Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Freya
“ Y our forearm is really bumpy,” Freya said, trailing her fingers along his arm.
“Yeah.”
“Is that why you had the tattoos done?”
Freya didn’t give him time to answer. She sat up in bed, letting the covers drop to her waist. Luke was still half asleep. Her eyes flicked to his face to see him lazily staring at her bare breasts. When she started to move, spreading her fingers over his chest, he shoved his hand behind his head with his elbow bent. The other hand that was nearest to her body cupped her breast to feel its weight.
“Stop distracting me,” Freya huffed.
“You’re feeling me up, so it’s only fair I get to do the same.”
Freya paused for a second, considering his point. Then, deciding it was valid, she continued her exploration but didn’t get far. She found herself on her back, pressed into the mattress, when Luke covered her body with his.
“Are you sure you’re okay with no protection,” he asked gently as he slid inside her.
Freya wasn’t concentrating on his question. Instead, she was tilting her hips just to get the best friction from his gentle thrusts. His head loomed above her, his fists on the mattress. She stroked her hands up his biceps and then over his shoulders until her fingers threaded into his hair. Freya closed her eyes and eventually answered him, raising her knees to her chest and brushing against his ribs.
“If you get me pregnant, I have a ring on my finger that says you want forever with me. I don’t care if I’m in a maternity wedding dress walking down the aisle. I want you, Luke Turner, however, that happens.”
“Christ,” Luke whispered and moved faster.
Their sighs and moans were quiet as they fucked themselves into oblivion.
Freya took his weight for half a minute and then rolled out of bed to get cleaned up. Luke joined her in the bathroom, shaving while she showered.
“Why are you shaving? It’s Sunday?” Freya asked as she wiped away the steam from the shower screen.
His hand stopped halfway up his cheek, leaving a clean sweep in the foam. “We’re going to Sunday lunch with your family,” he said.
“It’s at Heidi’s family home. You’ve been there before. You’ve met them a hundred million times.”
“But it’s different now,” he said, going back to his shaving. “You have my ring on your finger. I’m going to do things right.”
Oh no.
“Oh no. No, Luke Turner. No, no. And no again. ”
“Yes, Freya Riley. Oh, yes. Yes, and another yes to add to the stack of yeses.”
“But there is no need,” she wailed.
“Get your arse out here,” Luke said, wiping off the excess shaving foam.
If she wasn’t so mad and apprehensive, she would melt at his panty-dropping grin.
“I’m going to take your father to one side and ask permission to marry you. I don’t care that I’ve known him since I was five,” Luke said.
“But he’ll think you’re a pompous arse.”
“He won’t, and I’ll tell you why. You are his only child, and you are a daughter. I don’t care how much the modern world has accepted gender equality. You are his to protect. Your dad and your mother think the sun rises and sets with you. I’m going to seek his permission.”
“Luke,” she said, sniffing.
“Peaches,” he said through a laugh as she hugged him.
She never thought she’d be comfortable with naked hugs, but naked hugs with Luke were the best.
“You’re worth it, Freya.”
“I love you, Luke.”
“I love you too, Freya. Now get dressed. I’m doing this, but it doesn’t mean I’m not shitting my pants because I don’t have a plan if he says no.”
Freya leaned her upper body back, and Luke’s eyes immediately went to her breasts squashed against his chest. She felt him against her pelvis and grinned.
“Now, get out of my sight, so he doesn’t get excited and think we’re spending the whole day in bed.”
Freya swayed against his growing erection and then exited the bathroom. Not fast enough because she got a swot on her backside for cheekiness .
They arrived at Heidi’s family home and were greeted by Heidi’s mum. Freya’s mum soon rushed to the front door and hugged Freya like she hadn’t seen her in months.
“I saw you a few days ago. What’s with the bear hug?” Freya asked her mum.
“I saw you for ten minutes three days ago and hadn’t seen you for a week. You work too much.”
“Not by choice, Mum. Fingers crossed, the next head teacher is a little fairer with an equal distribution of extracurricular activities.”
“No guarantees with Cynthia heading up the board of governors,” Freya’s mum muttered. “Oh, I’m sorry, Luke. I didn’t mean that.”
“That’s okay, Mrs Riley. We all feel the same way.”
Freya’s mum gasped and then giggled. “Come in, you two. The roasties are hidden, so don’t go looking for them.”
“They’re in the oven. That’s not hidden,” Freya said.
“Well, I’ve hidden the oven gloves.”
