Never Enough

chapter 17



Luke gave me directions to his house. I know I shouldn’t have gotten behind the wheel after I’d been drinking, but he lived literally right by Halley and I. I parked the car and he grabbed my face and our lips met. I wanted to straddle his lap but he pulled away and we got out of the car. His apartment was neat and tidy for a guy. I expected a mess but for a single guy living alone, it was very clean. Mr. Clean and the Scrubbing Bubbles guys would be proud.

“Wow, you mean to tell me a guy can actually have a clean place?” I crossed my arms and stood in awe taking everything in.

“Yes we can. I can’t stand a mess.” He pulled me close and our mouths met for another passionate kiss. How was this supposed to work tomorrow morning? It was bound to be super awkward. This was a position I’d never been in. But this wasn’t tomorrow, this was now and I had no regrets.

I heard my phone go off and I stopped our kiss to check it. Trevor was blowing my phone up. No doubt he’d seen me leave with Luke or even heard I did. I ignored the call and turned the phone off. “I’m sorry about that.”

“No problem. Who was that guy anyway? He seemed to have it pretty bad for you.”

I laughed before answering him. “Oh, him? He’s just yesterday’s news.” I wasn’t lying about it. I had no idea how to even cry over this anymore. I couldn’t spend my time wallowing in self-pity over a man who did what he did.

‘Ok, for a minute I was worried I had some competition.”

“Nope, he’s no competition. Just a bad memory.”

He frowned for a second then smiled and led me to his brown microfiber couch where he sat and I sat on his lap. “I have a confession.”

I looked at him still pretty drunk and laughed, “What’s that?”

“I never take women home from the bar. I wanted to ask for your number but asking you to come back to my place just came out first.” He had a boyish grin on his face and he just seemed so genuine and innocent.

“Really now? You just dance with a woman and accidentally ask her home? Honestly though, I’ve never gone home with anyone like this either.” Geez what was this? The drunk confession club?

“Looks like this is a first for us then.” He grabbed my face and our mouths met again. This was absolutely electrifying. I wrapped my arms around his neck and savored our kiss. He set me down beside him and grabbed my hand. We walked to a bedroom that was as clean as the living room. “Do you need something different to sleep in?”

I was still reeling from that kiss and all he could ask was whether I needed something to sleep in? “Oh, yeah, that’s fine.” I stammered out. He threw me a t-shirt and I excused myself to the bathroom to put it on. Even the damn bathroom was clean. Did he hire a maid or something? I’ve never honestly known a man to be so clean. I know I kept thinking this but it was true.

I walked back in the room and he whistled. “Ohmigod really?” My face must have been a few shades of red because I couldn’t stop blushing.

“What you look amazing in my shirt.” His green eyes shined as he spoke.

“What is this Luke, a Keith Urban song?” I walked over and sat on his bed. I placed my hand on this thigh and kissed his lips. This could work for me. No attachments, no anything. Just a good time.

He opened his mouth for my kiss and began running his fingers through my hair. I was ready to lose myself. Trevor’s memory tried to pop back in and I shoved it further back and continued to kiss him. I fumbled with the hem of his shirt and raised it up. He helped me finish removing it and I opened my eyes and just stared. His chest was full of tattoos and well his arms were too. How did I miss that in Gills? Wait, I know why. Damn drinking. “Wow Luke, these are really good.” I ran my hand over each and every one of them admiring all of them.

“Thanks, I did them all myself.” Wait do what? He was a tattoo artist?

I looked at him with the goofiest grin I could possibly wear and asked, “You’re a tattoo artist?” I felt like an overjoyed kid in a candy shop. How dorky is that? There was just something about ink.

“Guilty. You figured me out.” He began laughing and I smacked his arm. His sarcasm made me laugh with him.

“That is so hot.” I meant to think those words but my brain didn’t listen and the words just fell out. So much for not sounding stupid but we were both drunk so I doubt it really even mattered.

“You think so?” He began kissing me again and I traced every tattoo with my hands. He fumbled with my shirt and I helped him pull it off. He lay me down on the bed and caressed my breast through my bra. I arched my back moaning in pleasure. He continued to tease them while I whimpered begging for more. He undid my bra and hovered over me. He reached into his nightstand and pulled a condom out and removed both our pants. Before sliding in, he slid his finger in and I whimpered more. Once he slid in, I found the release I’d needed. I matched him thrust for thrust moaning out of sheer pleasure. Luke sure knew what he was doing. I definitely had no complaints. I ran my fingernails down his back as I finally exploded and he collapsed on me.

Breathing ragged he confessed, “You are just turning out to be a lot of firsts for me. I never take women home and I definitely never do this on the first night but wow. That was hot.”

I couldn’t say anything but grin. I slid his shirt back on and lay on his bed again. He kissed my forehead and everything happening felt so familiar but different at the same time. I could very well move on with my life. I fell asleep with his arm around my waist and for the first time since my miscarriage, I slept just fine.

