Luke stood at the bar watching them dance as he nursed a scotch. His nerves were getting the best of him and he was trying desperately to convince himself that his sisters’ idea wasn’t halfcocked.
“Shots! Shots! Shots!” Mallory chanted beside him and Luke turned to see Phillip handing off another shot glass to Joe.
“Dad, think maybe you should slow down a bit, yeah?” Luke said placing his scotch on the bar.
Joe took the shot like a champ and then slammed the empty shot glass down on the bar. He looked over at his son. “Second hardest thing I ever had to do.” He stammered as he stumbled over to Luke and grabbed the lapels of his suit. “You are going to give away that little girl of yours one day and know my pain.”
Luke looked over his father’s shoulder at Phillip and gave him a warning glance before turning to look at his old man again. “Alright, I hear you. Just take it easy though, you still have to dance with her.”
“Ah, shit.” Joe said as he let go of his son. “I forgot about the dance. The dance is going to kill me.”
“I feel you on that too.” Luke said and sighed heavily as Nick and Sam’s song came to a close. His big debut was drawing near, and Luke was about to lose it. He grabbed the shots that were placed in front of Mallory and Phillip and downed one at a time, praying that would do the trick.
He ignored Mallory and Phillip’s gaping stares and turned back around and scanned the room. The music changed to a Doo-Wop medley of mixed songs. He watched his father make his way over to Cara, who was sitting at a table next to his mother. Her chin was propped up by her hands as she kept her elbows on the table. She was looking aimlessly onto the dance floor, her head a million miles away.
She was gorgeous he thought as he watched her head cock to the side in deep thought. Joe stood in front of her and he watched her face light up as he offered her his hand. The sound of her laughter reached his gut as she took his father’s hand and let him lead her to the dance floor. The thoughts that saddened her beautiful face were a memory as, Joe lead her to the crowded floor. Luke walked over to the table, they were sitting at, but stopped mid stride when a hand closed around his arm. He turned and looked at his smiling sister. Her veil was gone and she had bustled up her dress making her more comfortable.
“You’re next big brother.” She said with a grin. Nick wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist.
“What?” Nick asked and looked at Luke. “You’ve been holding out on me?”
Sam elbowed Nick and giggled. “Nick, I meant his dance.” She looked at Luke. “You’re not going to back out are you?”
Luke looked over at Cara, her eyes found his and she winked at him while she let Joe spin her around the dance floor. She smiled at him, and that was all the courage he needed. The shots helped, he wasn’t going to lie, but her smile sealed the deal. He looked back at his sister. “I’m not going to back out.”
“I can’t wait to see what you got.” Sam said encouragingly and Luke rolled his eyes. He took a deep breath and gripped the back of the chair for a moment before he looked out onto the floor. Joe and Cara had a crowd around them as they danced. It was nice to see Cara enjoying herself. Luke shrugged his jacket off and draped it over the back of the chair that he had a death grip on. He took a deep breath before he loosened the knot in his tie. The music bled from the Doo-Wop to a slow song, Joe and Cara continued to dance, swaying to the beat. Luke glanced over at Sam and she eyed him, letting him know the song after this would be his and Cara’s. He reached behind him, cupping the back of his neck, wondering why the fuck he agreed to any of this in the first place.
He strode across the dance floor and tapped his father on the shoulder. He met Cara’s gaze as Joe looked over his shoulder.
“Mind if I cut in, Pop?” Luke asked, keeping his eyes steady on Cara’s.
Joe studied his son for a moment before he smiled. He looked at Cara. “I suppose it was only a matter of time, before someone else wanted to dance with this beautiful lady.” He winked at Cara and she kissed his cheek. Joe patted his son as he walked off the dance floor. Cara wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck and stared up at him.
“If you’re going to dance with me, you’re going to have to touch me.” She said with a hint of amusement. She watched something flash in his eyes before he wrapped his arms around her and let them lay on the small of her back.
