Luke laughed. “And?”
I shrugged bashfully. “You know, I got nervous.”
“Why do I get the feeling there’s more to this story?” he asked between his teeth.
I laughed. Our eyes met, and his smiled at me. It’s hard to believe someone could feel about me the way he so obviously does. The look in his eyes said it all.
“You are so cute,” he uttered. “You have no idea.”
“I wish I could stop blurting stuff,” I admitted. “It honestly feels like it’s getting worse.”
He wrapped an arm around me and kissed my cheek. “It’s you. I love it.”
I rested my head on his bare shoulder. “I’m sorry I ruined the moment.”
“You didn’t ruin anything,” he breathed. “You can never ruin anything for me.” He nudged my chin and kissed me. I fell back slowly, and again he moved on top of me. “Think this bed is big enough?”
I laughed. “Please don’t say that word!”
“What word?” He grinned.
I laughed again. If he only knew!
He inched down my jeans, pulled off my boots and tossed them across the room. “Do you have any idea what I’m going to do to you?” he hummed in a sexy tone. His eyes gleamed. He looked freakin’ ecstatic.
“I have an idea,” I said invitingly, pulling his mouth toward mine.
He kissed me wildly. I slid his jeans below his hips, running my hands across his abs. His hands gripped my thighs and his fingers hooked my underwear. “Holy shit you’re perfect,” he whispered as we made out again. The kissing got fierce, and he began heaving. His mouth moved from my mouth to my neck, and up to my earlobe. “I’ve been waiting forever,” he breathed in my ear. “Nothing can ruin this moment.”
“Lukasz?”
We froze.
Light tap at the door. “Lukasz. Your mother wants to speak with you!”
Luke’s face fell. “You have got to be shittin’ me!” he protested, devastated.
“No, she is on the phone! Open the door, please,” Burke demanded.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the look on his face. He pulled up his jeans, zipped them and tossed me my clothes. Then he put on his shirt, rubbed his forehead and —once I was dressed—opened the door. “I turned my phone off for a reason, Burke.”
Burke had his arms crossed. His smile was big. “Ah, well, that is what you get for turning it off, yes?” He waved at me as I stood up off the bed and straightened my hair.
“Hi, Mom,” Luke said in utter frustration, pausing to listen. “Yes, I got here safe. Mom, you needed to hear that from me?” He listened for a while longer, then rolled his eyes. “Of course I’ll put on fresh socks in the morning.”
I chuckled. Burke looked amused, too.
Silence.
“I have to go now, Mom,” Luke said. “Oh, and thanks for calling. You have great timing!” He hung up and threw the phone to Burke. Then he walked back toward me and crashed backwards onto the bed.
“So,” Burke said, “would you two like to go down for some hot chocolate?”
Luke put his hands out, staring at the ceiling. “Well my night’s ruined! Sure, why not?”
~ ~ ~
We got hot chocolate in the lounge. By the roaring fire was a large, stylish sectional that could probably seat about twenty people. Several love seats shared the room, and a TV played quietly by the fireplace ceiling.
Luke had an arm around me, and Burke sat almost across from us. We shared the room with a couple in their own area, drinking and speaking softly.
“Much more fun than the bedroom, yes, Lukasz?” Burke said with a grin.
Luke smiled. “I haven’t had this much fun in ages. Thanks, Burke.”
Burke laughed his warm laugh. “I’m sorry, Lukasz. I remember being your age. But she did want to speak with you, and I had no choice!”
Luke waved it off, but the sheer disappointment on his face said it all.
I leaned into Luke’s chest and took a sip of rich, creamy hot chocolate. “This tastes incredible!”
Luke squeezed me tight. “Yeah, it’s not that powdered crap.”
“Lukasz, didn’t you say Troy is around here somewhere?” Burke asked after a quiet moment.
Luke glanced at Burke just as his cell phone beeped. “Yeah, I’m gonna have to go look for him.”
I was going to ask who Troy is, but he pulled out his phone, and I strained to see the screen without being obvious.
The screen said, “Message from Nikki” and the text read,
Where are you?
