Chapter 32

Last night was a game changer, ladies and gents.  Everyone of you that's been half paying attention should be able to understand where I'm coming from on that.  Our situation with Clare would be different.  The public attention on me might even shift after being in that mental hospital yesterday.  And obviously, the most significant change, will be my relationship with Luke

Clearly, things last night escalated to the point of no return.  There was no more 'forgetting about it' like the other times.  I wouldn't be able to handle it, especially after I now know... that he feels for me too.  And that he pretty much admitted it to me too! 

When I woke up, Luke wasn't with me - which I wasn't sure how to feel about that.  Either way though, whether he was in bed when I woke up or not, the shock would have still been the same. I ended up just staring at my bed, processing it all still.  The image of him... the sight of him kneeling in front of me and bending down... kissing me like he had.  And oh, the feeling, his taste, his body right there was overwhelming.  Beautiful access to him.  Telling me he wouldn't stop this time... and then dragging me under the covers with him where he could hold me... kiss me, make me feel so at home. 

Taking a deep breath, I raised my eyebrows at just the memory as I laid there.  Running a hand through my hair, I cringed slightly at recalling the last thing I remembered from last night.  My stupid mistake of falling asleep while I was kissing him.  Fucking falling asleep!  What the hell is wrong with me?  I was scared he was going to stop even after he said he wouldn't.  I knew the guilt within him existed and was waiting for that to have come into effect.  And it didn't!  He kept kissing me... a first really with no interruptions.  And what do I do?  I fall asleep on the dude!  Very smooth.  Jesus, how embarrassing.  He better not back down from what we did last night because then, not only will I be hurt, I'll be seriously pissed off at myself for falling asleep and not making it last. Of course, I'm sure the heart break would dominate that, but still....

After those thoughts though, I became incredibly anxious.  Like why didn't he wake up next to me?  It's not that big of a deal, I know, but... was that suppose to mean something?  It's not like I'm am expert at this stuff.  But I did know well enough just how guilty he gets after something ignites between us.  Shared kisses in the past proved so since he seems to always run away.  I could only hope... that he meant what he said last night.  That he not only wouldn't stop, but that he can't anymore.  It made me love him in a way, just because of how good he wanted to be.  And though that would be something I'd usually laugh at, it was true.  He is incredibly fearful of his own desires. 

It's against his morals, it's against everything society teaches you.  And though the way people take it is BS, he interprets it in his own way.  He knows how wrong it is to have feelings for someone my age.  He knows he shouldn't feel anything after a very recent failed marriage.  He knows it's against the law... and that's even more hard considering the guy is a cop.  He's broken enough laws, including last night.  But I know I am in a whole other ballpark for him.  I didn't know what to expect from him today.  Whether for him to be cold to me, act as if it didn't happen, apologize and say it was nothing.... Or would I find him after I get out of bed and he would give me a kiss?  I didn't know and I was scared to find out.  I just knew I needed to. 

Taking a deep breath, I finally threw the covers off me and headed towards my door.  I forced myself to open it, not knowing what was about to happen.  Not knowing what to say to him or anything.  I just couldn't stay hiding.  Especially when I read that my clock showed it was 2:44 in the afternoon. Who knows, by now Clare could even be back.  If that was the case, shit was about to get real. 

When I checked in their room next to mine, and saw he wasn't in there sleeping, I headed towards the stairs.  Just as I began taking a couple steps down, I heard voices.  I paused, my heart going cold.  Who was that?  He was talking to someone....  Oh god, I bet it's fucking Clare.  I tried listening to make out words and I couldn't.  However, I did conclude that it sounded as if it was Luke talking to someone with a deeper voice, not that of what a woman would sound like. 

Continuing down the stairs and into the living room, I stopped for a moment and took in the room.  Nobody was in here.  I did notice though that by the door was a pair of boots and even a coat was hung up there too that I didn't recognize.... Who was here? 

