Awakening (20 page)

"What are you doing here?" I asked him for the second time as the bartender handed over our drinks.

"Walk with me" he said, placing a hand on the small of my back and guiding me toward the second story lobby.

My skin was on fire where his hand touched my exposed back. I could feel warmth beginning to pool low in my belly
. I was going to come undone if I didn't put some space between us. I turned and put my hand on his chest, stepping back from him.

"Luke, I'm going to ask you one more time," I said, looking him directly in his gorgeous green eyes. "What are you doing here?"

He breathed out.

"I came to convince you that you belong with me. To tell you that I don't care about anything else except being with you."

"It's not solely up to you Luke!"

"The hell it isn't."

He grabbed me by the waist, forcing me into his arms. Before I could object his mouth was on mine. Even as I tried to pull away I realized it was useless. He was easily ten times stronger than I was, and to top it all off he was a heck of a good kisser.

I kissed him back. The sensations coursing through my body warred with the thoughts running through my head. I knew I should try to stop him. It had been
five days since I'd last seen him, but my traitorous body was responding to him as if it'd been years.

When he finally ended the kiss, I tried to catch my breath, looking around to see if anyone had noticed us. There weren't many people still in the lobby, but it didn't seem as if those who were had been paying us any attention. Luke downed his scotch and put his glass down on a tray table. He looked at me and ran his thumb over my lower lip.

"I've missed those lips."

"Luke.
.." I sucked in a breath as he lowered his hand and cupped the side of my breast. His hand felt warm through the satin of my dress. Then his thumb teased my nipple, which stood at attention for him. I leaned into his touch, thinking about the way he had made me feel a few nights ago.

"Savannah, I am so sorry about my mother. I don't know what came over her, but she was wrong about us, about you. I don't care what she thinks anyway. Nothing else matters except that you belong with me. You feel it too don't you?"

I wanted to deny him. I wanted to slap him. I wanted to kiss him again.

"You know I do, Luke."

Suddenly he ran his hand down my arm to my wrist pulling me across the lobby behind him. When we reached the business center, he threw open the door to one of the private network communications booths and pushed me inside, checking to make sure no one had seen us go in before he followed me and shut the door behind him.

The room was maybe four feet across and five feet deep with a built in
desk taking up most of the space. Luke loomed over me, filling what was left with his broad shoulders. I felt cornered and downed my entire glass of wine to try and ease my nerves. I set my glass down on the desk backing into it to put a little distance between us. If that was even possible in here.

He stepped toward me, placing his hands on my hips again, but this time dragging my dress up. "What are you doing?" I gasped, trying to yank it back down.

"I'm going to lift up this sexy as hell dress, pull your panties aside, and have my way with you in this booth."

Holy shit!
That was hot!
All he needed to do was touch me and I was going to burst into flame. I closed my eyes trying to steady my racing pulse.

My dress was now around my waist. Luke pressed one hand firmly against my shoulder, seating me on the desk. He trailed his hand up my outer leg to my thigh and the rolled it to the inside. I heard him inhale.

"Caroline Foster!" My eyes snapped open and found his. "You are a woman after my own heart. No panties?"

I smiled devilishly. "Not with a dress like this."

He kissed me passionately then, drawing a moan from deep in my chest. I leaned into him as he bent down, securing one arm around my waist and hauling me up against him. He turned and put my back to the wall, pinning me against it. Then he ran his fingers through my folds, feeling the wetness that was pooling there from his touch.

"Christ, Caroline
. You are so wet."

I couldn't do anything but whimper as his fingers continued to tease me. A moment later
, after undoing his pants and grabbing one of my thighs in each of his hands, he entered me. I cried out at the invasion, but he continued his assault, undaunted.

"At last, exactly where I
've wanted to be for the last five days. Have you thought about me Savannah? About how I feel inside you? Have you?" I couldn't answer, so I whimpered in response. "Because I've thought about you every minute since you left. You can't deny that you want me, that you love being with me like this."

As he moved inside me the objections I had meant to voice faded away. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, bringing him more fully into me. He groaned and moved one of his hands to the top of my dress, tugging it down to expose my breasts. In no time his mouth was teasing first one nipple and then the other, as he continued his rhythmic dance.

Pressure was mounting inside me, threatening to explode. I writhed against him, arching my back and forcing my nipple further into his mouth. He gently bit down, drawing a moan from my lips. As he let go and moved to kiss me again I ran my hands over the muscles of his upper back and shoulders. He pulled me close and picked up the pace as I buried my face in his neck. A moment later, he grabbed my ass, spreading my legs even further apart and driving purposefully. Thick, white hot liquid was rapidly churning inside me, threatening to overflow. I knew any second I would succumb to his assault.

I felt the muscles in his shoulders begin to tense as he pressed me against the wall, a low growl forming deep in his chest as he drove harder and faster, finally sending me over the threshold. I turned my face into his shoulder as I climaxed, trying to muffle my cries as he thrust one last time, spending himself deep inside of me.

After a moment he kissed me thoroughly, and lowered my feet to the ground. He refastened his pants, leaned back against the desk and looked dead at me.

"Damn," he said. "You wreck me."

I tried not to smile, but I couldn't help it. Then I giggled, and he pulled me back into his arms, hugging me tightly.

"Do I look okay to return to the party?" I asked
, straightening out my dress.

"You look sexy as hell and thoroughly ravished. Wanna get out of here?"

