On the Ropes

by Dania Voss

  “I had intended on contacting Entertainment Tonight and mention that Luke and I parted ways with some excuse about conflicting work schedules, blah, blah, blah. But when I saw a couple of social media posts with you and Luke, I thought maybe I’d try the whole drama queen bit—and I failed miserably. Sometimes you need a script,” Brenna admitted.

  Luke swiped his phone and held it out to Abbey again. “Brenna has been texting me all weekend, hoping I could convince you to take me back for good. She’s been on our side the entire time, princess.”

  Abbey quickly scanned the text message thread between Luke and Brenna, confirming what Luke said. Her heart skipped a beat. Based on their texts, Brenna had been encouraging Luke not to give up on getting her back. Brenna had been fully on board with what Luke was calling “Mission Abbey”. Abbey’s eyes misted. Luke really loves me. He hasn’t been lying.

  “I’m beyond sorry at how badly I handled things. I’ve spoken with Darren and he agreed to let me say a few words to clear everything up and come clean tomorrow afternoon at the start of the Cobras’ press conference,” Brenna explained.

  Abbey couldn’t let Brenna do that. It could further damage her strained relationship with her father. Although Brenna’s sexual orientation shouldn’t adversely affect her acting career, unfortunately, it could.

  “Brenna, it’s all right, you don’t need to do that on my account. I agree you handled things really badly, but I believe you. Our conversation is good enough for me.” Abbey hoped she could spare Brenna some pain and humiliation.

  “I appreciate that, Abbey, but it’s not good enough for me. I’ve been a coward. Luke’s been a good friend to me and I let him down.”

  Luke shook his head vigorously. “Brenna, it’s all right. You don’t have to…”

  “Yes, Luke, I do,” Brenna interrupted. “I’m not ashamed of who I am. I’m ashamed of how I’ve behaved when it comes to the two of us.”

  “But what about your father? What about your acting career? What if your announcement negatively impacts your current work? Future projects? You have a movie opening soon.” Abbey needed to make Brenna understand she didn’t need to put it all out there. She could save herself. They would all survive what happened earlier. Nothing more needed to be said or done. The press would move on to another scandal and they’d quickly be forgotten. They’d become old news.

  Brenna sighed over the phone. “My announcement might actually end up being a good thing. Garner support. Coming out, so to speak, won’t necessarily be the kiss of death for my career. If it is, well … I’ve invested my income wisely over the years. I’ve been smart, and I’ll be fine. Luke inspired me. I didn’t draw attention to it, but I earned my degree in marketing a couple of years back. I have options. If my acting career takes a hit, I can devote more time to my humanitarian efforts.”

  Luke smiled at Abbey, obviously proud of Brenna. Abbey was proud of her too. Brenna Sinclair was one special lady. Abbey now understood why Luke had helped her. He was a good man. Her man.

  “And as far as my father goes, we don’t have much of a relationship at the moment. The mighty minister has a few secrets of his own that I’ve been holding on to for a long time. He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone. If he dares to make issue, the gloves come off. It’ll all work out. I have faith. You both should too.”

  Luke looked at Abbey for support and she nodded. “All right, if you’re sure, we’ll follow your lead. Thank you.”

  Brenna scoffed on the line. “I should thank you, Luke. Our farce went on for much too long. I’ve been a coward. I’m looking forward to womaning up. It’ll be freeing. You’ll be at the press conference tomorrow, Abbey?”

  Abbey’s eyes went wide and she frantically shook her head at Luke.

  “Yes, she’ll be there,” Luke confirmed. He took one of Abbey’s hands and kissed her knuckles gently. Luke’s warmth spread through her. “Princess, you’ll have to get used to dealing with the press from now on, since you’re my woman. The press conference will be a good, controlled, first exposure. We can invite the family too, other than Jake and Cassie, if that makes you feel more comfortable.”

  Luke’s woman. The thought made Abbey heart soar and her soul sing. They could do this. They could be together, have a future, a family—have everything. She’d loved this man for so long. Dreamed of their forever since she was a young woman. Abbey was almost afraid to believe this was real. She would take Brenna Sinclair’s lead and woman up herself.

