The Problem with Lust Read online

  Table of Contents

  The Problem with Lust

  Author’s Note

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Epilogue

  Booklist

  Acknowledgements

  Preview: The Gift, Books 1-3

  Preview: The Proposal

  About the Author

  Copyright

  The Problem with Lust

  (The Seven Sins, #2)

  Lily Zante

  Author’s Note

  The Problem with Lust is the second book in The Seven Sins, which is a contemporary romance series of steamy, angsty and emotional stories featuring characters who are loosely connected.

  All books in this series are STANDALONE

  Other books by Lily Zante:

  The Seven Sins:

  The Wrath of Eli

  The Billionaire’s Love Story:

  The Gift, Book 1

  The Gift, Book 2

  The Gift, Book 3

  The Gift, Boxed Set (Books 1, 2 & 3)

  The Offer, Book 1

  The Offer, Book 2

  The Offer, Book 3

  The Offer, Boxed Set (Books 1, 2 & 3)

  The Vow, Book 1

  The Vow, Book 2

  The Vow, Book 3

  The Vow, Boxed Set (Books 1, 2 & 3)

  Indecent Intentions:

  The Bet

  The Hookup

  Indecent Intentions 2-Book Set

  Honeymoon Series:

  Honeymoon For One

  Honeymoon For Three

  Honeymoon Blues

  Honeymoon Bliss

  Baby Steps

  Honeymoon Series Boxed Set (Books 1-4)

  Italian Summer Series:

  (A spin-off from the Honeymoon Series)

  It Takes Two

  All That Glitters

  Fool’s Gold

  Roman Encounter

  November Sun

  New Beginnings

  Italian Summer Series Boxed Set (Books 1- 4)

  Perfect Match Series:

  Lost In Solo (prequel)

  The Proposal

  Heart Sync

  A Leap of Faith

  Perfect Match Boxed Set (Prequel, Books 1 & 2)

  Tainted Love Series:

  (A spin-off from the Perfect Match Series)

  Misplaced Love

  Reclaiming Love

  Embracing Love

  Tainted Love Boxed Set (Books 1, 2 & 3)

  An Ordinary Hero

  Standalone books:

  Love, Inc

  An Unexpected Gift

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  Chapter 1

  MAX

  “Hot Gina’s in town?” Al asks. There’s a hint of jealousy in his voice.

  I wipe the grease off my hands with a cloth and nod, a huge smile spreads across my lips. “She sure is.”

  “You let me know if she—”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know.” He wants to hook up with her friend, any friend of hers, Al says, but he’s joking. He’s been with Sammy for years and has eyes for no one but her. Sometimes, like on a Hot Gina weekend, a sliver of excitement passes over his expression, but I know it’s only fleeting. He would never risk losing what he has with Sammy to have what I have.

  Besides, I don’t know about Gina’s friends. We don’t waste time talking about insignificant stuff. Come to think of it, we don’t talk much at all, not immediately when we see one another. Gina is unique. She has the sexual appetite of a man. She’s a bona fide nymphomaniac, and I’ve known a fair share of them to be able to confirm this. She’s coming home for the weekend, on leave from the military, and that means forty-eight hours of sex.

  She calls, and I answer on the first ring.

  “Haven’t you left yet?” she cries. I hear the anger in her voice, and it adds to my frustration. I’m already mad at Enzo because a customer walked in last minute and needed something to be looked at and Enzo told me to deal with it.

  Forget about going home to freshen up. “I’m coming,” I tell her, as I walk over to my locker.

  “I should be coming,” she grumbles, clearly not amused.

  “You will be, over and over again,” I promise her as I pull out a clean shirt. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, some people say, but I can tell you that absence makes the dick grow harder.

  “How long are you going to be?” she asks. “I have pizza slices all over me.”

  “All over you?”

  “On me, like I’m a plate. I’m not wearing anything either.”

  I hiss out a breath, and in the same instant my cock hardens.

  “Gimme ten minutes,” I tell her, as I unbutton my shirt and quickly take it off.

  “Hurry up! I feel like an idiot lying here like this.”

  I can see I’m going to have to make it up to her big time when I get there. I quickly whip out a clean T-shirt from my locker. “I’m going to have to take a shower at your place—”

  “I have to wait for you to take a shower too?”

  “No. no. Just lie back and spread your legs. I’ll take good care of you first, and that’s a promise.”

  “That’s more like it.” I can imagine the huge grin on her face as she says this.

  “Don’t move a muscle,” I order. “See you on Monday,” I say to Al.

  “Come over to Waquito’s. Rumors are Cardoza’s going to be there.”

  I scowl at him.

  “The boxer. The heavyweight champion of the world. Chicago’s New Ho—”

  I raise my arm in a dismissive gesture. Al is a huge fan of Elias Cardoza—the local underdog who surprised many by winning the belt. “Gonna be busy, dude. Probably not going to get out of bed.”

