by Lovell, Dani
They all approach, laughing and joking, and as Matt and Kat slow to detach their boards, Luke glides all the way over to me and stops directly in front of me, his arms hanging down by his sides, his knees bent, facing me, panting. His face is covered by his goggles and hat but when he smiles, I melt. He beckons me with his finger and I step forward to meet him.
"Hey, beautiful. Miss me?" he asks as he holds my arms and pulls me towards him for a gorgeous, long, lust filled kiss.
"Uh huh," I mumble into his mouth, in answer, as he takes it to the next level, holding the back of my head and pashing me right here in front of the restaurant, in full view of everyone. So good...
He continues for quite a while, not giving a crap about who's watching. Me neither. It's just so slow and deep and incredible. He pulls away slowly and my eyes open a fraction, the brightness surrounding us, dazzling my vision. I focus on his perfect face, remembering for just a split second that underneath this pure skin - are damaged, imperfect bones. That'll never happen to him again, he'll never go through that again - not while he's with me.
"I missed you, too. It felt like I was up there forever."
"You enjoyed it though?" I ask.
"Sure did, broadway!"
"Broadway? That means good? God, I'm going to have to learn this one day, do you have a snowboarder's dictionary, by any chance?"
He chuckles and squeezes me, "No, but I'm sure I can get one."
"What are you going to be like when I'm back in the UK? If you missed me for that short period of time?" I ask, smiling.
"Hmm, yeah, we should probably talk about our options later."
Matt and Kat stroll over to join us. "Dude, you were tearin' it up!" Matt says, high fiving Luke.
"That was the front, except for that damn fruit-booter cutting me off, did you see that? Ass-wipe." Luke replies, making me giggle, I have absolutely no clue, what-so-ever.
"Let's go in," Kat says, "I could eat a damn horse."
"Cool, I gotta take a freak-a-leak so I'll see you back at the table." Matt responds before grabbing his wife by the buttock and pressing her up against him, giving her a laughing kiss, before disappearing inside.
What a totally cool couple.
We have a great lunch together, Matt, Luke and Kat talking about their fun hike and how incredible the 'fresh pow' is, up in the bowl today; Matt telling me how he and Kat met - working together, teaching kids to ski - and explained that she's his 'Queen of the Mountain', hence the nickname, which seemed to stick with most of their snowboarding crew.
I don't delve too much into their personal lives, we don't have much time for that while we eat, but sitting there, next to Luke, watching this great couple interact and finish each other's sentences... it's insightful. That's what we could have; Luke and I could be like this in a few years time. If we last, I hope we manage to keep the spark going like these two seem to have.
The boys decide to board the rest of the way down, after Luke very sweetly double checks if I'd mind, which of course, I don't. Kat, or Queenie - which seems to come so much more naturally after listening to the boys calling her that all day - says she'll take the lift back down with me; keep me company.
As we sit down, and lower the bar, I thank her. "You really didn't have to come down on the lift, I'd have been okay on my own, but thank you for keeping me company."
"Hey, it's cool, I wanted to. I'd like to get to know you a little better, Matt and I think the world of Luke, he's a good guy."
I nod and smile, unable to hide my affection for him, "I think so. He isn't what he seems on the outside."
"True story! We went to LA on vacation one year and stayed with him - boy, he has so many different lifestyles. I'm a mountain chick, all the way, and that'll never change, but Luke can be whatever he wants - he is a natural here and most would probably think he's born and bred, but in LA, he was the total California fitness guy."
"It's true, but I think that's one of the things I like most about him, he's just so... vibrant, and energetic - enthusiastic to experience everything to the max, wherever he is, whatever he's doing - he has to live it, breathe it." I say, smiling like an excited, loved-up teenager. "So, did you enjoy your trip to LA?"
"We sure did, we took our little boy to Disneyland, he'd wanted to go for so long, so we surprised him for his birthday. He loved it, and he adores Luke, so staying with him was almost as exciting as Disneyland."
They have a child? Wow, you'd never know, I am really surprised, they're so... so, cool! And Luke is great with their son... interesting. "Oh, wow, I didn't know you had children."
