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Now, Rose still wore the red heels she’d had on at his office, and though her jeans hid much more of her than the black dress had, he still found himself stealing glances at her long legs and the way the denim hugged her hips as she moved. She hadn’t stopped smiling since they’d left Giordano’s, and the sight made him prouder than he’d been in a long while. He’d been a little nervous that he might’ve lost his touch when it came to brightening her mood, after being out of practice for so long, but it was hard to forget her favorite pizza place, and he knew she’d always loved to watch the pier light up at night.
“…and if we hurry, we could still catch it at the IMAX.”
Luke blinked and refocused on the conversation at hand. “Yeah, we can do that.”
“I’m sure we could, if Empire hadn’t come out in 1980. I knew you weren’t listening.”
Her tone was teasing, but Luke’s cheeks still burned uncomfortably. He didn’t typically let himself lose focus when she spoke, but just being near her was still so fresh and exciting that he couldn’t keep himself from stopping to stare at her, now and then. Rose stretched up and kissed his cheek, and the burning of his skin grew hotter at the touch of her lips.
“We could find something else on, though, if you want,” she said. The tip of her nose was pink, the rest of her face a little bit flushed from the bite of the wind, and her smile was just as bright as he’d ever seen it. If he hadn’t seen her crying earlier, he wouldn’t have suspected she’d done so in years.
“It’s up to you,” he said as he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her temple. “We can stay as long as you want. I bought you something while I was out earlier, by the way.”
She raised a brow. “Should I be scared?”
He chuckled, and he didn’t bother hiding the desire in his voice.
Chapter Ten
Rose was beyond elated. The evening had been long and perfect—getting out of the house for a while had brightened her spirits on its own, and she was flattered that Luke remembered how much she loved the Giordano’s on Navy Pier and had made the effort to get her there. She hadn’t expected such a turbulent day to turn so incredible. But he’d always been good at chasing away whatever dark clouds surrounded her.
She backed over the threshold of Luke’s bedroom as she watched him with a smile, and he closed the door behind them swiftly before striding across the floor to meet her. He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, and the feeling of his body pressed to hers sent a jolt of electricity through her. She took in the green of his eyes and the sharpness of his jaw and the effortlessly seductive half-smirk he wore.
“In case I haven’t told you enough, yet,” he said, his tone low and smooth, “I’m glad you’re here.”
Her pulse quickened, and she ran her fingertips up his chest. “Me too. You’ve made tonight almost perfect.”
“Almost?” He arched a brow. “What’s missing? Name it and it’s yours.”
Rose laughed softly. “The only thing I still want is you.” The words came out more easily than she’d anticipated. The previous night, she’d stood frozen in his bedroom doorway, unable to tell him how much she still wanted him. Needed him. It was growing easier all the time to pretend that things had gone back to normal between them—that she could make the first move and be confident that he wouldn’t pull away from her and shut her out again.
Luke chuckled and slid his hands along her waist. “Ah. Then you should take a look in the closet.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
“It’s better if you see it.” He nodded toward the polished wooden door in the corner. She grudgingly stepped away from him and started across the room. Whatever he’d planned, she intended to let him see it through. She slipped into the closet, where she found immediately what he’d left there for her.
The corset lying on the wardrobe was scarlet, and the panties were made from a black lace so thin she wasn’t sure it could be described as material. Her cheeks burned at the sight of the lingerie, but the idea that he’d chosen it sent a hot twinge through her body. She quickly slipped off her clothes and pulled on what Luke had left out for her, realizing as she did so that the corset was exactly her size. He must’ve remembered what she’d told him when they’d been together. It hugged her body perfectly, and its low cut drew attention to her breasts. The panties were so thin it felt like she wasn’t wearing anything at all—they barely covered her in the front, and in the back, they shielded about as much as a thong.
One thought played through her mind on a loop as she dressed: Luke wants to see me in this...
Her heart pounding, Rose returned to the main room. She realized immediately that the atmosphere had changed in her absence. The lights were out, and Luke had lit a few candles on the dresser and both nightstands. He stood beside the bed, his shirt unbuttoned and his belt discarded along with his shoes and socks. His gaze met hers, and then she watched his face as he eyed her up and down and every other way, his gaze lingering on her lips, her breasts, and the scarcely covered space between her thighs.
“Holy hell,” he muttered.
Rose was sure she would melt under his gaze as heat spread through her cheeks and crept along her skin. She never quite got over the way he looked at her when he wanted her.
“Does that mean you like it?” she asked. She started across the room, making sure to swing her hips as she approached him.
Luke rushed forward to meet her. He gripped her waist and pulled her tight against him. “You’ll be the death of me,” he said quietly.
He leaned down to meet her lips and claim them forcefully as his hands began to roam along her sides. Her skin was on fire beneath his touch, even through the satin of the corset, and she could feel his erection pressing against her hip. Eventually, one of his hands drifted down to brush over the lace of her panties, and a low rumble escaped his throat.
Rose pulled her lips back just slightly. “Why don’t you let me put on a little bit of a show for you? You seem very excited to see me in this.” Without warning, she slipped her hand into his pocket to brush against his length, and her sex ached at the feeling of his hardness.
Luke groaned sharply, his hips arching toward her hand. “A show? I think that would be perfect.”
“Good. Why don’t you sit down? Let me take care of things for a little while.” She gave him a playful little shove toward the bed, and he let himself fall, his eyes sweeping over her as he sat. When his focus landed on her breasts, she stretched. She pushed her chest out as she leaned backward. “You know,” she continued, “you have very good taste. It moves nicely.”
