Chapter Five

Gracie waited nervously for Luke to arrive at her house. She’d dressed meticulously, changing her mind a thousand times, and it pissed her off to no end. She, who never spent more than five minutes on dress, hair and makeup, had taken well over an hour angsting over every aspect.

If that didn’t make her pathetic, she didn’t know what else would.

She glanced down one more time at the black sweater she’d chosen. And if she’d squeezed herself into a pair of jeans she hadn’t been able to wear in several months, it certainly wasn’t because she wanted to look hot for Luke. She just didn’t want to look like a fat ass.

She blew a curl out of her face for the hundredth time and wished she’d used more hairspray. But then if they went anywhere with candles or little kerosene lamps on the tables, she’d go up in flames with as much shit as she had in her hair.

Finally, she heard Luke’s truck and headed for the door. She met him halfway across the lawn.

“I would have come and gotten you, Gracie.”

She shrugged. “I’m here.”

His gaze traveled slowly over her body until a warm flush suffused her cheeks. “You look nice.”

She smiled and willed herself not to shake. “Thanks.”

He guided her toward the truck and opened her door for her. He got in on his side and turned up the heat before backing out of her driveway.

She studied him as he maneuvered. He must have gone home and shaved because he usually wore a shadow by now. He wore a short-sleeved polo shirt that stretched tightly across his biceps. He worked out regularly with Wes, Jeremy and Jake, something they’d started a year and a half back, and the results were downright yummy. She couldn’t wait for the summer when they’d run around shirtless. She hadn’t seen Luke’s six-pack since last summer, and it had looked pretty damn good then.

“How does seafood sound?” he asked.

“Sounds great to me.”

They lapsed into silence, and Gracie wondered if she was the only one who felt the awkwardness between them. If they were going over to Michelle’s, they’d be chatting it up, talking about the work week and the weekend ahead. But they were on a date. And that changed everything.

She let out a small sigh and slouched down in her seat. To her surprise, Luke reached over and slid his hand over hers. He tucked his fingers against her palm and ran his thumb over the back of her hand.

“Relax, Gracie. We can do this.”

“But why are we doing this?” she blurted out.

It just seemed so stupid to ruin the easygoing rapport between them. She snuck another glance at him to see him smiling. What the hell was so funny?

He left his hand over hers as they drove into town. When they reached the restaurant, he hopped out of the truck and hurried around to open her door. He reached up to help her down, and she landed close to him. Close enough to smell his cologne and to feel his body heat.

He tucked a curl behind her ear, his fingers glancing over her cheek. “You’re beautiful.”

Before she could respond, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the entrance. A couple. They were acting just like a couple, and it was weirding her out.

Once inside, Luke ordered fish and she ordered shrimp. They both ordered a beer and sat back to wait on the food.

“So how are we doing so far?” Luke asked as he watched her across the table.

“I don’t know. I feel like this is a test or something, only I don’t know the rules or what we’re supposed to be doing.”

He leaned forward and stared intently at her, his blue eyes glowing in the dim light. “You’re a gorgeous woman, Gracie. Why do you find it so hard to believe that I’d want to go out with you?”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “Maybe because we’ve been friends for years, and you’ve never even hinted at it before now?”

He shrugged. “I wasn’t ready.”

“And you are now?”

“Maybe.”

He took a long swallow of his beer and arched one brow at her. “If you’re so unconvinced, then why did you agree to go out with me? What is it you want from this?”

Busted. He’d turned the tables on her completely. She licked her lips and thought about what to say.

“I don’t know,” she finally said. “Something about it intrigued me. Maybe a part of me lit up at the idea. I’m confused.”

“That’s what I love so much about you, Gracie,” Luke said.

She laughed. “What, that I’m a confused numbnut?”

“No, that you’re honest. You’re direct. There’s no pretense about you. It’s sexy as hell.”

She blinked in surprise. She hadn’t exactly expected him to say that.

The waitress delivered their food, and Gracie dug in, glad to have a distraction from the current conversation. Luke was attracted to her, and she was damn well attracted to him, but it wasn’t as easy as going home and having sex. This was Luke. One of her best friends on earth. His respect meant a lot to her. So did his friendship. She didn’t want to do anything to fuck up either one.

If they had sex and things didn’t work out, how would it affect them? Could they really pick up and go on like it hadn’t happened? Continue to spend as much time together as they did? Go hunting and fishing and hang out at Jeremy and Michelle’s?

“You’re putting way too much thought into this,” Luke said mildly.

She looked up guiltily to see him watching her. “I’m sorry. I’m doing my best to ruin the evening before it even starts.”

“Just relax. We always have a good time together.”

She smiled. “Yeah, we do.”

“Eat up. We’ll take a drive. Go out by the lake and watch the stars.”

“That sounds great,” she said.

 

 

 

The moon was rising when they pulled up and parked at the overlook.

Luke cut the engine. “Want to get out?”

