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“What about when the next project begins?” I asked. “I’m not going to be here for a while then, at least.”
It was a question he considered for a moment, and I tried to anticipate what he might say.
“We’re likely to be going back and forth more. Weekends here and things like that. It’s close enough, and we can fly.” He shrugged, and I got the impression he also hoped I would be spending some of that time with him, but it gave me a safe space that would be all mine.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to keep me here in Chicago. Get me to consider staying in your country longer-term.” I couldn’t keep myself from smiling. Lukas had made a mistake, and for a few weeks, it had torn my heart open, but there was still one matter that hadn’t been rectified. I didn’t know how to bring it up, however.
Lukas was studying me intently and it made me blush at the thought of him being a dominant in my life again. I had been uncomfortable the last day I had been with him and not been able to seek comfort from him, but I understood what had happened then as well. To some degree.
I looked away, not sure how to put into words how I was feeling. It didn’t seem to matter that I knew why he’d cut me loose, I still remembered how difficult it had been. It was the one blip I didn’t know if it could be fixed with apologies and kindness, or romantic gestures.
While I tried to sort through my feelings and decide if I could let something like this go or it would be too difficult to forget, Lukas reached out and stroked my cheek with his thumb.
“I know I was awful to you. And I know I have no reason to hope you’d forgive me, especially after acting the way I did. I betrayed your trust in me and I was careless of your needs. It’s a mistake I’d like to try and put right, if you’ll give me another chance.”
Although I was screaming on the inside to say yes, I hesitated. Fear had filled me when he had been so cold.
“Will you change again the next time something goes wrong? Or I don’t behave the way you want?”
“No. I...” Lukas looked down. “I can’t promise to be perfect. And I won’t. But I know I’ve let past hurt get in the way of how I feel about you and I just ended up hurting more, and even worse, hurting you as well. It was far worse to realize how much I had hurt you than it was to know I hurt myself.”
I exhaled and leaned into his thumb and hand as he continued to stroke my cheek. The contact felt good. For a few seconds I closed my eyes and simply allowed myself to feel.
This was perfect. I didn’t feel nervous or scared, and the gentle motion of his skin against mine soothed away my worries.
“All right,” I replied, looking up at him. “I can give you a second chance.”
He cupped my cheeks with his hands, still gentle as he kissed me. Passion raced through me, desire for him. I wanted to give in. To see where it went.
The kiss grew more intense. I leaned in and pressed my body against his. Heat pooled between my thighs, taking me by surprise. He picked up on my desire and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in tight against him.
I lifted my hands and reached for him, wanting more. Wanting him. I ached for him, surprised by the intensity of my feelings. Now that I wasn’t fighting them, they pushed forward in a rush.
To my surprise Lukas took my hands in his and pulled away. He held me at arm’s length.
“Not yet,” he said. “I want to enjoy you and take my time. If you have a dinner engagement, then we should make that. Do you know where Sarai was planning to take you? If not, I’ve got a really good idea.”
I shrugged. I wasn’t sure what she’d thought of. Sarai almost always knew where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do.
Lukas appeared to have other plans, and he walked away from me to pull out his phone and message her. I took a few deep breaths, feeling frustrated he hadn’t wanted to screw me yet. Another look around the room brought me to my senses.
There wasn’t a bit of furniture in the entire house. No bed, and nothing else that could be considered comfortable. Not that it had stopped Lukas every time. He’d fucked me in a restroom before.
I blushed as I thought about it. He certainly made life more interesting.
Before I could do more than consider what might follow if I let it, Lukas took my hand and led me back out to the car again. I brought the tablet and card with me, tucking both into my purse. If I got a chance, I’d begin by setting up the place. I’d start with the bed and work my way out from there.
I hadn’t expected to get to do something so fun, but I certainly wasn’t going to complain. This could be something I got used to. If he gained a property every time his company finished a project and they rented them out as a mix of vacation rentals and longer-term residences, I could help furnish some of them, I was sure.
As we drove I considered asking where we were going to go, but I began to suspect once I recognized where we were. Once again, Lukas was taking me to the restaurant with the fries andshake we’d tried together. It was the third time we’d been to it and the first time Daniel would.
I knew he’d orchestrated it but to my surprise everyone else was already there. They were sitting at one of the larger booths near the back, and Lukas took my hand in his as we walked down the length of the building. Although I was surprised he wanted to be so public about us being together again, I didn’t pull away.
Sarai and Daniel both noticed, but they weren’t the only people there, and no one said anything.
“Perfect. Now we’re all here, let’s celebrate,” Sarai said. “We’ve got a bright future, and we know where we’re heading. Thank you all of you for making this happen. It has been a dream to work with you all and I know we’re going to love working together again.”
I lifted my glass, feeling happy among the new friends I had made. When I had gone to Juno’s wedding, I had thought only of not sticking out or appearing too awkward. I never dreamed it would lead to so much more.