  “Goddamn lucky son of a bitch,” he mutters, good-naturedly and loud enough for me to hear.

  I rush out of the door and over to my bike.

  Weekends like this are few and far between. With my regular friends-with-benefits setups—and I have one or two lucky women here in Chicago—it’s just an instant gratification, before I return to my place after. Or she leaves to go to hers. We never spend the night together. It’s an unspoken rule.

  With Gina it’s different, because she only gets leave once in a while and it’s usually only for the weekend. With her, we spend the whole weekend together.

  We fuck like rabbits.

  It’s beautiful.

  Chapter 2

  TRINITY

  “You’re doing amazing, Dylan. Absolutely amazing. I love this drawing.” School only started a few weeks ago, and this scrawny, skinny little boy has already stolen my heart.

  Each morning he comes to my classroom looking a little rougher, dirtier, hungrier, and sad, but by the end of the school day, his eyes are all lit up, and there’s a smile on his face. But also, by the end of the day, he’s in no hurry to go home, unlike most of the others. He drags his feet as if he doesn’t want to leave.

  I shouldn’t have favorites, and I try not to, but as I’m slowly getting to know my new class of seven year olds, something about this child makes it impossible for me not to reach out. This isn’t about having a favorite, it’s about me adding something to this kid’s life to make him smile.

  “Oh, look,” I say, pulling a banana out of my bag. “I forgot to eat this at lunchtime. I’d hate to waste it. Would you like it?”

  He eyes the banana without blinking “You could have it tomorrow, Miss.”

  Smart kid. “I could, but I’m worried I might squash it by the time I get home.” I hold it out to him. “It would be a shame to let it go to waste.” This is the third time I’ve done this in the past few weeks, and it’s getting to a point now where I deliberately don’t eat my fruit and save it for him.

  “Can I eat it here?”

  It’s the first time he’s asked this. I don’t want him to stay too late because I know his mother will be waiting for him. “Here? Won’t your mom be waiting for you?”

  He shrugs, and seems reluctant to take it. “Well, sure, you can eat it here,” I say.

  No sooner has he peeled the banana, than he wolfs it down greedily. It disappears in about three seconds. I hold my hand out for the banana skin.

  His mouth is still full, but he nods, a sort of ‘thank you.’

  “Off you go, and don’t forget your reading.”

  He rushes off, and I stare after him long after he’s disappeared from sight. I worry about him, but I’m also not sure if I’m reading too much into things.
>
  “Are you still here?” Ed, my colleague from the classroom next to mine, walks in.

  “I’m killing time before I pick Benji up from the vet. What’s your excuse?”

  “Prepping my lessons for next week.” He walks up to my desk with a smug smile, obviously pleased at himself. “How is your soulmate?”

  I grin at the term of endearment he uses for my cat. Though, he’s not far wrong. My furry friend and I have shared many a cosy night in front of the TV. “Benji is well, but he doesn’t like going to the vet.”

  “Is he ill?”

  “No. He’s getting on though, and it’s his usual yearly check-up, all the blood work etcetera. He’s going to be in a stinker of a mood when he comes home,” I state, and am glad that I have my crochet class later to escape to.

  “You give that cat too much importance.”

  “He rules the roost. What can I do? He’s the best company.”

  I’m no better when it comes to leading an exciting life. Ed is staying behind on Friday to prepare next week’s lessons, and I have a crochet class.

  Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll is an alien concept for both of us. We’re both similar in some respects. It’s probably why we get on so well, apart from the fact that he usually passes by my classroom for a quick chat on most days.

  “Any plans for the weekend?” he asks, straightening his tie.

  “We have a trip to the Nature Sanctuary over by North Pond.”

  “We?” There’s a spark of uneasiness in his tone.

  I relax and sit back, trying hard not to smile. “My adult art class.”

  His expression smoothes to a smile. “I can’t believe how you give up your weekends for these things, Trinity. Your life is already hectic enough.”

  “Best way to be.” I volunteer on Monday evenings to teach art to adults with minor learning difficulties. This weekend myself and the other teacher have organized a picnic at a local nature reserve. We never work weekends, but this has become a yearly thing. I don’t mind giving up most of my Saturday for this. It’s something different for the pupils and they’re all excited about it.

  Ed looks at me the way he usually looks at me; with curiosity, as if he can’t quite figure me out. But there’s something else behind those irises today. He looks especially nice this evening in a dark shirt. He’s almost always in a white shirt and the contrast of him in something dark makes him look slightly sexy, at least, to my eyes.

  He and I are on the same page. He’s not overly pushy, and I’m not overly flirty. In fact, I’m never flirty, though I do take a few seconds longer to gaze at him today.

  “Isn’t teaching seven year olds enough?”

