Page 2 of Coastal Runaway

Luke held his hand out to me as the DJ started playing a slow song, “dance with me?”

I hesitated for a moment before placing my drink on a passing server’s tray, and taking his extended hand. He led me to the middle of the dance floor, looped my hands around his neck, and placed his hands on my hips. The contact made my whole body shiver.

Luke had this confidence about him that I could feel rubbing off onto me as he swayed us to the music. I should have been scared or nervous, but with Luke all I had ever felt was safe. The longer we danced, the more confused that I felt about what game Luke was playing.

Was this some kind of joke?

A dare?

Was there a world where Luke was dancing with me this way because he actually wanted to?

“What's wrong, Tig?” He asked, running his thumb along the crease that had unknowingly formed between my eyebrows.

“Nothing.” I sighed, relaxing into his embrace, “tonight has just been a roller coaster of emotions.”

When I pulled away, we locked eyes. He stared at me like he was going to devour me. I noticed him start to lean in closer. He paused an inch from my mouth. My skin felt like it was on fire.

“What are you doing?” I whispered.

He smirked, “come with me.” Then he pulled my hands away from his neck and dragged me towards the house.

I woke up wrapped like a koala around the boy that I had loved my entire life. We ran the risk of getting caught in my room, but I didn’t care. If Luke wanted to claim me, then he would have to face the Kelly clan eventually—just preferably not while we were still in a compromising position.

I untangled my limbs from Luke and rolled to my side. Luke sleepily turned with me and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me into him. I sucked in a breath at the feeling of his hard length pressed into my ass. Feeling bold, I wiggled my butt. He moaned and tightened his arm.

“Careful, Tig. I know you must be sore, but if you don’t stop, then I’m going to have to take that cute little pussy again this morning,” he grumbled into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

“Promise?” I purred, wiggling one more time.

He chuckled and kissed my cheek before rolling away.

Feeling cold, I instantly missed his embrace. “Where are you going?” I frowned, rolling onto my stomach.

“I’m not new here, baby girl, I’m going to get you coffee before you turn from a sweet little sex kitten into a bloodthirsty monster.”

He rummaged through his duffel bag, and I took the opportunity to shamelessly ogle his gorgeous and toned ass while he slipped on a pair of shorts. He must have snuck out in the middle of the night to grab the overnight bag that he packed—originally planning to spend another drunken night in Nolan’s room.

“Okay fine, but only because I can’t say no to coffee.” I laughed and snuggled further into the bed. Luke walked over, leaning down to place a kiss to the top of my head. He started to move away, but I grabbed his face and placed a quick kiss to his mouth.

“Thank you for my She’s All That moment last night. It was truly perfect,” I muttered against his lips. He returned the kiss, then slipped out of my room in search of coffee before he could be seen by one of my family members, or our staff.

Despite only getting four hours of sleep, once Luke left the room, I became immediately restless. I had never felt more energized. I was floating on cloud nine.

Luke Cavan liked me.

I got out of bed, threw on a pink matching lounge shorts set, and ran a brush through my hair. I didn’t want my appearance to scream to the entire house that Luke altered my brain chemistry and rearranged my guts last night. When I finally looked presentable, I headed in search of Luke.

The kitchen in this house was on the other side of the grounds, but during the most recent renovations, the builders discovered and left open a hidden back hallway that lead to the old servants’ stairs which took you directly to the butler's pantry nestled between the kitchen and dining room. I quietly padded down the hall trying not to wake anyone on my way to climb Luke like a tree. As I entered the pantry, I paused when I heard the sound of my brother's voice in the kitchen.

“Okay bro, please tell me, where the fuck did you sleep last night?”

My stomach dropped. I assumed that we had been caught. Nolan would get over the fact that Luke and I were together, but I didn’t think that he would get over us sneaking around behind his back. Nolan was one of the most fiercely loyal people I had ever known, and he expected that loyalty in return. I peered around the corner but remained out of sight.

“Mike said he saw you head into the house with some blonde who was smoking hot.” He nudged Luke and smirked, “Who was it? Cammy? Not again dude. Please? I’ll have to chase her out of the house again.”

My stomach turned; not only had their friend not recognized me, but he assumed I was another one of Luke’s nameless conquests. Hearing my brother unknowingly refer to me as ‘smoking hot’ didn’t help ease the growing nausea in my stomach, either. I wasn’t naive to the fact that Luke was rumored to have slept with half of the girls in our school, but I felt like last night was different.

At least, I hoped he felt that too.