Chapter 1

Lily

 

“Have I told you how much I love you, Luke Matthews?” I asked as I ran my hand across his chest.

“You have, babe, and I don’t ever want you to stop telling me.”

I lifted my head from his chest and kissed his lips – the lips that devoured every inch of my skin last night from head to toe. The lips that made me warm when I was cold, and the lips that gave me the security I desperately needed.

It had been two months since Sam’s and Gretchen’s accident. Gretchen’s leg was healing nicely and Sam waited on her hand and foot, practically never leaving her side. Luke pretty much moved into my apartment, since Sam moved Gretchen into his. Lucky was staying with Giselle at her place because his apartment building had a flood and it was being renovated. Their relationship was still weird. Even though Giselle was pregnant with Lucky’s kid, it didn’t stop the two of them from seeing other people. It was awkward when one of them would bring the other out with us.

“I guess I should get up and head over to the bar,” Luke sighed.

I tightened my arm around him because I didn’t want to move. “No,” I said.

“What do you mean?” Luke laughed.

“I think we should stay in bed all day and do nothing but have wild sex.” I smiled as my hand traveled down to his hard cock.

“You sure know how to turn me on, babe,” he said as he rolled me over and hovered over me. “I have to go to the bar. You have to edit those photos for Mrs. Braxton, and we have a lunch date with Charley today.” He smiled as he took down my panties.

“You’re right. But, promise me we’ll schedule a day when we can just stay in bed all day and not worry about the outside world.”

“You got it.” He smiled as he plunged his finger inside me. “Now, give me your lips and shush. I’m going to make sweet love to you.”

After a sweet round of lovemaking, Luke took a shower and I made a pot of coffee. As I waited for it to finish brewing, I stared out my window at the perfectly blue sky and the sun that was shining brightly into my living room. Settling in Santa Monica was the best decision I ever made. Lost in my thoughts, I felt strong arms wrap around me. I tilted my head back and looked up at Luke’s smiling face.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Just admiring the beauty of the day.”

He was wearing only jeans and his hair was still soaking wet. He was the sexiest man alive, as far as I was concerned, and I couldn’t seem to get enough of him.

“Well, I’m admiring the beauty in front of me.” He tilted his head and softly kissed my neck.

I giggled. “You sure have a way with words, Mr. Matthews.”

“And you have a way with those lips.” He smiled as he kissed me again.

Luke walked to the coffee pot, poured a cup of coffee, and sat down at the table.

“Do you want me to make you breakfast?” I asked.

“Nah, I’m good, babe. I’ll grab something at the bar.”

There was a knock at the door and Sam’s boisterous voice came through loud and clear. “Dude, are you up? Are you decent?”

Luke sighed as he got up from his chair and opened the door.

“Morning, Sam. Morning, Gretchen.”

I smiled as my best friends walked into the apartment. I immediately grabbed two cups and poured coffee in them.

“Sit down,” I said to Gretchen and I lightly took hold of her arm and led her to the table.

“Thanks, Lily.” She smiled.

“Have you talked to Giselle?” I asked.

“Yeah. She said that she and Lucky were going furniture shopping for the baby’s room.”

“For both places?” Luke asked.

“I’m not sure. She didn’t say and I know his apartment still isn’t ready. To be honest, I think she likes having him around.”

“They’re weird.” I laughed.

Luke got up from the table. “Okay, friends. It’s been fun seeing you, but I have to finish getting dressed and head over to the bar. Maddie and I have some liquor orders to go over.”

“We playing tonight?” Sam asked.

“Yeah. I already talked to Lucky and he said that he and Giselle will be there. I’m also interviewing new bands to play on the weekends after we play our gig. I want Lily to play and she won’t,” he said as he pouted.

“Get over it, Matthews.” I winked.

Luke headed to the bedroom to get ready, and Sam and Gretchen got up to leave. “I can’t wait to get this cast off today. So, when you see me tonight, I’ll be strutting in.”

I laughed as I hugged her.

“I can’t wait to finally make love to her without that cast getting in the way.” Sam smiled.

“Just keep it down,” Luke yelled from the bedroom.

“Paybacks, bro. Paybacks.” He laughed.

****

Since I couldn’t get another teaching job right away, I decided to make photography my full-time work. I mostly just worked out of my apartment, but I wanted to rent a small space and turn it into a studio. It was something that I’d thought about over the past couple of months and Luke was extremely supportive. He told me that I needed to follow my dreams and just go for it like he did with the bar. I did a photo shoot with Rory Braxton and her twin girls. It was a surprise gift for her husband’s birthday. I photographed them at the beach and then Rory wanted some sexy pictures for Ian. I brought her back to the apartment once I set it up with the backdrop. I had never photographed sexy pictures like the ones I did for her and I was nervous at first. But after seeing the photographs, I knew she’d be more than pleased. I met Rory through Giselle. Rory’s husband’s best friend, Adalynn, owned Prim magazine, for which Giselle did a lot of modeling. When she overheard Rory and Adalynn talking about finding a female photographer, she instantly thought of me. Since the pictures that Rory wanted for Ian were of her practically naked and very seductive, she thought it would be best to have a female photograph her, so as not to upset her husband.

As I was sitting at my computer, editing the photos, Luke walked up and gave me a kiss.

“Bye, babe. Have fun today and I’ll see you later at the bar for lunch with Charley.”

“Bye, baby.” I smiled.

I looked at the photos of Ashley and Ariel Braxton and smiled as I envisioned a family like Rory’s and Ian’s one day. I picked up my phone from the desk and called Rory.

“Hello,” she answered.

“Hi, Rory. It’s Lily. Your pictures will be ready by tonight, so I was hoping we could meet for lunch tomorrow and I can show you the final shots.”

“Excellent, Lily. Tomorrow will be perfect. If you’re in the mood for Mexican food, we can meet at the Border Grill, say around noon?”

“Sounds great, Rory. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As I was editing the photos, one popped up of Luke. I smiled as I ran my fingers across his perfect six pack on the screen. It was one of him lying on the bed in only a pair of unbuttoned jeans. His arm was behind his head and he was looking out the window. I was the luckiest girl alive to be loved by him and my life was perfect. More perfect than I had ever dreamed it would be.