by Bella Scott
“What do you mean? Rose, please. Look at me.” Gently, he took her hand and shifted it to rest on the pillow beside her. She didn’t resist, and when he could see part of her face again, his heart sank. He’d never been able to handle seeing her in pain. Her eyes were bloodshot and ringed with mascara. “What is it?”
“I went to see Alex.”
Luke sat up straighter, his jaw clenching. “What did he do to you?” His voice came out too sharp, and she recoiled. “I’m sorry,” he said quickly, “I—did he hurt you?”
She shook her head again. “I went to tell him that I still want him to be part of the baby’s life, even though we aren’t together.”
Luke’s stomach churned, and when he swallowed, it felt like razor blades were sliding down his throat. He didn’t know what he’d expected her to say, but that hadn’t been it. He knew rationally that Alex would have to be part of the child’s life—he was the father, after all. But in his weaker moments since Rose had shown up at his office and things had felt normal for the first time in four years, Luke had allowed himself to imagine filling that role instead. Rose had said he was the only one she’d ever wanted a family with, and he felt the same way about her. He wanted her to be the wife who would be his best friend, his partner in everything, the mother of his children.
He forced these thoughts away as quickly as they had come. This wasn’t about what he wanted. And even if Alex was somehow part of the picture, that didn’t mean those things were impossible. He knew in theory that involving Alex in the child’s life was the right thing to do, and if that was how Rose wanted to handle this, he would support her. No matter how much the idea of sharing the title of father made him seethe.
“And what happened?” he asked, keeping his tone as even as he could manage.
She shrugged stiffly. “I just kept telling him how sorry I am that I can’t change how I feel. That I care about him—”
Luke’s fingers curled around the blankets involuntarily as his fist clenched.
“But that I love you.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but no words would come. He’d heard her say the simple but powerful phrase before, when he’d stormed into the kitchen demanding answers about her pregnancy. He’d been too focused on his pain at having such a huge secret withheld from him that he hadn’t allowed himself to think about what she’d said at the time. The words had once been as commonplace between them as breathing—uttered when she’d rolled over in the middle of the night to curl up against his chest or when she’d awoken with his lips against her hair and his fingers tracing the smooth skin of her back. They had been perfect, once. He’d never imagined that anything could come between them.
Hearing her say the words now chipped away at the walls he’d built after she’d left him. He’d planned never to let anyone hurt him that way again, and he’d been certain that he would never let her close enough to even think about doing so a second time. But he was tired of keeping her at arms’ length. He was tired of fighting.
“That I want him to be in the baby’s life,” Rose continued, “but that I’m not going back to him. I just wanted to fix whatever I could, and I feel like I made things worse.”
“Hey. Don’t think like that.” Luke shifted, pulling himself more firmly onto the bed and lying down beside her. He slid close, keeping his movements slow to give her time to tell him to stop, if she wanted, and wrapped his arm around her. He brushed a lock of strawberry-blond hair from her cheek and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re a much better person than I am. The fact that you went to apologize and to make things better says that you’re a much better person than he is, too—you didn’t have to reach out, and he should be glad that you did. You’re… doing the right thing, Rose. For everyone, honestly.”
“How do you figure?”
“Well, let’s start with Alex. You could’ve kept the baby a secret, if you’d really wanted to. By virtue of timing, it could’ve just as easily been mine, for all anyone else would’ve known. But you’re making sure he knows the truth and giving him a chance to be in this child’s life, which is the best thing you could do. You—I know you would’ve told me, if I’d given you the chance. And I’m sorry about that.”
“I should’ve said something last night,” she said with a sigh. “But I didn’t want you to think that I was just pregnant and scared and that that was why I wanted to come running to you. I am those things, but that just woke me up to what I was already feeling. I’ve regretted leaving since it happened, and I should’ve been with you all along.”
He kissed her forehead once more and smiled against her skin. “I understand. And you’re doing the right thing for yourself, which is something that shouldn’t be undervalued. You shouldn’t be stuck spending your life with someone you don’t love just because it would make life easier for everyone else. You deserve more than that.”
“Thank you,” she muttered.
Silence hung in the air between them. Luke knew that if he closed his eyes and tried hard enough, he could pretend that they were here under different circumstances. That she’d never left and that they were married by now, with a child on the way that was his. He wasn’t ready to give up on any of that, and he knew that if it was what he wanted, he had to start fighting for it. For her.
“What would make you feel better?” he asked. “Do you want to go get something to eat? See a movie?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to impose.”
Luke laughed. “You know me better than that. What would make you smile?”
She paused thoughtfully. “Food does sound pretty good.”
“I think we can make that happen.”
***
He buttoned his long black jacket tighter around himself to shut out the chilly air as they walked, their footsteps resonating against the wood of the boardwalk beneath them. He knew late September wasn’t the best time to be out on Navy Pier if they planned to stay warm, but he didn’t mind too terribly. From here, he could see the spot at the end of the boardwalk where he’d dropped to one knee and held out a ring and a flower, and he’d made sure to have his sister stationed nearby to take a picture of Rose’s reaction. When he closed his eyes, Luke could still see the shock and delight on her face and hear the little involuntary squeak she’d made as her hands had flown up to cover her mouth.