I couldn't hide from him any longer - nor could I keep continuing on guessing who it was he was talking with.  So, taking a deep breath, I began to move again and towards the kitchen until I was standing in the entrance and taking in the two men, who now went silent upon seeing me.

Luke was sitting down at the table on the far side, facing his brother across from him.  However, upon my entrance, his attention was focused on me and no longer at the conversation he was having with Francis. His elbows resting on the table, and between them a plate of food he just made.  It filled the air with a steam filled with the delicious smell of eggs and bacon.  I even noticed Jack was chewing up a piece on the floor Luke must have just gave him.  But that didn't hold my attention, surprisingly.  

Luke was still wearing his muscle shirt, the one I ran my hands over last night, feeling his chiseled chest through.  He was also still wearing his uniformed pants too, I was sure.  His hair was messy, and in the better light, I noticed a couple prickles of hair running along his cheeks and curved chin.  Most of all though, my eyes got caught in his when they met.  I saw them light up at seeing me, the green in them seeming to have brightened to a lighter shade.  Raw and exposed glints... It made my chest tingle, my breath hitch... he wasn't looking at me the same. I noticed that right away and it freaked me out in more way than one.

His eyes showed no shame in mine.  But his lips stayed forced down and straight;  his jaw clenched and his breath increased as well. Either way, all I managed was to just take all of him in.

"Wow, what a welcoming hello to me," I heard Francis's voice interrupt my lost thoughts and it brought my eyes to him from where he was sitting across from Luke.  His back had been to the entrance of the kitchen so he was looking at me now when he craned his body and turned around in the chair he was sitting in.  "Christ, just go ahead and stare at him," he muttered teasingly sarcastic to me.  Taking a bit of his food, he chewed as he mumbled in fake anger, "Don't fall on your knees in awe.  It's not like I'm here or anything."

Taking him in, his soft curly hair around his ears, his eyebrows dipping down around his hazel eyes.  Wearing sweats like me, he on the other hand has probably been up for hours now.  Eyes teasing and open with excitement, they raised an eyebrow at me through his thick frames. 

I wasn't sure if Francis knew about what happened. I started to wonder based on those words to begin with.  But it wasn't like his words were unusual, like I said. So I highly doubted that Luke would have said anything to his brother.  So if Francis didn't know, that meant I had to go on and act as if nothing happened right now while he was here.  When Francis leaves, then I'd probably get a proper reaction out of Luke from last night.  But not now.  As far as anyone in this room was concerned, nothing happened last night between me and Luke.  

"Well damn," I said in mock anger at Francis,  "I was in a mental hospital yesterday and I don't even get a 'happy you are alive' or anything from you.  Thanks for offering your concern." I said, shaking my head at him, smirking as I moved towards the table.  Catching Luke's eyes, he gave me a soft smile as I sat down in a chair, adjacent to both of them.  That smile... forced me to grin back; I tried figuring out what it was he was thinking when I turned back to look at Francis still. Was that a smile because he was happy about what happened?  Or a sympathetic one?  Ugh, god how fucking pathetic.  I was annoying myself with teenage thoughts like this.  Pathetic.

Brushing away clamoring thoughts, I focused on what Francis said in response.  Looking at him, he gave me a look that reflected how he really did feel about the issue of the hospital I brought up.  Pursing his lips, he said, "I really am happy, Albany.  I can't even imagine what happened..." he said then paused, not wanting to bring those things up clearly.  It was still shocking knowing what happened - and that all of what happened occurred yesterday!  There is a reason I slept until nearly three in the afternoon. 

"Well, I'm okay now," I smiled, glancing to my savior, who managed to finally move and take a bite of his own food.  "He got me out."

Luke's smile for me remained and he just looked at me after swallowing.  He searched my face in... almost a caressing sweetness I was surprised at.  But I was still very afraid and I just continued to internally question myself of the matter.  Would he regret it or not?  Would he push me away again?  It didn't look like it... but I knew him well enough not to be surprised if he would. 

