I’d brought in the shoes but grabbed the wrong bag of clothes. My party dress was still on the dining room table.
To save time (which was slipping away fast), I tugged off my robe, put on the undies and strapped on the shoes (Tod found them at Nordstrom’s, metallic purple, high, spike-heeled, strappy sandals) and ran out to get the dress.
I stopped in mid-run. Luke was standing in the kitchen, head back, muscular throat on display, finishing a beer.
He had on a charcoal gray suit, a shirt the same color, throat exposed at the collar. I hadn’t seen him in a suit since his father’s funeral.
Luke looks good, Good Ava breathed, hand at her neck.
No, Luke looks GOOD, Bad Ava was fanning her face
They were not wrong. Luke didn’t look good, Luke looked good.
“You look good,” I told him.
His head came down, his gaze came to me and he went still.
“Jesus,” he muttered, eyes doing a body sweep.
I came unstuck from my Luke-Looking-Good Fog and ran to the dining room table.
“I grabbed the wrong bag,” I started sorting through bags then asked Luke, “Can you grab my perfume?”
He didn’t grab my perfume. Instead, I felt his heat at my back, he leaned forward and I had no choice but to lean with him. He did an arm swipe, the bags went flying and I felt his hand pressing in the middle of my back.
“Luke,” I said, my eyes on the bags on the floor, my voice stunned.
Then he pushed me down toward the table as the thumb of his other hand hooked into my panties, yanking them down to just below my hips.
Oh wow.
My special girlie parts quivered.
“Luke!” I gasped.
He didn’t answer. He kept me pressed to the table even though I tried to come up. His hand was moving at my bottom, I heard his belt clink, his zipper, then without warning, he slid inside me.
I stopped trying to rise and my arms, of their own volition, slid straight out in front of me, palms flat against the table, my bottom pushing into Luke’s hips.
“Luke.” It came out a lot different this time, his hand left my back and both went to my hips, holding me still as he moved.
My breath started coming heavy.
Like everything with Luke, this was hot.
I moved with him, made happy noises low in my throat then he slid out, swept my panties down to my ankles, twisted me around and lifted me onto the table. He pulled the panties, which were tangled at my shoes, free, tossed them aside and moved between my legs, lifted my hips and slid inside me again, bending his torso over mine.
I lifted my head, one of his hands stayed at my hip while he slammed into me, the fingers of his other hand slid into my hair and he kissed me, long, deep, wet and lots of tongue.
“We’re going to be late,” I panted when his mouth disengaged.
“Don’t fuckin’ care,” he said back, his voice rough.
My hands came up, one curled around his neck, the other went to his jaw, my thumb trailing his ‘tache while my hooded eyes stayed locked on his mouth.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured as my thumb moved to trace his bottom lip.
“I could live my life, you inside me,” I whispered back.
He stopped stroking and ground in deep. Shivers slid through me and I licked my lips. His eyes went molten and he kissed me again.
Mouth against mine, he admitted, “Got no control when it comes to you.”
“Is that a bad thing?” I was getting close, my voice hitched in the middle of the sentence and I was losing focus.
He didn’t answer my question, instead, eyes on mine, he muttered, “Give it to me, babe.”
“What?” I asked but I didn’t wait for his answer, it hit me, it was magnificent, I felt it rush through me as I said his name softly and smiled.
“That’s just the way I like it,” Luke whispered against my smiling mouth while I came.
Then his lips pressed hard against mine, he drove into me one last time and he groaned into my mouth.
* * * * *
“I knew that was the dress for you girlie,” Tod told me. “Your man is over there looking at you like he’s spent the last year at a males-only monastery in the depths of a mountain range, inaccessible by cars and a treacherous, death-defying two week walk from civilization.”
I looked at Luke and Tod was right, he was looking at me. However, Tod was wrong, Luke wasn’t looking like he wanted me, he was looking like he had already had me and he liked what I gave him.
My knees wobbled.
“We did it on the dining room table before we got here,” I told Tod.
“Mm-hmm. Like I said, the dress,” Tod replied.
My dress was pretty, though it was not me but Stevie convinced me I could make it work. It was girlie, floaty and lavender. It had twisted material to make straps, it showed lots of chest but not lots of cleavage, the bodice was cut on a slant, a wispy tear of material falling from it. It fit close and fell on a floaty slant at the hem, exposing one knee and a lot of leg on one side. The back was low, just above my bra strap. It was demure on the face of it but the way it clung and moved was seductive as all hell.
“I hadn’t even gotten my dress on yet. I was still in my undies,” I shared.
Tod turned to me, mouth open then he looked back at Luke. “Swear to God, these boys should be locked up. It isn’t safe, men with that much testosterone coursing through their blood free to roam.”