  “I love my job, but you know me, Ed—”

  “Do I?” he asks. His comment stops me, momentarily, and suddenly I’m not so sure what he means.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Do I know you, Trinity? I don’t think I do. We’ve been friends for what, two years now? And I still don’t think I know you that well.”

  This naturally begs the question of how well does he need to know me?

  “Maybe…” He clears his throat and then seems to hesitate.

  “Maybe what?” I ask. Does he have a point to make, or is he still making small talk?

  “Maybe you’re just too nice for your own good.”

  “Meaning what exactly, Ed?”

  “Spending a weekend going on a picnic with your art class?”

  “It’s only for a few hours and on one day, not the entire weekend,” I correct him. “You teach Sunday school,” I point out. “And you do that every weekend. I only teach art classes on a Monday night. I’m not as selfless as you, when it comes to these things.”

  “It’s just a few hours on a Sunday,” he clarifies.

  I’m still not sure where he’s going with this, but Ed has a way of going round and round in circles and can take forever to get to the point. But I’m used to it now.

  “How about you? What are your plans?” I ask him.

  “I’m looking for a new bed.”

  I widen my eyes a little to show interest. “A new bed?”

  He nods. “I’m not sleeping well and my back’s starting to hurt. The foam in the mattress is worn out and I can feel the springs more.”

  “I highly recommend a memory foam mattress.”

  “A memory foam mattress?” he asks, with interest. “Is that what you sleep on?”

  I nod vigorously. “I swear by it.”

  “I’ll take your advice.”

  We fall silent. Us both talking about a bed is, and isn’t, weird. A bed is an intimate part of the household furniture, or it’s a place to sleep. Nobody has ever shared my bed, and I know, through our conversations, that Ed is like me, saving himself for marriage. One life partner forever.

  Our gazes lock for a moment so fleeting that I’m not sure if I imagined it. Even though all we’ve ever done is talk, I sense that Ed likes me.

  I like him too.

  He’s sweet.

  This is nice enough, and pleasant enough, and it is enough; talking, and getting to know one another. He makes me smile whenever he walks into my classroom for an end-of-day chat.

  Maybe we’ll talk for another year or two before he makes a move. That suits me just fine. He’s good-looking, well, pleasant looking, I’d say. He’s no Chris Hemsworth. He’s skinny and angular, with thinning hair, but, more importantly, his eyes don’t drop to my chest during our conversations. I am aware that most men can’t shift their eyes away from my ample bosom, because I see this with the dads at parents evening.

  Ed is nothing like that.

  He’s the type of man I can see myself with. The type of man I am saving myself for. He plays it safe, as do I. Life isn’t exactly riveting, but it is smooth-sailing which is fine by me.

  I hear some of the sob stories from a few of my teacher friends—broken hearts, a trail of cheating boyfriends, jealousy and heartbreak. If that’s what love is all about, I don’t want it. I don’t want to risk wading through a load of boyfriends before I find ‘the one’.

  No, thank you.

  I’m saving myself.

  “Well, if you ever have a weekend free, maybe…maybe we could …uh…go for a pizza or something,” he offers, looking at the floor as he shuffles from one foot to the other.

  “A pizza?”

  “Or something. Just you and me.”

  “Oh.” My heart sinks a little, and I’m not sure why. It’s definitely not a heartbeat skip, more like a feeling of it sinking slowly to the pit of my stomach.

  “Like, maybe next weekend or the weekend after that,” Ed continues, his face looking slightly shinier now.

  “Sure.” I say, feeling confused as to what he’s asking.

  “Have a good time at the picnic,” he says quickly, then leaves.

  “Enjoy your mattress hunting.”

  So, that was it. That was the thing he’d been wanting to say all along; it just took him longer to say it.

  I’m still not sure if that was a date, or a maybe-date, or pizza with friends. He and I don’t really get together outside of work, though he did come to the Christmas get together with the crochet class last year, and he met Christina, my best friend. It turned out to be a good night now that I remember it.

  Ed surprised me, and it reminds me that he can be good fun socially.

  One day, who knows? Maybe Ed and I will end up sharing a memory foam mattress together.

  Chapter 3

  TRINITY

  My heart almost stops when my car stalls at the light.

  Not again.

  I turn the key again and it splutters and dies. Then I hear a loud crash, as if a tank has suddenly hit me, and I jolt forward from the impact. Luckily, my seatbelt stops my face from hitting the dashboard.

  What the hell?

  I turn and look over my shoulder. Car horns are blaring, and I undo my seatbelt.

  “What’s wrong with you?” I hear someone shout.

  I look at the rearview mirror and see a guy get off his bike and walk towards me. When he takes his helmet off, I see the angry expression on his face.

  My heart lurches as I slowly get out of the car. I hate confrontations, even though this isn’t my fault. He crashed into the back of me, and yet I feel nervous. This isn’t a particularly busy road, but traffic is jacked up a few cars behind me. Slowly, annoyed looking drivers slowly start driving around us.