HIM

  "You can put your bag in here and go take a shower while I cook us dinner if you'd like," Luke says.

  I put my bag down on the bed. His bedding is all camo, and the headboard looks to be made of pine or something with a cutout bear silhouette. I turn and look up at him. I give him a snarky smile.

  "Want to take one with me?" I ask, batting my eyes.

  Luke arches his eyebrow up and instantly starts to remove his pants. I giggle as he kicks them to the side. He is now naked, grabs me, and throws me over his shoulder. We walk out of his room, through the living room, and into his bathroom. It's not as small as I thought, it's narrow but long. The size is perfect for a single guy living by himself.

  He sets me down and turns on the shower, then he grabs me and pulls me close to him, tilting his head down to kiss me. He starts to unbutton my pants as he slides his eager tongue into my mouth. My pants drop to the floor, and I step out of them. His hands grab the bottom of my shirt, and he pulls it up over my head. We continue kissing as he puts his hands on my shoulders, sliding his fingers under my bra straps, and pulls them down, unclasping my bra as he kisses down my neck. My bra hits the floor as Luke makes his way down my chest to my breasts.

  He grabs a firm hold of them and latches on to my left breast with his mouth, sucking hard between his tongue circles around my nipples. I can feel goosebumps on my arms as I start to breathe heavier. I let out a closed mouth moan. He makes his way over to my other breast as his hand travels down to my panties and pulls them down. I am starting to get wet.

  My panties fall to the floor, and I step out of them. I push Luke away from me and step into the shower as I look back at him very seductively. He follows me in, and we continue making out. Luke kisses my neck while the shower falls upon his face. He stops at my breasts again and plays with them a little bit. Biting and sucking on my nipples gently but in an aggressive manner. He kisses my belly button, and I bring my hand to his head, running my fingers through his hair.

  He has me going insane on the inside, my breathing has increased, and my heart has started to pound. It's like a blast of electricity going through every inch of my body. He travels farther down lowering on to his knee. Luke begins to kiss my vagina, tenderly running his tongue up and down my clit. Instant stimulation ignites my body, and I throw my head back; picking up the pace as he switches between circular movements with his tongue and light sucking. It sends me into tiny jolts throughout my body.

  He inserts a finger slowly while continuing to eat me out. I steady myself against the wall of the shower with one hand as I pull his hair with my other. I let out a deep moan as my voice shudders in a slight euphoria. He inserts another finger, moving them quickly and in sync with his tongue. I can't handle it anymore and start to moan uncontrollably while my thighs begin to shake. I reach climax and thrash my body as I cum in his mouth. Oh my God, this is intense!

  Luke removes his fingers and grabs my ass. Pecks, my vagina, then stands up. Still high and numb from my orgasm, I try to catch my breath and regulate my breathing. He looks into my eyes and smiles a mischievous smile then reaches behind me and shuts off the shower. We haven't washed up yet, so I am not sure what is going on in his head. We're completely soaked. He kisses me and grabs underneath my ass, pulling me up onto his hips, then turns to step out of the shower. Soaking wet, he places me down on the sink counter and grabs me behind my head with both of his hands. He stabs his tongue into my mouth, assertively massaging my tongue. It's quite erotic.

  I feel his huge cock growing between my legs. I reach my hand down, grabbing hold of it, and start making a figure-eight motion as I move up and down his thick shaft. He groans into my mouth then removes a hand from behind my head. He moves my hand from him, grabs hold of himself, and inserts his erect penis into me. I'm still a little sensitive from my orgasm in the shower that I feel like I could cum again at any moment. He feels bigger than when we were at the lake. It's a tad painful again, but I don't care; I'm way too aroused to care. He starts picking up speed sooner this time.

  I let out a scream type moan within a moan, due to the position we are in, and I can feel more of him hitting my cervix than I did our first time. I start to shake, moaning profusely, then begin to convulse in the pain as his momentum grows deeper and faster. His arms begin to shake as I'm holding on to them, with my nails digging into his skin. He lets out a deep groan. I lose it and orgasm for the second time.

