Chapter Eight
“Seriously, that man infuriates me. Somebody please tell me, why do I keep ending up outside because of him?” Morgan was so frustrated with Luke.
Why in the world would he deny having an affair or a tryst or whatever it’s called, with Margie?
She saw the whole thing with her own eyes from the woods edge and she wasn’t that far away from the cabin that she could have misread what they were obviously doing.
She’d found a downed log to sit on in almost the exact spot where she’d stood six years ago and watched the very scene play out.
Morgan heard Luke holler her name when he’d followed her out the door.
She knew he wouldn’t be able to see her just inside the tree line when he could hardly see right in front of him.
She just needed some time to herself. This snow storm needed to stop so either he would leave or she could.
Rehashing old memories was nothing but hurtful.
She’d lived through all that once, she sure didn’t want to do it again.
However, Luke wasn’t the type to just go away without a fight.
She knew that about him. If she was being truthful to herself, that’s probably one of the many things she always loved about him.
The fact that he was here was proof he hadn’t given up on them even when she did.
She was the runner, not him. She’d left six years ago when the going got more than tough.
Then again just a few weeks ago when she’d found out her recent ex had married the girl he dated before her and was now pregnant with his child.
I need to stop running from my problems and my heartaches.
It doesn’t solve anything, that’s obvious.
At least with him here, maybe they could hash out that painful past and shut the door forever.
That’s what she wanted right? To shut the door on Luke for good?
I don’t know what I want anymore. I thought I knew, until I came home. Until I saw him again. Damn it.
With the porch light shining bright at the back door, she could see only his silhouette so when he retreated, she knew she’d outlasted him for the moment.
Another thing she had to admit; she was stubborn and he knew she wouldn’t go back inside until she was ready.
He knew a lot of other things about her too.
Probably a lot more than she was ready or even willing to admit.
“Maybe I should go back in.” She left the fallen log and walked through the edge of trees out into the clearing and then of all things, the snow stopped, just like that. Why now? Guess tomorrow they would get to go home, problems solved or not. That’s really what she wanted. Right?
Morgan slowly turned the knob on the back door, afraid he might be sitting in the kitchen waiting for her.
Relieved that the doors were new and didn’t squeak, she tip-toed inside, having slid off her boots on the back porch and carried them.
His coat and boots were there as well which meant he hadn’t wandered off into the falling snow to look for her.
Good thing since he probably didn’t have a radio to call for help.
She saw no sight of him so she busied herself in her kitchen, doing up the dishes from their supper and made herself a cup of warm cocoa to help her unthaw.
Since her room was attached to the living room, she had no choice but to go in, facing the possibility of his scrutiny.
To her relief, he’d apparently decided to take up in the other bedroom so chances for another confrontation were slim.
She left her bedroom door open a crack to help heat and got her clothes changed. After brushing her hair and fixing it back into a bun, she put her flannel pajamas on and crawled into bed. Please don’t let me have any more nightmares.
* * * *
Luke lay in bed wondering what else he’d done wrong.
Why did she have to be so stubborn? He knew she’d come inside when she was good and ready and surely not because he was calling for her.
Now that he could hear her getting settled in her bedroom, Luke decided he’d just head off to sleep instead of bugging her more.
She wouldn’t want to talk tonight anyway.
Maybe tomorrow there was a chance he’d wake up before her, make some breakfast and try serving it to her in bed.
Screams woke him from a fitful sleep what felt like minutes after he’d drifted off.
He threw the covers aside and jumped from his bed.
Standing still waiting to hear any rustling or movement.
“Was that Morgan or was I dreaming?” He walked softly to the bedroom door and opened it to peek outside.
Seeing no movement he tip-toed into the living room and approached her door.
It was ajar but he couldn’t see inside so he opened the door wider and stepped into her bedroom.
Once his eyes had adjusted from the little amount of light seeping in the window, he could see Morgan sprawled in the middle of the bed, tossing and turning.
She must be dreaming but should he wake her?
He didn’t want to scare her. She’d probably slug him and not even realize it.
He stepped to the bed and watched her for a minute.
She was mumbling but he couldn’t quite make it out so he placed a hand on her shoulder, hushing her like a mother would a baby.
“Shhh Morgan, it’s okay. I’m here.”
“Luke?”
“It’s me honey, are you okay?” He leaned a knee onto the bed and her hand moved to rest on his bare chest so naturally it transported him to six years ago when they were so much in love. With squinted eyes, Morgan grabbed for Luke’s arm, pulling him down onto the bed toward her.
“Morgan, I think you had a bad dream. I just came in to check on you when I heard you scream.” He tried to move her hand away but she grabbed at him again.
“Please Luke, come to bed with me.”
What? “I really don’t think you know what you’re saying.
This morning you hated me. Are you sure this is what you want?
” Her hand moving over his body was making him crazy.
He wasn’t sure it felt right to join her after all the arguing they’d been doing but maybe she’d realized he did love her and hadn’t done anything to her back then.
He lay down and wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll lay here and hold you if that’s ok?”
She didn’t talk but her fingers continued to move slowly over his shoulders and across his back while she nuzzled into his neckline, only increasing the amount of desire he was feeling for her. “Morgan, ahh geez woman, I’m not sure about this.”
“Luke,” she said softly, shushing him with a finger over his lips. “Relax and let it happen will you? Don’t you want me?”
“Oh there’s no question about tha…” Her luscious lips grazing over his stopped all meaningful thought, his groin jumping into overdrive.
He was compelled to match her actions, kissing her gently at first to give her a chance to back out but by the way she returned his gesture, she had no intention of backing out.
“Morgan I want you so bad right now.” His hands rose across her silky stomach, pushing the satin pajama shirt up as he approached her braless breasts.
Full and plump round mounds he missed but had never forgotten the feel of.
It was like riding a bike, once you learned you never forgot.
And he also remembered just how much pressure to apply when squeezing and teasing her nipples to drive her wild.
She arched into his hand right on cue, just like a kitten being stroked along the arch of their back. “See Morgan, I never forgot.”
“Luke, please touch me all over, make love to me. I need you so much. I was so afraid I’d forgotten what your touch felt like.”
“I’ll make sure you never forget anything about you and me. I’m gonna love you like I never did before.” So much it’ll ruin her for anyone ever again. She’ll be mine from here on out.
Feeling like the night had gone too quickly, Luke squinted his eyes at the first light of morning.
It looked like the sun was shining but with so much snow, who knew what time of day it had become.
He’d tossed and turned all night, heated dreams of Morgan.
Once he’d adjusted to his surroundings, he realized he wasn’t in his room.
“Shit, those weren’t dreams.”
One of his biggest fears was her not being willing to let him back in or get any closer to her emotionally but obviously they’d breeched those barriers and more last night.
Muffled thumps coming from the living room sidetracked his contemplation. He jumped out of bed and slid on his jeans but remembered he hadn’t been wearing anything else when he’d come to check on Morgan last night. In the living room he found her readying to run again.