Chapter 30
Hazel
The morning was peaceful but hot. I wanted to stay in Luke’s embrace as long as possible, but I was sticky in all the wrong places. I was sure he’d wake up, but once I stepped out of the shower, he was still peacefully asleep. I didn’t have the heart to wake him.
“Hi! It’s the middle of the night. Why are you up?”
“Hey, girl! I’m in Norway. Work trip,” she said enthusiastically. “We’re basically in the same time zone.”
“Nice. How you do—”
“You had sex, didn’t you?” she blurted. I started coughing violently, choking on the apple I’d been snacking on.
“MADY!”
“You totally did, you minx!” She was more excited than a kid with a new balloon.
“How do you do that?” I groaned, ashamed and impressed at the same time.
“Well, hello, Mister I-probably-eat-only-protein-and-vegetables.”
“Give it a rest. Luke’s normal. He consumes alcohol and eats carbs besides other stuff.” The words left my mouth before I could stop myself.
“Hazel, you slut! I knew you had it in you. I’ve never been prouder,” she said, and we both started to laugh hysterically until I remembered Luke was still asleep and shushed her.
“Change of subject. How’s John?” I asked, sipping my coffee.
“Working non-stop. Same as I. Lately, we’ve been having problems meeting each other even when staying in the same apartment. Sometimes I’m out of town, other times he’s stuck at work late. I’ve seen him more asleep than awake. It’s just a phase in our world right now. It’s fine.”
I sent her a mental hug. I knew she’d been feeling guilty about that and tried to do everything she could to make it up to him.
“Oh, by the way, I cleared next Wednesday, as always, so we’re good to go,” she said.
“You’re the best. As always.” I said with a soft smile.
“So tell me about yesterday. How did you celebrate?” She disappeared off-screen, making breakfast, while I recapped my birthday in detail, starting from the balloon arch.
Suddenly, two large, steady hands slowly wrapped around me, molding me like those clay vases you see in pottery workshops, guiding the shape, like he knew exactly what he was doing. My voice got shaky, but I kept going with my story since Mady hadn’t noticed.
I put down the cup as Luke’s lips brushed my neck, light as a feather. He whispered Morning in my ear, his breath and touch disorienting me.
“We went to the bookshop... then, um...” A kiss on my shoulder. “The beach to watch a... movie, I think.” Another kiss on my jaw. I gripped the counter.
“You think?!” Mady asked, oblivious as she prepared her omelet.
Luke took my phone, lifted it to his lips, and said, “Mady, Hazel will call you back.”
“Oh my God, you better not be f—” Click.
His mouth pressed into my neck with full force, making my whole body lean against him.
I turned around, eyes closed, and kissed him.
His body responded instantly. His tongue collided with mine, making me moan.
Out of nowhere, this peaceful morning had once again turned into a desperate search for pleasure.
Luke lifted me and pinned me against the cabinets.
In our madness, I knocked over my morning coffee and cried out. Luke froze and looked at the ground.
“Oh, shit, are you okay? Did it burn you?”
He set me on a stool, examining me closely. I just laughed. I couldn’t help it. He stared at me like I was in shock.
“I’m fine. I promise,” I wheezed, pressing my forehead against his chest, winding down from the hilarity my life had become.
I took a slow, deep breath, and he gently raised my chin with his fingers, tilting my face toward his.
“Hi,” he said, kissing me again, this time more gently.
“Hi,” I said, smiling, hair all messed up and lips swollen.
“Why do I keep waking up alone? Makes me think I have dreamt all the dirty things we did last night.”
“Maybe because you keep torturing me right before I come.”
My answer stunned him for a moment, but he recovered quickly. See? Not so innocent.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “Speaking of which... what exactly were you thinking about when you pleasured yourself the other night?”
My jaw dropped. Heat rushed through me so fast it felt like every inch of my skin had turned into molten lava. My brain scrambled for words that didn’t exist.
“No, no, no,” I gasped, pressing my hands to my face. “Oh my God.” I could practically feel steam rising from my cheeks.
He laughed, low and warm, sliding his hands over mine, gently prying my fingers from my eyes. I ducked my head instinctively, pressing my face into my palms again, but the more I tried to shrink away, the more he leaned in, enjoying every second of my solar-system–sized embarrassment.