  He does a few more thrusts, kisses me hard, then pulls out and ejaculates all over my stomach and part of his. This time I was taken to another world of intense sensual pleasure; I had never imagined I would ever in my life feel such severity. Luke takes the entire experience to a whole new level.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  I finish soaping up my body and rinsing the conditioner out of my hair before stepping out of the shower at Luke's house. We just had the most amazingly intimate moment in his bathroom, and he more than redeemed himself from earlier today at the lake. I step out into the steam-filled room and wipe the hazy condensation from the mirror. I look at myself; I am glowing and feel like I'm floating.

  I feel so comfortable with him, even during our first time. This time was more enjoyable and lasted longer; I felt like I lost all my senses. I felt things that I've never felt with anyone before, very unexplainable things. I don't even know how to comprehend it or explain it, it's mind-blowing to me.

  I've waited longer before sleeping with someone I liked, even loved, but never felt the way I do right now. Nor has anyone made me feel the way Luke has on an intimate or even a normal level. There is something about him that makes me feel safe, at ease, and I can be myself, all of myself.

  I collect my thoughts and head out into Luke's living room. I don't see him in the kitchen. I figure he's outside grilling. The smell from whatever is on the stove is heavenly and fills the entire room.

  I notice he set the table for two already, and a candle is lit in the center. I get dressed then head back to the bathroom to hang the towels I used. Luke is standing in the kitchen with his back toward me now. He is wearing light gray sweatpant-looking shorts. He is humming as he continues to cook. It makes me want to jump him, but right now, with how tender I am down there, I don't think I could handle it.

  He turns and notices me walking across his living room. He smiles and walks up to me, grabbing hold of my waist, then bringing me into his arms. He bends down and kisses me, then holds me tight. I wrap my arms around his waist, resting my head against his bare chest. I love it when he has me like this.

  "I've got to go check the steaks," he says.

  I hang the towels I use in the bathroom and glance at myself in the mirror. It is the first time Luke has seen me without my eye makeup. Some of it is still visible and was not completely removed in the shower, but enough to almost be my natural look. I walk into the kitchen to see what else he has going on for dinner.

  I see a pot with onions and mushrooms, another with potatoes and carrots, and notice that the oven is going as well. I open it a tad to see a pan with green beans and Brussel sprouts. Damn, this boy can cook. I walk over into the living room and look at the single picture he has that does not hang on the wall, and is not of a forest scene, car, or animal. It's a framed picture of him and a very pretty, dark-haired woman. Her smile is a lot like his. Luke looks younger in this photo but still very much a man, not a boy. He is smiling, but his eyes look sad, and in pain, I don't see that in his eyes now.

  I wonder if the woman is his mother.

  "That's my mom," Luke says from behind me, as I am startled and almost drop the frame.

  "She's beautiful. How old are you here?" I ask, quietly.

  "Yes, she was. I'm twenty or twenty-one, I think," he says, walking back to the stove.

  What does he mean by was? She was pretty? Did he mean she is older now, and her face has aged or that the burns she received from the fire caused a lot of damage to how she looks now? I want to ask, but I want him to mention it.

  "Di
nner is ready. I'm not sure how you like your steak, so I cooked it medium-well," he states.

  "That's perfect. Thank you!" I reply.

  I take a seat at the table, unfolding my napkin and placing it in my lap. I look up at Luke and smile.

  "What would you like to drink? Wine, soda, water?"

  "Milk, please, if you have any," I say politely.

  Luke opens the fridge and pulls out a half-gallon of milk then pours me a glass. He brings the glass and my plate full of food, setting them down in front of me. It looks so delicious. I'm so hungry and excited to devour all this fantastic food.

  "I hope you like mushrooms and onions on your steak? How about steak sauce," he says.

  He brings his plate to the table and sits down.

  "I love them on my steak, and I will let you know if I need any sauce," I reply as I cut up my steak into bite-size pieces.