“And freeze to death?” Gracie asked in mock horror.

“I’ll keep you warm.”

She stared at him, shivering slightly at his promise. Well, she was no wimp, and she was willing to see where this took them. She opened the door and stepped into the crisp night air.

She breathed in deep and stared out over the water. It was a crystal clear night and the stars shone brightly in the sky.

Luke walked around the front of the truck and leaned against the hood. She moved beside him. Damn it, she was already cold. No way she was going to stand out here for long.

He reached for her and pulled her in front of him. Then he wrapped both arms around her body until her back was firmly melded to his chest. He tucked her head underneath his chin.

“Better?” he asked.

Suddenly there wasn’t an inch of her skin that didn’t feel like someone had taken a blowtorch to it. She nodded.

“So tell me something about you I don’t already know,” he said.

She laughed. “But you already know everything about me.”

“Not true. I think there’s quite a bit I don’t know about you,” he said softly. “I want to know what makes you tick, Gracie. What your dreams are. Your fantasies.”

“My fantasies?” she squeaked.

She closed her eyes. No way was she going there. She’d tried that with Keith and it had led to their immediate breakup.

“Hmmm, I can feel you blushing. You must have some juicy fantasies.”

She stiffened in his arms. She didn’t want to waste her time or his. No, she didn’t really want to go into it, but if he were going to scare off, she’d rather it be now than later. If he couldn’t handle hearing about the real Gracie, then he certainly wasn’t worth her time.

Luke felt the rioting emotions in her. Knew she was waging a battle with herself over whether to share that part of herself with him. He held his breath, hoping she’d trust him.

She turned in his arms, the light of battle in her eyes. “I’ll tell you mine, but you have to tell me yours.”

She was testing him. He could tell. She thought he’d tuck tail and run just like her last pussy boyfriend. She was afraid to share that intimate part for fear of rejection, and who could blame her with the way dipshit had responded?

“Oh, I’ll tell you mine,” he said calmly.

“I like sex,” she blurted. “Good sex. Or I should say I’d love good sex.”

Luke raised an eyebrow. “Boyfriends not satisfying you in that department?”

She ducked her head. “No,” she mumbled.

“Go on,” he urged.

She stepped back a bit and took a deep breath. “I want a man who doesn’t feel like he has to stop and ask permission every step of the way. I want someone who can take control and make it good for both of us. I want someone who is creative and doesn’t have to be coached.”

“You don’t want someone who has to be told how to satisfy you.”

“Exactly! And…and…I want to experiment, do something different, and I’d love to have a partner who could make that happen without making me feel like a freak.”

They were getting somewhere now.

“What would you like to do, Gracie?” he prompted.

She wrinkled her nose and grinned. “I have a kinky streak in me a mile wide. I’d love to be tied up, spanked and my brains fucked out. And…I’d really love to have a threesome.”

“Another woman?” Luke asked, pretending ignorance.

She shook her head adamantly. “No, me and two men.”

“Ahh.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked defensively.

He put his hands to her shoulders. “Gracie, it doesn’t mean anything. You’re not a freak. Lots of women have these fantasies. They’re healthy, normal fantasies.”

She relaxed a little. “You don’t think I’m weird?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, I think you’re weird, but not because you have kinky sex fantasies.”

She surprised him by throwing her arms around him and hugging tight. He eased his arms around her, returning her embrace. He probably shouldn’t push things yet, but he’d been dying to taste her all night.

He tugged gently at her hair until her head fell back. He cupped a hand to her cheek and gently ran his thumb down her jaw. Her lips fell open in silent invitation, and it was all he needed.

His lips found hers, hot, flushed and needy. She tasted sweet, and she felt incredibly soft. He loved that, loved the way she fit so perfectly against him.

Her mouth opened wider, and the tip of her tongue feathered over his. He caught it and sucked it further into his mouth. Their tongues rolled and tangled as the sounds of their breathing echoed into the night.

If they were anywhere but at the lake on a cold night, Luke would lay her down and strip her naked. He’d get between her thighs and slide so deep into her pussy that she wouldn’t know where he began and she ended.

With more willpower than he thought he possessed, he pulled away from her.

“Wow,” she whispered.

“Yeah, I had a feeling we’d be like an inferno if we ever got together.”

She stuck her hands in her pockets and looked away for a minute. Then she glanced back at him, her eyes still echoing her need. He reached out a thumb to glide over her swollen lips. Lips he wanted to devour again.

“Want to go out again tomorrow night?” she asked. “I pick the place this time.”

Luke arched a brow in surprise. Was this another test?

“Okay. Sounds good to me. What time should I pick you up and what should I wear?”

“Eight o’clock, and jeans and a T-shirt are fine. Don’t overdress. You’ll be getting hot.”

His body surged to attention at her words. Innocent or not, they were full of innuendo. But she didn’t elaborate, so clearly she planned to let him wonder.