I rolled my eyes.
“What does it feel like? You’ve never even really liked a guy much less loved one.”
“Soph, you know I’m not a poet. How do you expect me to put it into words?” She thought she loved her idiot boyfriend, but I didn’t want any part of that kind of love. He treated her like crap.
“How do you know it isn’t lust?”
I thought for a minute. “It’s different. I want to soak up every moment with him, even if we weren’t having sex or couldn’t have sex. When I’m near him, I’m drawn into this bubble of warmth. And watching the kind of man he is and what he does for his family…” I sighed.
“You do have it bad. I don’t blame you though. He sounds great, and this body, er, I mean this gesture in the picture…”
“I can’t believe I haven’t seen you in almost a week.”
“Nice girls don’t bail on their friends for a guy.”
“You’ve been just as busy as me,” I accused.
“I know.”
“Meet anybody new lately?” Someone other than her idiot boyfriend.
“I don’t want to talk about Shane. Tell me more about lover boy.”
“He rocks.”
“You are so annoying. I want details.”
“He’s amazing, and I’m going over there now.”
“What about that mess with his mother?”
“She’s in the hospital. He’s not optimistic for the long term, but her meds work if she takes them.”
“I think he’s really a good guy, Savannah. Good for you. You deserve it.”
“Yeah, but you deserve a good guy too.”
“Have fun tonight,” she said with one of her infamous changes of subject. “If you want to send me any more pictures…”
“Ew, Soph. That’s not acceptable.”
“Crossed the line, huh?”
“Get your pervy thoughts off my boyfriend’s bod.”
“Will so totally do that,” she said.
Why didn’t I believe her?
“Call me tomorrow,” I ordered.
“Will so totally do that, too.”
After parking in the driveway, I grabbed my things and ran to the garage door. I turned the knob, and it opened.
“You didn’t lock the door,” I scolded.
Natalie sat at the table, and Luke was setting out containers of Chinese food.
“We knew it would be you,” Natalie said.
Luke crossed the room, pulled me into a fierce hug against his hard chest, kissed me on the cheek, and led me over to the table. “I made you dinner.”
“You got take-out.”
“Still. I get credit for feeding you guys, don’t I?”
“Of course. I’m starving. I had nothing but popcorn for lunch.”
“Sorry about that,” he said, spearing me with a hot glance.
Natalie frowned. “How can it be your fault that she didn’t eat a real lunch?”
“It couldn’t,” I said, a little too quickly.
Natalie glanced at me and then at her brother. “Whatever,” she said.
I helped myself to some rice and veggies. “Thanks for dinner, Luke.”
“I should have asked you earlier, Savannah, but I’m going to have to put you on the spot. Can you take Nat to school in the morning? We’re having a family session tomorrow at four, and I need to get in to work early.”
“No problem,” I said. “I’ll be happy to.”
“Thanks, Savannah,” Natalie said. “You can have my eggroll if you want it.”
“I’m not taking your eggroll. Now that my mother has left town, I am once again in control of my own life.”
“She wasn’t that bad,” Natalie said. “I don’t think she meant to insult you. She just couldn’t help herself or something.”
“Families are complicated,” I said.
Natalie smiled. “Tell me about it.”
After Luke took out the trash, he got a load of laundry out of the dryer and set it on the coffee table to fold. My heart skipped a beat at the image of the muscular tattooed man deftly folding the clothes. He definitely was a good guy.
If my phone hadn’t been across the room, I would have snapped a picture. Maybe from a little behind the couch so I could get that well-muscled back in the picture.
I couldn’t get the picture, but I could sit next to him and run my hand over that fine back. I went over to sit next to him.
“Almost finished,” he said, adding another t-shirt to a neat stack. “Hey, Nat, do you have your clothes ready to put in?”
“Naw,” she said. “We can do it tomorrow.” She collapsed into the armchair and sighed. “I guess I’ll sleep in my room tonight.”
“You will?” Luke asked.
“Yeah. I’m probably ready.”
Luke examined her for a minute. “Okay, then.”
I eyed her chest which was rising and falling faster than it had been a minute ago. She was trying to be brave, but she didn’t want to sleep in the house yet. “Not okay.”
“What?” Natalie asked, eyes wide.
“Savannah,” Luke said. “It’s her choice. The house is back to normal. I replaced the sofa and chair. She’s fine inside.”
He was awesome, but he wasn’t perfect. He didn’t see what she was doing.
“I know you’re getting tired of all the mushy stuff, Natalie. But I promise we’ll behave. I’ll be insulted if you ditch us just because I’m staying over.”
“Savannah,” Luke said. “I don’t think—”
“If you say so,” Natalie interrupted. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
I could almost see the tension drain from her shoulders.
So could Luke apparently, because he turned to me and kissed me on the lips.
“Thank you,” he mouthed as he pulled away. He turned to his sister. “How about I kick your butt at Halo?”
A grin spread across her face and she cracked her knuckles. “You can try.”