Now, Rose still wore the red heels she’d had on at his office, and though her jeans hid much more of her than the black dress had, he still found himself stealing glances at her long legs and the way the denim hugged her hips as she moved. She hadn’t stopped smiling since they’d left Giordano’s, and the sight made him prouder than he’d been in a long while. He’d been a little nervous that he might’ve lost his touch when it came to brightening her mood, after being out of practice for so long, but it was hard to forget her favorite pizza place, and he knew she’d always loved to watch the pier light up at night.
“…and if we hurry, we could still catch it at the IMAX.”
Luke blinked and refocused on the conversation at hand. “Yeah, we can do that.”
“I’m sure we could, if Empire hadn’t come out in 1980. I knew you weren’t listening.”
Her tone was teasing, but Luke’s cheeks still burned uncomfortably. He didn’t typically let himself lose focus when she spoke, but just being near her was still so fresh and exciting that he couldn’t keep himself from stopping to stare at her, now and then. Rose stretched up and kissed his cheek, and the burning of his skin grew hotter at the touch of her lips.
“We could find something else on, though, if you want,” she said. The tip of her nose was pink, the rest of her face a little bit flushed from the bite of the wind, and her smile was just as bright as he’d ever seen it. If he hadn’t seen her crying earlier, he wouldn’t have suspected she’d done so in years.
“It’s up to you,” he said as he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her temple. “We can stay as long as you want. I bought you something while I was out
earlier, by the way.”
She raised a brow. “Should I be scared?”
He chuckled, and he didn’t bother hiding the desire in his voice.
Chapter Ten
Rose was beyond elated. The evening had been long and perfect—getting out of the house for a while had brightened her spirits on its own, and she was flattered that Luke remembered how much she loved the Giordano’s on Navy Pier and had made the effort to get her there. She hadn’t expected such a turbulent day to turn so incredible. But he’d always been good at chasing away whatever dark clouds surrounded her.
She backed over the threshold of Luke’s bedroom as she watched him with a smile, and he closed the door behind them swiftly before striding across the floor to meet her. He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, and the feeling of his body pressed to hers sent a jolt of electricity through her. She took in the green of his eyes and the sharpness of his jaw and the effortlessly seductive half-smirk he wore.
“In case I haven’t told you enough, yet,” he said, his tone low and smooth, “I’m glad you’re here.”
Her pulse quickened, and she ran her fingertips up his chest. “Me too. You’ve made tonight almost perfect.”
“Almost?” He arched a brow. “What’s missing? Name it and it’s yours.”
Rose laughed softly. “The only thing I still want is you.” The words came out more easily than she’d anticipated. The previous night, she’d stood frozen in his bedroom doorway, unable to tell him how much she still wanted him. Needed him. It was growing easier all the time to pretend that things had gone back to normal between them—that she could make the first move and be confident that he wouldn’t pull away from her and shut her out again.
Luke chuckled and slid his hands along her waist. “Ah. Then you should take a look in the closet.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
“It’s better if you see it.” He nodded toward the polished wooden door in the corner. She grudgingly stepped away from him and started across the room. Whatever he’d planned, she intended to let him see it through. She slipped into the closet, where she found immediately what he’d left there for her.
The corset lying on the wardrobe was scarlet, and the panties were made from a black lace so thin she wasn’t sure it could be described as material. Her cheeks burned at the sight of the lingerie, but the idea that he’d chosen it sent a hot twinge through her body. She quickly slipped off her clothes and pulled on what Luke had left out for her, realizing as she did so that the corset was exactly her size. He must’ve remembered what she’d told him when they’d been together. It hugged her body perfectly, and its low cut drew attention to her breasts. The panties were so thin it felt like she wasn’t wearing anything at all—they barely covered her in the front, and in the back, they shielded about as much as a thong.
One thought played through her mind on a loop as she dressed: Luke wants to see me in this...
Her heart pounding, Rose returned to the main room. She realized immediately that the atmosphere had changed in her absence. The lights were out, and Luke had lit a few candles on the dresser and both nightstands. He stood beside the bed, his shirt unbuttoned and his belt discarded along with his shoes and socks. His gaze met hers, and then she watched his face as he eyed her up and down and every other way, his gaze lingering on her lips, her breasts, and the scarcely covered space between her thighs.
“Holy hell,” he muttered.
Rose was sure she would melt under his gaze as heat spread through her cheeks and crept along her skin. She never quite got over the way he looked at her when he wanted her.
“Does that mean you like it?” she asked. She started across the room, making sure to swing her hips as she approached him.
Luke rushed forward to meet her. He gripped her waist and pulled her tight against him. “You’ll be the death of me,” he said quietly.
He leaned down to meet her lips and claim them forcefully as his hands began to roam along her sides. Her skin was on fire beneath his touch, even through the satin of the corset, and she could feel his erection pressing against her hip. Eventually, one of his hands drifted down to brush over the lace of her panties, and a low rumble escaped his throat.
