8. Shae
SHAE
I watch as Luke rounds the front of his vehicle.
The sleek Lexus is all class with a whole lot of luxury, in which I’m currently melting into the soft and supple leather seats.
It’s either that, or the medicine is hitting me a lot faster than it ever has before.
The sun is more than likely playing a part in it, plus being out and about longer than I have in the past few days will surely have me falling asleep.
I’d do it all over again to have more time with Luke, and while at the beginning, he was sending mixed signals, it seems now he’s not. It’d be kind of hard to deny the desire we both share between each other.
“Everything good?” he asks, opening the door.
He’s still carrying my purse without a care in the world.
I’d almost been embarrassed when my bag took a tumble, and my feminine products fell by my feet.
He scooped them up without a word or a chuckle.
I should have known; he’s a doctor. He’s also not a pubescent teenage boy.
These things are part of life, and I can’t wait to have a normal menstrual cycle and not pack so many damn products.
Luke places my bag in the back, behind my seat.
His tank does nothing to cover the muscles of his arms that are covered in tattoos, making warmth spread inside my stomach.
“Yeah.” I lick my lips, suddenly feeling parched, though it’s not from lack of hydration. Luke made sure I had a drink in my hand at all times, whether it was water or the smoothies Lennie whipped up. Asher and Lennie literally thought of everything to beat the heat.
“Shae.” His eyes are glued to my lips. The carefully controlled demeanor he’s been trying to keep slowly slips.
Then Luke Camden does the unexpected—his head lowers, his hand lifts, cupping the nape of my neck, and his lips, god, his lips, the feel of them against mine, it’s soft yet firm, slow yet urgent.
There’s no denying him. I wouldn’t ever want to, anyways.
Heat pools low in my stomach. I let out the tiniest of moans, and his tongue slips in.
“Hmm,” I purr, moving my own hand to his chest, sliding upward until I’m holding on to his shoulders, bracing for more.
He moves in a way that’s unhurried, strong and steady, causing my breath to catch with every stroke of our tongues.
I’m unable to do anything except hold on.
Luke dominates more than my mouth; he dominates my mind, and he dominates my body.
He's without a doubt ruining me in every way possible for any other man.
“Goddamn, baby girl.” His thumb slides along my rapidly beating heartbeat in my throat. That’s twice now he’s used the term of endearment, and every time he does, it sends my body into a tailspin. His eyes are dark, tinged with the same need I’m sure is reflected in my own.
“Luke.” My eyes flutter closed, trying to regain some kind of composure when what I really want is to climb over the center console and plant myself in his lap.
I wouldn’t do that even if I weren’t recovering.
Luke’s SUV is the epitome of expensive and decadent.
I could just imagine my knee puncturing what feels like genuine leather.
“Let’s get you home before this goes any further, and believe me, I want it to, but you’re in pain, and that’s the last thing I want.
” His eyes drag slowly down from my face, landing on my chest. The look of sheer scorching pleasure seers my body from the inside out.
My nipples tighten into hard peaks. I want to know what it would feel like to have Luke’s mouth wrapped around them, taking long hard pulls from each one, using his fingers on the other and exploring my body until I’m consumed by nothing but pleasure.
“God, I don’t want to go home,” I say as we both settle back in our seats. He reaches across me, going for the seatbelt, and clicks into it place. The light touch of his fingertips only amplifies the state of desire I’m currently in.
“You don’t have to go home if you don’t want.” I turn my head, watching as he puts his own seatbelt on. The air conditioning is doing not one single thing to put out the flames Luke keeps building inside of me.
“I don’t think being out in public after taking a pain pill is a great idea.” I’m not tired yet, but I know in another hour or so, the grogginess will kick in.
“Yeah, probably not. There’s my place. We can watch a movie, and you can rest.” I let out a laugh, and he further proves what a gentleman he is. “I’m not talking Netflix and chill, either, promise. I can keep my hands to myself. Maybe,” he adds a wink for good measure.
I’m ready to say yes, to jump right in, anything to keep spending time with Luke. There’s also a part of me that’s worried I’m foisting myself onto him and maybe need to pull myself back a minute.
“I’m kind of out of commission for the and chill part, remember?
” I point down to my body. He grunts, probably remembering exactly how long.
Same, my guy, same. Before this procedure and meeting Luke, I’d have been like no sex, no problem.
The well had long since dried up. There’s something about a woman owning a business that has some men scared of you.
Coralynn even noticed it, too. I’d go on a date, things would seem to go okay, then I mentioned I owned LITHE, and the call back would never come.
I called it a blessing in disguise. My sister had much bigger words, mixed with a lot of cuss words that would make our father blush.
“I know that, too. Might forget at times. Your taste, fuck, Shae, smoother than bourbon and twice as dangerous.” His hand reaches mine, lifting it up after he laces our fingers together, then he places a gentle kiss on my knuckles before resting our hands in his lap.
He’s somehow managed to put the vehicle in Drive while I’ve been lost in my own world.
“Then let’s go to your place,” I say, using my unoccupied hand to hide my yawn.
“I’m not worried. You want to stop at your house to change first or wear something of mine?
” I do a quick assessment of myself. Sweaty clothes are a definite ick.
