by Tracy Ellen
‘What the hell?’ Could Luke seriously think I’d choose to be spanked over being made love to? Until I couldn’t walk for a week, no less?
His use of the words ‘make love’ penetrated through the mad. I hesitated a second in my offended thoughts. While getting to know Luke these last couple of months, I’d come to respect his perspectives on life. His observations on the world around him are sharp and concise. He’s a logical thinker and a man of action. He expected a lot out of himself, and probably has similar high standards for those people involved in his personal life.
My shoulders relaxed as the defensive anger drained out of me. Luke didn’t want to physically hurt me. With his broader experiences of fighting to draw from, he was upset at what I had done and scared at what could have happened. He cared about me. I shouldn’t repay him with anger because he said incredibly dumb, male things to express himself in the aftermath of relief.
I stifled my shiver his mention of spankings and his light caress on my neck caused inside me. I decided in this instance he was way off base, but I understood why he was frustrated enough to need to say such things.
I think Luke had been hit over the head and stunned with the same feelings of unexplainable, inexplicable attraction that I’d experienced when we first met. I bet the women Luke previously dated were nothing like me and probably hadn’t caused him any trouble or worry. They’d have a set role he assigned to them in his life. Luke would feel secure in the knowledge they’d be waiting for him in their dependably calm, quietly mature worlds while he went out and lived dangerously.
In case nobody’s noticed, I am not that kind of woman. My independent ways will always taunt and challenge Luke. Also, weird stuff happens to me all the time. I don’t understand why, but I’m some sort of magnet for the bizarre and the freaky.
I fear Luke is destined to be disappointed in me if that means I must sit back and never take risks to prevent his worry. I appreciate his shoulder, but I don’t need a constant hero, or a daddy, or a nonstop control freak. In my past, those have been the main reasons why I’d dated perfectly nice men only once or twice before getting bored.
I know what I don’t want in a man. What suits the real me has always been a different story. A man must consider me his equal, not in the sense of physical strength, but in the mind and spirit. And he must be my equal. Those are the traits I seek in a man, and have sensed, hoped for, in Luke.
Jack and Stella were still talking, but I noticed Jack’s cop eyes strayed often to Luke beside me.
‘Well, what the hell again. Did I actually see a glimmer of approbation there, and not Jack’s usual instant dismissal? Didn’t that just figure.’
This was turning out to be one humdinger of a weekend.
“Anabel, look at me.”
I did look at Luke, but I kept my face politely inquiring, determined not to let him see how he affected me.
His expression had softened. “Bravery is being able to act even when you’re scared. You are a brave woman, Anabel. Your friends are lucky to have someone care about them like you do.” His lips tightened. “But you are also an idiot. The situation could have gone south and gotten real ugly, real fast. You need training to do what you did.” He patted my thigh and made to get up.
His blunt words had reaffirmed all that I thought and gave me some hope we could find our middle ground. Except for the idiot part, but I was willing to work with him on his stupidity.
I put a hand on his arm and stayed him. “You are almost absolutely right.”
Luke was surprised. I had caught him off-guard. “What, specifically, am I almost right about?”
Palms up, I shrugged. “Pretty much everything you’ve said.”
He smiled a little and some of his tense grimness eased. “I am, huh? Everything?”
I ignored his innuendo and lightly stroked his forearm. “I definitely need some self-defense training. If you could help by pointing me in the right direction, that would be great. I did do something stupid on the face of it and I was lucky the good guys won.” I kissed him softly on his cheek. I sat back and smiled up at his still face. With sincere gratitude I added, “Thank you for catching me when I passed out.”
Luke surprised me by abruptly getting up, walking over to Jack, and putting out his hand. The big cop stood back up and they shook. “Jack, I’ll get out of your way.”
“Luke, we’ll talk again soon.” Jack let go of Luke’s hand and thumped him lightly on the shoulder. I gawked in amazement.
‘Had there been an alien abduction while I napped?’