My eyes widened. Who’s Nikki?
Luke pulled up a browser and searched his email as I wondered who Nikki is, and how badly she could ruin my life.
“Check it out,” he breathed, showing me the screen.
I wanted to ask if I could check out his texts instead, but I glanced at the email.
“The Realtor got back to me, he said he can do a showing. Do you like this one?”
I looked through the pictures, but my mind wasn’t quite there. “It’s great,” I said weakly.
He looked confused. “I can find something else…”
“I like it,” I said, still preoccupied with Nikki. He set the phone down on his lap, and followed my gaze to it.
“Adonia? Is something wrong?”
My stomach was doing somersaults. “Of course not.” I thought quickly. “I just realized my phone’s in the room.”
He seemed to relax a bit. “Oh.”
“I like it, though,” I said of the house, just to change the subject.
He nodded, silent for a moment. Our eyes locked, and I knew he could tell something was still bothering me.
He leaned into my ear. “I love you, Beautiful.”
I bit my lip and pulled him close. It was plain as day that he loved me. But I kind of wondered if I’m the only one he loved.
His lips brushed my forehead and his arms squeezed me tight. I picked up his phone and looked through the pictures. The place had a jacuzzi, a bright bedroom, walk-in closets, and skylights. What was there not to like?
Eventually, the heat of the flames began making me drowsy, and the hot chocolate didn’t help.
~ ~ ~
I woke up in the suite, not remembering how I even got there. Luke laid beside me, fast asleep, and I realized he‘d carried me up.
My hand glided beneath his shirt, across his abs. I rested my head on his chest, listening to his rhythmic heartbeat. He stirred and tightened his grip on me, murmuring “I love you,” but still fast asleep.
I felt kind of bad about falling asleep on him, right after Burke and his mom ruined his night. All whoever-Nikki-was asked is where he was—that’s not exactly proof of anything.
I think.
I tried to shake the worries out of my head.
It was five in the morning, and I needed a best friend. As it was 7:00 p.m. in Alaska, I figured it’d be safe to call.
I got out of bed, grabbed my phone and snuck to the bathroom.
“Hello?” Lilly answered.
“Hi,” I breathed.
“Oh, thank God!” she exclaimed. “I am so screwed!”
“What happened?” I quietly shut the door so it wouldn’t hit the frame.
“My mom made me an appointment to start prenatal care. Thankfully their soonest opening is in two weeks,” she hissed into the phone. “And I suspect the doctor might notice there’s nothing to care for.”
I smiled to myself. This girl’s crazy. “It sounds like you’ve gotta tell the truth, as soon as possible,” I suggested.
“And say what, I lied about being pregnant?” she whined. “I don’t want people thinking I’m nuts, thank you.”
“Wait a few days and say you had a miscarriage. I mean it’s just a heavy period, right? It’ll be done by the time you have to go for your appointment.”
“Hmmm,” she said thoughtfully. “How’s the Alps?”
“Amazing,” I said dreamily. “I don’t want to come h
ome.”
“Please don’t say that,” she grumbled. “And now that you’re gone, I don’t know how I’ll survive in Hawaii without you!”
My heart leapt. “Move with us!” I insisted, maybe too loudly.
“Move? With Lukasz? Yuck!”
I giggled. “Listen, we were having hot chocolate in the lounge last night, and I saw a message on his phone. I was just wondering if you know who—”
“Oh my God, Gino’s calling! I’ll call you right back!”
“Wait!” I demanded, desperate for information. “Do you know—”
“Talk to you in a few!” She hung up.
I fell onto the covered toilet, crossed my arms and sighed loudly in frustration.
“What’s the matter, Beautiful? Can’t go tinkle?”
I laughed and headed into the bedroom. Halfway to him I leaned over, grabbed him a clean pair of socks and tossed them at his face.
He caught them and grinned. “Thanks, hotness.”
I grinned and plopped myself on the bed beside him. “Right.”
He pounced on me, pinning me on my back. “I do believe I didn’t get what I wanted last night,” he whispered, his breath tickling my ear.
