Page 23 of Irreplaceable

We talked for a while, of nothing and everything. The conversation flowed as easily as the wine. And it was the nicest evening I’d had in a while. Harper was well-traveled, intelligent, and kind. And it didn’t matter what the topic was, she always had something interesting to contribute to the conversation.

“Thank you again for dinner,” she said as the staff removed our empty plates. Then to no one in particular, she added, “That was orgasmically delicious.”

I shook my head with a laugh. “‘Orgasmically delicious?’ What does that even mean?”

She grinned, her hair swaying about her shoulders. “You know, when a meal is so good it just…ugh.” She clutched her stomach. “It hits all the right flavor notes, and it feels like an orgasm in your mouth.”

“An orgasm in your mouth…” I rasped, my blood rushing straight to my cock as I repeated her words.

“Yep.” Her cheeks took on the same hue as the wine.

“Mm.” My lips tilted into a smile, the taste of her orgasm still fresh on my mind.

We’d spent most of the day in bed, only taking a break after lunch for a movie. The house had an amazing theater room, and I’d been happy to let her choose the film. Listening to her explain what went into the filming and the locations had been fascinating. And as someone who was often standing in front of the camera, I felt an even greater appreciation for what went into a photo shoot.

“Do you enjoy cooking?” she asked.

“My life doesn’t leave much time for cooking. But I do love my nonna’spasticcio. It’s—” I brought my fingertips to my lips and kissed them. “Perfetta.”

“I’d love to have that recipe.”

I chuckled. “I’m sure you would, but my nonna would kill me if I shared it.”

She smiled sweetly and batted her eyes at me. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Whatever I want, huh?”

The image of her bent over the couch as I thrust inside her came to mind. As did the vision of me filling her mouth with my cock, her swallowing down my come. Talk about an orgasm in your mouth.

I shook my head and refilled my glass from the bottle of wine on the table before doing the same for Harper. “It’s a family secret. The only people I’m allowed to share the recipe with are my wife or children. Though that will never happen.”

“Ever?” She stared at me as if I were speaking a foreign language, though I was pretty sure I’d answered in English.

“Let’s just say, I consider it highly unlikely.”

That silenced her. An awkward tension settled over us, and I felt the need to say something. “What about you? I suppose you want it all—husband, white picket fence, two kids—a boy and a girl.”

She lifted a shoulder but wouldn’t meet my gaze. Finally, after a shaky breath, she said, “Well, yeah. I want to find love, a partner. I want—” she swallowed “—wanted, a big family.”

I wanted to ask more, but before I could press her on it, she asked, “Do you know what’s for dessert?” with a hopeful note to her voice, clearly desperate for a change of subject.

Considering how many times she’d let me off the hook about my life, I figured I owed it to her. So, I chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood as well. For someone so small, she had a big appetite. “I can’t believe you’re still hungry.”

“I’m not. But there’s always room for dessert. Oh…” She smiled as Koming approached the table with a tray of treats. “That looks so freaking delicious.”

Koming went to place one before me, but I declined with a thank you. Harper eagerly accepted the affogato, and I delighted in her excitement.

“Thank you.” She smiled then glanced over at me after Koming had left. “None for you?”

I shook my head. “I don’t do sugar.”

“Like…ever?” She sounded horrified.

I chuckled. “No.”

“I mean, it explains why you look so good. But damn. I love sugar way too much to ever give it up.” She attacked the dessert with her spoon. “And I love affogato.”

What was not to love? I wondered, though I was thinking more of the woman than the dessert. In less than forty-eight hours, she had thoroughly charmed me. Val might kill me for what I’d done, but in that moment, I knew I’d do it all again to have this time with Harper. Her presence calmed me, grounded me, in a way nothing else had in years.

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