“Oh, no, sweetie,” he murmured, a grin playing at the corner of his mouth. “You have nothing to hide.” His gaze caught mine, steady and teasing all at once, his thumbs stroking my wrists, holding me in place. “Was it me? Tell me it was me.”
Of course, it was him. Living rent-free in my pants for the last week.
He leaned in, lips trailing my neck. My body automatically responded, and I expelled a small groan. His tongue glided across my skin, his palm slowly reaching for my chest.
Another groan. This time from him.
“Was it me?” he pressed, digging into my memories and my skin.
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“What was that?” He pushed aside my bra and took my nipple into his mouth, teasing me senselessly. I shifted, but his arms held me tightly.
“Yes. Okay?” I almost yelled out. “It was you. I didn’t know...” He groaned against my skin, his smile curling. “...I wanted it so much.” I closed my eyes in pleasure, vibration penetrating my skin and filling me from inside.
“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear this morning.” He stepped back, and I felt the loss immediately.
That’s not fair, I screamed inside my head. He was still holding me, but with an unnecessary distance between us. We were both panting, our gazes locked. Luke slid his fingers through his hair, trying to ease the tension.
“Coffee, then head downstairs?” I finally said. He nodded.
While he took care of the mess, I prepared him coffee.
“I still can’t believe you gave me that,” I said, inspecting the balloon arch’s wild color palette in the middle of the room.
“Everybody deserves a balloon arch at least once in their life.”
“Have you ever had one?”
“Not yet. I’m still young.” He grinned with his big smile and flirty attitude.
Half an hour later, we headed downstairs, still laughing about Luke’s failed attempt to talk with a shop owner in Portuguese since he didn’t speak any English. The accent was something to behold.
“Well, hello there,” Norah greeted, smiling widely. Even though we hadn’t planned to tell anyone, I felt exposed. Like they already knew.
“Morning,” Luke said, heading to the fridge, calm and laid-back.
“Where’s everyone?”
“Alex and Logan went to town. Summer and Ethan are on a romantic boat trip or something,” Norah replied.
“How’d you sleep, birthday girl?” Ava asked, eyeing me.
Oh no. I was a terrible liar.
Luke closed the fridge with a cheeky smile, suggesting he wanted to know the answer to it as well. I cleared my throat.
“Yesterday, I was the birthday girl. Today, I’m just Hazel again.” Luke grinned, amused by my attempt to dodge the question, then took the chair next to me.
“Hey, by the way, did anyone hear a scream last night?” Norah asked. I choked. In my mind, of course. I couldn’t let them know it affected me.
“Yeah, I heard it, too. I think it was Hazel in the other room.” Luke said out of nowhere, throwing me under the bus. I gawked at him. He bit his apple, eyes gleaming with amusement.
Oh, that’s how you wanna play it!
“Yes, I’m so sorry. I slipped on the cherry Luke had left on the floor. He ate all my leftover cake.”
“WHAT?” Ava shrieked. “My cake? Hazel’s and my cake?” She glared at Luke angrily. He rolled his jaw without saying a word to me. A challenging, entertained look in his eyes.
“Listen to me, you dolt. I baked that cake for her. I’ll scratch your eyes out next time you touch her dessert.” Ava was pointing a finger, serious and terrifying. It was quite funny to watch. I hid my smile behind my mug.
“Got it. Next time I’ll ask before touching your—” he murmured, locking eyes with me, “—dessert.” I swallowed.
Damn it! The dirty feelings were back.
Ava’s rage dissipated after some time, and she rearranged the sunflowers in front of me—the ones everybody gave me yesterday—making the kitchen sunnier.
“Did you know sunflowers usually face the sun, but when they can’t find it, they face each other?” I said.
Luke’s jaw twitched, hiding a smile, contemplating. “That’s my second favorite thing I’ve learned about you,” he leaned in, whispering. “Right after how to make you come.” Blood rushed between my thighs. I pinched him hard.
“Ow—I mean, hoooow do you know that?” he sputtered, rubbing his side as Norah and Ava looked up from their plates.
Nice save.
I smiled. “My mom told me that.”
“That’s sweet,” Norah said, sending me a look. After a minute, the conversation between the two of them resumed.
“Hey.” Luke bumped my shoulder. “Do you want to go for a drive? Just you and me?” His voice was low, meant just for me. Warmth bloomed in my chest.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Does it matter?” His smile was slow and deliberate, making my heart skip a beat. My knee shifted closer, brushing his under the bar.
No. It really didn’t.