  She nodded and squeezed Luke’s hand tightly. “No, that’s fine. As long as you’re there, I’ll be all right.”

  Brenna clapped. “Yay! Thank you, Abbey. Okay, I’ve taken up enough of your reboot weekend time. From what Luke’s said, he has another mission he’s been working on. The two boys then a girl mission. I’ll leave you to it, then. See you tomorrow!” Brenna disconnected the call.

  A laugh burst out of Abbey. She couldn’t help it. Luke was a nut. What was wrong with him? “You told Brenna about your baby-making plans?”

  Luke tossed his phone and the Fairchild Hotel spa bag to the side and grabbed Abbey, placing her on his lap facing him. He pulled her sundress up to her waist and wrapped her legs around his waist.

  Abbey giggled as Luke kissed her lips, cheeks, nose, and forehead. “No, I told her about our baby-making plans. My baby makers have already spoken to yours, so we’re all in sync.”

  Abbey pushed Luke down on the plush, carpeted floor so she was straddling him. She bent down and kissed him, her long hair creating a halo around his head. She groaned when Luke grabbed her ass cheeks and squeezed. Her skin felt hot and tight, her nipples pebbled to hard points, and her panties grew damp. She needed Luke. Now. We have our first son to make.

  She pulled Luke’s shirt out of his jeans and went to work unbuckling his belt. He stopped her and tried to pull her dress off.

  “Princess, I’ll work on my pants, you get that dress off,” Luke said as he toed his shoes off and yanked off his jeans.

  Abbey loosened the tie on the back of her dress and pulled it over her head, tossing it aside. She struggled at first but was able to unhook her bra and flung it aside too. Luke took a hold of her panties and tore them off.

  “Luke! You can’t keep ruining my underwear.” Secretly though, she was thrilled by his alpha male behavior. What women wouldn’t want her man so desperate for her that he tore her clothes off? But still. Abbey was fortunate she had extra panties in her carry-on bag.

  Luke slid a finger through her wet folds. Abbey shivered and rubbed herself against him. “I’ll get you new underwear, baby. Better yet, fuck that. You don’t ever need to wear underwear again as far as I’m concerned.”

  She wasn’t so sure about not wearing underwear from now on. That was a discussion for another time. “Enough about panties, Luke. We have a little Viking to make, right?” She was fully on board with Luke’s baby-making plan.

  His gorgeous blue eyes widened and darkened. “Hell yeah, we do. Two little Vikings then a Sheildmaiden, princess. Come here, sit on top of my dick. Let’s fuck a little Viking into you.”

  Abbey shook with need and she positioned herself on top of him. She rubbed her slick pussy along his hard cock, eliciting moans from then both. He was hot, hard, and ready for her.

  She lined up Luke’s hard cock with her entrance and slowly impaled herself, her wet channel making the journey down his length fairly easily. So hot, so hard. Her inner muscles gripped him like a vise and he squeezed his eyes shut. Pride swelled at his reaction to her.

  Luke gripped Abbey’s hips so hard she wondered if she’d end up with bruises. She didn’t mind. She craved his marks on her. She wanted to make some of her own on him.

  His beautiful blue eyes opened, nearly black from being dilated. Her big, strong Viking wasn’t unaffected. “God, Abbey. You feel so good. Come on. Fuck me, baby.”

  He lifted her hips and then slammed them back down, bottoming out. He filled her to the hilt and her bl
ood was on fire with need. Abbey bounced on his hard dick in a frantic rhythm, desperate for release. This is how it had always been with Luke. She couldn’t get enough of him. She probably never would.

  They were together, how they should be. How they were meant to be. Abbey was his, and Luke was hers. She’d always known it and couldn’t deny it or fight it any longer. She didn’t want to.

  Abbey’s breasts bounced as she continued to ride Luke hard. She felt her orgasm building. It wouldn’t take her long to go over. He tweaked her pebbled peaks with his fingers and it sent shock waves from her head to her toes. Never in her life had anything felt so good.

  “Oh, Luke. I’m close.” She groaned. She picked up the pace, bouncing up and down on top of him, each downward stroke almost painfully bumping her cervix. Luke rubbed her engorged clit, teasing the hard little bud until Abbey detonated and saw fireworks behind her closed eyelids.