“Are you having a good time?” Luke said in a strangled tone, desperately fighting the urge to move his hands up and down her back. The silk dress she wore acted like a second skin, molding to her flesh, rounding all her curves.
“Yes of course I am. I love weddings.” She lied with a smile on her face. Luke nodded slowly and looked around the dance floor, noticing people, some of them family some of them friends, watching them, probably wondering what the fuck he was doing.
She surprised him by leaning her head against his shoulder as they swayed to the slow tempo of the music. He glanced down and suppressed the urge to press his lips to the top of her head. Instead, he let his hand travel up the smooth silk that covered her back, and then back down to rest right above the swell of her ass. Christ, he wanted her. He needed her. Like, yesterday.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” He whispered against her hair, forcing himself not to kiss her.
“At the altar you did.” She whispered.
“You’re beautiful.” He repeated and then lifted his gaze to see Sam staring at them, along with his parents. He tore his eyes from them as the music died down. Cara lifted her head from his shoulder as she unraveled her arms from around his neck. He licked his lips in anticipation before his hands took hold of her hips.
“Where you going?” He said gruffly.
She looked up at him, sure she heard him wrong. “What?”
“Dance with me.” He repeated and held out his hand to her.
She laughed. “Luke, you don’t dance.”
“You’re right, I don’t.” He held her gaze, giving her his best charming smile.
“Dance with me Spunky.”
“But…” She stopped, curiosity getting the best of her, she placed her hand in his. “You don’t have to dance with me, Luke.” He ignored her and listened for it, waited for it. The beat started, the music making those who danced, instantly want to. Bailando. That was the name, Luke remembered. The Spanish flirty music that filtered the tent, and she wanted to dance. She looked at Luke. It wasn’t a slow song, poor guy, he’d do anything to make her smile.
She looked around and noticed they were alone on the dance floor. All eyes were on them. She could feel them. She stood still for a moment and just watched him. He placed one hand on her hip, his fingers digging in. His eyes were directly on hers as he took one of her hands, bringing it around his neck. She couldn’t tear her eyes from his, noticing that there was something lurking in the depths of those dark brown eyes, something she had never seen before. He took her free hand in his and nudged her feet apart with his.
Suddenly she didn’t know what to do with herself. She had been dancing for years. She took her lead from Jake each and every time. They hadn’t been a couple when they went dancing either, it was just something they did and they did it well. She felt Luke’s leg slide between hers. She tried her best to focus, to listen to the music and willed her feet to move, but it was Luke who moved first. He gripped her hip tighter and then blew her hair away from her ear as he dipped his head.
“Can’t do it all by myself, Spunky.” He whispered huskily. “Move those hips of yours. Show me what they can do…” Oh my God! Cara felt her cheeks redden and then she was spun under his arm and forced to abide by his demand. Her hips sashayed from side to side as she closed in on him. He moved fluidly, his feet gliding around the wooden floor effortlessly. It was natural or so it seemed to her. He brought her closer and she tried to focus on the words of the song, finding it damn near impossible. Enrique Inglesias was singing that he couldn’t wait any longer. And by the looks of it, neither could
Luke. He spun her under their arms, once, twice, three times before bringing her body close to his. His hips rotated and he thrust them into hers. He was all hard lines and the hardest part of him was pressed against her thigh.
She swallowed and peered at him from under the fringe of her lashes. She bit down on her lip and tried to block out the stares that seemed to be burning right through her. She grabbed onto the tie that hung loosely around his neck and began to move her hips slowly, tantalizingly to the beat of the music. She heard the sharp intake of breath he took and then she turned around, still holding onto his tie as she continued to tease him with her hips. Forgetting herself for a moment and just enjoying him she ground her ass into his crotch, feeling his every desire press against her.
