Page 16 of Keeping Skylar (Fractured Hearts #1)

Shit! I never told Lucia about the lie I gave my wife when she saw her name flashing on my phone at the restaurant. I shoot her a look, silently pleading with her to go along with it. She reads my expression and nods.

“Oh, yes! Sorry, I forgot what you meant there for a second. Kaden’s workout plan is doing wonders. It’s been helping me build strength on my back and shoulders,” she lies effortlessly.

Good girl.

“You must share it with me one day. Better yet, we should do it together,” Sky insists as she gracefully chews her food.

Lucia swallows hard and glances back at me, desperately seeking my help.

“Actually, babe, her plan is tailored specifically to her goals and fitness level,” I gently explain. “Some of the workouts are a bit too advanced for where you’re at. But I’m happy to create a new one for you, if you’d like.”

Sky shrugs, then nods slowly. “Okay. Sounds good.”

I take Sky’s hand and give it a gentle squeeze. She looks up at me with her gorgeous dimpled smile.

“Your body’s already perfect, babe. You don’t need to put in too much effort at the gym.” I wink at her.

I hear Lucia scoff from beside me, prompting me to turn and glare at her.

I catch sight of the scowl forming on her face—a clear prelude to the snarky comment she’s about to blurt out.

“I’m sure once you get pregnant, you’ll want to hit the gym sooner.

Can’t have you letting yourself go now, right, Kaden?

” She narrows her eyes at me. “Oh, and congratulations on wanting to start a family, by the way,” she quips, her expression dripping with disdain.

Fuck! Of course, Sky went running to Lucia after our little baby talk—why wouldn’t she?

They’re best friends who share everything with each other.

I’m such an idiot. Lucia would’ve been devastated when she heard the news, and probably felt a little betrayed, too.

I don’t even know why I brought it up in the first place.

It was literally a spur-of-the-moment thing.

I need to fix this—fast—before it all spirals out of control.

“Actually, we decided it’s best to wait a little longer until we’re in a better financial position,” I explain gently to Lucia, glancing at my wife for support. “We want to make sure we’re fully prepared and ready for kids.”

Sky gives Lucia a reassuring nod, which seems to ease her worries just a bit.

Keeping up with all these lies is starting to take a toll on me—I’m mentally and emotionally depleted. If I want to make it through the rest of the evening, it’s probably best to wrap things up, excuse myself, and hope to avoid any more questions for the night.

“Well, ladies, I’m exhausted. It’s been a long day, so I’m going to take a shower and catch up on some emails before I go to bed.

” I rise and turn to face my wife. “Thanks for dinner, baby. It was delicious, as always.” She smiles and gives a curt nod, then I turn to my mistress.

“Good to see you again, Lucy. Hope to catch up real soon.” I give her a playful wink.

They both stand to hug me and kiss me on the cheek goodnight, and I make a beeline for the bedroom—seeking refuge from all the drama and tension I can stomach for one night.

Twenty minutes later, I emerge from the ensuite feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after my long shower.

Thankfully, tonight wasn’t too awkward. Lucia had her moments, but she mostly managed to keep her composure.

I know, however, that I’ll need to address things with her soon—before her patience runs out and she comes charging through my front door.

As I step into the bedroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around my waist, I see her—Lucia, perched at the foot of the bed, legs crossed, her gaze glued on me with a fiery intensity. Her eyes flicker with lust and heat as they roam over my barely covered body.

Panic sets in when I notice that she’s locked us in the room. “What are you doing here, Lucia?! Are you out of your fucking mind?” I hiss, my voice coming out as a harsh whisper. “Where’s Sky? You need to leave before she finds you in here.”

Lucy slowly stands from the bed and strides towards me, her gaze sweeping over my bare torso still wet from the shower.

She bites her bottom lip when she sees the outline of my semi through the towel, desire and pleasure dancing on her face.

“Relax, baby. She’s in the kitchen cleaning up.

I told her I needed to use the bathroom.

So, we don’t have much time.” She places her hand on my chest and slowly trails it down to my stomach until it reaches the edge of my towel.

I grab her wrist to stop her from going any further, sending her a warning glare.

“Not here, Lucia.” I growl, my heart racing a million miles an hour.

“Why? I know you’ve missed this, Kaden. Don’t you miss my touch, my mouth, my warm pussy riding your thick hard cock,” she teases, her voice low and breathy.

She cups my groin firmly, making my dick twitch in response, her lips curling into a smirk. Yeah, she knows she’s got me wrapped around her finger—both figuratively and literally.

As my body betrays me, I realise there’s no use in fighting the strong magnetic pull she has on me. It’s been three long days since I’ve been with her, and my need for her is becoming too hard to resist.

I grip the back of her neck and slam my lips to hers, my tongue slipping between her lips, and savouring her taste. Damn, I’ve missed this!

Lucia lets out a soft moan, and my cock throbs instantly.

She melts into me as my hands explore the contours of her warm, slender body, massaging every luscious curve with my palm and fingers.

I squeeze her arse through the fabric of her tight skirt, drawing her closer until there’s no space left between us.

I’m so consumed by my desire for her that I barely register when she peels off my towel, leaving it pooled around my feet.

Her small, delicate hand wraps around my thick shaft and begins to stroke me.

She knows exactly how to work my cock, driving me wild with every teasing touch and slow, deliberate movement.

When a groan escapes my lips, she quickens her pace and applies more pressure, making my eyes roll to the back of my head.

Before I have time to think, I’m lifting her into my arms and carrying her towards the bed, momentarily forgetting that my wife is just a few feet away ... outside the door.

As we reach the foot of the bed, Lucia wriggles out from my grasp, a mischievous grin dancing across her face. Once her feet hit the ground, she spins around and bends over the edge of the bed, placing both palms flat against the mattress.

My eyes darken, heavy with want as I watch her arse back into my bare erection, slowly grinding and teasing me until I’m seconds away from losing control.

But just before I lift her skirt up, ready to fuck her senseless, she straightens to her full height, and then walks towards the door, leaving me standing in my spot—alone and bewildered. What the fuck?

When her hand grips the doorknob, she glances over her shoulder at me and smiles wickedly.

“I’m done with the silent treatment, Kaden,” she spits out.

“If you want more of that, then you know where to find me. Ciao, baby.” She winks, and without saying another word, quietly opens the door and walks out of the room, leaving me feeling hard, aching and utterly aroused.