Body snatching was the only explanation for Jack’s easygoing acceptance of Luke.
Luke nodded. “I’ll get Anabel back to you in a minute; I want her to walk me out. Maybe you could talk to Anna first?”
At Jack’s nod, Luke turned back to me. He raised his brow and put a hand out. Feeling dazed, I automatically clasped his hand. He tugged me to my feet and led me around the coffee table.
Luke then grinned at my niece, his dimple flashing. “Stella, I’m sorry for the circumstances, but it was great meeting you. You were amazing down in the store today. I know you’ll keep Anabel on the straight and narrow.”
I huffed in disbelief as Stella laughed, blushing. She dimpled back at Luke as they bumped fists.
‘Okay, did Anna say I napped for one hour, or one week?’
We passed Anna on our way to the stairs. Luke paused to say good-bye. Anna gave him a huge hug with many exclamations of thanks. Luke squeezed her back with one arm, smiling broadly at her laughing promise of free cookies for life. I stood numbly upright, tethered to reality by Luke’s hand clasped tightly around my own. I didn’t even wonder too much why Luke deserved free cookies for life while I, as part owner, had been eighty-sixed from any bakery freebies forever.
I felt like I was caught up in a waking dream where nothing was as it seemed or as it was supposed to be. I was half daydreaming myself how I’d like to demonstrate to Luke my appreciation of his being there for me downstairs.
‘Didn’t I hear a blow job is the male version of a bouquet of flowers?’ It was an interesting daydream until reality slapped me awake. What I wanted didn’t matter; there was no way I was going to start anything with three sets of big ears and eyes straining from the living room.
The responsible mean mommy voice in my head scolded me. I had to give my statement to Jack, get an update from Stella and Anna on the store and the welfare of my staff, and then get everyone out of here so I could be alone. I needed to contact my family and friends soon or they’d come charging over. Luckily, the customers witnessing the events were all elderly, so there would probably be no pictures or video posted on the internet. The staff I could trust. I thought about the news, what was being reported on the incident, and how it could impact business. Later on, I was still planning to go over to Mac’s for dinner at seven.
It was 4:40 PM according to the Breitling on Luke’s wrist. This day felt like it had lasted a week and it was only half over. I covered a small yawn behind my free hand. I was still a little groggy from my nap.
When Luke and I reached the top of the stairs, he surprised me again by not leaving but turning to the right. He led me down the hallway. He pulled me into the first open doorway which happened to be the bathroom. He shut the door behind us.
There was a charged silence in the darkness.
I reached up and touched his hard shoulder. I smoothed down his rigid arm. “Luke, nobody has ever been there for me…”
Luke cut in, “Don’t you mean you’ve never had a man be there for you before?”
Struck by his words, I shrugged and touched my forehead to his chest. “I guess I do mean that.”
There have been men who have wanted to be there for me in my life, but I didn’t make it easy for them. I didn’t know how to be anything less than self-reliant and independent. Putting it bluntly, there’s never been a man in my personal life who has impressed me enough to make me want to lean on him.
/> Luke still held my one hand, so I reached and clasped his other hand. I found it easier to speak of these things in the dark. I wondered fleetingly if that was why Luke left the light off.
“Listen, it means a lot you came to check on me.” I laughed ruefully. “I absolutely can’t stand the thought of passing out and being carried anywhere, but if it had to be done, well, I’m glad it was you. I’m sorry I scared you.”
Luke was silent for a long moment. I was starting to get uncomfortable, nervous why he wasn’t answering when he finally spoke. “Quit being so hard on yourself; it’s not like you fainted from seeing a mouse. You took on a man, Anabel.” He added softly, “I didn’t mind carrying you.”
“Hey, I didn’t faint.” Recalling Anna’s obnoxious description, I frowned. “If you say I was ‘as light as a feather’ I swear I’ll wallop you.”
