Chapter Fourteen
Emerson
“Oh eww, do you want some steak with your blood?” I couldn't help but notice as Luke’s steak was bleeding all over his plate. “That thing is going to jump up and run off.” I scrunched my nose in disgust.
“His is the same way.” He pointed his fork over at Ryan’s plate, and sure enough his was swimming in blood too. If I was being honest, it wasn't blood so much as pink colored juices from the steak, but it certainly wasn’t done. Ryan had asked me how I wanted my steak, and I had answered done. Luke had grumbled and complained about city people and cooking things to death to which I had replied with “that was the point.” He didn't like my answer, but he did as I had asked, and I was pleased when there was no pink inside of my steak.
I reached for the bowl of shredded cheddar cheese and pulled it to me, dropping some over the melted butter inside my potato. As I mashed the potato around inside its skin, I realized that everyone had stopped talking, I looked up and found both of them watching me.
“What?”
“Are you trying to murder your potato too?” Luke asked laughing.
“No, I’m mixing it up.” I continued to roll the potato around inside the skin, not bothering to look up at either one of them. When I did, Luke looked away quickly and then shoved some bread into his mouth.
“I love thousand island dressing.” Ryan swooned as he lifted a bit of salad toward his mouth.
“Must be why you love Big Macs,” Luke teased.
“Mmmmm McDonalds.” He chewed his food as he said around it. I looked away because, well, boys are gross.
“This was a good idea.” Ryan said, pointed his fork at me. “I like this. It's like old times with new people. I'm glad you joined our little duo, Emmy.”
“Me too,” Luke added, looking at me then quickly averting his eyes the moment mine met his.
“I'm glad I am too, I really do like it here. The woods are probably my favorite place in the world.” I had wanted to get out there today, but I just hadn't had time after getting unpacked and then Ryan wanting to grill out.
I stood from the table and picked up my plate, lifting Ryan’s from the table too. He was leaned back rubbing his belly groaning. “I should have bought me another steak. That was the best.”
“It was really good. Thank you, guys, for making such a great dinner.”
“You made dinner too.” Luke stood carrying his plate toward me.
“It was lettuce in a bowl,” I shrugged.
“With tomatoes, croutons, olives, and cheese. That's hardly lettuce in a bowl.” He bumped his shoulder playfully into mine and took the other plates from my hands.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have places to go and people to do.” Ryan stood and announced. He walked over and kissed the top of my head. “I'm glad you weren’t eaten by bears. See ya tomorrow for coffee.”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He slapped Luke on the back and then made his way toward the door.
“Say hey to Cindy,” Luke laughed.
“Will do.” He ducked out of the door, and I was once again alone with Luke. We washed the dishes in silence. I could feel his eyes on me from time to time, and to say there wasn't something bubbling just below the surface between us would be a lie. He started a pot of coffee and pulled two cups from the cabinet. I watched as he put half and half in one cup and two spoonfuls of sugar in the other and then poured coffee into each. He handed me the cup with the half and half. He had apparently paid attention when I rambled on about my coffee to Ryan last week.
“Come on,” he pushed the screen door open and held it for me. I followed him into the yard. He smiled up at the sky and then handed me his cup.
“Hold this for a second.” He jogged over to his work shop and produced two chairs that sat low to the ground and leaned back pretty far. He sat them side by side and then took his cup and pointed toward the chair.
“Have a seat. There’s supposed to be a meteor shower starting around midnight.”
“Really?” I sat slowly and then leaned back in the wooden chair. When I opened my eyes and looked up, it was amazing. The stars were spread over the sky like a blanket. Living near the city, we saw the brightest stars, but out here it looked as if there wasn't a blank place amongst them.
We finished our coffee and sat in silence for a while. When I saw the first light streak across the sky, my face lit up.
“Did you see that?” I jumped up from the chair.
“Yeah, I saw it,” he chuckled.
“I've never seen a shooting star before.” I wrapped my arms around myself as I stood there, head tipped toward the sky.
“They say you should make a wish on a shooting star,” he said as he stood, coming to stand next to me.
“They do?” I could feel him close to me.
“They do.” He took a step closer and pointed in another direction. “Look,” he said, drawing my attention to another streak of light dancing across the sky. When I looked, my face was turned toward his. The warmth from his body radiated toward mine. I leaned against him, and his hands found their way around my waist.
“You cold?” he asked, his closeness unnerving. I shook my head and slowly turned in his arms until I was facing him, pressed to his chest, his arms tightened around my waist, falling just at the small of my back.
“Is this okay?” he whispered, his breath tickling my skin. The goosebumps that followed spread slowly down my arms.
“This is nice.” I looked up into his eyes.
“You know,” he said in a half-whisper, “I, too, am glad you weren’t eaten by bears.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I rested my forehead against his chest and chuckled. “Yeah, me too,” I said as I returned my gaze upward.
He looked down at me. Shadowed in darkness, I couldn't see exactly what he was looking at, but the ball of nerves in my stomach wanted to look away. I turned my face slightly, but his hand rose, and he placed a finger under my chin and lifted it back toward him.
“As beautiful as these stars are, you outshine them, and I don’t think you even know it,” he said softly then slowly lowered his face toward mine. His lips gently brushed over my cheek and then moved to my mouth. His kiss was soft, and I melted into it. He pulled back, gazed at me for a moment, and then kissed me again. Harder this time, more need in this one. I felt his tongue pass over the seam of my lips, and I opened for him. I was lost in the warmth of his kiss. I could taste the sweetened coffee on his tongue as it passed over my own. His hand wrapped itself in my hair, and he pushed closer to me, heat igniting between us.
My body was screaming with need, a need I had never experienced before. I had heard stories about the butterflies that felt like they were swarming in your core, but I had never experienced them until now. We stood kissing under the stars, learning each other through just a kiss. I ran my hands up his chest and then over his shoulder finding the slight curl to the ends of his hair along his neck. I ran my fingers up into them and gave them a slight tug, trying my best to get closer.
“Emerson,” he groaned against my mouth, and all I could do was nod.
Part of me that knew this was bad, very very bad, but the other part of me was so starved for the connection that it didn't care, and it overrode every logical thought that popped into my head. He slowly walked me backward toward the porch. His hands ran over my ass, and he lifted me. I wrapped my legs around him. He walked up the stairs, his lips never veering from my skin. The door slammed behind us, and then I felt myself being lowered. The cold of the countertop made me flinch, and I heard his deep rumble chuckle against me.
“Sorry.” He traced the cuff of my ear with his mouth and then pulled my earlobe between his lips. His fingers traced over the sliver of skin that was exposed along the bottom of my shirt. He lifted it slowly and pulled it over my head. His eyes dropped to my breasts, and I heard him catch his breath.
“God, you are beautiful,” he whispered and kissed along my cleavage. My hands went to his, and I pushed his toward my breasts. I wanted those hands all over me.
“Luke...” I groaned, lost in the feel of his touch. I had expected rough and quick, but he was being super gentle and a little cautious with me. I wasn't sure why, but I wasn't going to complain. I felt my bra pop loose, the straps falling to my elbows. His fingers traced my skin and pushed the straps away.
That’s when I heard the slamming of a car door outside. I jumped, looking up at Luke and reaching for my shirt on the counter next to me. Without a word, I pulled it to cover my chest and slid quickly off the counter and out of his grasp.
“Emerson, wait.” I heard his words, but I was already out the back door and running across the porch into mine.
I slammed the door shut, my chest heaving. I was on the verge of tears, but they didn't fall. I was stupid; that should have never happened.