Looking to Francis, I saw his eyes were on Luke's.  "Yeah, and he was sure happy about getting you out!" Francis told me when he glanced back to me, chuckling slightly.  In a teasing voice as he looked between us, he said, "Luke was practically dancing in circles this morning."

My eyes widened slightly and could feel my cheeks warm at what he said.  I composed my face as best as I could though as I processed his words.  Francis said Luke was practically dancing this morning... but if anything, it wouldn't be because he managed to get me out.  It would be because of what happened last night between us. 

Biting my lip, I glanced to Luke in curiosity.  He was having a hard time swallowing his food while his eyes concentrated on his plate. It was really rather amusing and seeing a blush come to Luke's face... I was positive Francis was telling the truth.  When he managed to get his food down, and could feel my eyes on him, he shook his head and said, "Albany, you should really get a plate of food before it gets cold," trying to avoid the subject of him 'dancing in circles.'

Smirking, and trying to hide it from Francis, that's what I did.  I got up and made myself a plate.  And despite it being almost three, it was still breakfast time for me since I just woke up.  I assumed Luke too.  For the next thirty minutes or so, we just talked randomly.  It was hard acting as if everything was back to normal around him when I didn't have a clue as to where things would settle with Luke.  I just wanted to talk to him.... But until them, things seemed very charged in the air between us. I didn't know in which way but it was obvious what Luke and I were both thinking about. 

By the time we were all finished eating, I offered to take their plates and put them in the sink, being the angel I was.  After leaning over the table and grabbing Francis's, I turned and Luke handed me his empty plate while thanking me for it.  But grabbing the plate from him as quickly as possible, I had the balls to look up into his eyes after I held it.  Those green diamonds... they played in mine.  But they were very cautious to do so at the same time.  That's the feeling I got from him all morning.  Happy, very happy, but also quite cautious.

Taking in a deep breath when I took their plates to the sink, I tried wiping my mind of it.  Francis's words caught my attention and helped me a bit.  "So, I wanted to tell you guys that you're having dinner this Sunday and inviting me and my princess."

Luke just started to laugh at him.  Standing by the sink, I leaned back and rested my back against the counter as I smiled at the two brothers.  They sat across from each other talking but Francis's words made me smirk in amusement.  "Oh really?" Luke asked him, as if in a challenge.  "Last I checked this was our house," he said indicating me. "Not yours.  You can't just invite yourself over.  Brooke's welcome.  You might have to stick it out on the porch."

Francis scoffed at him and smirked.  "Sorry man, but you are having dinner for the both of us!  If anyone, I can take Albany's place around the table and she can sit outside," he teased, glancing to me.

"Well, aren't you funny," I said, getting a chuckle out of him.

In the next moment, I saw him stand up when he glanced back to Luke.  "Well, you can say no, but I'm telling Brooke her uncle Luke is having dinner on Sunday with us over.  Invite mom and dad too."

Luke smiled.  "Alright," he said lightly up to where his brother stood at the other end of the table.  "We'll have dinner here.  But don't be surprised if it can't work out.  It's not exactly too stable of a time right now," he told him more seriously.  "I haven't even talked to Clare yet," he mumbled, shaking his head in worry.

"Is she coming home today?" I asked him, cutting in.  Luke glanced up to me and pursed his lips before he nodded slowly.

"Yeah, she left a message.  She didn't sound happy but she said she will come home later this evening after work then after whatever else she has to do.  She's avoiding coming home but that's fine with me," he said shaking his head in disgust at her.

I wasn't sure what think though.  She's coming home tonight.  But... with the intent to get over what happened?  With a fucking gun to kill us?  With fake hugs and kisses?  I had no idea what to expect and I knew Luke didn't know what to think either.  It would be very tense, that's for sure.  I just hoped things would remain as stable as they possibly can.  Doubtful clearly but I could only hope. 

Francis spoke up.  "Well, if everything goes smoothly enough, dinner Sunday.  Got it?" he said to Luke and before he could answer, he glanced over to me, his smirk softening to a smile.  "And I am very happy you are okay."