“Like that will stop me, but I’ll be on my best behaviour seeing as Luke is here.”
“Is Mr Riley in the TV room?” Luke asked.
Freya jumped out of her skin when her mum clamped her palm over her mouth and screamed full-on. It was muffled, but it startled Freya.
“Mum, calm the hell down.”
“I will not, Freya Riley. Let your mum be excited. Have you dusted off the folder?”
“My house is not dusty,” Freya said, put out at the accusation.
“Are you lot going to stand out here all afternoon?” Heidi said, coming back to see why they hadn’t entered the house. Heidi’s mum soon followed to see what the delay was .
“Luke wants to see Freya’s dad,” Freya’s mum announced.
“Christ,” Luke muttered.
“Don’t you be getting exasperated. It was your idea,” Freya said, jabbing her finger into his chest.
“Oh, I wondered why you were in a shirt,” Heidi said, nodding. “Nice touch.”
“Let’s get this over with. If he says no, then it’s all on you, and the folder will go in the incinerator,” Luke clipped out, pushing through the women to get into the house.
Freya gasped at his comment. She wanted to dash home and put it in a fireproof safe.
“Can I see the ring?” Heidi said.
Freya thrust her hand out.
“Wow,” Heidi said. “Like wow, you cannot lose that one. Wow.”
“I know where the other one is, so technically, I didn’t lose that one. I just don’t fancy diving into a whirlpool to get it.”
“I’d rather you didn’t either, Sweetie,” her mum said.
Luke came rushing out of the house and glared at Freya.
“What did I do?” Freya asked.
“I got three words out, and he said yes. Not even the whole sentence.”
“Like father like daughter. That’s a good thing, right?”
“I suppose,” Luke said, grabbing her hand. “Come on, Keith said we’re allowed a celebratory roastie before lunch.”
“Yay,” Freya said and was gleefully dragged into the house and to the kitchen.
All the men were hip to the kitchen island, sipping beers and arguing over nothing. They silenced as soon as Freya came into the room.
“What are you lot gossiping about? ”
“Nothing much, honey,” her dad said. “Let’s have a look at the ring then.”
Freya stuck out her hand and then slowly lowered it to the bowl on the counter with roasties in. She clutched the potato like she was playing an arcade game, grabbing a teddy, and lifted her hand.
Jason whistled when he saw the ring. “You chose a whopper,” he said to Luke. “At least I chose from the bottom row when I went for the diamond.”
Freya looked at Luke, and he was already looking at her smiling. “I chose what you asked for,” he said, shrugging.
“Which row?”
“Top row, Peaches.”
“Yes,” Freya hissed with a fist punch in the air.
“That’s my inheritance you’re wearing, so you need to be careful,” Luke said.
“How much of your inheritance?” Keith queried, joining the group.
“I’m not sure I should say,” Luke hedged.
Jason piped up. “Freya, do you remember the value of the other ring?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, that’s worth ten times more.”
“Luke,” Freya said.
She dropped the hot roast potato on the floor and staggered back a step.
“Bloody hell, she let go of a roastie. She must be truly shocked,” Freya’s dad muttered over his beer bottle.
“What? You asked for flashy. I got you flashy. Wait until you get the eternity ring. That’s when our first child comes, right?” Luke said.
A beer bottle slammed down onto the counter.
“Calm down, dear,” Freya’s mum said to Freya’s dad .
“Freya?” she asked gently.
“I’m not pregnant, Mum. Relax.”
She was still staring at Luke.
“I better text Archer the rules of an engagement ring,” Jason muttered, ignoring Freya’s dad’s shift in mood.
“Freya,” her dad’s voice boomed out.
“Honestly, Dad, I am not pregnant.”
“Okay, honey, but I know how to use a calendar,” he replied. “You got engaged before permission was granted. We don’t want everything else backwards.”
There was a smattering of giggles at Freya’s dad’s comment.
Freya snapped out of her shock and stepped towards Luke. “You got me a top-row ring?”
“Yeah, you still like it?”
“I love it, I do.”
“Well then, stop worrying about the cost and admire the beauty. I know I am,” Luke said.
That got a sigh from the mothers and grumbles from the men.
“It’s insured like the other one was. So please don’t worry about the value.”
“Okay,” she said. “I love you, Luke Turner.”
“I love you too, Peaches. Now, let’s have some food before I keel over from the stress of asking for your hand in marriage.”
Everyone got busy with their tasks as they had done on so many Sundays before and were soon seated around the table.