Five
Laura
“You’re almost twenty-three,” I muttered to myself as I left my bedroom, dressed in jeans and a loose red, V-neck tee. “Stop being an idiot. It’s not like he’s your first experience.”
No, Luke was the second and I barely remembered the other guy’s name.
He’d been an act of defiance at a frat party I wasn’t supposed to be at, a jock who’d fuck any girl willing to be his flavor of the night, no strings attached.
He’d been a means to an end. Me giving up my virginity on my own terms, and I had no regrets.
But Luke? He meant something. I cared about his opinion and where this was going with us. Had he enjoyed last night, even though I’d been the only one getting pleasure? Did he think I was selfish for that?
Unsure of things, I’d been delaying all morning. As an early riser, I usually would have left my room long before now and been well on my way to completing the never-ending list of goals I set out for myself.
But this morning, I felt sheepish and shy from my interlude with Luke last night. It had been amazing, but what if it hadn’t been so special to him? What if he thought less of me today? What if he wanted me to leave now that he’d tasted me—literally?
As I climbed the stairs to the penthouse’s main floor, the litany of insecurities was as endless as my to-do lists.
I hated it. Until mid-high school when my father had complexly shifted my life-view with his determination that it was time I marry, I’d been a carefree outgoing girl, always ready for the next adventure. I wanted her back! I missed her.
“What was that?”
I jumped and looked up, startled. Luke was standing in the kitchen doorway on the far side of the living room.
He was also dressed for the day, though far less casually in a pair of charcoal dress pants and a lightweight, olive-green sweater.
It fit his body to perfection, emphasizing his lean, muscular figure and stealing my breath.
Damn it, no man should look so good with their sleeves pushed up their mouthwatering forearms.
And what had he said? I shook my head, indicating I didn’t understand him.
“I thought you said something.”
“No,” I replied. I threaded my fingers into my long, thick hair, pushing it back from my face.
“Hmm, okay. Coffee?”
“Yes,” I moaned, without thinking and even from where I stood, I saw Luke’s eyes darken. I bit my lip and smiled at him. Okay, he still wanted me.
And that look empowered me to let that carefree girl reemerge. She’d been hiding for too long while I’d been running from the inevitability of that arranged marriage. And she was ready for an adventure.
“I was thinking we could have it out on the living room terrace, or we can go upstairs to the rooftop terrace. Both have outdoor heaters, and it’s beautiful out. Then… Do you want to eat here or go out?”
“Here is fine.” I closed the space between us and followed him into the kitchen. I slipped into one of the chairs to watch him. The muscles in his arms flexed while he simply poured a cup of coffee for me and slid it toward me.
“Cream or sugar?”
“Cream, please.” I bit my lip, not wanting to be shy with him. I mean the man had his face between my legs last night. Okay, wrong thought. That was definitely something to be shy about.
“You okay?” he asked as he set the carton of half and half and a spoon near me. His cool fingers stroked over my heated cheek.
“Mm-hmm,” I squeaked.
C’mon, Laura you’re a grownup.
“Just thinking,” I continued.
“Me, too,” he replied, his tone growly, and my lower stomach pulled in reaction. My panties were definitely getting damp.
“Probably not about the same thing,” I said.
Liar, liar pants on fire!
“I know it’s the weekend and New York,” I rushed out.
“But I’ve never been here except for that quick weekend.
We barely saw a thing—basically the airport, hotel, the club and a show.
I’d really like to see some of it, you know?
I mean…” I bit my lip. “I know it’s touristy and you probably don’t want to but—”
“We can do whatever you want. What are you thinking?”
“Silly stuff really. I want to ride the Staten Island Ferry and see the Statue of Liberty and do a Central Park carriage ride and go to the Bronx Zoo,” I blurted out in one breath. “And maybe see the Empire State Building and Radio City Hall.”
He leaned forward onto his elbows, bringing us eye to eye. “I could take you anywhere. Paris, Venice, London…”
That flutter happened in my belly again. “I’m sure you could,” I answered more casually than I felt. “But I’ve never really seen New York. Let’s start here.”
Stretching forward, he kissed my forehead then straightened and walked toward the refrigerator. “Maybe Paris for our honeymoon.”
“Luke,” I huffed.
He turned to face me, leaning his butt against the counter next to the fridge.
“I’m not going to lie about this. I told you how I feel yesterday.
You know I want you—I want you forever. I won’t force you into anything.
When it comes to us together, our lives together, I won’t coerce you into anything.
” His chin lowered, his intense, determined eyes pinning me.
“But someday, I promise you, we’re getting married.
And I will take you on an extravagant honeymoon.
You might as well figure out where you want to go and start planning on that now. ”
“You just decided that, and you’re telling me to start planning on it, but you’re not forcing me?” I asked in disbelief. “Because, from where I’m sitting, it sounds an awful lot like I have no choice.”
“I didn’t just decide it. And you know you have choices, so don’t be a brat about it. I’ll wait as long as you need me to. But I’m not letting go. I’m not giving up. Don’t try to tell me you don’t feel this thing between us. I know you do.”
I stared at him, thinking this was way too heavy of a conversation for this early in the morning with no caffeine in my system.
Without breaking the glare-down, I lifted my cup and took a swallow of my coffee.
I realized a moment too late I hadn’t put the creamer in it.