"Thank you," I smiled, still feeling awkward over receiving care in that form. 

"Yeah.  To make you feel better," he said as he moved towards the entrance of the kitchen.  "Just fuck Luke again.  Clearly, you guys already did it last night," he said, looking between us with playful and teasing eyes that only made ours grow at his words. 

Glancing to Luke, I saw his face was red and eyes were dead on Francis - which was what he obviously wanted.  Before Luke could move on him, which I saw he was about to out of anger over what he said, Francis was already at the door and slipping his boats on from the sound of things.  We heard him grab his coat in laughter and open the door, both of us stunned at his words even though we shouldn't be.  "Don't be afraid to tell me about what happened either!" he yelled in laughter as he went out the door and shut it behind him swiftly before either of us could kick his ass. The issue was that his words were so out there, especially for saying it in front of both of us.  Damn.  Nothing could get past him.  He knew something happened between us, even if it wasn't sex. 

With the sound of the door shutting behind him, and the sound of him leaving in his car... there was nothing else besides silence.  I didn't move - I didn't want to move.  Because after his words faded, the reality of what really did happen came back to me.  With Luke sitting at the table, staring down at it with a thoughtful expression.  I kept looking at him, but then glanced down to the floor.  Where do we go from here?  Where do we go from here? was all I could think.  He took the first step.

I heard him slide the chair out from where he was sitting.  The sound seemed to have echoed throughout the kitchen and it drew my eyes to him.  He stood up and his eyes finally met mine.  And though I was scared, I couldn't look away.  He slowly moved towards me.  His lips straight, face relaxed... all except those eyes they were a light mossy emerald.  The intensity of seeing me differently, openly, and not backing down.

Leaning against the counter like I was, all I could do was stare up at him by the time he came to stand before me.  I didn't know what to say.  What could I?  'Hey man, thought your kissing techniques were awesome last night.  I hope you are willing to break all your morals to be with me.  I love you, by the way.'  No, folks.  Not happening, especially that last part.

I saw his lips purse before they parted for his warm breath, which I noticed now, picked up just slightly.  Then, he finally spoke, in a way that left me almost as cautious as his eyes showed before  "Are you scared?" 

I didn't need to ask for clarification.  With how quietly he said it, as if afraid of my answer, and the tone of his voice....  He wasn't asking if I was scared of Clare, of the gang, of anymore danger we will be facing.  He was asking if I was scared he would refuse again and pick morals over me.  I couldn't lie to him.

"Yes," I whispered.

Lips pressing back together, I saw he swallowed and then sighed at my answer.  His eyebrows dipped slightly before I felt one of his hands move forward and come to clasp mine that was resting at my side.  Not taking my eyes off him, I felt his fingers slowly start to tangle in mine until he was holding my hand in his rough and powerful one. 

Without another word, I felt him start to gently tug in indication to follow him when he began to step back a bit.  Confused at what he was doing, and loving that he grabbed my hand in that fashion, he turned and began to guide me out of the kitchen and into the living room.  And for the first time, with his hand in mine, his wedding band seemed to have burned my skin. 

Never before when he touched me, held my hand, cupped my cheek... did I feel his wedding ring.  I never paid any mind to it because I knew that I wouldn't get to this point in our relationship.  I never expected the real possibility of ever really being with him like I was now.  And because of that, I felt what this meant.  I felt his wedding ring on his finger as he held my hand unlike before. 

He guided me towards the couch and the next thing I knew, he led us to sit down.  He turned and faced me and I came to sit close next to him, his hand still resting in mine and burning with guilt - this time through me.  My thoughts were everywhere at this moment.  What was he about to say to me?  I had no idea.  What would this mean if he wants to be with me?  Trouble, that's for sure.  It would be a fight but one I knew would be worth it.  No matter the guilt on both our parts.