I could hear the smile in his voice. “Why the hell would I say that? You were dead weight in my arms. It felt like I was carrying two hundred pounds of flopping female.” He squeezed my hands. “I probably should apologize here for accidentally banging your head kind of hard against the wall.”
“Oh, my Hero!” I laughed quietly. “That explains why I have such a sore head and headache. I was worried about stroking from high blood pressure. Here, close your eyes, I’m turning on the light.”
I reached past Luke and hit the switch. The main bathroom in my apartment is divided into two, with a pocket door in between. Luke and I were standing close in the smaller room that’s used by guests, and fitted with a toilet and vanity. Through the sliding door is my larger, personal bathroom that includes the mirrored vanity area, the shower and tub room, and then a huge, walk-in closet- formerly a small bedroom I had redesigned with Reggie’s help.
“Here we go.” I straightened up with the bottle of Advil. Tossing back a couple, I turned on the cold faucet. Leaning over the tap, I took a gulp of the streaming water. It tasted so refreshing; I kept lapping thirstily for a few seconds. Finally replete, I stood up and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. I looked into the mirror and saw Luke’s image behind me, his face amused.
“What?” I smiled back at his image, patting at the water droplets spilling down the front of my black vest and white blouse.
Luke put his hands on my hips, pulling me back closer to him. “You and Reggie hung out a lot together growing up, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but it was from Jazy where I learned the useful habit of drinking from a faucet like a dog.”
Luke’s dark eyebrows flew up in surprise and I grinned.
I can’t be around Luke for long and not be aware of his maleness. Actually, I can’t be around him for even a second without my feminine instincts responding. It doesn’t matter how much I enjoy talking with him, I’m always conscious on a deeper level of the hum of desire his presence arouses in me. Now was no different. I went with the pull of his hands, relaxing back fully against him.
Luke’s hands slid from my hips and he hugged me from behind. I rested my hands on his locked forearms. He rested his chin on my head, a perfect spot for him. I didn’t mind, despite the tenderness from my various head contusions from the last couple of days. We were silent, staring at each other’s faces reflected back in the mirror two feet in front of us.
The contrasting images of his black hair and dark tan against my blondeness and fair skin were vividly erotic. I watched him bend his head and move my tangled hair aside with his chin, kissing my neck with his dark eyes still on mine. He kissed my cheek next, as if he was unable to resist the pink, flushed target.
Luke’s glance came back to my face in the mirror. His smile started slowly and built to blatantly lecherous. I had no doubt what he was thinking about to give me such a leering look.
He didn’t make me wait. “I was right about everything?”
I turned and slid my hands up his arms to his shoulders. “Well, sir, I was so wrong to say you were almost absolutely right about all the things you said.”
“I like it when you are polite and respectful. Yes, go on. Keep telling me how absolutely wrong you were.” Luke lifted me so I was sitting on the vanity. He used his knee to spread my legs and stepped between my thighs. His hands splayed on my lower back urged me forward on the vanity until we were touching.
His expression was much lighter now, no longer so black and grim. The glint of desire in his hooded eyes and the small smile playing on his mouth were an aphrodisiac for me.
Is there any sight more tantalizing than the man you want waiting with obvious heat for your response?
I couldn’t think of one, either.
I brought my hand up to cup his cheek. Eyes on my thumb, I rubbed it lightly over his lower lip and then rasped over the black whiskers surrounding his mouth. They were much softer than they looked.
“I think I’m sure which I prefer.” I leaned back and smiled flirtatiously. “Most respectfully, I request the choice of being fucked for a week until you cannot walk.”
Luke groaned softly, placing a hard kiss on my lips. “That was not one of your choices.”
I traced the outline of his mouth with the tip of my tongue and then sucked gently on his full, bottom lip. “Oh Luke, help me. I have such a bad time with details. Does that mean no?”
“I’m still deciding if I can make an exception in your case.” His hands were at the buttons of my shirt, swiftly working his way down until the shirt parted. He spread the cotton fabric apart, taking my black vest with it, and pulling my arms down from his shoulders. Leaning back and smiling up at him, I braced myself with a hand on either side of my hips on the vanity. He pulled my shirt and vest halfway down my arms, and then stopped.
