Perfect Stranger (Serendipity's Finest 2.50)

He swung a leg over her and positioned himself at her entrance. She whimpered, the sound inflaming his need, and he braced a hand above

her shoulder, looking into her beautiful eyes as he thrust deep. Thrust home.

Her eyes widened, then rolled back slightly before she managed to focus on him once more. “Oh, God.”

“That’s not God, darlin’. That’s you. And me.” And damn they were hot and wet.

He pulled out, slid back, the slick sounds of sex surrounding them along with Alexa’s whispered pleas of harder, faster, and oh, God, nearly making him come too soon. He held on, gritting his teeth as she bent her knees, taking him deeper. Then, without warning, her body gripped his, clamping on tight as she came.

Her orgasm released his tenuous hold and restraint. He pumped into her, feeling more than he ever had, knowing in his gut this was so much more than sex, and he accepted it and reveled in it as he came.

It took a while for them to catch their breath, and finally Luke rolled off her. “You okay?” he asked.

She met his gaze, her eyes glazed and dreamy. “Never better.”

“Glad to hear it.” He kissed her nose, then pulled himself up and headed for the bathroom.

He returned to find her staring at the ceiling, a satisfied smile on her face and a healthy, happy glow on her cheeks. One he’d put there, Luke thought, grinning, too.

“Roll,” he said to her.

“Hmm?”

“Roll over.” He lightly patted her hip.

She groaned but turned over as he asked. He glanced at her bare bottom, white smooth skin with hints of pink and more than a few scrapes. He frowned at the sight. “Hurt?” he asked, rubbing his hand over first one cheek then the other.

“A little sore,” she admitted, her words muffled in the pillow.

“Sorry, sugar. I never meant to cause you pain.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek and she giggled.

“I’ll live,” she assured him.

“I hope so.” He massaged her skin and she sighed in contentment.

“When do you leave?” she asked, the question muffled. She didn’t peek out from where she’d buried her head in her arms.

The question was long overdue. “I have to be home for my niece’s birthday party on Saturday.” He pulled in a deep breath. “So my flight’s tomorrow.”

Silence surrounded them, the mood broken as reality intruded.

“You’d really like my nieces,” he heard himself say. “Cute little things. Girly girls, with bows in their hair and cowboy boots on their feet.” He continued to speak, unsure of how to bring them back to before, when it was just Luke and Alexa in the cabin. Not Luke from Texas and Alexa from New York.

He heard what sounded like a hiccup. Or her choking back tears.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Take the weekend and come with me to Texas,” he said.

She popped up in bed and flipped over. Her eyes were red as they zeroed in on him. “Say that again?” she asked.

The suggestion came out unexpectedly but the sentiment was heartfelt, he realized. “Come to Texas. Meet my family. You’ll have fun and they’ll love you.”

Her eyes opened wide. “But…work. The hospital. My patients.” Her father. That last one went unsaid.

“Will all be here when you get back.” He didn’t know what he hoped for out of the request. He only knew he wasn’t ready to be apart from her.

The rest he’d figure out.