"Just the one, Logan, our pride and joy."
"You two seem so... free-spirited, I hadn't pictured you with a child. That's lovely, how old is he?"
"He's seven. We didn't plan to have a baby - he was a beautiful surprise. We'd been together for a year at that point."
"Oh right, but you were both happy about it?"
"Definitely, I was worried about how Matt would take the news, we were still young and hadn't been together all that long, but he was so excited, I can still picture his face now. He took the worry away instantly and made it perfect."
"That's sweet, so did you get married after he was born?"
"Yeah, we got married 2 years after he was born, the little dude walked me down the aisle with a little bobble hat and ski goggles on his head."
"So cute! Don't take this the wrong way, but you two still act so 'new' together, you seem so in love, you've still got the spark. That doesn't seem to last long for a lot of couples with kids."
"It's true, I think the stress can get to people, but Matt and I have always taken time for ourselves too, to keep it strong; we have sex, like, all the time."
Oh my god, I wasn't expecting that... "Oh! I'm so happy for you," I say with a laugh, hoping she'll 'get' my sense of humour, and luckily, she laughs.
"You gotta work at it from both sides. As long as he always makes you feel wanted and special, and you always tell him how much you appreciate and love him - you'll keep something alive. It's not the same for everyone, but I like to take care of myself - make sure he has good reason to still think I'm hot, even after all these years. He thinks I look hot in a potato sack, but I want to feel at my best for me, and for him. If you think you're beautiful and sexy, then he will too."
She really has no idea how much advice she's giving me here, I'm looking at her pretty, happy face, listening to her talk so lovingly about her man and little boy, and it's giving me so much hope. I can still be me, I don't have to become someone else to be a good mum - Luke can be the Luke I love, and still be a great dad, and the fact that Matt took the news well, gives me just that little bit of a boost. I can do this, I can tell him. It's not going to be as bad as I think. We could be just like Matt and Queenie, we just need to put into it what they do.
"I have a great best friend who helps me out sometimes, she takes Logan now and again so that Matt and I can have some time to be a couple. She's got him now, he skis so she takes him out on the slopes and he loves it."
"That's great, you sound like you've really worked out how to love life."
"We do. We have a great life and I couldn't be more thankful for that. I love my boys more than anything."
My crazy emotions are playing up again - I just stare at her like a bloody idiot, welling up. I swear, the advantages to being pregnant in the bedroom are fantastic - but this emotional crap is fucking ridiculous.
"Hey, you're going to be fine. Luke loves you so much, he couldn't stop talking about you up there, it's so great to see him like this. Honestly, you're the best thing to happen to him in a long time. I can tell you're worrying about stuff..." she says, pausing and nodding a little. What? Does she know? How could she? No... she can't... can she? "but you need to relax and go with it, it's not going to be as hard as you think. He'll be perfect."
Okay, now I'm completely baffled. She sounds like she's talking to me about the baby - but she can't possibly know tha
t I'm pregnant... can she? Am I that fat?! Oh my god. No, no, no. I can't be - or my friends and Luke would definitely know about it too, I mean come on, I've been having sex with the man, if Queenie can know just by spending a couple of hours with me, there's no way he wouldn't know. Ooh, what if he does know and is just waiting for me to tell him? No. That's ridiculous. Just take what she's saying as relationship advice and stop over analysing.
"Thank you for the advice, I will really take that with me. I'd love to be as happy as you two, ten years down the line."
"It's cool, I'm only telling it how it is for us. You two are going to be great together, for a long time to come, I'm certain of it."
And just like that, the seven minute ride down the mountain is over and we're approaching the boys at the bottom of the lift.
"It was great talking to you, I hope we'll get a chance to meet up again."
"Me too, today was fun," she says as she lifts the bar and we both lurch off the chair as it moves around to collect some other people going up. Once we're out of the way, she hugs me. "You'll be great together, I know it," she says, reassuringly, and I unexpectedly hug her back tightly, holding on to her, so grateful for her support. I needed to hear that so much.
CHAPTER NINE
SUNDAY 23RD DECEMBER (CONT.)