Looking up into his eyes, I felt the warmth radiate from where we touched - our legs, our hands, and his breath still close enough to feel.  His eyes were filled with sparks like before and I knew this would be it.  "Albany," he said in a light tone, squeezing my hand in his.  Biting his lip, I waited for it... my heart going faster with each second passing.  "I'm... done lying to you and to myself.  I-I want you.  Plain and simple."  He offered me a sweet smile that I took very much to heart.  "I've wanted you for a while now," he whispered, closing his eyes in pain at that knowledge.  "You're all I can think about.  And it's not worth the fight anymore," he said just before he opened his beautiful eyes and shot that stare through mine.

He was really saying this, wasn't he? It's hard to believe still.  There was no comparison with us.  He was at a different level than I was.  Everything should have pointed to this as a flat lie; there were so many issues on the matter....  But for some reason, somehow, I knew he was telling the truth. 

Taking in a shaky breath myself, I felt my lips part, to say something for an answer.  But I couldn't.  My mouth wide open and nothing coming out.  I finally said the most typical thing someone like me would have said.  "Um, I'm going to be shitting bricks soon enough if you keep this up," I said, chuckling in an uneasy breath. 

His lips spread and his teeth shinning to me came into my sight with a small smile to me and a gentle chuckle.  "Well," he breathed.  "You better make a break for the toilet soon," he said, laughing and shaking his head at where this serious conversation turned.  "Because... I'm crazy about you."

My chest jumped and I felt my eyebrows dip with my breath picking up.  Despite our little joking moment, this was a serious conversation - and one that will leave me passed out it felt like.  His words hypnotized me into a trance I never felt before.  And I loved how it felt, the warm impression he left on me. 

After he stopped speaking, I knew I needed to respond.  I didn't know if this meant he wanted to be with me the way I did him.  Or if he was admitting these things to get it off his chest but not want it to move forward... oh god, this dude is going to give me a heart attack.  He said he was crazy about me!  He said he wanted me!  T-That I'm all he can think about.  How?  How?! 

"Please don't be joking," I said, my voice shaky and I wasn't sure where that came from besides a place deep inside me and packed away.  Ridged breaths a constant now, I had to look down and away from his eyes in overwhelming emotion I wasn't sure how to deal with. 

I felt his free hand that was resting against the couch come up and brush my cheek as he spoke, the smooth feeling repeating and I felt myself moan from it.  "I know people have quit on you.  I know nothing good lasts for you.  I know how hurt you have been.  And I know that you can't believe this will last either right now.  But what I said... I mean it with all I have.  I want you... and no, sweetheart, this is not a joke," he said in such a soft and tender voice.  I forced my eyes back up to his and searched the wide jade fields they held.  My heart felt like it was tumbling around drunk in my chest.  I didn't know how to take all these beautiful things he was telling me.  "I know you are scared," he said.  "That you don't know whether you can trust my word on that this isn't a joke.  On that whether I wont back down.  But let me tell you something.  I've fought with myself long enough on the matter to know that I can't go on without you knowing I'm serious.  I want to be with you," he whispered softly. 

"But you..." I struggled.  "You know it's wrong.  You are going against all that--"

"You are worth it.  You're so worth it."

"But I wasn't before!  H-How... But why am I now?" 

"You always were," he said with a soft smile to my panicked expression.  "I just didn't know how to deal with it before.  And though I really don't know how to deal with my guilt now, I must because I want you and can't stop it any longer.  I don't want to let you go," he whispered.

I bit my lip and felt my other free hand reach up and cup his cheek as his was mine.  Taking a deep shaky breath, licking my lips, I wasn't sure how to respond to those words.  He seemed to realize that soon enough when I saw fear fill his eyes.  "Do you... not find me worth it?" he asked hesitantly, seeing that I only have responded so far with nothing but questions and reasons why we can't be together.

"No!" I shook my head violently and I saw his eyes fill up again with happiness and a little bit of confusion.  "Luke, I-I want you just as much.  Trust me, you have no idea," I said and I felt an unlocking of some sort at directly telling him I wanted him.  "I just... I just know that... there are so many things you find wrong with... us."

