“Well, maybe I don’t want careful.”
“Alright, we are done discussing this. I cannot talk to you about this. Nope.”
I laugh at him. “Alright. Do you wanna talk to Luke or no?”
“Nah. Go easy on him, Abbey. I know you have no patience, and I’m starting to think you just might explode on him.”
“I make no promises.”
“Don’t keep me informed. I really don’t want to know.”
“Didn’t plan on it. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
After we hang up, I head back out and place the phone in front of him. I walk over to the window and look out at the city that is slowly shutting down for the day. Luke comes to stand behind me.
“What’s wrong? It’s like you’re mad at me.”
“No, I’m not mad at you. I’m trying to get out of this mood.”
“What caused it?”
I don’t answer, because he caused it, and all that’s going to do is confuse him. With the way we are going, I’m going to be crying an angry stream of tears. It’s best for both of us if I avoid it.
“What caused the mood?”
Stubborn ass.
I shake my head dismissing him, but he’s not taking no for an answer. He spins me around to face him.
“Please answer me.”
I look up at him. “Do you want the truth?”
“I would expect nothing less from you.”
“You. Luke, you are causing this mood. You have been for the last two days, but you haven’t noticed until today.”
He’s thrown off guard. “How have I?”
“Let’s just not get into it, okay? I don’t want to cry, and that’s what will happen. I don’t know why, but I will.”
“No, we need to talk about it. I need to know.”
I close my eyes while looking down. “You haven’t touched me, at least not affectionately.”
“Yes, I have.”
“No, Luke. I don’t even get a real kiss. I get one to the forehead, and I’ve grown to hate those now.”
“Abbey, kissing always leads to sex with us.”
“So? I’m not a piece of glass, and I’m not going to break. I could run a mile and do a few push-ups for you to prove it. I’m barely sore now and I’m no longer taking those stupid pain pills. I know how lucky I was.”
“It was my fault you got hurt in the first place. The last thing I want to do is hurt you again.”
“I don’t think you would.”
He turns and paces away from me. “I do not want to take that risk.”
I feel my eyes glaze over at the rejection in his tone. I know I’m not going to win.
“The risk shouldn’t matter when I need you. And I do need you, Luke. I need you. That’s what should matter.”
I look up at him, meeting his eyes. He looks conflicted. “What do you want, Abbey?”
“I want you to kiss me. Kiss me like you mean it. I want you to take me. I don’t care where: here, the couch, the floor, my bedroom. I don’t care. I just need you. You decide the rest.”
“There’s one thing.”
“What?”
“I’m not going to take you, or fuck you, or have sex with you. I’m going to make love to you.” And with that he closes the space between us, covering my lips with his.
My arms go around his neck, pulling him closer, but the kiss stays gentle. He breaks the kiss and stares at me intensely.
“I know you’re still sore, whether you want to admit it or not. I want you to tell me if I touch a spot that’s sore, or you move in a way that hurts, okay?”
I nod, and he grabs my hand, pulling me towards the bedroom.
Once we get to the bed, his mouth is on mine again, deepening the kiss. This kiss is different; there is no fight for control or roughness. We are just enjoying each other. His hands run down to bottom of my tank top and slowly starts pulling it up. Once its off, I grab his shirt and do the same.
I run my hands down his chest, enjoying the feel of his muscles flexing beneath my hands. He kneels down, kissing his way down my stomach to the top of my jeans. He nips across the top of them, eliciting a moan from me. He unbuttons my pants and pulls them down, leaving me in just my bra and panties. He stands over me as he removes his jeans and looks at me as I lay there before him. Once they are off, he begins crawling up my body, kissing me.
My hands make their way to his back. He’s being too careful, making sure none of his weight is resting on me. I lift myself up to grind into him. We both moan at the friction as he undoes my bra, moving down and kissing my breasts, elongating my nipples. His hands move down ahead of his mouth, starting to remove my panties. My hands are in his hair as he moves down. He leans down and kisses my clit, inserting a finger into me.
He growls, “You’re already so wet.” He continues his ministrations for a few more minutes. By the time he stops. I’m panting. He moves his way up me.
“Wrap your legs around me.”
I comply and he slowly enters me. He starts a slow pace, and leans down to kiss me. He continues to rock into me.
“Please, go faster.” I beg him, wanting to feel more friction.
“No, slow this time, we both need slow.”
I’m slowly building, and I know this is going to be one of the most intense orgasms I’ve ever had. I close my eyes, clawing at his back with my hands.
“Open your eyes, Abbey. Look at me.”
Its building, I’m so close.
I look up at him and see the unconditional love in his eyes.
“I love you, Luke.”
He groans. “I love you, too, Abbey. So much.” He’s panting now.
He shifts just a little and picks up speed, pushing me over the edge. I can’t hold in my guttural moans now. Tears are rolling down my face as we both come. He rolls off of me and turns to wipe the tears off my cheeks.
“Did I-“
“No, I just love you, and I feel how much you love me.”
“I do. I love you so much, Abbey.”
