Chapter Twenty-Seven
Luke
She’d asked him up. That was good, right? She hadn’t refused the ride home, and she’d kissed him. But, the “Let’s talk” had him rattled.
Goddamn it. This is not you, man. You aren’t a scared rabbit. Go up there, face whatever, and deal with it.
Luke squared his shoulders and nodded. He picked up her bag and followed her upstairs to her little apartment. Charlotte went around turning on lights, but the room was cold, and he noticed her shivering.
Enough—he was owning this situation.
Luke set her bag down near her dresser, then went to build a fire in her fireplace. He’d gotten pretty good at it during his brief stint in Boy Scouts, and winters here offered a lot of practice. Besides, having something to do with his hands made things less awkward.
Charlotte came to stand behind him. “Thanks. It’s freezing in here. I turned down the heat to sixty-five, but the thermostat said sixty-one.”
“Yeah, you have to leave the heat running a little warmer if you’re going to be gone more than just a day during winter, especially up here, where it’s colder and windier.” The little flame he’d coaxed into life was rapidly catching on the dry firewood. It wouldn’t be long before it put out good heat.
When he couldn’t mess with it anymore without looking like he was stalling, he went to the couch without being asked and sat. “So…talk?”
Charlotte glided over and sank down next to him. Right next to him, so they were touching. She kicked off her boots and tucked her feet under her, causing her to lean into him even more. “Simple—I want you in my life. I was miserable when we broke up. I’m glad you’re feeling better. And I hope you kick Tucker’s ass at the race.”
Luke blinked. “That’s it? Because I’m the one who needed to apologize.”
“And you did.” Charlotte snuggled in closer, her body warm and soft against his. “It was my turn. Are we good?”
Heat crept up the back of Luke’s neck. Good? Good? He was great. “Absolutely. I missed you while you were home.”
“I missed you, too.” She leaned up to kiss his cheek. “But I’d rather you show me.”
So what if the room was on the chilly side? Luke felt like he would burn any second. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her onto his lap. “Are you sure about that? Because I’ve been sitting around the last few days and have a lot of pent-up energy I’d really like to expend.”
Charlotte laughed and met his eyes. Hers sparkled. “That sounds like it could be fun.”
That’s all she had to say. Luke covered her mouth with his own, feeling like he’d finally come home. If home was where the heart was, he’d found his. She curled into him, pressing her chest into his, and he held her tighter.
She slipped a hand under his shirt, and he shivered. “Cold?” she murmured against his mouth.
Yes, but no. “It’s fine.”
She skimmed her fingers across his stomach, to his chest, and back down again. Her hand warmed up fast—probably because his skin felt fever hot against hers. She reached for the buttons on his jeans, undoing them one by one.
“Should we take this to the bed?” he asked, his voice hoarse and raw with want.
“I’m good.” Charlotte unbuttoned Luke’s shirt and pulled it and his T-shirt off. Smiling, she shrugged out of her sweater and got up. A drawer opened and closed.
Before he could even ask what she was doing, Charlotte reappeared. She’d shucked her jeans and had a condom. His eyes fell shut as she climbed back into his lap and started kissing her way along his jaw and down his neck.
“I love your skin,” she murmured, sending a shock wave down his spine.
He ran his hands up her back and unfastened her bra. “I love yours.”
“Then I think you’re overdressed.” She tugged at his waistband. “ Because I want to show you how much I missed you.”
Hours later, they lay in her bed, curled up under her comforter. The makeup sex had left them both breathless, even though Luke knew he’d want more soon. So, he’d read flash cards to her for a while, with him doing five push-ups—naked—for every question Charlotte answered correctly. That lasted about fifteen cards before she’d called a study break. In the shower.
They didn’t manage to study again after that.
Now, Charlotte was all soft and sleepy in his arms, but Luke was wide awake. He watched the play of light made by the fire on the ceiling. This had been one crazy week and a half. The next few days would decide his future.
He looked over at her. Her face was relaxed, her eyelashes fanned out against her cheek. Judging by her even breathing, she’d fallen asleep. He watched her for a moment, amazed this particular woman trusted him so much. Everything had fallen into place, both with his family, and with his heart.
Luke closed his eyes, visualizing the SBX course in his head, its dips and rises, the ramps that flung them into space, the turns that wanted to toss you off the course. The squeak of boards on the snow behind him—always behind him—and the faint yells of the crowd at the bottom waiting to see who won. Because that’s all that mattered, crossing the finish line first.
This was going to be the fastest race of his life.
He started to relax. It was all within reach. “Happy New Year, Charlotte,” he whispered, getting only a soft “M-kay,” in return. Smiling, he pulled her closer.
Finally, he drifted off.
He went home around two the next day, at Charlotte’s insistence that he needed to rest up for the race and being at her place wasn’t all that conducive to “resting.”
That much was true. “We do the walk-through tomorrow. Prelims start the day after. I technically don’t have to rest up today,” he said, leaning in to kiss her and teasing her lower lip with his tongue.
She kissed him back, then stepped away, shaking her head and smiling. “We’ll celebrate afterward. As long as you want.”
His eyebrows rose. “That might be several days.”
She laughed. “I doubt Mr. Bzdyl will let me off work that long, and I do have to study, but I’m sure we can work something out.”
“Good. I’ll be by for breakfast in the morning after I see Dr. Sloan.”
“We’ll have plenty of protein ready. I’m sure Mr. Bzdyl isn’t done feeding you for free.”
Luke shook his head. “I’m paying from now on. As long as my favorite server is available.”
“After the holiday rush, we’re closed on Tuesdays, and I have Wednesdays off.” Her smile was slow, suggestive. “So I’m all yours from Monday afternoon until Thursday morning.”
“That sounds good.” He took her hand and kissed. “Until tomorrow, lovely Charlotte.”
She laughed. “I guess that nickname’s going to stick.” She walked Luke downstairs to the empty café. “Good luck with Dr. Sloan. Text me after.”
“Will do.”
Luke stepped reluctantly out into the cold, wishing he could stay, but appointments with destiny didn’t come often, and Charlotte was right. He needed to rest and to focus on what was ahead.