"You don't feel guilty?"  he asked.  "I know you do."

I sighed and tried to explain it to him as best as I could.  I hated bringing up the issues.  But they needed to be faced if we were going to get anywhere.  "Well, at seeing how... how possible this all is now... I'm beginning to noticed and feel your wedding ring when you touch me," I said in a scared breath.  I lifted my hand from his and raised it to my face, where he was cupping my cheek.  I laid my hand on his over my cheek and felt his wedding ring as I have been this whole time.  Staring into his eyes, that realization, I saw it hurt him knowing my guilt too.  "Luke, I know you hate her.  I know you want out.  But... feeling your wedding ring against me just feels so... poisonous.  And," I said, catching my breath and having a rougher time explaining.  "I mean how could you want a girl as young as me, your wife's daughter, and someone you normally wouldn't want to begin with?"

He just stared at me for a bit longer in silence; then, he whispered to me,"How could I want you, you ask?  Because you're special.  I've never met... a girl like you before."  I saw a smile come to his face.  "You're one of the funniest people I know.  You're someone that understands me fully and I can't say that about anyone else.  In my mind, I didn't marry your mother.  I married someone that never existed.  The day I met you, the love for that nonexistent bitch began to die.  That day.  After that, you took me over, bit by bit."

I swallowed as I absorbed his words and felt it come together.  All he hid from me.  One could blame him for wanting me so soon after he was dedicated with Clare.  But in large doses, she left his heart quickly.  Because despite claiming over and over he loved her, I knew it was fading.  I knew it and his words proved he just couldn't accept it at the time.  I felt him move closer down to me as he spoke into my eyes, directly to my aching heart.

"In my mind, you're not 17.  You're so much older than that because you've been through so much.  And because of that, it only draws me more to you.  I want to help you, give you everything you didn't have before.  Do I think it's wrong?  In general standards, yeah, sure I do.  But I personally at this point can't give a fuck about it anymore."  He removed his hand away from my cheek and mine with it.  He looked down at the ring on it before he pointed to it.  "I know you understand this is a prop.  But it still bothers you and to be honest, it's bothered me from the moment you began taking over my heart," he said as I watched his slip off the gold band around his finger and in astonishment, he lightly tossed carelessly onto the coffee table.  Just as he was turning back to me from where I was sitting beside him on the couch, I couldn't take it any longer.  I couldn't. 

I moved forward to where he just returned back to face me.  I brought both my arms up and wrapped them around his neck, leaning forward as I brought my lips to his.  The moment I did, I felt the love feeling me instantly again like before.  I felt myself come to kneel up on the couch more to get a better angle of his lips.  He seemed to have wanted that too.  His hands wrapped around me instantly when he turned his body to kiss me back. 

His lips were a force on mine, smashing up into my mouth as I was kneeling over him.  My arms around his neck, I felt my hands wind back up towards his head.  Burying my fingers in his soft hair, I gripped him even more to my lips.  It felt so good... and this time, for the first time, I wasn't worried about him moving away.  Denying me.  Instead, he embraced me just as I was him.  His hands wrapped around my back but one quickly moved down to the inside of my leg.  I felt him begin to guide me closer to him.  He moved my bent leg to the other side of his lap so I was now straddling him over his lap as I kissed him.  At the same time, he sat back fully until his back rested into the couch, leaving me with more room in his lap and to move over his lips.

His neck craning up to meet my lips, I was closer and more comfortable in his lap like this.  But those thoughts left me when he continued to kiss me.  I couldn't believe this... I didn't know where to start.  I just knew it would be a gradual intake before it hits me and I die out of pure shock and excitement (what an unfortunate death that would be).  But... I don't ever remember feeling as happy as I was now. 

His been my friend for a long time now.  And most of that time was spent imagining this moment right here, like a pathetic teenager would do.  Except right now, I felt like anything but a kid.  I felt like his woman, as strange as that sounds.  I believed this would be the first time something begins to last.  Everything changes, everything eventually ends... but I was beginning to have an alternative way of looking at Luke and I. 