After joining the boys, we set off separately, Matt and Queenie - to go and collect the 'dude' as Matt calls him, and Luke and I to the car to head home. I have a really hard time trying to keep my hands off him in the car, I can't stop looking at him, knowing that he feels the same way. Not to mention the fact that he looks so fucking hot - his hair a mess, his face windblown and gorgeous. Mmm.
I sit back in my seat, just gazing at him as he drives, we're both clearly tired, although for very different reasons, so we're happily silent, enjoying the journey. "You were so extra-specially sexy today, Lukey," I say quietly, resting my head against the seat back and bringing my knees to my chest, curling up. "I want you to kiss me."
His gorgeous smile absolutely blows me away, it makes my belly flutter wildly and goose bumps run all over my skin. I am so overcome with love for this man, I think I would do anything for him. Move to LA? In a heartbeat.
He slows and it takes a moment for me to realise that he's parking up at the side of the road.
"Where are we going?" I ask, still totally mesmerised by his splendour.
"Home. But you want me to kiss you..." he unclips his seatbelt and leans over to me, cupping my jaw with his warm hand, his lips brushing mine as he gazes, fixedly, into my eyes, "and what my girl wants, my girl gets, especially when I want it more." I begin to smile as he presses his delicious, soft lips to mine. His eyes close and I see his brow furrow slightly, before I follow suit, getting lost in this exquisite moment of tenderness - love.
He brings his other hand to my face and holds it gently, but firm enough for me to know he won't let go without a fight. I wrap my hands tightly around the back of his neck, his tongue gently caressing mine, our kiss thoroughly passionate... but not about sex.
He slows and gently moves away, still clutching my face. "Tilly, I'm not going to lose you again. It has taken me thirty one years to feel this and I will die before I give it up."
I smile, wanting to burst into tears but managing to control it somewhat. "I so love you. It feels weird to come out and say it, but I really, really do. I never thought I'd have this, I've never felt like this before."
"I know, me neither. I think I haven't settled down for a reason, because I was waiting for you. There's not one single woman that I have ever met - and you know I've met a few - that comes anywhere even close to you. No one that I would even consider spending my life with - except you."
I giggle, quietly, shyly. "You'd consider spending your life with me?"
He smiles one of his huge, dimply smiles again, "I'm gonna spend my life with you. Starting right about..." he looks at his watch, "now!" I laugh, looking into his warm, kind eyes. "So kiss me and make it official," he says, pursing his lips, and I do just that.
"I'm sorry about last night, Luke," I say, pulling away, "I went crazy and it wasn't fair on you. These feelings are just so new to me and I didn't think that you felt the same. I didn't know how to deal with it and then... the ugliness occurred."
"It's okay, I get it. But don't ever feel insecure like that with me, sweet-cheeks, okay? You're my little love-bunny and you're going to have to get used to it," he says, kissing my neck, making me laugh... yet again.
We must have stayed in that spot for at least half an hour, talking and kissing, in our own world. It was a rare moment where neither of us was thinking about sex... okay, okay, so I was definitely looking forward to getting home and ripping off his skiwear, but it wasn't about sex, it was just us, talking about us... being 'us'.
When we arrive back at the house, walking through the door arm in arm, we are greeted by the entire gang looking a whole lot more civilised than they were this morning. They're sitting in the living room, surrounding the fireplace on the sofas, having afternoon tea and cake, put on - no doubt - by impeccable Pam.
"Hey, you're all looking a whole lot healthier than you were this morning... Dan, how's your nose?"
I giggle and Daniel looks at Luke quizzically, "My nose? What happened to my nose?"
"Ah, nothing, just your little wifey trying to rearrange it for you."
"What?" Bea asks, totally confused and I laugh out loud as they frown at each other, questioningly.
"Hey, Seb, so you managed to peel your face from Lex's thighs, huh?"
Alexia's face is a picture, she sits up straight and tucks her hair behind her ears, "Oh my god Luke, stop this, we get it, we were drunk." She looks really pale, she must have a serious hangover. They all must. Euw, the thought of it makes me want to be sick. I've no idea how I'll ever drink again, morning sickness was like the worst hangover ever, nonstop for two weeks. Luckily mine was short-lived, I've no idea how women who have nine months of it do it; you'd never have more than one child! I wonder how many we'll have? No Tilly! One step at a time - my god, who am I?