He gave me a wicked grin, raising his eyebrows suggestively. I looked up at him.

"Luke,
I can't leave yet."

"Fine, we can stay at the party for a while, but then
you're going back to my place."

I looked at him with my mouth open.

"I need some space from you Luke. You can't just barge in here, have your way with me, and think you've changed my mind. I need..."

"Okay
... I'll give you some space," he interrupted, silencing me.

Luke grabbed my hand and brought the backs of my fingers to his mouth, pressing his lips to them lightly. Then he folded my hand into the crook of his arm, poked his head out of the door to make sure no one was coming, and escorted me back to the ballroom.

Once we entered the room he let go of my hand, excusing himself, and didn't return. I spotted my mother across the room and went to stand next to her.

"Hey Caroline, what happened to Luke?" She asked.

"I told him I needed some space," I said to her as she eyed me critically.

She let her eyes wander around the room, searching for Luke
I assumed, before looking back at me.

"Your hair is looking a little disheveled. What happened?"

"Uh, oh, nothing. I, um, stepped out on the balcony for a little bit and it was quite windy." I smiled at her, hoping she wouldn't see through my lie.

She squinted her eyes just a little and seemed to be considering if she should press the issue, just as Bill walked up.

"Caroline, might I interest you in a dance?" He asked, saving me from any continued scrutiny.

"Why, I'd love to Bill!" I gave him a big smile as I hooked my arm through his and followed him onto the dance floor.

"How are things going in the new position?" Bill asked as we started moving around the dance floor.

"So far, so good. Although, it really has only been a couple days."

"Well, I think you've been working at the account manager level for some time now and it's nice to see all your hard work is finally being recognized. Back when I worked as an account manager...."

As we turned around the dance floor, I let my eyes roam over the crowd of guests. I thought I caught sight of Luke, but had to wait until we went around again to confirm if it was him. Finally, when Bill turned me so I could look, I saw him seemingly engaged with a beautiful, dark haired woman in a long black sequined dress. She said something to him and he threw his head back
, laughing.

Instantly I felt something surge in my gut. I wanted to walk over there and scratch her eyeballs out. Then, he looked right at me and I could see the challenge in his eyes. He was toying with me, trying to get a reaction. I narrowed my eyes in his direction. Two can play at that game.

"And that's how I got where I am today," Bill finished with a warm smile, and I realized I hadn't heard a word he had said.

"That's wonderful Bill, thank you for the dance," I said to him and smiled as the song concluded.

As Bill was escorting me off the dance floor, I saw one of my co-workers, Jay Phelps, standing to the side. Jay and I started working in the marketing department around the same time, and actually attended orientation together. He was gorgeous; sandy blond hair, sparkling blue eyes, very fit, and very gay. Jay and I had spent a lot of time together over the last two years, discussing heart breaks and relationships in general. He was my work time confidant, although he had finally met someone and we hadn't been able to find time to talk much  recently. But he had always been there when I needed him, and right then, I needed him.

As I walked toward him, he saw me and smiled his dazzling white smile.

"Caroline, my love, you look  good enough to eat! How are you this evening?"

"Jay, I'm doing great. You're looking dapper as ever! Where's Tony tonight?" I asked, referring to Jay's partner.

"Thank you! Oh, Tony went to refresh our drinks. Where've you been hiding?" He asked.

"
You're the one who's been hiding, but lately, I've been helping my mother out. My grandmother passed and Mom's been cleaning out the house and taking care of the arrangements, and that sort of thing."

"I'm sorry to hear that, love."

"No worries, we weren't close. Jay listen, I ran into someone while I was out at my grandmother's house. He just happens to be Mark's brother, and he's here. I'll give you all the details later, but would you dance with me?" I asked with an evil grin.

"How could I refuse!"
He said.

As we danced, I gave Jay
all the sordid details of running into Luke, finding out that he was hiding feelings for me years ago, and a brief overview of our time since then, including his mother's opinion of me.

"Where is this sexy specimen of a man?" Jay asked with interest.

My eyes roamed over the crowd as I looked for Luke. He was still talking with the raven haired beauty. I nodded in his direction, and Jay turned so he could get a better view.

"Damn girl, I totally see what you were talking about. That is a fine man, right there. Let's give him a show, shall we?"

Jay lowered his hand on my back, and pulled me close. I rested my cheek against his shoulder.

"Jay, you're my hero. Thank you so much!"

As we turned in a slow circle, I watched for Luke's reaction, but I didn't have to wait long. I felt his mood change even before I saw it. The dark headed woman was still talking to him, but his eyes were on me. I could feel them burning into me, and suddenly I wasn't sure that I had made the best decision.

Jay's hand slipped lower, so that his fingers were splayed over the upper curve of my buttocks. As soon as he made that move, I saw Luke lurch onto the dance floor and my stomach jumped into my throat.

"Shit. Jay, he's walking over," I whispered.

"Don't worry, love
," Jay said with confidence.

Luke tapped Jay on the shoulder.

"May I cut in?"

His voice sounded pleasant enough, but I could hear the undercurrent of  irritation. Jay turned to Luke and stepped back from me, still holding my hand. They were eye to eye.

"But of course," Jay said to Luke with mock disappointment, before he kissed my hand, and placed it in Luke's. He winked at me as he walked away.

Luke looked at me for a moment before saying anything. I was feeling uneasy under his gaze and could hardly force myself to look him in the eye.

"Playing games Savannah?" He finally asked, before taking me in his arms.