A few moments later, he starts the car and drives in the direction of my apartment. It’s less than a ten-minute drive to my place in New Farm and we make the trip in silence. My brain is firing haphazardly as I sift through my thoughts and feelings.
Hopefully he’ll just drop me off and keep going.
There is no way you can let him into your apartment because you’ll end up jumping his bones.
Who are you kidding? There’s no way he’s going to just drop and run.
Oh, God. Please send help.
We reach my apartment complex and he parks the car. As he switches off the ignition, I know how this is going to go down. He’s going to walk me in and I’m not going to be able to stop myself from making a move. I’m so damn horny and a woman can only control herself to a certain point.
I want Luke and there’s no more denying it.
“You don’t have to walk me in,” I blurt out, making one last attempt at trying to control myself. As the words pass by my lips, even I’m hoping he ignores them.
And he does.
“I’m walking you in, Callie. Don’t even try to argue with me.”
He unfastens his seat belt and exits the car.
Five minutes later, he follows me into my apartment after guiding me from the car with his hand on my back again. To say I love the hell out of his hand on me, is an understatement.
“Is Matt home?” he asks as he looks around the lounge room. It’s been a good three months since he’s been here and I’ve made a lot of changes since then.
“He moved out last week.” Luke never really liked my ex-roommate and I catch the smile that flickers across his face at the news.
I kick my heels off and almost moan at the instant relief. Heels and me don’t have a good relationship, but I had to wear them tonight. I mean, what else do you wear with a little black dress?
Luke’s gaze is drawn to my feet and I savour the slow burn of heat as his eyes slowly move back up my body. When they meet my gaze, my legs go weak and my heart begins beating faster.
He wants me as much as I want him.
How have I missed this?
Holding his gaze, I close the distance between us and place my hand on his chest.
My gaze drops to his lips.
I need those lips on mine.
Now.
“Don’t,” he says in his husky voice, and my thoughts come to a screeching halt.
Don’t?
I look back up into his eyes, searching for a sign that I misheard, but the way he’s staring down at me tells me I didn’t.
Conflict sits heavy on his face.
Frowning, I remove my hand from his chest and ask, “Why not?”
His chest rises as he draws a deep, ragged breath. “We don’t want to start something that can’t go anywhere. I don’t want to do that to you.”
I don’t understand his reasoning. “What do you mean it can’t go anywhere? And besides, who said this couldn’t just be a one night deal?”
His lips press together and he rakes his fingers through his hair. It’s clear he’s torn over this decision. “We’re friends, have been for a year now, can you honestly see us sleeping together once and then acting like nothing happened?”
No.
“Yes.” God, I want him. Even more, now that he’s telling me no.
“Bullshit.” He watches me closely for my response and I want to scream out my need for him, but I refrain.
“Okay, so maybe not, but why can’t we see where it leads?”
“Because I know where it will lead. To heartbreak, and I refuse to hurt you.” He speaks with a finality that irritates me. As if he gets the final say and I get no input.
“I know you think that you know everything, Luke, but on this, you don’t. You have no idea where it might go, and I want to know what’s holding you back.” I train my eyes on him in an effort to make it clear I’m not giving in to him on this.
“Jesus!” He rubs the back of his neck as he takes a step away from me. When he begins pacing, I wonder what the hell is going on in his mind. I’ve never been turned down by a man before.
Maybe I read him wrong.
Maybe he doesn’t want me.
And then he surprises the hell out of me by stalking back to me, taking hold of my face with both his hands and kissing me.
Oh dear Lord.
His lips fit perfectly to mine.
He caught me off guard for a moment, but I quickly get back in the game and wrap my arms around him while pressing my body close.
No man has ever kissed me the way Luke is kissing me.
It’s like sunshine on a rainy day, when all the doom that’s been cast your way during the pounding rain finally clears and you see those first rays of a rainbow mixed with glints of sun.
Sweet, sweet, happy rays of sunshine that make you want to dance. That make you feel happy and thankful when all you were feeling before was sad and gloomy.
That’s how Luke’s kiss makes me feel.
I don’t ever want this kiss to end.
His tongue dances with mine, and my body lights up with pleasure.
Don’t ever stop.
Please.
My fingers tangle in his hair and I moan into his mouth as he deepens the kiss. And when he growls his pleasure, I press even harder against him. Against his erection.
He wants me as much as I want him.
Thank you, sweet, sweet universe.