucker, pick your own damned gifts and I’ll pick my own damned clothes.”

Tucker sighed and gave her a faux condescending glare. “A man of my wealth and stature has subordinates to do those kinds of menial chores,” he continued to kid.

Tucker was a lost cause sometimes. He was in such a good mood Lilliana didn’t want to ruin it. He was outright scrumptious an
d it was the first time she had ever seen his hair tamed. Thinking of well-maintained hair…

“Like manscaping your junk? Do your cronies do that kind of work for you, too?”

Tucker closed his mouth but gave Lilliana a shit-eating grin.

“Ewww,” she responded.

“Stop wielding that
ewww
like a weapon and don’t you dare judge me. I like a woman’s hands on me, even if it means having her groom my cock fleece.”

Lilliana’s voice rose in surprise.
“Tucker McGrath, gross. You grew up on a farm in Iowa for pity’s sake. Trim your own damn pubes!”

Tucker’s
mouth twitched with amusement and he suddenly burst into obnoxious laughter. “I swear you’ll believe anything!” he howled, gripping Lilliana’s shoulders.

“Yeah, right. It’s too late now, I know the truth. You wait until I tell your brothers about your little admission. Maybe they’ll shame you into hedging your own man-bush.”

“You better not! I was only kidding, I swear!”

***

Tucker’s expression stilled and he grew serious when he saw how striking Lilliana was in her dress of choice. It was simple yet stunning, and it fit her like a glove. Tucker outlined the curve of her waist and slipped a hand underneath her dress and into her panties.

“You look amazing, Lilly,” Tucker exhaled as he pressed his fingers into her wet puss
y. He withdrew them and brought them to his lips and licked them. “And you taste even better.”

Lilliana’s
eyes flared and sparkled. Her mouth trembled with a smile and she dragged her nails over his chest, sending tingling sensations over his torso and down to his crotch.

Inching down her bo
dy, Tucker lifted the hem of her dress high and lowered himself to his knees. “I think a little snack is in order before we leave.”

Lilliana spread her legs in response and propped herself up on the bathroom counter. Tucker sunk his teeth into her thighs and nibbled his way
to the apex of her groin.

“Open
yourself for me, pet” Tucker ordered as he placed his hands on her thighs to hold her legs apart.

Lilliana spread her labia for
Tucker, and aggressively he smashed his mouth down onto her, sucking, licking and biting every centimeter of her sensitive and soft, pink flesh.

Lilliana squealed and shivered when Tucker buried his tongue deep inside of her.
Tucker moved his mouth back to her clit and began his assault on her tender nub. Sucking viciously, he rolled it between his teeth while he fingered her unremittingly.

“Oh, God, Tuck… I’m so close…” Lilliana mewled.

Her legs began to quiver and Tucker knew her end was near. Lilliana squeezed her thighs together, trapping his head between her legs, and screamed his name shrilly.

Tucker stood, dropped his trousers and thrust into her. Snaking a hand up to her neck, he
wrapped his fingers around it possessively as Lilliana tossed her head back, giving him full access to her delicate tissue.

Dizzy with intense arousal, Tucker exhaled a long breath.
“Let me control you, Lilly. Let me own this body.”

“
You do, Tucker. You already do,” Lilliana whispered hoarsely.

Lilliana’s words crashed into him like a floodtide of emotions and he released his s
eed into her, his cock throbbing with appreciation of its new domain. Lilliana threw her arms around Tuckers neck and pulled him into her needy and desperate kiss.

“Oh, Tuck,” she muttered into his mouth.

Tucker stood back, gently pulling out of Lilliana.

“Because I’m just that good, baby.”

“Ugh,” Lilliana huffed with stars in her eyes.

Tucker leaned back down and kissed the corner of her perfectly shap
ed mouth and grinned like a juvenile at her.  Things really couldn’t get any better as far as he was concerned.

***

When they arrived at the Grand Hyatt ballroom, the party was already in full swing. Tucker held onto Lilliana like she was his most prized belonging, and she was. She greeted everyone politely and hung on his every word. He loved how when he spoke, she acted as if no other man existed.

Darren made hi
s appearance and Tucker guided Lilliana in the other direction. The last thing he needed was for Darren to rat him out. His lies were long over with and he didn’t need that kind of drama, especially considering how amazing things were between him and Lilliana.

Lilliana drifted off into the crowd as he talked business
, but he kept his eyes on her at all times. She moved to the bar and he turned away, smiling at how beautiful she looked from across the room.

***

Lilliana was in seventh heaven, somewhere between the levels of cloud nine and pure otherworldly bliss. The night was going wonderfully and everyone she met was exuberant and happy. It was probably the alcohol coursing through their veins, but Lilliana didn’t care. She had only been to a few special occasions such as the one they were at, a few times in her lifetime, and she felt like a teenager at prom. Her dress was a little on the understated side and she felt mildly self-conscious about it, but Tucker kept reassuring her how stunning she looked. Lilliana approached the bar with her heart beating rapidly from all the excitement buzzing in the room.

Just as she
was getting ready to place an order for a coconut martini, she felt the distinct sensation of eyes on her. Lilliana turned to find blonde standing in front of her who kept conspicuously eyeing her necklace.

“So are you from this area?” Lilliana asked, trying to make polite conversation.

“Mmm-hmm,” the blonde answered curtly as her eyes flicked over Lilliana’s body.

Offering her hand, Lilliana introduced herself. “I’m Lilliana.”

“I’ve heard,” the woman responded coldly.

The stranger
reached a hand out and for a moment Lilliana thought she was going to shake her hand, but instead the woman touched her necklace.

“At least three
other women in this room have the exact same necklace, all given to them by the same man. Myself included,” she stated with blatant bitterness.

Lilliana quickly dropped her hand to her side.

“I liken it to having worn a badge of dishonor considering the depraved and scandalous things Tucker did to us. I’m not complaining, it was fun while it lasted, however short the duration.”

The woman’s tone was civil despite her look of
ridicule. Lilliana stood quietly contemplating the blonde’s words and what action to take when another woman approached them.

“Hi, Sophie,” the tall brunette greeted the blonde.

Without acknowledging Lilliana, the brunette’s icy eyes moved to Lilliana’s neck.

“Oh, so you’re Tucker’s new
funhole?” she asked acidly, placing a hand on one of her hips.

Lilliana
felt her temperature rise in response to the woman’s haughty rebuke. She was so furious she could barely speak and she felt the blood drain from her face. Doing a quick inventory of the two women’s attributes, she decided if push came to shove, she could take them both, and she would, too, if they didn’t back the fuck off.  The brown-haired witch lifted a bony finger as if to touch Lilliana’s locket and Lilliana came unglued, ready to go ghetto red-neck on her ass and deliver a cunt punt to her over-used snatch.

“Don’t even think about it. If you two know what’s good for you, you’ll turn your fake tits around and walk away before you both lose a mouthful of your ridicul
ously huge fucking veneers,” Lilliana hissed.

Both women’s eyes
widened but Sophie giggled, and the lively twinkle in her eyes only incensed Lilliana more.  Sophie’s chuckle faded promptly when Lilliana took a step toward her with her fist raised, ready to pluck her blue eyeballs out, and scalp her like a savage.

“Lilly…” she heard from behind her, low and deep.

She whirled around to stare at Tucker, anger flashing in her eyes. The deep, long look they exchanged infuriated her, and Tucker looked unsettled.

Tucker’s eyes moved to the women now standing behind Lilliana
and darkened like ominous thunderclouds. “You’re dismissed,” he spoke firmly.