Chapter 22 #2
“We all knew it was coming. Warrior was old school. And though Crash might still have a few of the old school teachings, he’s definitely a bit more modern. We’re all happy with the direction we’re going in.”
“You sound cagey,” I said, not liking how shut off that statement seemed.
“I’m not,” he said, smiling down at me. “I’m just… cautious. And it’s nothing to do with you,” he added. “But I am in Rider territory here. There are eyes and ears everywhere.”
“I suppose the main one being me?”
“Clearly you don’t possess the ears I was just referencing, because I just said it wasn’t you.”
“Hmm,” I muttered in response. I knew I was being a brat. I knew I was being unreasonable. But how could he be casually holding my hand, and yet…
Fuck me, I was like a broken record!
“What’s wrong with you tonight, Gabby?” he asked, stopping still and pulling on my hands until I was facing him, standing in front of him. I looked up at him briefly and then looked away again, not wanting him to see anything in my eyes.
“Nothing is wrong with me.”
“Try again, but at least try to sound convincing this time.”
“Ha-ha,” I muttered dryly.
“Hey,” he said, placing his fingers under my chin and gently tipping my head back until I was forced to look at him. “This is me you’re talking to. Why won’t you tell me what’s on your mind?”
“Precisely because it’s you I’m talking to.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means… we’re friends, Luke. I don’t want to rock the boat.”
“I’m an excellent swimmer. Rock away,” he grinned at me.
“I…”
“You…” he prompted, raising his eyebrows in silent question.
“Why do you look at me like that?” I asked, changing the topic.
“Like what?”
“Like you have all the time in the world for me. Like you have endless patience. Like you’re willing to try to understand my messed up thoughts, when even I can’t understand them.”
“Because I do have all the time for you, my patience is second to none, and I probably won’t understand, but I can listen anyway, can’t I?” he shot right back, not missing a single beat. “Come on, Gabby. There’s nothing you can’t tell me.”
“Why is that?”
“Because…”
“Because…?” I prompted, mimicking him by raising my eyebrows at him.
“Because you’re one of my closest friends.”
“Is that all I am?” I pressed.
“What else would I be?”
“Gotcha,” I nodded, and started walking again. I didn’t get far before Luke was grabbing my wrists and pulling me back to a stop.
“What am I saying wrong here, Gabby? You set the boundaries. I’m abiding by them. What am I doing to annoy you?”
“What boundaries did I set?” I asked, completely and utterly confused.
“Last year. The night of your date with Darren. I told you I was jealous, but you went right back on a date with someone else not a week later. I asked if we were friends that night, and it was you yourself who said yes. I laid my cards out and gave you the opportunity to say you wanted to be more than friends, or to stop making me jealous… you chose not to. Or have I completely misread something?”
“You haven’t just misread something!” I snapped, feeling exasperated. “You’ve been reading an entirely different book!”
“So you don’t want to be my friend? That’s what’s been bothering you?”
“If all men are this fucking simple, I think I’ll just give up on them now!”
“Oh, good, you’re angry again. This is a pleasant evening.”
“I’m jealous, too, Luke! For months, all I’ve heard about is the girls you’ve had, and the things you’ve been up to. I’ve heard it all, and I’m fucking jealous! Usually I have a few days to sort myself out, but tonight—”
“Tonight you heard about… the thing with me and Dante,” he said, deliberately avoiding using that word. “And you haven’t had time to process?”
“I haven’t had time to process,” I whispered back.
“What is it that’s bothering you? The fact that there have been other girls, or the fact that it wasn’t you?”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No. Because if it were just other girls in general, you might be jealous of the time they’re spending with me. Time taking away from us and our friendship. But if you’re bothered that it’s not you, because you wanted it to be you… that makes the world of difference.”
“I—”
“Because I was bothered that it wasn’t me,” he said, moving closer to me. “When I’ve heard about you and other men—and I have heard, Gabriella—I’ve been jealous. I’ve wanted it to be me. I’ve been waiting for you to choose me.”
“I’ve been waiting for you to be an option for me to choose,” I whispered back, looking up at him as I, too, stepped closer.
“I’ve always been yours to choose. Do you choose me now?” he asked, bringing his hand up to cup one of my cheeks, his thumb running over my jawline. “Or will you be okay once you’ve… processed?”
“I choose you,” I said, meeting his eyes with nothing but sincerity and honesty.
“Good. Because I’ve been waiting for fucking years to do this.”
The world stopped turning, growing quiet and still, shrinking until there was nothing but me and Luke. He lowered his head, and without a single second of hesitation, his lips captured my own, kissing me with an intensity and possessiveness that took my breath away.
My hands gripped his shoulders, kissing him back with everything I had.
This was everything I had imagined it would be and more.
His lips were soft and yet firm, taking control of the kiss.
His other hand came up to join the other, cupping my face, and he angled my head in the direction he wanted, deepening the kiss with a feral growl.
I sighed into his mouth, opening my lips wider, allowing him to sweep his tongue along mine.
He groaned as I met his tongue with my own, and it gave me the confidence I needed. Taking his lower lip between my teeth, I playfully bit down before sweeping my tongue along the sting of my bite.
“Does that answer all your questions?” he asked, pulling away slightly and resting his forehead against mine.
“I don’t think I heard you fully. You might need to tell me again,” I grinned, and then squealed in delight as he pressed his lips against mine once more.
Although this time, it wasn’t as sweet. This time, he came to play.
His hand dropped, squeezing my ass at the same time as his teeth did the nibbling.
My head tipped back, and he saw that as his opportunity to run his tongue along my neck, right up to my ear, where he also nibbled on my lobe.
“Luke,” I breathed, pressing my body further against his.
“Keep looking at me like that,” he breathed down my ear. “And this will go further than you thought.”
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like I matter,” he answered instantly, and my heart immediately skipped a beat.
“You’ve always mattered to me, Luke. I never want there to be a day when you’re not in my life.”
“I’ll always be here, Gabby. There’s no getting rid of me now.”
“Is that a threat or a promise?” I teased.
He just grinned wickedly at me in response.
Over the years, he would prove that it was both a threat and a promise. There was no getting rid of him, even when I pushed him away. Even when I hurt him. Even when I ripped his heart out, stomped all over it, and took his future with me.
He was always there. He was always mine.
I just stopped choosing us.