 His arms coming to wrap even more tightly around my back as I knelt in his lap, my head dipped down with my lips moving in his... I felt so warm.  My hair that was free flowing around my shoulders moved as a curtain around Luke's face since my head was craned down.  I could feel him begin to slightly smile around my lips, loving this.  It made my insides tingle, knowing he wanted me.  That this was happening... and that this would continue happening.  This would happen with us.  

My tongue softly filling his mouth, his tongue doing the same in return, I felt him just slightly pull back and it the next moment, the sparks fizzed through my skin and began to fade when our lips detatched slowly.  However, this time, I wasn't scared.  He wouldn't shut me down, he wouldn't run away. 

Our lips slowly moving back, I leaned up slightly to gaze down into his eyes.  Which, staring into them, seemed dazed.  Wide and in awe.  His smile was still slightly there in amazement.  I felt his hand that was around me rise up and brush a few locks of my hair aside in order for him to snake his fingers up under my chin and cup my neck.  

"Jesus," he whispered.  "I can't believe you're here.  You're in my lap, kissing me."

I chuckled slightly and it was a new feeling.  One so very open and pleasing to me... that flirting and teasing nature I loved without the constant awkwardness.  To openly recognize this between us... it was just different.  Biting my lip, I felt my fingers play through his hair just barely as I spoke.  "This is really weird," I said.  "It will be a lot to get use to..." I said as I lowered my head but instead of kissing his eager lips, I tilted my head to the side and moved my mouth down.  I pressed my lips against the curve of his neck and with that, he arched it for me as I began to playfully suck at his skin there, a soft moan escaping my lips. 

"I-I take that... as a good weird," he said in a high pitched voice, that hand that was on my neck sliding up to my head to hold me in place against him where I was kissing along his skin.  His taste was wonderful, sweet and smooth... not to mention his scent.  Being as close as I was, especially with my nose brushing against his soft hair and neck, I took in the familiar and welcoming smell of his shampoo.  The clean musk running through my veins.

"Yep, yep.  Definitely a good weird," I whispered in a fast breath, my teeth lightly grazing along his skin.  Moving my head back and coming to kneel back up straight again, his hands resting on me, I stared into his fiery eyes, filled with fuel over me as crazy as that was to accept.  The tips of our noses brushing, I felt his breath break in rhythm.  But before our lips locked once more, I couldn't help but say one last thing that was lingering in my mind from earlier.   "So Luke," I whispered.  "You were practically dancing in circles?" I teased him, restating the words Francis used to describe Luke's vibe or behavior before I was up. 

I watched closely as his lips tilted up in a soft and teasing smirk.  Shaking his head slightly, he said softly against my lips in a playing voice, "Shut up." 

Just as I began to chuckle at his words, he cut me off playfully.  I felt the swift movement of him pulling me down to his lips this time.  Much more urgently... kissing me, with that same lightness, same smile shared between the contact of our lips. 

Kissing me like he wouldn't get enough of me and would never be satisfied.  My entire self given to him... surrendered in his lap and around him as he held my back as I knelt there.  His tongue running over my lips, his breath pressing against the walls of my mouth, and his sweet taste... all that filled me!  I became happily lost within him.  And I never felt as joyful to be lost as I was now.  I never wanted to be found.  Despite my statement about shitting bricks, I surpassed that moment.  I didn't do it, do don't fret folks.  But lord knows how much more I can take of this man.  After all, I'm not just who drives him crazy.  He drives me over the edge in desperate insanity.  The only time I would ever welcome such a claim. 

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You can all blame Francis for Luke not waking up with her haha!  Also, this may seem a bit of a choppy chapter in some spots but it's only because I didn't go through and reread much or edit, add anything else to make it flow... It's so late and I can't think anymore and work on it without falling asleep. I'll get to it soon enough! I hope you enjoyed this chapter.