I beamed. “Because your mom had to remind you to change your socks?”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s not even that important—we’re in a wide open area.”
I pulled on his chain to bring his face closer. “Maybe you should stop leaving them scattered around the foot of your bed.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“It’s gross,” I informed him.
“Weird,” he stated. “You never seem to mind my room. Socks and all.”
I pecked his cheek. “Not when you’re in it.”
“I like that.” He kissed me. His mouth moved to my neck, his thumbs hooked my underwear, and his breathing became heavy. “You know what else I’d like?”
I giggled. “Another piece of my soul?”
His eyes darkened, and he licked his lips. “That.”
IX
Clearly, skiing is not the only activity at which my boyfriend can be an Olympic champion.
Five feverishly hot hours later, we left our suite, planning to hit the slopes. But Luke took a detour.
“Where are we going?” I asked as we walked down one of the peaceful little streets. The town was crowded with log homes, fountains, restaurants, and cute little gift shops. It was like walking through a Thomas Kinkade painting.
Luke squeezed my hand. “I want to introduce you to a really good friend of mine.”
A jolt of adrenaline rushed through me. “A good friend?” I asked anxiously.
“Yeah,” he said with a grin. “His name’s Troy. He graduated from my old school last year, and he’s here visiting his grandparents.” Luke unzipped his coat with his free hand. “Is that okay?”
“Yeah,” I breathed.
“He was my best friend before I met Gino,” Luke added, growing serious. “Now they’re tied. Don’t tell Troy that, though. I’ve known him forever, and he thinks he’s my only best friend.”
I laughed nervously. “I wouldn’t dream of it!”
As we walked through the jingling door of a log gift shop, I tried to compose myself. My heart was racing. I had to win someone’s approval, and I only got a few minutes notice—this was, like, worse than his dad.
Luke released my hand and set his arms on the clerk’s counter. “Is Troy working here?” he asked a grey-haired, brown-eyed lady who sat in a rocking chair behind the counter.
She looked confused for a moment.
“Monsieur Troy De La Fontaine?”
The old lady smiled and put up a finger. Then she inched into another room.
“You speak French?” I asked, intrigued and a bit aroused.
He laughed. “Not really. I know a few words, that’s about it.”
“You do it well,” I cooed.
He chuckled. “Thanks.”
I hugged myself and nodded.
He looked at me in that adoring way again. “Cold?”
I took a breath through my teeth, getting more anxious by the minute. “I’m fine,” I said, fiddling with my hair.
A muscular, long-haired guy made a sudden entrance, taking the ten or fifteen steps toward us. His eyes were bluish-gray and his shoulder-length light brown hair flowed back behind him. A white tee shirt hugged his incredible build, bulky arms, and a dragon-tattooed bicep.
“Holy crap!” I blurted. “Do you hang around anyone who isn’t mind-bogglingly HOT?!”
Luke and Monsieur De La Fontaine—emphasis because it sounds cool—were taken aback.
I recoiled, shrinking just a bit. My cheeks grew hot and my throat clogged up.
Troy flashed me a perfect white smile. “And who is this delightful young lady?” he asked, leaning across the counter.
“Troy, meet my girlfriend, Adonia Morrison.”
Troy took my hand and kissed it. “Mademoiselle…”
I stared, breathless, at his lips on my hand. I must’ve stared for a full minute, and I’m sure the color of my face showed it. When I finally found words, they were sadly blunt:
“Oh my freakin’ GOD!”
“Yeeees?” Luke teased.
I laughed and pulled my hand out of Troy’s grasp. Then I took out my phone and snapped a picture of him like it’s socially freakin’ acceptable.
I sent it to Lilly.
Then I looked up at them grinning at me.
At least they were amused…
Feeling awkward, I wrapped an arm around Luke. I’ll admit I was relieved that my boyfriend’s obviously not a jealous guy.
My phone vibrated, and something possessed me to hit the talk, right there.
“Oh thank God, you’ve come to your senses!” Lilly screamed into the phone.