Daisy came storming up to us. She was wearing an ice blue, body-hugging, strapless dress, the bodice held up by what could only be a miracle.
“Where are they?” she snapped.
“How should I know?” Tod asked.
“Did you call Indy?” Daisy shot back.
“No, I don’t want to disturb her,” Tod told her.
“Why not?” Daisy’s voice was rising. “The hors d’oeuvres are getting cold and I talked Tex into wearing a suit and I think he’s beginning to get cranky.”
Our eyes swung to Tex and it did appear he was getting cranky. We knew this because cranky energy was emanating from him and he was fiddling with the tie knotted at his throat.
“I didn’t call her because this is a wedding, Daisy. I didn’t want to interrupt,” Tod explained.
“I cannot believe we weren’t invited,” Daisy groused.
“Daisy, girlie, we are invited. We’re here aren’t we? They just wanted the ceremony small,” Tod returned.
“I know, but still,” Daisy gave in but still sounded put out.
Tod put his arm around her shoulders. “You did a good job with decorations and I like the waiters you chose, you’ve got an eye for fine male ass.”
I looked around Fortnum’s which had been closed for a private party.
It had been transformed and somehow (you had to give Daisy credit, as Head Party Planner she’d done a bang-up job), it was tasteful and elegant. The normal coffee house furniture had been carted away and replaced by chairs covered in white linen as well as white wicker tables. Festive white balloons and clear Christmas lights were everywhere, even lining the ceiling. The place was awash with white peonies in big glass vases. Handsome waiters carrying trays filled with glasses of champagne or hot hors d’oeuvres were wandering around and light, classical music was playing.
We had done the decorating ourselves and as a wedding gift paid for the party, although everyone bought real gifts, just because.
Shirleen and Daisy sprung for the waiters and the furniture rental. Tod, Stevie, Smithie, Tex and Duke got together and paid for the catering. Roxie, Jet, Ally and I bought all the flowers and decorations. Lee and Indy, of course, insisted on springing for the booze.
Luke materialized at my side, his lips coming to my neck giving me an immediate and involuntary shiver, just as Roxie (wearing pale pink, boat-necked front, slim-skirt brushing the knees, back completely bare) rushed up and whispered with excitement, “They’re here.”
“T
hey’re here!” Shirleen (in turquoise from head to foot, even her wild Afro had turquoise glitter sprayed in it) cried from across the room, nearly bouncing up and down with excitement.
I turned to Luke and looked up at him. “They’re here,” I breathed.
His eyes scanned my face for a beat then he put his forehead to mine and, close up, I watched his eyes smile.
By the way, it was fascinating to watch, let me tell you.
Jet moved around one side of the room, Ally the other, they were carrying baskets of big, white tissue disks of confetti. Everyone took a massive handful then, en masse, we all closed in on the door, forming a semi circle. There was Tod and Stevie, Daisy and her husband Marcus, Smithie and one of his women LaTeesha, Olivia with Winnie sitting by her side, Tex and Nancy, Jet and Eddie, Hank and Roxie, Big Bobby and his girlfriend Carol, Matt and his girlfriend Daphne, Shirleen and Darius, Hector and some blonde I hadn’t yet met, Mace (alone), Monty and his wife Gillian, three guys named Zip, Heavy and Frank that I met when I arrived at the party, Duke and Dolores, Ally (alone too, just as Shirleen predicted, she’d broken up with her boyfriend when he had gone to FBI training), and Luke and me.
The doors opened and Jules’s Uncle Nick walked in beside an older Native American lady. They smiled, Jet stuck her basket out, they grabbed a handful of confetti and assumed their positions in the circle.
All eyes moved back to the door.
May walked in, looking lovely in baby blue, complete with huge hat. She was carrying a small bouquet made entirely of peonies, so deep pink they looked like velvet. She grinned, grabbed some confetti and took her place in the circle.
Two young boys walked in. I had met them a few times before, one short, skinny and white, one tall, filling out well and black. They went by their street names, Sniff and Roam. They looked uncomfortable in their suits (but handsome) but even more uncomfortable under the scrutiny of the crowd. Their eyes found Luke and they walked straight to him, ignoring the confetti basket, and shoved through to stand behind Luke and me.
Indy and Lee walked in, Indy looking amazing in a mint green dress that was even more girlie than mine. Lee had a pink rose pinned to his lapel and, it must be said, he looked hot in a suit too. They grabbed their confetti and just managed to get into position when the couple of honor walked in.
Everyone sucked in breath.