The only good thing I have going for me is the change of panties I’ve kept in a plastic bag at the bottom of my purse for the just-in-case moments I’ve experienced in the past few months.
“I’ll borrow something of yours.” I’m surprised he brought it up, but I’m in no mood to be cooped up in my small space, especially when for a long time now, I’ve only really used it to sleep, eat, and shower.
It’s made me realize that there’s not enough light; it’s dark and gloomy, the complete opposite of my studio.
I miss being there so much, yet I know I have at least until my follow-up on Tuesday before I’ll be allowed to step foot into the dream I’ve created.
“You can shower, too,” he offers as we travel away from Asher and Lennon’s house.
“Thank you.” It’s also then that I notice his group has a certain look when it comes to their vehicles. “Is it a requirement to drive black vehicles?” I ask, noting the remainder of them parked along the street.
“No, but you’d think it would be considering just about all the guys have the same color, if not similar.
Jude’s car isn’t here. His classic car is canary yellow, has two black racing stripes down the middle, and he only drives it a few times a month.
He takes his daily driver everywhere else or hitches a ride like he did today with Matthew, who prefers white exterior and interior.
He’s got this weird analogy that white reflects sun more.
As for the rest, well, you can gather they like the same color.
Mine came this way, last one on the lot, and I didn’t want to wait a year for the next shipment to come in.
” He maneuvers his vehicle with precision, one hand on the wheel, his forearm flexing every time he makes a turn onto another road, and I can’t keep my eyes from looking at him.
“I wouldn’t have expected a sports car from Jude. Jagger, yes, but I also know more about him since Lyric is at the studio more,” I reply.
“Jagger has a hot rod, only drivable off the street. He races it every now and then. I’m pretty sure he’s got a race coming up.
You should come with me. The whole crew will be there.
The girls usually place bets for a dollar on which car will win.
None of them bet against Jag. They know better.
The guy always wins.” Luke’s lip tips up in a slow sensual smile.
“I think I’d like that.” I look at the road, realizing we’re going in the complete opposite direction of where my apartment is located. “Do you live near the rest of the guys?” I ask.
“Yeah, Johnny and Winnie are in the building a couple of blocks away. Matthew is around the corner from my place. Jude is in the next town over, preferring a subdivision setting, a lot like Asher. Trent and Kennedy live on a couple of acres, and you probably already know that Jagger and Lyric’s place is as big as the eye can see.
She also has her parents’ house, which is next door to Jag’s folks.
I think she’s planning on renting it out in the next few months.
” I make a mental note to talk to Lyric.
Maybe I’ll upgrade from my shoebox apartment.
“Then there’s Tysen and Maci. They’re in a condo in a neighborhood.
Crew is in the same building as me, opposite wings, so to speak.
I’m on the south side; he’s on the north side.
I have to be close to the hospital with being on call, and the building is nice with a fuck ton of amenities included.
” It’s then I realize we’re near his office, which happens to be near, like he said, the hospital.
“As in walking distance close to the office?” I ask, wondering how close a doctor has to be.
“No, even I’m not that crazy. I don’t think anyone wants to walk three miles in the blazing heat. There are times I’ll take my bike, but those are rare occurrences, like, say, when the weather is below seventy.”
“So, few and far between.” He looks at me, winks, and then his eyes are back on the road.
“Exactly.” Luke makes another turn before pulling up to a gate.
He keeps his foot on the brake, hits a button on his visor, and we gain entry.
Through the entire ride, he hasn’t let my hand go, even when I attempt to untangle from him.
We go up and around each level; I keep looking at the numbers on the concrete wall as they go higher and higher.
I swallow back the need to say holy shit balls a few times when we finally land on the fifteenth floor, where he slides into one of the six spots.
“I take it Crew is on that side?” I noticed his vehicle when we pulled around.
“Yep, he’s got the city view, and I’ve got a view of the park, similar to Johnny and Winnie’s place.
” Luke puts the SUV in Park, unclicks his seat belt, turns around slightly, grabs my bag, and says, “Stay put.” I nod in response, watching as he opens his door, unfolds out of the vehicle, and walks around until he reaches my door.
I’m unlatching my seatbelt as he greets me, not a care in the world that he's holding a pink purse with flowers .
“Thank you.” I take his offered hand, and he helps me out.
“You don’t have to thank me every time I do something, baby girl.” His voice is deep and husky. We’re stopped right outside of the open door, each of us lost in the other’s gaze.
“It’s kind of hard not to when you’re taking care of me so much.” I’m breathless, my knees are weak, and I’m seriously hating that my body is a no-go zone.
“I like doing it. Come on. Shower, clothes, and relaxation are in order for you.” The male dominance part of him mixed with the doctor he is comes out to play.
“Okay.” Another tingle slithers through me, and all I can do is nod while following his lead.
He guides me through the parking garage until we’re at the elevator.
There’s no wait once he hits the button, and I’m once again at a loss for words at my surroundings.
This is going to take some getting used to.
The good thing is Luke isn’t ostentatious; he might like nice things, but he’s not the overly flashy kind of guy you’d meet at a club who thinks his shit doesn’t stink. It only makes me like him even more.