That perfect ass dug right into him, fitting against him perfectly. He forgot about counting steps and just held onto her hips, letting her curves be his guide and together they moved to the sultry beat. He wasn’t a dancer. He may never dance again, but the dance that he was doing with Cara, would be burned into his memory.
She turned around her head ducking underneath his tie and she grinned back at him, dragging him around the dance floor by the strip of silk that he was beginning to think wasn’t such a bad thing to wear. In fact, he wondered what other ways he could use that tie of his. Their pace quickened as they made their way around the wooden floor, a blur of legs moving between one another. Luke took her hand and spun her under their arms again and then again.
Nick whistled through his teeth. “My man’s got the moves!” He said with a grin.
“How good is he?” Sam beamed beside him before turning to look at her parents who were standing alongside the dance floor with Ava. Ava was smiling from ear to ear clapping her hands while Deb remained with her mouth slightly ajar. Joe blinked a few times before elbowing Deb.
“You knew he could dance?” He said scratching the top of his head wondering how much he had to drink.
“He hates to dance.” Deb said just as confused.
“Cara loves to dance.” Sam pointed out, wondering if her parents were seeing what really was transpiring before them.
Luke brought her body back to slide against his. She let her hands travel up his chest to his face, finally combing her fingers through his hair. She held on by the ends of his hair, her forehead pressed against the tip of his nose. She peered down at their bodies and how their legs moved between each other’s, their pelvis grinding in fluid motions imitating the act they had yet to experience together. Sure, she had thoughts about having sex with Luke, most of the time she blocked them out of her head. Tonight she didn’t dare push those thoughts out of her head. She wanted him. She needed him. She couldn’t wait any longer. The woman in her reborn
Cara closed her eyes and felt his hands travel up her body until he cupped her face in his hands. She suddenly forgot the wedding, the family, the people that were standing around watching them. It was just him and her in this moment, a moment she wanted to hold on to. The song began to come to an end and she forced herself to open her eyes and stare into his.
“Luke…” She whispered, breathless, her fingers still buried in his hair.
“I know I promised to be patient.” He said gruffly. “I can’t wait any longer Cara. I physically can’t wait anymore.” He leaned into her and with the sexiest voice she had ever heard he all but purred his plea into her ear. “I need to be buried deep inside of you…”
Holy hell! She pulled back, trying not to give away the fact that her panties were drenched as an instant reaction to his words. She searched his face taking in the dark pools of desire in his eyes.
“Say yes.” He demanded as his thumbs caressing her cheeks.
She swallowed the intensity of his stare, the proof of his longing still pressed firmly against her, how could she deny either of them that?
“Yes…” She whispered and pulled her hands away from him. Her eyes promising him, he wouldn’t have to wait anymore.
He dropped his hands to his sides and let go of her. She said yes. He breathed a sigh of relief as Ava came running onto the dance floor.
“Daddy! Can you dance with me?” She grinned widely at Luke.
Cara watched as Luke’s eyes met Ava’s and he smiled bending down to lift her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck as a song began to play. Cara’s heart was racing and she tried desperately to compose herself, smoothing her hands over her dress. She took a step back and then turned to walk off the dance floor. She lifted her head and her eyes settled on Deb and Joe. Their expressions were blank and she wondered if they saw right through her. She felt a strong hand grip her arm and she looked over her shoulder at Luke.
“Tonight.” He reminded her before letting go of her to continue to dance with his daughter.
Chapter Twenty One
After the wedding reception was over Cara found herself alone in her hotel room, staring at herself in the bathroom mirror. Her cheeks were flushed and it wasn’t from all the dancing, but rather from Luke’s words, that played over and over in her mind. She tried to enjoy the rest of the wedding, but all she could picture was Luke’s naked body moving over hers. Their limbs tangled together with the sheets as they found pleasure in one another. Before she left the tent, he grabbed her arm and in that gruff tone of his he whispered into her ear to keep her phone near. She suspected he would call her once Ava was asleep. There was no doubt that one way or another Luke was claiming her body tonight. The feral look in his eyes told her so.
