I should have said no. I should have been much stronger and told him to go, but I couldn't. Because where Lucas was concerned, I wasn't strong, not even a little bit. All it took was one touch, one kiss and I dissolved. Pathetic much?

I turned to look at the clothes splayed out on the bed. There was even some hanging on the chair, dresser, and headboard. This was not a date, so why the hell was I so indecisive? I had only said yes because I thought both Lucas and I had things to get off our chest.

I groaned and flopped back down on the bed. Who was I kidding?

A knock sounded at the door a few seconds before Chloe cautiously stuck her head in the room. Her eyes roamed the chaos of the bedroom before settling on me. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Oh, you know, just my impending mental meltdown," I responded before rolling onto my stomach. "Tell me, is it too late to flee the country?"

Chloe laughed and stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. "Then why did you say yes?"

"I see torture as a form of fourplay," I deadpan before my mouth twitched. Seconds later both Chloe and I burst out laughing.

Tears pooled in my eyes. As the laughter settled my emotions built in my chest. Chloe took notice instantly and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I know it might not seem like it now, but it's all going to be okay," she said as her eyes drifted to the strewn clothes on the bed then she plucked out a yellow and white sundress that I'd already ruled out. "I might not be able to help you with much but wear this."

The dress in question was about two inches from the knee, the bottom flared out with the top cinched around the chest. Two thin straps spanned across the shoulders and wrapped in an x pattern across the back. In other words, a date dress. This was not a date!

Then again, if I was going to face Lucas, I wanted to look my best, not a nervous wreck fiddling with her clothes. Yeah, let's go with that excuse. I took longer than usual getting ready for my 'not date' date. 

By four in the afternoon my bravado had faded to a low hum of trepidation. Michael was out, thank all that is holy, and surprisingly, so was Chloe. To be honest, I hadn't seen anyone lately.

Right at six, a truck pulled into Chloe's driveway and my heart gave an involuntary flutter. I walked to the front door but remained rooted to the spot, unable to grab the handle and pull the door open.

When a knock sounded at the door I tried to steel myself before swinging it open. It didn't work. Lucas stood on the porch wearing my favorite pair of dark jeans and a dark blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves, exposing his strong arms. The top two buttons were left undone showing a slither of hard skin that I knew was soft to the touch. He wore his signature black boots tucked in.

My eyes raked over him, taking in every inch like I couldn't help it. His hair was the same dark disheveled mess that he somehow made work, along with a soft shade of stubble lining his strong jaw.

Dark and oh so damn tempting. I nearly came on the spot. But it was the small smirk on his lips and the glint in his eyes that told me he knew, I was checking him out. My body heated as his gaze swept over me with the same intensity. Taking in the dress before coming to rest on my face. His eyes said. "I want a bite."

The words that came from his mouth. "You look amazing."

My mouth failed to work, my fingers itched to explore every inch of him. And my body? That bitch was about ready to undulate at his every command. Traitorous hussy.

Lucas cleared his throat and that amused smirk crept back on his face. My inability to form words in his delectable presence should have been enough to have me running. Instead, I found myself slowly swaying towards him.

"Hi," I said.

Words! Bow before my awesomeness. Yet again, I wonder what it is about Lucas that turns me into a socially inept teenager.

That smirk on his face turned into a near-blinding smile. He snaked his arm around my waist before pulling me flush against him. In the next instant, his lips were on mine, owning my mouth and wiping my mind clean. I don't take note of the fact that I barely put up any resistance. I don't even know where we are anymore. This is what it means to be kissed stupid and smarter girls than I would still be no match.

I get lost in the feeling of him holding me. His lips are soft and hard at the same time. Insistent and searching. Before long, Lucas pulled back, resting his forehead against mine.

He took a deep breath before placing a tender kiss on my forehead. "If we don't get out of here now, I'm going to drag you to bed, and then we'll never leave."

Not a declaration of love but enough to tempt me to clear my schedule. Before I had time to protest, Lucas pulled me out of the house and slammed the door shut.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked as Lucas pulled into the main road.

He looked over at me, smiled, and pulled my hand to his lips for a brief kiss. "It's a surprise." He said before guiding his eyes back to the road.

At first, I thought, a restaurant in town and fought to contain my eye roll. It was a nice thought but not made for deep talking. It would be awkward and stifling. But Lucas confused me yet again by driving through town and past all the restaurants.

Within a few minutes, we left the town behind and traveled farther from civilization. I kept nervously picking at my dress, so much for not appearing like a hot mess.

Soon, Lucas pulled into a small narrow road, nearly overgrown with greenery. The winding road led to a beautiful Tudor lake house with a dark wood wrap-around porch. A deck stretched out over the lake with a boat right next to it.

From the inside of the cab, I could see fairy lights around the deck and boat. I'm not sure how Lucas set this up and my heart melted a little around the edges. Lucas saw my awed expression and a small satisfied smile played on his lips. He jumped out of the cab and was around to my door before I could even get a hold of the handle.

I was nervous, more than I've ever been before. The question was why?

Lucas lead me down the pathway to the dock where the boat was. If he noticed how nervous I was, he didn't say anything.

At the dock, Lucas helped me into the boat. I still couldn't process what was happening. I thought we were coming here to talk, but if there was any question as to whether this was a date, it was gone now.

On one side of the small boat, pillows had been set out against the sides. On the floor, was a red blanket and next to that a cooler with a picnic basket. The fairy lights wrapped around the edge and were the only light source, giving everything a faint glow.