He pulls the sheet over us and my head rests on his chest.
“I was just trying to be careful with you, Abbey. I didn’t want you to be mad at me.”
“I wasn’t mad, Luke. I was hurt.”
“Hurt?”
“Yes. You didn’t even take a second to look my way anymore. I got the cliché forehead kisses to the point where I hated them. I needed you to touch me and kiss me like we were okay, but you didn’t. I missed it so much it actually hurt, and you just couldn’t see that. I know my body, and I know what I can handle, but anything I did to get you to kiss me, you just ignored.”
“Abbey, I didn’t want to hurt you or cause you more pain. But it seems that I did anyway.”
His fingertips run up and down my back, and I’m tracing circles on his chest.
“It’s fine. I missed being close to you.”
I curl up closer to him and let out a sigh.
“I’ve missed it, too. Tomorrow is the beginning of the weekend. Is there anything you want to do?”
I sigh in complete and utter contentment. “This.”
He laughs; I love hearing the sound in his chest. “We can always do this. How about we spend the morning doing this, then we go out and do something in the afternoon. Then we can get some dinner and come back home and do some more of this?”
“Yes, please.”
“How do you feel about round two?”
“I’m all for it, babe.”
Chapter 15
I stretch as I wake up in the morning, throwing my hand to the side, but it’s cold. Luke’s not in bed anymore. Putting on my robe, I go looking for him. I find him in the kitchen making breakfast. I walk over to him, resting my head on his back and wrapping my arms around his delicious abs.
“Morning.”
“Hey, sunshine. How did you sleep?”
“Really well.”
“That’s good. How does bacon and eggs sound?”
; “Delicious.”
He turns so that he’s facing me. My face is in line with his chest; being short has its challenges.
He cups my chin and lifts my head up to look at him. He leans down, and I stretch up so we can kiss.
The kiss starts out innocent and gentle, but turns into something more. He makes a sound deep in his throat and backs me against the refrigerator. I push against his shoulder, and he lifts me up so my legs are wrapped around his waist. He presses himself against me as I moan into his mouth. His hand parts my robe and moves down to cup my sex. A smell interrupts our passion. He pulls away. “Shit, the bacon.”
He sets me back down on my feet. I pout as he takes the bacon off the stove.
He walks back over to me. “Come on. Let’s eat, then we can get back to this.”
He runs a finger down the strip of skin that is visible through the parted robe. He places a swift kiss on my lips before sitting down at the bar. I join him while adjusting my robe.
Conversation over breakfast comes easily and naturally. We are starting to have our own inside jokes, and an understanding of each other that makes it feel like we have known each other far more than a few months. It’s a new sort of sensation for me. I have never felt this close and natural with any man, even family.
Once we’re done, I take the dishes and load the dishwasher while he cleans off the counter. He comes and wraps his arms around my waist while I’m at the sink.
“I have a question for you.”
“Hmm?”
“How would you feel about spending the weekend at my place? I have yet to take you there.”
“Hmm, sure. Sounds fun.”
As we get out of the shower and both get dressed, I notice for the first time how we move around each other, in tune with each other’s body. He catches me watching and comes over, tracing his finger over my cheek. I lean into his touch and sigh.
“Ready for our date?”
“You know it! Where are we going?”
“I’m thinking a movie. Let’s go with cliché.”
I nod in agreement. “McDonald’s afterwards?”
Chuckling, he pulls me into a hug. “If that’s what you want. I don’t care, I just want to be with you.”
He releases me and smacks my ass. “Start packing! You’re staying with me.”
I try to glare at him, but fail and grin ridiculously. He walks out and leaves me to pack.
This is going to be a fun weekend.
Some time later, I head out to the living room with my bag in hand to find Luke asleep on the couch. I move quietly towards him, deciding to go with the not-so-nice way of waking him up and jump on top of him. His eyes shoot open and he flips us over so that he’s now on top.
“That was mean.”
“Never said I was nice.”
He laughs and climbs off of me. “How does a superhero movie sound?”
“Actually, really good.”
“Have I mentioned that I like that you happen to prefer action movies over chick flicks.”
“No, but I still like my chick flicks.”
“Let me guess. Hmm, that one?” He gestures at the Blu-Ray case laying on the TV stand.
“Nope.”
“The one with Channing Tatum?”
“No…”
“Then what?”
“That one,” I say, pointing at the top shelf of my impressive collection of movies. “The one with Patrick Swayze.”
“My sister is obsessed with that movie. Wait a minute. Are you the doctor that I’ve sworn to kill because of her obsession that has made me sit through the movie twenty times?”
My lips twitch. “I mean, there’s a possibility.”
“Oh, you are so dead, but we will get to that later. We have a movie to go watch.”
“Sure. Before we go to dinner, can we stop by the drug store? I need to pick up my allergy medicine.”
“Allergies in the almost winter?”
“Trust me, I get them all year round. I hate it so much.”
He shakes his head, grabbing my bag and my hand, leading me out of the house.
“Do you like my new car?”