Rose pulled her lips back just slightly. “Why don’t you let me put on a little bit of a show for you? You seem very excited to see me in this.” Without warning, she slipped her hand into his pocket to brush against his length, and her sex ached at the feeling of his hardness.
Luke groaned sharply, his hips arching toward her hand. “A show? I think that would be perfect.”
“Good. Why don’t you sit down? Let me take care of things for a little while.” She gave him a playful little shove toward the bed, and he let himself fall, his eyes sweeping over her as he sat. When his focus landed on her breasts, she stretched. She pushed her chest out as she leaned backward. “You know,” she continued, “you have very good taste. It moves nicely.”
Continuing to stretch, she parted her legs slightly and leaned down to touch the floor before looking up at him with a smirk.
He devoured her with his eyes. “I’d say I have more of a taste for you,” he said lowly.
Heat shot through her core, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to stand staying away from him for very long. She needed him already, and he’d barely even touched her. She laughed softly, turning around and glancing at him over her shoulder.
“You’re going to make me blush.” She leaned over once more, her long hair brushing against her arms as she reached for the carpet in another stretch.
“Rose...” Luke’s voice was half-groan, half-growl, and she caught a glimpse of him shifting as though to stand as she stretched back up to her full height. She began to rotate her hips, glancing periodically at him over her shoulder as she moved despite the lack of music.
“What are you thinking about?” she purred.
“How much I want to be inside you.”
Rose turned to the side, keeping her eyes on him as she bent down to touch the floor again. Normally, she preferred when Luke led things in the bedroom, but she knew he enjoyed watching the wild side that he brought out in her. She loved knowing she drove him as crazy as he drove her.
“I was just thinking about how good that would feel…” As she trailed off, she stood again. She ran her hand down her stomach to slide it between her legs.
“Minx,” Luke growled. He pushed himself up from the bed and moved to stand behind her, his hands running down her sides and between her thighs to brush her heated sex with his fingertips as he pressed his hips against her.
Rose rocked backward, biting her lip to stifle a moan at the feeling of his hardness pressed to her lower back through his pants and the touch of his fingers.
“You know,” she breathed, her voice quivering, “if this is a show, you’re not supposed to touch.”
“Since when have I ever followed the rules when it comes to you?” Luke kissed along her cheek and to her ear, and she bit her lip to stifle a groan at the warmth of his breath on her skin.
“Never. And I love it.”
“Do you, now?”
“Mhm. I’ll let you break that rule on the next step, too.” She laid her hands on his and guided him toward the bed.
“And what’s the next step?”
She pulled back—noting his impatient sigh when she did so—and extricated herself from his arms long enough to pull a chair from the dresser to rest beside him. When she gave him a light shove toward it, he sat with a raised brow. She paused in front of him to rest her hands on his knees and run them up his legs. Luke closed his eyes and let out a long breath as her fingers skimmed along his inner thighs, and when he spoke again, his voice was thickly laced with lust.
“I have a feeling I like where this is going.”
Rose continued her motions for a few moments longer before trailing her fingers up to brush his hardness—he grunted at the contact—and unfasten his pants with her other hand. She then turned a
round to resume her dancing. She swung her hips in circles and figure-eights, her movements slow and suggestive. She was far enough away to keep their bodies from touching unless she meant them to.
“What are you thinking about now?” she asked.
She felt the warmth of his hands as he gripped her hips and pulled her backward onto his lap. He leaned forward and brought his lips to her ear. She shivered at the feeling of his hot breath.
“How I’m going to taste you,” he muttered.
“Is that a promise?”
“Yes. I promise. And that’s just the beginning.”
Luke rocked upward, and Rose’s head fell back as a moan rumbled in her throat.
“What else?” she breathed.
He bucked upward sharply, using his hands on her hips to keep her close enough to feel him hard against her wet core. Rose let out a loud cry and grabbed his knees for support. She was desperate for him. She knew she’d drawn things out, and she only hoped he didn’t plan to do the same. Luke kissed along her shoulder. Her skin burned under his lips.
“We don’t need to sleep, do we?” he mumbled into the back of her neck.
She turned around to face him, mounting his hips and rolling her own against them as she brought her lips to his ear. “No,” she said softly.
He gripped her hips, his breathing heavy against her neck for a few moments before he kissed her skin. “Good. Because—I want—your—” He thrust upward hard.
“Take me. Please.”
Luke used his grip on her hips to lift her as he stood, and Rose latched onto him with her legs as he carried her to the bed. He laid her down and climbed on top of her. She rested her hands on either side of his face and kissed him hard, and one of his hands began working open her corset while the other ran up her thigh.
She arched her hips toward his, rubbing against him demandingly as she nipped at his lips. Luke groaned, the hand from her hip moving to grab her ass as he bucked forward roughly. Rose moaned. The fire surging through her was going to burn her down to nothing if she didn’t have him soon. She pushed his shirt down from his shoulders.