“Do you want to play, Savannah?”
No way. I didn’t have any game skills. “I’m fine watching.”
Over the next two hours, I got a good idea of what the two of them could be like if their life weren’t so complicated. Natalie’s expression was one of utter joy when the clock read ten and she was ahead.
“I win!”
It wasn’t until we had turned out the lights and crawled into bed that I realized the gaming had the side effect of raising Luke’s testosterone level beyond the ridiculous high that was his norm. When I snuggled up next to him and threw my leg over him, I discovered that his sex drive was off the charts. The joystick in his boxers could have been chiseled from stone.
“Ouch,” he said.
“Luke,” I whispered. “We can’t do anything with your sister here. We practically promised.”
“I know,” he said, his jaw clenched.
“What are we going to do?”
“I’m going to lie here and pretend you aren’t the smokin’ hottest woman I’ve ever seen.”
I couldn’t help smiling. “Can you sleep?”
“Oh hell no.”
“The bed doesn’t squeak.”
Luke sighed. “Is that like the sky is blue? I’m not following you.”
“It’s dark, and if we’re quiet…”
“You, my love, are never quiet.”
Damn. It was true. “I can suck you.”
“Too loud.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Sometimes it slips out or you make a loud suction noise.”
Oh, right. “I’ll use my hand then, and lick your balls.”
Luke squeezed my leg so hard it almost hurt.
“I think I came just hearing you say that.”
“Really?” I was a little disappointed.
“No. But, God, Savannah, it isn’t fair to you.”
“I’m not the one turning the bed into a pup tent. Let me do this.”
He reached over and pulled me onto him to kiss
me senseless.
He was so hard, I suspected he’d come in about sixty seconds.
I sucked his lower lip into my mouth before crawling down his body. My God, I’d never felt anything like the erection he had going on. I slid between his legs and took the tip in my mouth, suckling it, and teasing it with my tongue. He must have stuffed the blanket in his mouth because he didn’t make a sound. I began stroking him, intrigued by the things his body could do. Then I leaned down and licked his balls, moving my tongue in tiny circles as I kept up the rhythm with my hand. When he grabbed my head with both hands, I knew he was going to come. I rose up to take him into my mouth.
His heart raced and he was breathing heavy, but he didn’t give us away with his usual groans of pleasure.
He pulled me onto him again, and sprinkled delicate kisses over my cheeks, lips, and throat. “How did I get so lucky?” he whispered.
I nipped at his earlobe, and he rolled over onto me. His tongue plundered my mouth and tension built inside me.
“Can you be quiet?” he asked as his hand ventured under the waistband of my shorts.
“No,” I admitted, despite every urge to lie. “Raincheck?”
He rolled off me and pulled me against his chest. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
When I woke up, it was dark outside, and Luke had one hand in my panties and his mouth on my breast.
“What are—”
“I have to go to work,” he said. “I was just saying goodbye.”
I giggled. “Can you say goodbye again later?”
He kissed me on the lips. “Darlin’, I’m going to make you scream later.”
Suddenly awake, I said, “Do you have time now? We can go out to your SUV.”
“I wish I did, but I’ll make it up to you. Thanks for taking Nat to school. And thanks for last night.”
My wicked smile was reflected in his eyes.
When I got out of the shower, I dressed in the bathroom. When I left the bathroom, Natalie handed me a Diet Coke and bowl of cereal.
“Aww. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “it’s nice of you to take me to school.”
“No problem.” I found a pony-tail holder in the side pocket of my bag and pulled my damp hair back.
“I wish I could get a job and help Luke out.”
I wasn’t sure what to say about Natalie getting a job. Would Luke let her work? “Working and going to high school isn’t the easiest,” I said, taking a seat at the table. I took a bite of the Honey Nut Cheerios.
“Luke did it.”
The cereal was yummy. “My job is pretty perfect for working and going to school. I can usually steal an hour or two every shift to study.”
“And you get to see free movies,” she added.
“That too.”
Natalie was quiet while I finished my cereal. Then I rinsed the bowl in the sink and got the rest of my things together.
I turned to ask if she was ready, but she stood watching me, books in her arms and her purse on her shoulder.
“I guess you’re ready then.”
We locked the door behind us and went out to my car.
“You’ll have to help me remember where to turn,” I told her.
“No problem.”
After I dropped off Natalie, I ran home and jumped in bed, stealing another two hours of sleep before work. I woke up to find two texts from Luke. One thanking me for taking Nat, and the other telling me he couldn’t get me out of his head. My heart thumped faster, and I texted, I miss you too.
I had a paper due Monday, and I should have been working on the research today. I’d have made some progress at work if I had spent that two hours researching.
Instead, I worked until six and then ran home to research. I’d still need to run through the library tomorrow when I was on campus to grab some sources.
At around eight, I was slogging through a journal article when Luke called.
“Hey, Sexy,” he said with that deep voice. “I have some good news.”
“I’m up to my elbows in research. Spill it. I totally need something positive to distract me.”