That look caused an eruption deep inside of her and she tried her hardest to avoid meeting his gaze for the rest of the reception, fearing the state of her panties. Well, that and if someone else caught her looking at him. She was sure she was a dead giveaway of a woman lusting over a man, and not just any man. Luke. How would they ever explain what was going on between them to everyone? She didn’t have the answer because she, herself couldn’t explain what it was between them. One thing she knew for sure, whatever it was, was bigger than anything she ever imagined having in her life again.
She pulled the crystal pins from her hair and let her waves cascade down her back before she drew out a deep breath and looked at her reflection. She didn’t look so sad and broken anymore. She brought her hand up to her chest and fingered the gold locket that lay between her breasts, close to her heart. She’d never forget. Her heart wouldn’t allow her too, and she was okay with that. She was struggling with wondering if everyone else would be okay with her moving on, especially since it was Luke she moving on with.
A knock on her door startled her and forced her to break away from her thoughts. She padded barefoot through her hotel room and pulled the door open. Luke stood in front of her, one arm stretched over his head, his hand gripping the door jamb while his other hand was shoved into his pocket. His tie was gone and his shirt that was once tucked into his slacks was now free. The top few buttons undone and a slight dusting of chest hair were visible to Cara’s wandering eyes.
He raised an eyebrow towards her, watching as her eyes roamed his body. “Spunky, you going to ask me in or you want me to kiss your pretty little lips out here in the hallway.”
Her tongue ran along her lower lip and she stepped aside. “Where is Ava?”
“She wanted to stay with my parent’s since she didn’t get to see them for Christmas.” He said as he gripped her hip and walked into her hotel room, forcing her to walk backwards with him. “I like your hair down.” He said nodding to the waves that framed her face.
“Thank you.” She whispered as he closed the door. The sound of the door clicking closed echoed through her. “Do you want something to drink?” She asked suddenly feeling nervous.
Luke glanced at her for a moment, watching her intently as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other while chewing on her lower lip. She was the epitome of nervous. He stepped close to her and placed his hands on her bare shoulders, sliding them down her arms as he leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead.
&nb
sp; “Why don’t we sit out on the balcony for a while?” He offered. The last thing he wanted was Cara to be nervous being with him. He didn’t want her to feel obligated. He just wanted her to feel. Feel him and know all the while it was exactly where she wanted to be. He pulled back, lacing his fingers with hers; he led her to the French doors that were open already, the Caribbean breeze washing over them as they stepped onto the balcony. The waves crashing against the shore was the only sound, either of them heard.
Cara gripped the iron railing and gazed out at the darkened beach, the water almost appeared black in the distance. Luke stood just a few steps behind her watching the moonlight illuminate her features. He wanted to move behind her and cage her against the railing with his arms as he nuzzled the sweet spot right behind her ear, but he refrained and instead just let her take her time. He combed his fingers through his hair before he took a seat on one of the chaise lounges.
“Are you going to tell me where you learned to dance like that?” She asked softly, her eyes never leaving the beach.
He leaned his elbows against his knees and looked at her back, the wind blowing through her curls. “Was it that obvious that dancing isn’t a God given talent of mine?”
She turned around and leaned against the railing, her eyes locked on his, she brushed a piece of hair out of her face. “You hate to dance.” She cocked her head to the side. “But you danced with me tonight.”
“I may have taken lessons.” He confessed and glanced down at his feet.
“You took lessons?” She asked, surprised and walked to stand in front of him. She pressed her finger under his chin and lifted it so that his eyes found hers.
“You wanted to dance for a long time, Cara.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I wanted to be the one you danced again with.” The thing was dancing was just the beginning. Luke wanted to be the man she did everything with, the man who she could turn to when she wanted to experience life and all that lay ahead for her.
Fitting The Pieces (The Riverdale Series Book 3) Page 25