Jules’s gleaming jet-black hair was down, slightly curled in massive waves falling around her shoulders. She wore an ivory silk, sleeveless dress, empire-waist, cross-over bodice with hint-of-cleavage vee. It fit snug all the way down to her knees so you could clearly see the slight bump at her belly. She had on a pair of baby blue, high-heeled sandals, a wide leather strap across her French manicured toes, a soft, satin ribbon coming up from the side of the shoe, wrapping around and tied in a bow at her ankles. She was carrying an enormous bouquet of white peonies and roses and she was, quite simply, glowing. She had a diamond at her neck and some kind of chunky, cool as shit silver bracelet on her wrist, a gorgeous promise ring on her right hand not to mention the huge rock on her left ring finger, nestled now with a wedding band.
Vance was at her side, white rose at his lapel, dark suit, dark shirt, and dark tie, his black hair pulled back in a ponytail. I didn’t know what the masculine form of glowing was but whatever it was, Vance looked it.
“Congratulations!” Daisy shouted, breaking the silence. She jumped forward and threw her confetti.
We all followed suit, shouting and confetti flew so thick in the air it seemed to be snowing. It drifted around slowly, floating softly as it fell around the newlyweds.
I saw the tears glimmering in Jules’s eyes as she looked around at her friends then she turned, Vance’s arms closed around her and she shoved her face in his neck.
That’s when I felt my throat close.
“Shit,” Indy, standing close to me, muttered and Lee mumbled, “Honey,” and slid his arms around her. She pressed a red, trying not to cry face into his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck.
That’s when I felt my throat begin to burn and I took a step back, for some reason, needing to escape.
So I looked to escape as fast as my purple shoes would take me.
I whirled and ran, dodging well-wishers and waiters, and made it halfway down the middle aisle of books before an arm caught me at the waist and I was turned to face Luke.
My head tilted back and my gaze met his. His face was soft, his eyes were searching. My eyes were filled with tears.
“Babe,” he murmured. “Talk to me.”
I shook my head and took a step back. Both his arms went around me and he pulled me close. Therefore, no retreat.
Eek!
“No running,” he said, voice soft but firm. “Talk.”
“I don’t think –” I started, then stopped.
Get it out, get it out, get it OUT, girl, Good Ava demanded.
Yeah, for goodness sake, let’s get this over with. I need more champagne, Bad Ava sounded bored.
“Ava –” Luke said low when I didn’t start talking.
I cleared my throat, took a deep breath, straightened in his arms and said, straight out before I could stop myself, “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”
His head jerked back and I knew that was not what he was expecting to hear.
Then his face changed, he looked at me in a way he had never looked at me before and whatever was in his face made my lungs seize.
His arms moved, one went low, very low, passed my waist, his hand going lower, pressing into my behind so my hips were fit snug into his. The other arm slid up my back so it was wrapped just under my shoulder blades and I felt his fingers against the side of my breast.
“I’m scared,” I told him in a small voice and I felt a shiver slide through my body. I felt suddenly cold, so I pressed in close and put my hands on his shoulders. I closed my eyes tight then opened them and whispered, “Luke, I’m scared to death. I’ve never been so scared in all my life.”
“Tell me and, I swear to God, I’ll make it so you won’t be scared ever again,” he promised.
I blinked at him. “Tell you what?”
“You know what.”
“I don’t know what.” After I said it, I knew what and my body went tense.
“Babe, I’ve been waitin’ since that day your family breezed into town.”
That’s when I knew that he knew all along. How he knew I did not know but then again, he knew everything.
“Do I have to say it?” I asked quietly.
He gave me a half-grin and an arm squeeze. “Yeah, you have to say it.”
I sighed.
He did another arm squeeze.
My hands slid up from his shoulders to his jaw and I looked him in the eyes.
Oh well, I had been waiting since I was eight. I had created extravagant daydreams about it. I had dreamed of it at night. I had written about how I would do it in my diary. I had hoped for a chance to do this, for over twenty years. I had even prayed for it.
There was no reason to wait any longer. If I waited any longer I’d be a serious wuss.
And there was one thing I knew about myself after the last couple of months, I was no wuss.
“Lucas Stark,” I whispered, “I love you.”
I hadn’t let my mind move forward passed the actual saying of the words to process what I thought his response to my telling him I loved him would be.
However, even in my wildest imaginings it wasn’t what I got.
His arms did another squeeze, this one so tight it crushed me to him. He kissed me, the kiss was so hot, so hard, so deep, it bruised my lips (truth be told, I didn’t really mind).
Then he let me go and I was in such a Luke Lip Fog that I went back on a foot, my hand curling around his upper arm to steady myself but I didn’t have to do that. Mainly because, all of a sudden, I was no longer on my feet. Instead, I was thrown over Luke’s shoulder, his arm wrapped around the backs of my thighs. He turned an
d started walking back toward the party.
Oh… my… God.
He was not carrying me to the party! Was he?
“Luke!” I hissed. “Put me down.”
He kept walking.
“Luke! Everyone is going to –”
Rock Chick Revenge Page 58