  Luke smiles, places his napkin in his lap, then picks up his fork and knife. I hadn't realized before that he is left-handed. I love finding out little things about him in these surprising ways. I take a bite of the steak. No sauce needed, it's juicy and perfectly seasoned, and melts in my mouth. Damn, he's a phenomenal cook. The potatoes and carrots are equally scrumptious, as are the green beans and brussels. He even has a little custard cup filled with different fruits; melons, grapes, strawberries, and pears. I am not sure if I will be able to finish it all.

  I wonder how he learned to cook so well. Perchance, he has been by himself all this while, so he had to teach himself. Pinterest has done wonders for my cooking skills! Maybe, Ernie taught him? Or even my dad! I keep looking at him while we eat. He's so unbelievably handsome, how am I here right now and how did I get lucky enough for him to want to be with me—scrambles my brain. Consumed by his aura, I drift off, not touching a single morsel on my plate.

  "Ali? You okay?" Luke asks, looking at me funny.

  I snap back to reality, looking down at my plate then back up at him. His plate is almost completely empty.

  "Yes, sorry," I reply, a little embarrassed.

  I continue eating my meal.

  "What were you thinking about?" he questions.

  Do I fib and tell him something other than I was off in a daze over the gorgeousness of his face and his outstanding culinary skills?

  "You," I say shyly.

  He smiles and blushes a smidge.

  "What about me?" he asks, looking somewhat interested in what my answer will entail.

  "Um... how good looking you are, your cooking skills, and what we did in your bathroom earlier," I murmur.

  I cannot believe I just said all of that out loud. I bring my eyes up from the table to look at him. He brings his head down toward his plate, then looks up at me, with his eyes only. The way he is looking at me right now is causing goosebumps to rise all over my entire body. He smirks, then full out smiles, a gorgeous smile but says nothing.

  I break free from his stare and finish my dinner while he keeps staring at me, having put his hand under his chin now. It feels a little awkward eating while he stares at me like that, but I'm too hungry to care, and this food is so tasty.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  A buzzing sound is muffled in my head but grows louder and more annoying with each buzz. I open my eyes, reaching for my phone to shut off my alarm. I look around the darkened room. I almost forgot that I stayed the night with Luke at his place. I roll over to find out that he is not lying in bed next to me. I rub the sleep from my eyes and sit up. I want to go back to sleep; Luke's bed is extremely comfortable with the pillow top mattress he has. I sink right in it, and it wraps right around me. I don't know how he can get out of it every day.

  I stand up and walk to the door when an alarm goes off again. I walk back over to the bed, but my phone is not going off, Luke's is. I walk over to the other side of his bed and disarm the alarm on his phone. I forgot that I asked him to set it sooner than he usually does for me in case my phone were to die since I didn't bring a charger. I see a little envelope at the top of his screen before it goes black. I wonder who that message is from. He's not big into texting, at least not with me anyway.

  I hit a button on his phone, and it lights up, asking for a password. I need to walk away and stop being nosey. He's not my boyfriend, and he can talk to whoever he wants. I turn and walk to the door; his phone makes a 'bing' sound, and I rush back over by it. Flashing on the top of his screen, it shows that it's a message from Bridget.

  Why didn't you come over last night? Are you—

  Luke's phone goes black. Why was he supposed to go to her house last night? What does it say after "are you"? Does it say are you coming over tonight? I thought they were just friends. I thought Mindy said that he told her he wasn't interested in her anymore. Is he with both of us at the same time? The more time I spent with Luke, the more I think I am getting to know him, but then his mysterious side keeps popping up.

  The door opens, and I quickly fall back on the bed. Luke turns on the light. I look up at him. He is still wearing the light gray sweatpant shorts from last night, and his hair is a tad on the messy side.

  "Good, you're awake. I made coffee and some breakfast for us," he says.