Morning came and I awoke in a strange bed. My mind began racing as I sat up alone. Where was I? This wasn’t my bed but this room was amazingly clean. My eyes searched the room trying to piece sections of the night together. I looked over to the nightstand beside me and there lie the most beautiful red rose I’ve ever seen next to a glass of orange juice and a note. I opened the note and read: ‘Be right back. Went a few apartments down to do a tattoo. Make yourself comfortable. –Luke”. The night slowly began coming back to me. His arms, the grinding on the dance floor, Trevor being jealous. What else was there? Oh yes, Luke’s amazing lips and the sex…ohmigod we had sex last night. I grabbed my skirt and shirt off the floor and threw them on, thinking about making my escape. If I hurried, I could be downstairs and in my car before he came back and this would save us both the embarrassment of a one night stand. Ohmigod I had a one night stand. Shit!

“Hey, did you get my note?” Man he was even better looking sober. Every memory definitely came back. I froze in my tracks and smiled.

“Yeah, thanks. Um, thanks for letting me crash here.”

“No problem. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you woke up; I got a call for someone wanting a tattoo. Some poor guy has it bad. He looks familiar I just can’t place him. He got a charm bracelet tattooed on his forearm. Poor guy looked like absolute shit.” Luke shook his head as if he actually pitied this guy.

I sat there listening to him tell me about the tattoo he went to do and the minute he said charm bracelet. I froze. I had no idea what the reaction on my face was but I sure knew only one person would get something like that. Trevor. To ease my own tension I forced out a chuckle, “Wow poor guy. Do you normally make house calls?

“If they pay the price, yes I do. Enough about that though. Do you want to go grab something to eat? Or I mean I could make you a sandwich?”

A smile spread across my face. “I love sandwiches.” He reached out for my hand and I placed mine in his. He brought it to his lips just like Trevor did the first time we hung out. This was almost a case of déjà vu. He grabbed a loaf of bread and opened the refrigerator and pulled out ham, turkey, cheese and anything else you could imagine placing on a sandwich. My eyes grew wide and he began laughing.

“Make whatever you want. Then whenever you’re ready you can take me to my car.” He kissed my forehead and I began fixing a sandwich. That’s right. We rode in my car last night back here.

I was so full when I finished eating. I just sat there. I grabbed my phone and turned it on while Luke finished eating. Halley had called several times and Trevor called about twice as many times as she did and then there was a picture that just went through of the tattoo Luke just gave him. The skin around the tattoo was still red and puffy from it being so fresh. He was so stupid. The phone rang, it was Trevor. I hit ignore and stepped into Luke’s room to call Halley.

“Macy where are you?” Mother hen was in the house. I rolled my eyes and took a breath.

“I’m perfectly fine Hales. I’ll be home later today.”

“Trevor said you were all over some guy at Gills, did you go home with him? I’m not preaching at you I swear. I just want to make sure you are really ok.”

“Yes, I did and yes I am fine. Did Trevor tell you he got a f*cking tattoo of the charm bracelet? Luke is a tattoo artist and he went this morning to tattoo a charm bracelet on a guy’s arm and Trevor sent me the pic.”

There was silence then Halley began laughing. Great, she had jokes. “Ohmigod you mean to tell me that the guy you took home, gave your ex a tattoo? Do they know each other?”

“Actually smart ass he took me home, I didn’t take anyone home! Obviously they saw each other at the bar but Luke said he couldn’t place him. Look I’m going to bring him to his car in a few. I didn’t want to leave my car for Gary to see then I’ll be home.”

“Mace, you are a dirty girl.” She paused and then added, “ I’m so proud.” I rolled my eyes and hung up the phone. I opened Trevor’s text and looked at the tattoo. Tears stung my eyes. I know how bad he was hurting but I wasn’t ready to forgive him yet. I don’t think I would ever be ready to forgive him.

I replied to the text: ‘You really need to stop.’ I turned my phone back off and went back into the kitchen.

Luke was cleaning the mess. He cleaned too? I stood there amused with my hands on my hip watching him. I shoved Trevor’s stupidity back. I didn’t want to think about him today or any other day in my life. He turned around and grinned. “What? Did I do something?”

I flashed a big grin in his direction. “I never knew how amazingly hot it was to watch a man clean. Please tell me you have a feather duster! I’d love to see what you can do with that.” He threw the dish towel down and sauntered over to me.

He placed his arms on my waist and chuckled as he leaned in to kiss me. “Please tell me I can see you again after today.”

I kissed him back wrapping my arms around his neck pulling him closer. Forget the one night stand, I don’t think I could do it especially if he wanted to see me again. “Of course you can.”

I may have been using him for the wrong reasons last night but something about him today made me feel like I was going to be ok. He was too amazingly sweet and to think I let him bring me home from the bar. Thank god he wasn’t a crazy guy. I stared into those gorgeous green eyes and pulled him in for another kiss.