I was wearing a T-back style underwire bra that clasped in the front. The bra was not frilly or fancy, but the fabric was sheer. My round, full breasts and nipples were clearly visible.
Luke leaned forward and kissed a dark pink tip. He drew my nipple into his mouth through the shimmering nylon of the bra, biting gently and then sucking. With his hand, he cupped my other breast and his thumb rubbed slow circles over that stiffening point. Loving it, I tilted my head back, offering myself up to the arousing pleasure Luke’s rhythmic kissing and sucking were drawing from my responsive, sensitive nipples.
At the press of his hand on my upper thigh, I opened my legs even wider and felt him move in against me. Through his jeans, Luke slowly stroked his erection over the thick middle seam bisecting the crotch of my jeans. He was putting pressure against the exact spot where I needed to be touched.
I leaned back farther, resting on my elbows. The back of my head touched against the mirror behind the vanity. I said his name on a low moan.
“Please let me know when you decide on my case.”
Luke straightened up, eyes lowered and intently watching his hands on my breasts cupping and squeezing. My hands were trapped at my sides from my shirt and vest pulled tight over on my arms, but I couldn’t care less right then.
Moving to hold my cheeks with both hands, Luke stared down at me with serious eyes. I smiled a little in uneasy question, not really knowing what his look meant or what he wanted to see in return.
Right at that moment, I only wanted to see and feel his hard cock with no jeans between us. I wanted him filling me up and satisfying the craving building up inside from his sucking and biting on my nipples and stroking between my thighs. I wanted to straddle him and ride him, our bodies touching and rubbing everywhere. I wanted to stare into his beautiful, green eyes while we did this and I wanted to watch him come.
“Undo your jeans.”
Luke ignored my whisper.
“Please?”
He leaned over and kissed my mouth, but held his lower body away from mine.
“I want to touch you.”
He started with slow kisses, only barely touching our lips together.
“Pretty please?”
Each time Luke kissed me, the kiss was fuller and longer, making me want more.
“With
sugar…”
He kept denying me until I slowly sucked his tongue into my mouth. The soft suction triggered Luke, and the tempo of his kissing leapt from slow and languorous to fast and intense. He gripped my ass tightly, lifting me against him. His tongue was stroking deep into my mouth, matching the motions of his hips while he moved up against me. I rubbed myself back against the length of him in answer.
He turned his head and broke our kiss. Breathing heavily, his voice was rough. “I am still pissed at you, Anabel.”
I rained his face with small kisses, answering tenderly, “Oh, I know, Luke. Never stop taking your anger out on me.”
I kissed his wide grin and knew we were good.
Abruptly, Luke backed off. He latched my bra together so quickly, I didn’t have time to marvel at his expertise of covertly unsnapping it during our passionate kissing. He pulled my shirt up off my arms and started buttoning me up even faster than he had undone the buttons a few minutes ago. He straightened my vest with a sharp tug and hopped me off the vanity.
He smiled at my agape expression, putting a finger to his lips as he pointed to the door. He glanced in the mirror, adjusted his jeans, and pulled the tails of his shirt smartly into place to cover the evidence.
There was a loud knock on the door. “Whatcha doing in there, June? Are you almost done? Jack’s done with me and the natives are getting restless out here.”
“Yes, I’m coming!” I pushed Luke and mouthed with a huffy, mock pout, “Not.”
He covered his eyes with one hand, shoulders shaking.
“Anna, would you please get me a water from the fridge and I’ll be right there, okay?”
“Sure thing.” I heard Anna walking away and turned anxiously back to Luke.
He kissed me good-bye before I could say anything. “Go on, I’ll slip out after you. What’s the code for the back door in the store?”
I smiled my relief we weren’t caught. I gave him the code, making a mental note to ask later exactly how he had entered my locked building last night.