Chapter 22
twenty-two
“Does that thing ever go down?” I ask as I soap up my body in the shower.
Luke looks down at his hard cock, then back at me. “I have you naked and all soaped up in my shower after fucking you in my bed. What did you think was going to happen here?”
I roll my eyes and continue to run my hands over my sensitive body. “I thought we were getting cleaned up,” I say innocently as I turn my back to him and smirk.
I feel his heat on my back before his hands snake around my waist and travel higher and claim my breasts.
I hum, resting my head on his shoulder as he gives me the world’s most thorough rub down.
“Shit, when did I bite you?” Concern laces his tone as he turns me around, fingers brushing lightly against my skin as he starts to catalog all the marks blooming on my skin. His brows furrow. “I was too rough.”
I lean up on my tiptoes and nudge my wet nose with his.
“It was perfect.” He doesn’t seem convinced as his eyes continue to survey every square inch of my body.
I dig my fingers into his hair and bring him down to my lips.
He softens slightly, but I can still feel the tension in his body.
“But more importantly,” I say, waiting until his eyes meet mine, “it was exactly what I asked for. Thank you for listening to me and trusting that I knew my limits.”
He shakes his head. “You give me too much credit. You weren’t in my head. God, the things I said to you…”
“You will be saying again and again if I have things my way.”
And I mean it.
I’ve never had someone talk to me that way during sex. To the point where I was sure I was going to orgasm from his words alone. But damn am I glad he delivered with his entire body as well.
His lips twitch. “You liked that, huh?”
I shrug nonchalantly as I step into the water, making sure to avoid getting my hair wet. He watches me rinse, and I swear he’s trying to follow the trail of every drop of water on my body at once. “See something you like, Coach?” I taunt.
He hauls me out of the water and presses me up against the warm shower wall as he chuckles.
“Oh, my sweet Daisy girl. You don’t know what you’ve done.
Go ahead, keep teasing me. Because now that we’ve crossed that line, there will be no chance in hell of you ever waking up without my hands, face, or cock between your legs.
I don’t care if I need to steal your brother’s jet so you can fly across the country to every away game.
I don’t think I’m capable of ever waking up without you lying naked in my bed. ”
He trails kisses down my neck and places an extra gentle one over the spot where I know he’s left a mark.
“You say that, but something tells me you’re a big softie and you’re just jonesing for a cuddle.”
He perks up. “With you? Always. Actually, I’d like to make an amendment to my previous statement.
I want to wake up wrapped around you every morning.
Hear your little kitten snores as you burrow into me and stick your cold feet on my legs.
Then we can move onto fucking.” He smiles widely as he plants a kiss on my lips.
I want to wake up wrapped around you every morning.
Every morning?
Now wouldn’t that be something.
And since I can’t help myself from potentially putting a damper on a perfect moment, I don’t stop from running my mouth. “You sure that’s what you want?” And I want to kick myself for sounding so fucking needy.
Where the hell is the woman who told her fiancé off and ripped off his hideous engagement ring with a flourish?
The one who told this man to fuck me like he wants to break me.
Am I really asking for validation at a time like this?
Luke rises to his full height, his eyes carefully roaming over my face like I’ve become accustomed to. As if he can scan my inner thoughts and respond to them directly.
He sighs, shaking his head. I think I’ve well and truly fucked it.
But then his hand cradles the back of my neck while his thumb rubs my cheek, all the way down to my bottom lip and back up, repeating the same path over and over again.
“You’re asking yourself if I want you, while I’m secretly begging to know if I can keep you.”
“Luke.” I breathe his name, taken aback by the sincerity in his words.
Keep me?
I’ve been so caught up in the chaos of the toxic men in my life that I haven’t even allowed myself to think of life beyond today.
Yet the thought of staying cradled safely in Luke’s arms has me tightening my grasp on his forearm.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” He places a chaste kiss on my chin. “You have more than enough on your plate.” He pauses, and I feel him emotionally retreating, unable to meet my eyes. “I’m such an idiot. The last thing you need is someone like me, with my reputation—”
“Hey, Luke.” I press a finger against his lips. “You’re going to have to do me a favor and stop talking about yourself like that. Otherwise I’m gonna have to do something about it.” I parrot his words from last night back to him.
“Daisy.” He sighs, resting his forehead against mine.
“Would you?” I whisper.
“What?”
“Keep me?”
A pained growl sounds before me right as Luke’s lips crash down on my own.
I know I have a lot going on, most of my problems currently being kept at bay since shutting off our cell signal.
We probably need to figure out a whole lot of things before we can freely walk out of this cabin as a couple.
I need to handle with the aftermath of my failed engagement and deal with my father.
All while ensuring that my relationship with Luke doesn’t negatively impact the Monarchs.
But he’s dead wrong about whatever misconceptions he’s let fester about himself. And I’d be the dumbest woman alive if I let this man walk out of my life based on what other people might say.
I’ve lived most of my life in a contest with myself.
Worrying about the opinions of strangers.
Trying to appease people who have no idea that I’m bending over backward for them.
And shrinking into a version of myself that was unrecognizable, all in hopes of being appealing enough to garner a little love and affection.
But for the first time in my life, I feel like giving myself permission to put my wants and desires first. Perception be damned.
My hands roam down his chest until I wrap them around his stiff cock.
“Daisy, you must be sore.” He places his hand above mine but doesn’t push me away. He’s letting me make the final call regarding what my body can handle, and it furthers my resolve.
We slowly stroke his cock together, and I’m certain the moisture running down my thighs is no longer shower water.
I release him only to turn around and lift my foot onto the shower bench. “I want you to take me from behind. Slowly. I want to feel you like this.”
He presses his front against my back, and together we line him up to enter me. “Slowly,” he reiterates with a soft warning.
I need to rise to my tiptoes to get the angle right, and once I do, he pushes in fully with one slow motion.
The knowledge that his body fits perfectly inside my own sends tingles down my spine.
I place my hands on the wall in front of me as his left hand cradles my breast and the other starts to press firm circles on my clit.
I instinctively clench around him, and we both moan.
“Dammit Daze. You feel so fucking good. Taking all this cock all over again.”
“Fuck, Luke. Your hands.” His thumb runs back and forth over my pointed nipple as the other plays between my legs. “I feel you everywhere.”
“Good. Now you know how I feel,” he murmurs against my neck before he kisses me there.
It’s all-consuming. The sex. The feelings. This version of Luke who was here all along. And the knowledge that he wants to keep me, keep us.
“Oh, Luke.”
“I know, baby. I feel it too. Come for me.”
My cries bounce around the small bathroom before his loud groans join me over the edge.
He places soft kisses along my spine before slowly easing out of me.
I yelp quietly, but it’s too late, he already heard me.
“I’m fine—”
He throws me a look that has me shutting up as he detaches the shower head and carefully cleans between my legs. Using his hand to cradle me so the water doesn’t directly hit my oversensitive clit as he works diligently to set me right.
He rinses his half hard dick off before shutting off the water.
“Daisy, I want you in my hoodie and on the couch eating cereal while I lotion you up and take care of you. If you thought I was—what was it you called me?—a growly bear before, see what happens when you don’t let me take care of my woman.”