“I—” I pant. “I’m right… there.” A sharp but tantalizing sting of his teeth clamping down on the taught bud of my nipple sends me flying over the edge. I come completely undone.
I cry out as a tempest of white-hot pleasure crashes through me. My nails dig into his corded forearms as Luke finds his own release, a long guttural moan falling from his lips, his muscles trembling.
Luke drapes his body over me, leaning on his forearms, our chests rising and falling rapidly. I reach my hand up and brush the hair back from his forehead. His eyes meet mine, sparkling with something I can’t place. It makes my heart flutter, and a warm feeling I’m unfamiliar with flows through me. Rather than think too hard about it, I lift my face, my lips meeting his in a long, languorous kiss.
Forty
A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY
Liv
Iwake before dawn, wrapped in Luke’s arms, his stomach pressed against my back. His breath tickles the back of my neck, and I take a moment to relish the feeling of being held this way. It’s safe and comforting. It’s…right.
What am I saying?
I need to move, to put some space between us and this growing feeling. Growing attached is dangerous. I’m leaving soon, and even if I weren’t… I know how this story ends.
I slip out of Luke’s arms, check he’s still asleep, grab my clothes and the blanket from last night, and tiptoe downstairs.
The morning air is crisp and cool on my cheeks as I find myself back in the lawn chair from the night before. It’s so quiet out here. Waves lap gently against the shore as the sky bleeds from deep blue to a pinkish purple.
Last night was.... My mind wanders back to lying in bed, our bodies tangled together in a mess of limbs while Luke traced lazy circles along my shoulder. We crossed a line last night, and then sleep quickly became an afterthought. Memories flickered through my mind, bringing my attention to all the places mybody felt sore in the best possible way. I don’t remember when we finally drifted to sleep.
Most nights when I fall asleep, I’m restless with thoughts about work, plagued with worries about being alone forever. Not last night. Last night I fell asleep purely content. Fully at peace. It makes me nervous feeling so comfortable and content in Luke’s arms.
The door opens quietly. I turn to find Luke clad in sweats and a t-shirt, hair tousled from sleep. A deep affection blooms in my chest, and my heart rate kicks up a notch. He looks adorably sexy when he first wakes up.
“Hey, gorgeous.” His voice is thick with sleep. “Trying to catch the sunrise, huh?”
“Thought it might be nice, yeah. I couldn’t sleep anymore anyway. You’re like a damn furnace.”
He wedges in behind me, like he did last night, and pulls me into his body. “Sucks for you, because I’m gonna hold you here, just like I did last night. Don’t give a shit if I give off too much body heat.”
My body melts into his embrace, loving the feeling of being wrapped up in him.
“Fine,” I groan, and he chuckles in my ear.
The sky blooms pink, slowly brightening into yellows and blues as the sun lifts above the tree line. Small dinghy-type boats putter out into the lake, fishing poles propped up on the inside.
“What’s your favorite color?” Luke asks, breaking through the silence of the morning.
“Purple. Why?”
“Like a light purple or a deep purple?”
“Um… deep purple, I think. Why?” I turn my face to look at him, but he’s watching the sunrise.
“Just wondering. I know a lot about your work, your grandparents, your mom, but I don’t know a lot of the little things that make you,you. So, I thought I’d ask.”
Oh.My heart stutters.
“What’s your favorite color?” I ask.
“Hm… that’s a tough one. I like green, but not just one shade of green. Like all shades of green, except lime. That’s too bright.” His face scrunches. “Favorite food? No, wait… I already know that one. Croissants.”
“Not justanycroissants. Claire’s croissants.”
“Yours?”