  Abbey heard him grunt and stiffen underneath her. She felt his hot seed shoot deep inside her as her channel convulsed around him. Pulse after pulse of Luke’s cum filled her as she collapsed on top of him, their warm bodies damp with sweat. All she heard in her suite was the sound of their erratic breathing. She smiled at the prospect that this time, they might have created their first little Viking.

  Luke held her tightly as their breathing slowed. He shifted her, pulling out of her. She lay beside him with her head on his chest. He held her close, lightly caressing her, the thick carpeting providing a bit of cushioning.

  “Shit, princess. You nearly killed me that time.” Luke kissed the top of her head and breathed deeply. “I love you so much, Abbey. Sometimes I feel like my heart will explode with it. I don’t ever want you to doubt me. Promise me, baby.”

  Abbey smelled their combined scents of sex as they lay there, content after uniting physically and emotionally. This was where she always wanted to be. Beside Luke. She knew that would never change.

  Abbey looked up at him. Reflected back at her in Luke’s soulful blue eyes was so much love and tenderness that tears sprang to her eyes. “I’ve always loved you, Luke. No matter how hurt or angry I was, my heart always belonged to you. I promise I won’t doubt you.” She kissed his warm soft lips and placed her head back on his chest. The sound of his strong, steady heartbeat in her ear soothed her.

  “So I was thinking, since you’re now unemployed, and we’re back together for good, what do you think about moving in with me?” Luke asked.

  Abbey wasn’t opposed to moving in with Luke. Especially since they were trying to start a family. But he lived on Chicago’s Gold Coast. Abbey had always lived in Elmhurst. She liked the suburbs and wasn’t planning on being unemployed for long.

  “I’ve seen pictures of your bachelor pad in Chicago, Luke. It’s not a family-oriented space.” She snuggled up against him, now feeling a chill.

  He rubbed her arm. “That’s true. Keeping it will be convenient since it’s close to Stryker Field and the Cobras’ corporate offices. Let’s look for a nice gated community around here? My place in Nevada is gated and family friendly. We can do whatever you want. Haven’t you heard? Your man is loaded.”

  Abbey didn’t care about that. She’d loved Luke before he was rich and famous. He knew she wasn’t some gold digger. She was educated and independent. That would never change.

  “Yup. My man is a pretty, rich boy. I do like the idea of finding a secure place here in the suburbs though. A gated community is unfortunately a must, I think. Good thing you’re loaded, right?” Abbey giggled when Luke tickled her. “I know his wife is a bit much to take, but if we’re going to look locally, Mr. Gleason is one of the best around for luxury properties. He’s well respected in the area and works hard for his clients.”

  Luke groaned. “That wife of his, shit. But hey, if he’s got a good reputation, I’d be happy to give him a shot to find us something. Or maybe facilitate the construction of a new place.”

  Abbey shivered. What a nightmare building would be. She’d heard too many horror stories about new home construction even though it had become prevalent in Elmhurst over the last several years. “You sure you want to go through the stress of building and starting a family and transitioning to the next phase of your career at all the same time?” Abbey hated the idea.

  “Hell no. Not when you put it like that. You’re right. For now, let’s buy something. We can build something later if we want. So smart, my princess. One of the many reasons I love you so much.”

  Luke sat up and stretched. Abbey would never tire of looking at his sculpted body. My Viking. The bruises on his shoulder looked a little better, like they were healing. Abbey joined him and sat up, feeling soreness between her legs. She didn’t mind. She wasn’t about to give up having sex with Luke because he was big. She’d just have to get used to it. It’s a cross I’ll happily bear.

  Luke brushed some of her hair behind her shoulder and gently kissed it. She warmed up all over again. “Luke, I know I’m not employed at the moment, but I plan on looking for something else soon. I know you’re going to say I don’t need to work, being loaded and all, but that’s not me.”

  Abbey prayed this didn’t cause friction between them. She wanted Luke, a family, and more.

  He shrugged and kissed her shoulder again. “I know. I want to take care of you, though. However it makes you the happiest. You could make good use of your MBA with me. There are all kinds of opportunities within the Cobras’ organization and the foundation. Lots of possibilities. It’ll depend on what you want and to what degree you want to be involved. Full- time, part-time, special project work. I want you to understand you have a lot options now that you’re not tied to Office Supply Galaxy anymore.”