I chuckled. “That’s Luke’s friend.”
“Really?! Lukasz has seriously good taste in friends,” she uttered, sounding distant, like she was looking at the screen. “Wow, that guy’s incredible!”
“Yeah,” I breathed. “I can’t talk now, though.” I looked at the guys.
“Oh, yeah!” she said. “If I were in the presence of that, I wouldn’t have time for you, either! Send more pictures, please.” She hung up.
I laughed nervously. “That was my best friend.”
The guys still stared at me. Luke’s eyes did a quick roll down my body.
Actually, so did Troy’s.
Luke turned to him. “Want to join us skiing?”
Troy looked at his watch. “I’m out of here at noon.” He spoke with a light accent; I was assuming French. And damn, it’s almost as hot as he is!
Luke nodded. “Staying around here?”
“Nah,” Troy said. “I’m a tumbleweed blowing in the wind. I was actually planning to move to the northwest. Flying out of here this coming Thursday.”
“Where in the northwest?”
Troy shrugged. Then he laughed. “Alaska! Need a roommate? I could use one.”
Luke pointed a thumb at me. “She’s moving me to British Columbia.”
Troy glanced at me. “You don’t say! That’s a pretty sweet spot. That’s sort of in the northwest, right?”
Luke grinned. “North of northwest, actually. You’re part Canadian, you really don’t know?”
Troy shook his head. “I’m French-Canadian, from Westmount, Quebec. Never been to British Columbia.”
Luke chuckled. “Well, there’s more snow there than there is in Quebec.”
Troy’s eyes widened. “Sweet! I’m going to need a roommate, though. I spend all my money on ski passes and I work at gift shops.”
And yet—much like my boyfriend—he’d be rolling in dough if he ever stepped into a modeling agency.
Luke raised his eyebrows. “You’re looking for a roommate now, or later?”
“Both. I need to live somewhere that’s not with my parents.”
Luke rubbed his chin. “My stepdad just redid
the basement. He added a mother-in-law apartment that he’s planning to rent out.”
“No shit!” Troy grinned. “Count me in! At least until you graduate!”
“Yeah,” Luke said, giving him five. “Hanging out again will be awesome! And the slopes are quite nice there!”
Troy gave him two thumbs up. “That’s what really matters, eh?”
“Yup.”
They seemed to have run out of things to talk about, because they were both eyeing me.
“What?” I said, suddenly nervous. I bit my tongue.
“It’s nice seeing Luke with a girl. He’s always single,” Troy said.
I didn’t know if I’d heard right. “Why was he always single?”
“Luke’s kinda picky,” Troy said, patting him on the back.
He’s picky? And he chose me.
It’s like one of the wonders of the world!
I grinned like an idiot.
“Well she’s cute,” Luke breathed, making me even more nervous.
“Quite a catch!” Troy grinned devilishly. “Does she have a sister?”
“No,” I blurted. “But Luke does! And I think she’s in love with you!”
They laughed.
“My sister’s taken,” Luke announced. “She’s got baggage, too.”
I bit my lip.
“Ah, yeah?” Troy looked interested.
“Yeah, she’s having a kid with my best—” Luke caught himself and cleared his throat. “With my friend, he’s a… a best-selling author.”
“No shit!” Troy knitted his eyebrows. “What’d he write?”
Luke shrugged. “Stuff.”
The door jingled and we moved aside for a customer who came straight to the counter.
Luke pulled out his phone when it beeped. He glanced at the screen, and his eyes suddenly locked with mine. “What’s wrong, Beautiful?”
I shook my head in dismay.
He just stared at me.
The customer left and Troy spoke French to the old lady in the background—I’m assuming his boss. “Luke, I can go early.” He went for his coat.
“Awesome!” Luke said, eyes narrowing at me. “Let’s do it.”
~ ~ ~
“That’s Matterhorn,” Luke breathed on a peak we’d taken the ski lift up to, pointing to a pyramidal peak in the distance. “Not very high compared to Denali,” he said. “But still pretty impressive.”
Book of Luke (Book 2) Page 7