Luke laughs out loud, "You sure were, and I got evidence, too," he says teasingly, to moans and grumbles galore. He takes off his outer layers and jumper, his arms delightfully on display out of the sleeves of his fitted white t-shirt that stretches across his pecks perfectly. Sweet Jesus, I'd like to lick those nipples right now...
As I subconsciously gawk at his impressive torso, he steps over to me and starts to remove my scarf and hat. I smile, enjoying his attention. He drops them on the side table nearby, and starts to unzip my coat. I immediately stop him. "No, it's fine, I'm not hot." I say, worried about exposing the melon in the tight polo-neck I'm wearing.
"No, but you will be in here," he says, continuing.
"No, no, I'm fine, thank you," I say, grabbing hold of his hands and clutching them together, in front of me.
"Til, you'll be baking in here, the fire's so hot," Clare says, and a rush of anger floods through me, making me want to scream at her.
"Clare, I'm not a fucking child. Thank you."
Bea's head swings around and they both stare at me like I've grown two heads. "Tilly!" she says, shocked.
"S-sorry... I, I just..." Clare stutters as her cheeks flush pink, clearly embarrassed, and I hate myself.
"Sorry Clare. I didn't mean to bite your head off, sorry. I'm fine." I say, hoping the room will ease back into conversation and stop staring at me for losing my temper.
Luke frowns at me and leads me to Bea and Daniel's sofa to sit down. Pam brings in an extra couple of tea-cups for us and as the room starts to make noise again, discussing something to do with the Aspen property market, Luke looks down into my face and whispers, "What was that about, Princess?" He looks concerned.
"Nothing, I just know when I need to take my own coat off. I'm fine."
"Okay, okay," he says, raising his eyebrows, and nodding, dropping the subject. Geez, this is getting tough.
I alrea
dy feel a wave of heat engulf my torso as Luke leans forward to pour the tea, I'm fucking boiling. I'll have to go and change before I start sweating by the bucket load. Just as I sit forward to stand, Luke sits back again and puts his arm around my shoulders... oh god man, don't make me any hotter than I already am...
"Hey, can I get your attention for a minute..." he says, and I just know what he's about to do. I'm totally for it, but couldn't he wait until I change into something a bit cooler?
"I am the most excited dude in Aspen right now, because this hot piece of ass sitting next to me has agreed to be my girl. Yep, that's right, Luke Summers is off the market, tell the papers, I am totally in love with one Tillifer Burton."
Another heat wave tortures me as my excitement at his words bubbles over. I giggle. "Tillifer?" I ask, laughing.
"I think it has got a nice ring to it, Tillifer..." he says, testing his new name for me.
I shake my head and smile.
"Oh my god, that's amazing!" Bea cries, "Although totally expected; you two are so made for each other. So you love each other?" she asks, grinning like a Cheshire cat, "I knew it!"
"Yep," Luke replies, "I love the ass off this girl and I can finally say it."
I grin, ignoring the beads of sweat growing on my forehead; getting up to change right now would be incredibly bad form. "It's true, I love him like mad, but I'm sure you all knew that already."
Clare winks at me with a smile and scrunches up her nose, she's probably got goose pimples, she loves a bit of romance.
Alexia surprises me by standing and stepping over to us, bending to kiss my cheek and then hugging Luke. "It's about time you told her, I'm so happy for you guys," she says, beaming. Okay, so my explosion last night was totally unfounded.
Clare follows suit and kisses Luke on the cheek before bending to hug me. Oh dear lord, please don't add other people's body heat to my discomfort.
She wraps her arms around my shoulders and presses her cheek against mine. So. Frigging. Hot! She pulls away slightly and looks directly into my eyes, frowning. Her eyes look up to my forehead, and back down again to my eyes. Oh shit, I'm sweating. "Til," she whispers, "go and get changed now, this isn't good for you; passing out won't do either of you any good."