  Abbey’s heart warmed. She liked the idea of working alongside Luke. She’d be in good company with so many of their family members already for working for the Cobras. She was flattered by Luke’s proposal. “You really wouldn’t mind us working together?”

  Luke shook his head and kissed her lips. So warm and delicious. “Of course not. We’re a team. The organization would be lucky to have you. I’m lucky to have you.”

  The pounding on Abbey’s suite door startled them both. “Luke! Abbey! Family meeting in the fucking honeymoon suite. Now!” Jake sounded angry. Really angry. Abbey couldn’t blame him, though. The fiasco after brunch must have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

  “Shouldn’t you and Cassie be getting a couple’s massage right now?” Luke shouted back.

  “Fuck that massage and fuck you. I’ve had it with all this shit this fucking weekend! You and Abbey clean up and get dressed right now and meet everyone in my fucking room.”

  Luke laughed. Abbey giggled. “Are we in trouble?” Luke teased Jake.

  “Hilarious, asshole. I mean it, Luke. You have ten minutes or I’ll drag you to my fucking suite myself, dressed or not. I mean it!” Jake stomped away, but they could hear him cursing as he walked down the hallway.

  Luke blew out a breath and frowned. “He’s pretty pissed. I don’t blame him. Come on, princess.” Luke stood and helped Abbey up off the floor. They both groaned and stretched some of their stiffness away. “When Jake’s finished bitching me out, we’ll come back and use the bed.”

  She couldn’t agree more. The bed sounded much more inviting than the floor. “Sounds good to me.”

  She collected her clothes, minus the torn panties, and her carry-on bag and then dashed into the en suite bathroom. She tossed her things on the white backless couch and cleaned up as quickly as she could. Ten minutes wasn’t much time. She wished there was time for a quick shower. Her parents would be in Jake and Cassie’s room. She wasn’t thrilled to smell like sex in front of them and everyone else.

  Luke swaggered in with his clothes like he didn’t have a care in the world and tossed them on the couch beside hers. Men. He placed the spa bag on the floor beside the couch. What’s up with that spa bag?

  When Abbey felt decently refreshed, she washed her face and brushed
her teeth. Luke frowned at her in the vanity mirror. “What’s wrong, Luke? Is it your shoulder? Are you in pain?” She panicked. All of his baby making efforts could be hurting him. They needed to slow things down. There was plenty of time to get pregnant. Luke’s priority should he his shoulder.

  He finished washing up and began getting dressed. Abbey followed. “My shoulder’s fine. That emu oil cream Hannah gave me is helping. I hated seeing you wipe and wash away all my cum from between your legs.” Luke shrugged and put his shoes on.

  Abbey tied the waist tie on her sundress and sat on the couch to put her sandals back on.

  Luke was obviously anxious to start their family. She couldn’t fault him for that. So was she.

  “I’m sorry, but I had to clean up. My parents are in Jake and Cassie’s room. And cleaning up won’t affect anything anyway. Your baby makers have done their job.”

  Luke kneeled down in front of Abbey and held both her hands. He leaned in and lightly brushed his lips against hers. He smiled up at her. “I know, I’m just being stupid. I’m excited to start our family. That’s all.”

  Abbey smiled and squeezed his hands. “I am too.”

  He let go of her hands and presented the spa bag to her. Oh, it’s for me. “I got you all the spa products we used here and some others. I like the lavender scent on you. Take a look.” He pressed her to look inside the bag.

  Abbey appreciated the gesture, since she liked the products too, but they didn’t have time for this. She didn’t want Jake any more upset than he already was. Luke’s insistent gaze had her taking the items out one by one. “Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body scrub, facial wash, and scrub. Thank you, Luke. I love all of this, but we need to get going.”

  He shook his head, holding the bag in front of her still. “There’s one more thing in the bag, baby.”

  Abbey didn’t think so. She was pretty sure she’d taken everything out. She felt around what seemed like an empty bag to the very bottom. She gasped in surprise. A little velvet box? No, it couldn’t be, but that didn’t stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks.