When they got to Luke's apartment, Riley felt awkward. She'd been there before, but the strange familiarity of it now made her skin prickle. Luke flicked on the lights, his jaw still set in anger. "You're not hurt, are you?"

Riley let out a sigh, the kind that tried to carry away the remnants of the evening. "I'm fine," she replied, attempting a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. But the way Luke scrutinized her told her he wasn't buying it. He stepped closer, his gaze piercing as if he could see through the facade she put up.

"Riley," he said softly, his tone dropping to a near whisper, "I know you better than that. You don't have to pretend with me."

She met his gaze, feeling a flicker of irritation mixed with warmth at his concern. Part of her wanted to lean into his worry, to let him sweep her up in his protective embrace. But she stood her ground, a sense of power surging within her. The night had been tough, yes, but it had also ignited something inside her—a fierce determination and strength she hadn't fully acknowledged before.

"I really am okay," she insisted, her voice firmer this time. And she believed it. The chaos of the club had tested her, pushed her boundaries, but it had also shown her just how resilient she could be. The adrenaline from navigating the night, combined with Luke's unwavering support, made her feel almost invincible.

"I just need a shower," she continued, before he could interrogate her further. Without waiting for a response, she headed toward the bathroom, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

In the bathroom, she quickly peeled off the tight top and skirt, desperate to rid herself of the night's grime. The moment she stepped into the shower, the hot water cascaded over her, washing away not just the physical remnants of the evening, but the emotional residue that clung to her.

As she lathered the soap over her skin, she couldn't help but reflect on the conflicting emotions she had felt earlier. Being in Luke's lap had ignited something within her, a sense of safety that was both comforting and confusing. Despite the chaos around them, in that moment, she had felt protected. The memory of his possessive grip around her waist and the warmth radiating from his body made her heart race, even as she tried to wash away the memory of the club. It was strange how dirty she felt, yet how safe he had made her feel amidst the chaos.

After rinsing off, she stepped out of the shower, feeling fresh but still vulnerable. Glancing at the pile of her club clothes, she couldn't bear the thought of putting them back on. Instead, she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself, the soft fabric offering a sense of security.

She padded back into the living room to find Luke sitting on the couch, elbows braced on his knees as he stared at his phone in concentration.

Riley cleared her throat. "Can I borrow some clothes?"

He glanced up at her, jaw clenching as desire immediately filled his gaze. He nodded tensely and stood to rummage through his dresser drawer before producing a massive pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt.

Riley smiled appreciatively before slipping back into the bathroom and putting on the shirt. It was massive, falling almost below her knees, so she didn't bother with the pajama pants.

As she emerged from the bathroom and entered the dimly lit kitchen, she spotted Luke standing by the window, staring out into the night with one hand braced against the counter. He had changed out of his street clothes and now stood shirtless, his plaid pajama shorts hanging deliciously low on his hips.

His profile was tense, shadows dancing across his features, and for a moment, she simply watched him, feeling a mixture of concern and affection. She couldn't help but appreciate the way his back muscles flexed as he shifted his weight to place both hands on the counter in front of him, hanging his head.

She walked over, positioning herself close enough to feel the heat radiating from him. She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms over her chest. "What's going on in that head of yours?" she asked softly, breaking the silence.

Luke turned to face her, his brow furrowed with frustration. "I hate this, Riley," he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "I hate that I couldn't do anything back there. I'm supposed to be able to protect you."

She frowned, knowing where this was heading. "I don't need you to protect me, Luke. I'm okay. I'm fine. Look at me, I'm fine." She gestured up and down her body.

He shook his head, not looking at her and swallowed thickly.

"Luke," she said softly. "I need you to trust me."

Finally, he turned to face her. His gaze raked over her from head to toe, a tortured expression passing over his handsome features. His eyes lingered on her lips momentarily before finally meeting her eyes.

"This has nothing to do with not trusting you." He exhaled, his frustration spilling over. "It has nothing to do with you not being capable. You're one of the best cops I know, but on the fifteenth? There's gonna be dangerous men, a lot of them." "

Riley felt a surge of defiance rise within her. "I don't need you to protect me," she snapped, meeting his gaze steadily. "I can handle myself."

He scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "That's not the point! You're not some—some rookie busting small-time weed dealers! You're in danger, and you're acting like it's all fine."

"Maybe I want to be treated like I'm capable!" she shot back, her voice rising. "You don't get to decide what I can handle!"

Luke stepped closer, and placed his arms on the counter on either side of her, tension crackling between them. "I don't want you working during the big meeting on the fifteenth," he said, his tone firm. "It's too risky."

Riley scoffed, looking away, but before she could respond, he continued, his voice almost a whisper.

"Riley. If something happens to you during the meeting...I don't know if I have the strength to be able to stop myself from blowing my cover. And then we're both dead."

Her heart hammered in her chest as she turned back to look up at him, their faces only inches apart. She could feel the heat radiating from him as they stood there, chest to chest with his body pressing hers into the kitchen counter. "Luke..."

Their argument was immediately forgotten as Luke groaned and slowly pressed his lips to hers. Riley melted in his arms, surrendering completely as she inhaled deeply and kissed him back.

She could feel every ounce of his desperation, his protectiveness, and his fear in the way his large, calloused hands moved to grip her waist. In the way he moved his mouth over hers, as if begging her to understand. As if he was afraid that she would disappear if he let go. Her hands made their way up his bare skin, feeling the rise and fall of his chest under her palms as his breathing grew more rapid, more frantic.

She needed more.

She gasped as Luke's hands made their way to her ass, lifting her up and placing her on the counter. She hissed as the cool marble made contact with her bare thighs. His hands gripped just above her knees as he stood between them, leaning forward to capture her mouth with his own once again.

She moaned into his mouth, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him even closer.

"Luke," she breathed against his mouth.

Hearing his name seemed to jolt him back to reality. Riley felt the muscles of his shoulders tense beneath her hands, and he stepped back slightly.

"Riley..." he began, his voice low.

Riley dug her nails into his shoulders, wrapping her legs around his waist and pulling him back toward her. "Don't you fucking dare," she murmured, eyes blazing into his.

That was all the encouragement he needed. His eyes darkened as his gaze moved down her body; nipples peaked through her shirt, legs wrapped around his waist.

"Fuck," He hissed, reaching forward and pinching one of her nipples through the thin fabric and sliding his other hand further up her thigh, gripping tightly. She gasped at the sensation, feeling her core melt at his touch.

He replaced his hand on her breast with his mouth, gently biting down on her nipple through the shirt as his arm encircled her waist and pulled her closer. His thumb traced the crease of her thigh, eliciting a whimper from Riley as she fought to get a handle on her desire.

"Such pretty noises," he murmured against her as he switched to torture her other breast. "So fucking perfect."

Riley gasped and arched into him, threading a hand into his hair as the hand on her thigh trailed closer and closer to where she wanted him.

He lifted his head to look into her eyes as one of his knuckles finally grazed her panty-covered center. His eyes were like molten lava, filled with such intensity that Riley had to look away. She glanced down to where his muscled, corded forearm disappeared underneath her massive pajama shirt and shuddered.

His other hand gently grabbed her chin, lifting her to meet his gaze once again as his thumb trailed along her jaw. He hissed her fiercely once, then peppered slow kisses across her jaw and down the side of her neck.

"Is this okay?" He murmured against her skin.

Riley nodded frantically, unable to speak.

He nipped and sucked at her neck as he gently reached down and spread her legs further, causing Riley's heart to pound and her breathing to become more rapid.

A low rumble sounded from his chest as he ran his thumb over her panties again, feeling the dampness soaking through. His teeth found her earlobe as he pulled her panties to the side, finally-

A knock on the door shattered the moment, leaving them both frozen, inches apart.

Before she could even register what was happening, Luke had leapt backward, moving like a shadow across the room, gun somehow already in hand. His movements were fast, precise, and deadly quiet. Riley's heart leapt into her throat as she realized this wasn't some casual visitor.

Luke paused at the door, peering through the peephole, his face instantly hardening. He frantically gestured at her, mouthing one word: Hide.

She scrambled off the counter, her pulse racing, knees weak, and darted toward the small closet in the corner of the room. The door creaked as she slipped inside, her breathing shallow as she squeezed into the cramped space between cleaning supplies and a couple of boxes. Her hands were shaking, trying to calm herself as she pulled the door shut. She could hear the lock turning as Luke opened the front door.

"Hey, man," Luke's voice was gruff, casual, as if the knock hadn't rattled them both to the core. "What are you doing here this late?"

The man stepped inside, his boots thudding heavily on the floor. "Got a situation. Thought I'd check in before the shipment goes down. You get that call this morning?"

Riley pressed her ear to the door, trying to make out the conversation, her heart hammering. She couldn't see anything, but she could hear the tension in Luke's voice.

"Yeah," Luke said, stepping aside and letting the man in. "Didn't think you'd come by, though. Figured we'd meet up later."

The man grunted, walking deeper into the room, his heavy steps echoing ominously close. "Nah, needed to make sure everything's in place. This one's bigger than usual, can't afford any fuck-ups."

Riley's breath caught as the footsteps got closer to the closet. She could hear the man moving, pacing. Her hand instinctively went to her waistband, her fingers brushing the cold metal of her concealed weapon. She could see the small sliver of light through the crack in the door as the man walked right in front of her hiding spot. She bit her lip, holding her breath.

"Everything's in place," Luke said, keeping his tone even. "We're ready."

There was a pause, a heavy silence that made Riley's heart pound even louder in her ears.

"You look like shit," the man said suddenly, with a chuckle. "You sure you're up for this?"

Luke gave a short laugh. "Late night. You know how it is."

The man was standing right outside the closet now, close enough for Riley to feel the floor vibrate under his boots. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying he wouldn't open the door.

"Alright," the man finally said, stepping back. "Make sure you're ready. Two weeks until it goes down. No excuses."

Luke nodded, walking him toward the door. "I'll be ready. You know where to find me."

Riley's entire body remained tense as she heard the door close, the lock clicking back into place. A long moment of silence passed before Luke moved back to the closet and yanked the door open, his face pale and tight with stress. He looked at her for a moment, throat bobbing.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low, urgent.

She nodded, stepping out of the closet on shaky legs, her pulse still racing. "Yeah," she breathed. "That was... too close."

Luke ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tight as he let out a slow breath. He looked away. "You should go."

The words hung between them, heavy and awkward, a stark reminder of the lines they were dangerously crossing. Riley didn't say anything for a moment, still trying to catch her breath. She could feel the tension between them, the undeniable pull that had been simmering since the beginning of the operation, but this—this was reality crashing back in.

"You're right," she finally said, her voice quiet. "This... can't happen again. It's too dangerous."

Luke didn't argue, didn't push back. He just nodded, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary before he turned away, tension radiating off him.

Riley grabbed her jacket, the weight of their near-miss settling heavily in her chest. She knew she had to go, but that didn't stop the ache in her gut as she walked to the door.

They didn't say goodbye, didn't acknowledge what had happened between them beyond the raw reality of the danger. As Riley stepped out into the cold morning air, she couldn't shake the feeling that something between them had shifted—something neither of them could take back.

*********************

Author's Note:

I'm SORRY!! The interruption of the spice had to happen!!!! 

So that was my FIRST EVER attempt at writing a spicy scene. What did y'all think?? I am BEGGING for feedback and criticism! Tell me what you liked, didn't like, or what you wish had happened ;) 

Thank you for your votes and comments!! <3