Finally dropping my gaze, I poured some half and half then slowly stirred it in.
Luke groaned when I glanced back up at him and slowly sucked the spoon between my lips.
“Fuck, baby,” he muttered.
“What?” I asked, injecting innocence into my tone.
My attention scanned over him. He’d crossed his ankles and his arms while he leaned there watching me.
From this distance, I didn’t really need to drop my eyes to see his cock pushing against his fly.
And he wasn’t trying to hide it from me, either, further evidence he wanted me.
But lust didn’t actually add up to a relationship.
Lying to him wouldn’t get me anywhere, though.
“You know I feel it, too,” I admitted.
“Then don’t fight it. Be open and let’s see where this goes. I’m not going to dial back on expressing my intentions, because that would be the same as misleading you. But you can’t shut down and pretend we’re not happening. I’ll be honest, and you’ll be honest.”
I took another sip of my coffee, watching him over the rim while I thought.
I wanted to recapture the girl I’d been before the forced engagement had bound up my spirit.
This was my chance. I’d never gotten to date; my father’s decision had stunted that.
I didn’t want to be a teenager again, but I wanted to have fun and fall in love, just like most other girls in the world.
With this man, I was practically halfway there.
“I do feel it,” I told him again. “I’m scared to give in, but I’m going to try.”
He straightened and was around the table in a moment, his long legs eating up the distance.
He pulled me to my feet and cupped my face, urging me to look up at him.
“You never need to be afraid with me. I don’t want to trap you; I want you to fly.
And if you start to fall, I’ll catch you.
Because no matter how far you go, what heights you want to reach, I’ll be there with you.
Not to hold you back, not to do things for you or to take your thunder, but to cheer you on and support you however you need me to. ”
My vision blurred with my emotions. “What if I need you to let go?”
“You won’t need it. You’re scared—I get that. You’ve had so much taken from you. But I don’t want to take anything from you. I want to give you everything I can and be there when you achieve your goals.”
“I don’t want to lose my freedom,” I whispered. “I don’t want to be like my mom.”
“You won’t be. But Laura? Have you really been free?
Since you left home, have you really been free, or have you been imprisoned by your fear of being tracked down and dragged back into that life?
You can be free with me. No one is touching you.
” He smiled suddenly, veering from the thick, oppressive timbre that had overtaken our discussion.
He lifted me onto the table, narrowly missing my coffee.
I wouldn’t have cared if it spilled, so long as we could get closer.
“Except me. I’ll touch you. But I have a feeling you’ll like that. ”
I wrapped my legs around his thighs, pulling him closer to me. My fingers curled in his soft sweater. “I have a feeling you’re right. Will you kiss me, then will you take me to have fun in New York?”
His hand curled around the back of my head.
“Anything you wish,” he promised against my lips.
I groaned, opening my mouth for him and the immediate invasion of his tongue.
It slipped against mine, and my back arched as I tried to press nearer to him.
The kiss deepened, both of us getting lost in it and the feel of each other.
The erection I’d seen tenting his pants rubbed against me, and his hand palmed my breast, this thumb strumming over my beaded nipple.
“Luke, Luke, Luke,” I chanted between kisses.
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Being with you is better than I ever imagined all these months. Do you have any idea how much I’ve wanted you?”
“Yeah,” I panted as he kissed down my neck, sucking and nibbling along the way. “If it’s anything like I’ve wanted you, yeah, I do. I’ve been so alone. But any old guy wouldn’t ever do. It was only you.”
“Damn straight,” he growled and nipped at my shoulder where my neckline had shifted aside. “You’re not alone anymore, baby. Never again.” His sigh blew across my shoulder, making me shiver. “But…”
“What?” Fear sliced through me at his gear change.
“We should get going. We’ll eat brunch at The Garden at Four Seasons.”
“Um…” I blinked at him, reeling. We were kissing and…
He cupped my cheek, his gaze tender. “Babe, if we don’t get out of here, this is going to escalate fast. I promised I wouldn’t push you, and that includes having sex before you’re ready.
And once your brain gets back online, you’ll know that.
Because I know you were awake, and probably overthinking, for a long time before you joined me this morning. I don’t want any regrets between us.”
“I hate you a little right now,” I muttered, even though he was spot-on correct.
“Because I’m right?” he asked, a touch too smugly.
“Yeah.” My reply was grudging at best.
He grasped my waist and lifted me down to my feet. His lips pressed to my forehead, and I closed my eyes as a warm fuzzy sensation surrounded me at his closeness.
Less than twenty-four hours ago, I’d been alone and stranded, unsure of my future.
Now, I had Luke…and I was still unsure of my future.
But I had a feeling whatever it was, he’d be right there.
It didn’t seem as if he planned to give me a choice.
Strangely, nothing inside me rebelled over the realization. That would take some getting used to.
“I’ll go change my clothes then,” I said, breaking away and taking a Luke-free breath.
New panties were a must, and there was no way I was going to the Four Seasons dressed in my old T-shirt while he looked like some high-end magazine model.
“I’ll be right back. Do you think Four Seasons has French toast? ”
“If they don’t, they will by the time we leave,” he promised.
I licked my bottom lip then sank my teeth into it as I nodded. Right… He was a billionaire, and he made things happen. What he wanted, he got. That would take some getting used to, too.