“I’m good.”

“Just good?” He kisses my jaw and I sigh.

“What were you going for?” I ask and tilt my head, giving him better access.

“Amazing.” He whispers.

I smile and run my hands down his back. “That works too.”

He leans up to look down at me again and I cup his cheek in my hand.

“How are you?” I ask.

“I’ve never been better.”

My eyes widen at his serious reply.

“Wow, I was just looking for good.”

“Oh

honey,

I

surpassed

good

yesterday morning.”

“You are quite charming.”

He smiles down at me.

“You are quite beautiful in the morning.”

I snort at him and start to brush him off, but he holds my chin firm.

“You.”

Kiss.

“Are.”

Kiss.

“Beautiful.” Kiss.

Holy shit.

“You aren’t so bad yourself.” I smile against his mouth.

“I want you, baby.” He murmurs.

“I can tell.” I grind my hips up against his erection and he gasps.

“Jesus, you’ve got me horny like a teenager, Nat. What the fuck are you doing to me?” His blue eyes gaze into mine and he moves his hips, the tip of his cock resting against me, and I tilt my pelvis, welcoming him inside me.

“Ah!” I grasp his shoulders as he pushes deeply inside me. He buries his face in my neck, gently sucking and kissing me. His thrusts become faster and harder, and our breathing is harsh.

“Oh, baby… I’ve never… fuck you feel good.”

I cup his bottom in my hands and squeeze, pulling him in deeper.

“Come with me, baby,” he’s breathing raggedly, and I can feel him falling over the edge and he takes me with him.

“Oh yes!” I cry and convulse around him.

Minutes later, after our breathing and bodies have calmed, he raises his head and kisses me gently. He eases out of me, and I find I’m a bit sore, but I don’t mind.

“I’ll be back.” He gets up and goes into the restroom.

I sit up and stretch lazily. Oh, yes, I’m sore. Clearly these muscles haven’t been used in a while. I hug myself, then get up and throw on a t-shirt and yoga pants.

“You got dressed.” I laugh at Luke’s pouty face as he comes out of the bathroom. He wraps me in his arms and hugs me tight and I sigh. Wow, is this just too good to be true?

“I’m going to go make some coffee.

Meet me downstairs?” I stroke his cheek with my hand.

“Sure, I’ll be right behind you.”

Chapter Nine

“Well, good morning, sunshine!” I greet Jules as I saunter in the kitchen.

She’s just back from a run, her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, dressed like me in a white t-shirt and black yoga pants. She puts the coffee grounds back in the freezer and smiles over at me.

“Good morning yourself. Did he leave?”

“No, he’ll be down in a minute.

We’re having coffee.”

“You invited him over.” It’s not a question.

“Yes.”

“And let him stay.”

“Yes.”

Her blue eyes are sharp.

“A little against your usual M.O.”

“I know.” I sigh and take three mugs out of the cabinet. “He’s different, Jules. I don’t know where this is going, but I want to find out.”

She pats me on the shoulder and smiles. “I’m happy for you, sweetie.”

I hear Luke walk in behind me and Jules’ eyes bulge. I know, he’s hot!

I turn and smile at him.

“Luke, this is my best friend Jules.

Jules, this is…”

“Luke Williams!” Her voice is shrill and she’s now smiling, her hands in fists, she’s practically jumping up and down.

“Ohmygod!

Ohmygod!

Ohmygod!

Luke Williams is in our kitchen!” She shoves my shoulder and does a little circle happy dance.

What the fuck?

I look back at Luke and he’s gone perfectly still. He’s completely pale.

He swallows hard and looks at me, but doesn’t touch me.

Jules has stopped her happy dance.

“You didn’t tell me you were all gooey over Luke Freaking Williams!”

“I take it you know him?” I ask, my voice a whisper.

What am I missing?

Jules stops, her jaw drops and her eyes widen.

“Of course I know of him. Nat, that’s Luke Williams.”

“I’m aware.” I reply, but my face is flushed, and I’m starting to feel like everyone is in on some big joke and I’m the butt of it.

“No, Nat…”

Luke finds his voice. “Natalie, I can explain.”

He reaches for me, but I move out of his grasp and round the breakfast bar to put space between us.

“Explain what?”

“Natalie,” Jules swallows and looks at him, gets an irritatingly swoony smile on her face then looks back at me. “This Luke Williams is famous.”

“What?” I narrow my eyes and look at him again, and it suddenly all makes sense.

Don’t fucking take my picture.

Why won’t you all just leave me alone?

I don’t like crowds.

“From the Nightwalker movies, Nat.”

Jules whispers.

Luke hasn’t said anything, and he’s no longer looking at me. His hands are on his hips and he’s hanging his head.

“You lied to me.” I hate how broken my voice sounds.

His head whips up and he pins me with those beautiful blue eyes. “No, I didn’t.”

“I asked you, more than once, what you do for a living, and you kept brushing me off.” Oh, this hurts.

“I just…” he runs his hands through his hair. “Natalie, what I feel for you…”

“Stop.” I hold my hand up. “You said yesterday in the car, no surprises.”

He swallows.

“God I feel so stupid,” I close my eyes and want to lay my head on the bar and cry.

“No, baby…” he starts to move toward me but I back away again, making him stop.

“No, you listen, baby.” The rage is kicking in, and I’m starting to shake with it. “I trusted you with things that I’ve never trusted with anyone else. And the whole time you were lying to me.”

“It’s not like that…”

“Natalie…” Jules steps forward, but I pin her in her place with a glare.