  He grins, then walks over to me. He bends down, putting his hands on the bed on each side of me and kisses me on the lips, then grabs for his phone. Do I bite my tongue or blurt out what I saw on his phone from the text he received from Bridget, literally ten seconds ago? I don't want to start the morning off unpleasant.

  "Your alarm went off on your phone, but I dismissed it," I say in a calm, yet firm way.

  He looks at me, then at his phone, slides it in his pocket, and walks out the door. I follow him into the kitchen; it smells delightful again. He made waffles, eggs, bacon, and sausage.

  "Wow, you and your cooking skills. I might have to keep you after all," I chuckle.

  He smiles as I walk up closer to him. I touch his arm, and he turns toward me; I wrap my arms around him. I want him to know I want him to be mine and mine only. That's only natural considering how far we've come in such a short time. He wraps his arms around me, holds me for a while, resting his chin on top of my head. I can hear his heart beating; it's soothing and makes me forget about wanting to ask him about Bridget. The bacon smells amazing right now, making me so hungry, but I don't want him to let me go.

  The door to Luke's house flings open, and Bridget comes barreling inside. Luke and I break free of our embrace. He turns toward her as I am standing somewhat behind him. What the fuck is she doing here?

  "What are you doing here?" he questions, angrily.

  "So, this is why you didn't come over last night because she's here. Are you fucking her too?" Bridget yells.

  My eyes widen, and I take a few steps back from Luke. My mind is blown; this is unexpected. She parades in here like she owns the damn place. I want to know what her deal is. I want to know what the fuck she is talking about and what the hell is going on.

  "What the fuck are you talking about? I'm not fucking you, and I never told you that I was coming over last night," he shouts back at her, then turns to look at me.

  His facial expression looks worried. I don't know what to do or how to feel right now. I want to leave.

  "Fuck you, Luke. You told me you were coming over, and you just fucked me the other day, and you're fucking her now," she yells.

  She throws her arms up in the air, causing her already tiny shirt to show even more of her midriff. Luke puts his hand on the back of his neck and breathes out his nose heavily.

  "You need to leave. Please get the fuck out of my house! Now!" he screams at her.

  "FUCK YOU! You'll be back for more, and you know it. Enjoy my sloppy seconds, Ali," she spews.

  Bridget gives me a gruesome smile then slams the door, not once but twice. Luke goes after her; I'm sure to watch to make sure she doesn't mess with any of his stuff in the pole barn. I stand speechless in the middle of his kitchen. I want to cry, but my emotions are frozen. I don't know w
hat to think or what to do. Everything seems like a cluster fuck right now. Bridget is more than likely acting like a jealous and possessive ex who can't stand to see her once-significant other with another girl. But they never dated or were even intimate with one another beyond kissing, at least that's what Luke told me. But now I'm not too sure.

  She could be making a scene to cause friction between Luke and me because she wants him, and he doesn't want her back. I hope I am right about this part because if there is more to this story, I want to know. If he was sleeping with her before, that's fine; I wasn't a part of his life, and he wasn't a part of mine. But if he's sleeping with us both, that's a different ball of wax. I prefer honesty, and knowing Luke, he does too. He will explain what the hell is going on.

  I am numb over this dumb situation. I decide to get ready for work. I walk back into Luke's room and grab my bag. I go into his bathroom to change for work and grab the rest of my stuff. I want to cry, and it takes everything inside me not to as I look at myself in the mirror. I brush my hair and put on some light makeup. A knock on the door startles me.

  "Ali?" Luke says in a soft voice.

  I brush my teeth and put the rest of my stuff in my bag. I open the door. Luke is standing there with a sad and concerned look on his face. I look up at him. I don't want to talk about this now. It's all too much for me to handle.

  "We need to get going. I don't want to be late," I say.

  I grab my bag and walk past him toward the small hallway.

  "Ali? Can we talk about this?" he questions as he grabs my arm.

  I turn to him and look up into his eyes. The bluish-green eyes of the man from the photo with his mother are apparent right now. I don't know what to say to him.