Chewing on my lip I look it over. It’s a black Saab.
“What kind?”
“9-3 Griffin Sedan.”
“Fancy.”
Laughing, he wraps an arm around me. “And fast.”
He releases me, putting my bag in the trunk while I get in the car.
“When’s the last time you went to a movie theater?”
“With Brayden sometime in the spring, I think.”
“It’s been awhile then?”
“Yes, sir.”
He looks over at me questioningly.
“Call it manners.”
He laughs and pulls out into traffic.
Once we’re in the movie theatre, he rushes in front of me so that he can pay for the tickets.
“You know, you don’t have to pay for me, Luke. I’m sure the car cost a pretty penny.”
“Don’t worry about it. This is a date, so I’m paying.”
I raise an eyebrow, not buying it.
Smirking, he answers, “Call it manners.”
I shove him, and he just laughs.
We buy our popcorn and drinks and head into the theater, finding seats near the back. Luke puts his arm around me as the previews start.
“So should we do what the two kids behind us are doing, or actually watch the movie?”
I sneak a glance at the couple behind us; they're making out unashamedly and their hands are everywhere, and I do mean everywhere.
“Well, as much as I would like to do that, I actually want to see this movie. Sorry for ruining the fun.”
Leaning closer, he whispers in my ear, “I’ll forgive you as long as you promise to make it up to me tonight.”
I turn so our lips are almost touching. “I promise.”
When it’s over, we head out to the car; it’s gotten really cold. I lean closer into Luke, hoping for some warmth as we walk.
He turns the heat on full blast once we get in. “What drug store?”
“CVS.”
We head that way. “Drive through or inside?”
“I need to go inside; you can stay here and keep the car warm, I’ll only be a minute.”
I get out and rush into the store before going back to the pharmacy.
“Last name?”
“Cartwright.”
“Abbey?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Date of birth?”
“4/24/84”
She turns to grab the prescription. She comes back with two. “We have Singulair and your birth control ready.”
Shit. I haven’t taken the pill since the night before the wreck. You’ve got to be kidding me. It’s been over two weeks. I should be fine, though, if I’m counting correctly. Hell. This is fucking wonderful.
“Ma’am, will that be all?”
“No, one second, I need to grab something.” I go and grab a pregnancy test and a box of condoms.
I walk back and hand her the items. She can keep one hell of a poker face. She’s worked here for a while, and never once have I done this.
“That’ll be $47.70.”
I swipe my card and take the bag, heading back out to the car. I drop the bag inside my duffel bag and jump into the passenger side.
“Where do you want to eat at?”
“Can we get something and take it back to your place?”
“Sure, is something wrong?”
“Yes.”
We stop at a red light, and he turns to face me. “What is it? Is McDonald’s still okay?”
I give him a half smile and nod. “We can talk about when we get to your place.”
He nods and stays quiet.
Would he be mad? There is no way in hell I would terminate the pregnancy. I close my eyes and lean back in the seat. Stupid. Stupid stupid, Abbey. It never crossed my mind, and I don’t know why. I’m careful about this stuf
f, I always have been.
“Abbey?”
“Hmm?”
“What do you want?”
“Chicken nuggets, barbecue sauce.”
He orders and we get the food.
Once we get back to his place, I grab my bag while he gets the food.
We get inside and he shows me to the living room where I plop down onto the couch, staring off into space.
I don’t know how long I’ve been like this before Luke is squatting in front of me.
“What’s wrong?”
My eyes lock with his and I can see the worry in them, maybe even a trace of fear.
“We will get through it, baby, but you have to talk to me.”
I open my mouth, but I can’t seem to form the words; it was my irresponsibility that caused this.
I try again and manage to stutter out, “I mi-might be p-pregnant.”
His eyes widen, and I brace myself for the yelling and rejection.
My emotions have been so up in the air, and I just give up on fighting them. I let a tear roll out of my eye as I bring my knees to my chest.
“It’s my fault. I was irresponsible. I had been off the birth control since the wreck. I never thought about it, and I don’t know why. I am usually careful about this. I’m so sorry.”
Luke sits on the couch beside me, surprising me by pulling me onto his lap.
“When did you realize?”
“When the lady at the drug store handed me my birth control, too.”
“Did you get a pregnancy test?”
“Yeah, and some condoms.”
I lean into him, absorbing his pure masculine scent. “I’m so sorry.”
“Abbey, we just need to worry about the test right now. Do you think you are?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean anything. Why are you not freaking out?”
“Because I think you are doing enough of it for both of us. But yes, I’m scared, and yes, it’s upsetting. But Abbey, I love you, and whether the test is positive or negative, I’m not going to leave you. I love kids, and I wouldn’t mind having some. Yes, I would rather be married, but this is something we will have to deal with together.”
I put my arms around him and bury my face in his neck, holding onto him like he’s my life line. His arms hold me tightly against his body. My ribs protest a bit, still sore, but I ignore them. The slight pain and Luke’s arms wrapped around me seem to tether me into some small safety.
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