"I wanted candles," Lucas said from right behind me. The breath tickling me just behind my ear told me how close he was. I could feel his body heat all along my back and a shiver raced up my spine. "But, for obvious reasons, that wasn't going to work."

Getting into that small boat would mean I had nowhere to run. I could swim but I was by no means Olympic level. This might be a small lake but there was no way I was going to make it. I would be trapped out there with Lucas and even as the thought terrified me, it excited me as well.

I whirled around to face him, putting a safe amount of distance between us. Lucas smirked, smug bastard knew exactly what he was doing to me. It'd be like showing a starving woman a huge chocolate cake and telling her she can't have a bite. "I thought you wanted to talk?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest and trying my best to look unaffected.

"I do," Lucas said with a smile even as his eyes never left mine. "This is how I intend to do it. You know, for privacy. And you promised to listen."

His strong hands encircled my shoulders while tipping me back so he could look straight into my eyes. Heat lanced through my body at the contact. This man turned it me into an insatiable hussy. "And you promised to leave me alone." I remind him pointedly.

That smile stretches across his face, making my head spin. "I promised to leave you alone after tonight if that's what you wanted. Come on, what do you have to lose?"

Lucas buried his face against my neck, trailing soft kisses all along my flesh. What did I have to lose again? Self-respect? What's left of my heart? Eh, who needs those? If I was being honest with myself, which I rarely am, I had missed him.

"Okay." One word. So many regrets.

Lucas smiled, that smile that made panties everywhere combust, and hopped into the boat. He held his hand out to me and I took it. My defenses were shot to shit because I never really had any against him.

I was still awed at all the trouble he had gone through for tonight. If there was one thing I learned about Lucas in the time we spent together, it was his persistence. He wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted.

But I knew, I couldn't let him win this time. My heart couldn't take it again. Would he promise me a temporary relationship? Something as hollow as we had before? I loved him too much to put myself through it. He would shred my heart.

Lucas guided me to sit down on the pillows and pushed the boat away from the docks. Out here there were no city lights, no sounds that weren't produced by nature itself. The sun had already set. Our lights from the boat remained the only source.

Lucas steered the boat into the middle of the small lake before taking a seat next to me. "I fixed us something to eat."

The way my stomach was knotted up told me I had no chance in hell of getting a bite down. Lucas reached over and opened the basket. The smell instantly brought a smile to my face.

"You fixed us something to eat, or you get us something to eat?" I asked amused at the thought.

"Fine, but to be fair. I was rather busy today. I also remember how much you love Garcia's sloppy joes."

Okay, this was officially date territory and I had no idea how to feel about it. On one hand, I missed Lucas enough to say screw it. On the other, I keep torturing myself with something I can't have.

"You know, I had a plan for tonight." Lucas finally said breaking the silence.

I raised a brow. "Oh yeah? And what was that."

"To get you back."

I swallowed back my words, unable to form even a single retort or comment.

Lucas cupped my face with one strong hand, weaving his fingers through my hair. I closed my eyes and sighed. "Lucas, I..."

I didn't get to finish. His lips were on mine in the next breath. When I opened my mouth, he slipped his tongue in and my body lit up like a Christmas tree.

My hands flew to his hair, gripping the strands and bringing him closer. I had no thoughts other than kissing him. I was a fool for thinking I could fight him.

So instead of pushing him away, I crawled my way into his lap, straddling him and rocking the boat. His hands went to my hips, grinding me against him with enough friction that almost had me exploding.

To hell with it all! My hands slipped to the top of his shirt, working the buttons out. My hands shook, which made it hard for me to get them loose. But, I was determined.

Lucas took both my hands and gently pushed me back. I opened my eyes to his lust-filled blue one. But there was more in their depths. More, I didn't want to analyze right now. A tenderness I hadn't seen before. I needed him with a ferocity that was questionable.

"You infuriate me." He whispered in a husky voice.

I sat back dumbfounded. When I made a move to get off his lap, Lucas just gripped my hip tighter, and with the other hand, he brought my face back to his.

"You're stubborn as hell. Always making me question my sanity."

I snorted. "Jee, thanks."

He laughed before leaning forward to kiss a blazing trail down my neck. My body responded instantly by pushing closer to him. "You drive me insane." He said against my neck, warm breath making goosebumps race across my skin.

"The idea of any other man's hands on you makes me murderous."

I shivered at his words. Not sure where he was taking it but too enthralled to argue. He gripped my hips harder, bringing our centers together almost painfully and a whimper escaped my lips. A throbbing started low in my belly. It spread through my limbs with an intensity that made me wonder if I was on fire.

Lucas looked up, his eyes boring into mine, trapping the air in my lungs.

"You're it for me." He groaned, inches away from my lips. "I'm an idiot for thinking I could put up any sort of fight against you. You drive me crazy in all the best ways. You consume me. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I was scared of moving and shattering this moment that felt like my world was about to be rocked.

"Lucas," I breathed out, trying to catch his lips.

He remained just out of reach and smirked as if he knew he was driving me crazy. His eyes held mine. And for a moment that felt like an eternity, it was just us and the lightly rocking boat beneath us. "I love you, Katelyn."

I didn't have to ask if it was true. I saw it in his eyes. In the way, he held me, almost as if I was something precious to him. The last of my defenses fell away and surged forward, roughly pressing my lips to his.  To hell with it all indeed.