“Natalie is going to Hannah’s house tomorrow night.”
Oh yeah. “We finally get some time alone?”
“That’s right. And I’m finally going to get to kiss you everywhere. Every inch of your hot body.”
Heat rushed through me at the suggestion of his lips against my skin. “Oh my God, I can’t wait.”
“Your place or mine?” he asked.
“Let’s stay here for once,” I suggested. I liked his place, but I also liked mine. I wanted a chance to get him back into my bed like the picture that flashed every time he called.
“First I’m taking you to dinner. Somewhere nice.”
“Decent is fine,” I said. “We don’t want to spend too much of our time in public.”
“Decent it is,” he said. “Is there anywhere you want to go? If not, I’ll see where we can get reservations. Eight o’clock?”
“I’m fine with anything, and eight is perfect.” If I left work at six, I’d have time to primp some before our date. We’d had zero date time so far, and I adored the thought of spending some time just gazing into each other’s eyes over a nice dinner.
“What time are you coming over tonight?”
“I’m knee deep in research for this paper.” I probably should just stay here since we were going to see each other tomorrow. I wasn’t sure I could handle another night of frustration at his place, but on the other hand, I didn’t relish the idea of sleeping alone in my bed when I could be cuddling with Luke. “Can we play it by ear?”
Luke groaned. “Yeah. I’ll miss you though.”
I grinned to myself.
“I’ll leave the door unlocked just in case.”
“No. Don’t do that. I’ll call you from the driveway if I make it over.”
“So it’s a definite maybe?”
Again, I thought about my lonely bed. “Forty percent chance of me showing up.”
I could hear the smile in his voice. “I can live with that.”
“Tomorrow is going to be amazing.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Get back to your homework. We can talk more tomorrow.”
“What time are you going to bed?”
“Nat’s already asleep.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I guess she hasn’t been sleeping well.”
“Because of your mother? You haven’t told me what’s going on with her in the last couple of days.”
“We can talk about it tomorrow. I don’t want her hearing me. Even if she is asleep.”
“Probably a good idea.”
“Good night for now, Savannah.”
“Good night, Luke.”
The more work I got done tonight, the more I could relax and enjoy our date tomorrow. With a sigh, I dove back into my research.
Luke
If I hadn’t put in such a grueling day, I never would have slept. But we’d built a gazebo today, and we’d laid pavers underneath. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d done so much heavy lifting. I slept like the dead.
When Nat woke me Friday morning, I realized it was probably not a bad thing that Savannah had stayed at her place. Besides, I remembered with a jolt of anticipation, tonight me and Savannah were going to have the whole night to ourselves.
I groaned as I got out of bed. My right bicep and lower back muscles were killing me. We’d finished the gazebo, and I’d have an easier day today. I’d have to be more careful than usual though. I had plans for this body tonight.
“What are you smiling about?” Natalie asked from across the room.
God, I was grinning like an idiot, wasn’t I? “Nothing,” I said.
“Nothing,” she mocked. “You were thinking about Savannah.”
“Okay, fine. I was.”
My little sister grinned at me. “You have got it so bad.” She shook her head at me.
<
br /> “I like her. Okay?” I admitted.
“You like her a lot,” she teased.
Was it that obvious? “I like her a lot.”
“I like her too,” Natalie said. She picked up her spoon and took another bite of her cereal.
I went over to the dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. “You sure you want to go to Hannah’s tonight?”
“Yes,” she said, still chewing. She swallowed and said, “You don’t have to worry about me so much, Luke.”
“You’ll call if you need anything?”
“Yes.”
“You’re going home with her afterschool?”
“Yes.”
“And you have money in case you go out.”
“Yes, Luke. I have my bag packed and I still have the twenty you gave me yesterday.”
“What time should I pick you up in the morning?”
Nat looked down at her bowl. “I kind of want to hang out with her most of the day. If that’s okay?” She raised her eyes finally.
“Sure. Let me know if you change your mind. I’m sure Bill will have some work for me if you’re okay at her house.”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
I didn’t know if she really wanted to be with her friend or if she was trying to make things easier on me. “We have to go see Mom tomorrow, Nat. I’ll pick you up at three.”
She nodded.
We should have gone to see her at least once in the last couple of days. I just hadn’t been able to deal with it.
Bill recommended a quiet Italian restaurant near Savannah’s place, and I called for reservations.
“You really like this girl, huh?” Bill asked as I helped load the lumber for today’s project into the back of Bill’s truck.
“Yes,” I said.
“I’m glad you’ve got a distraction from this business with your mother.”
“Me too.” Business with my mother. That was one way to put it.
“How’s Nat doing?”
I told him about her plans to stay with a friend tonight. “I’m hoping it’s a good sign, but she might just want to let me have time alone with Savannah.”
“When am I going to meet this girl?”
I loaded the last two by fours onto the truck and shut the tailgate. “Soon. You’re going to like her.”
“I have no doubt,” Bill said.
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