Lukas (Ashes & Embers 3)

As a little girl, I dreamed of the fairytale love like we all did. I dreamed of a love that would last forever. I hoped for bouquets of roses for no reason other than to say I love you. I fantasized about a magic

al marriage proposal and a beautiful wedding gown. None of that happens in real life, though. At least not in mine. I had happy moments, but no magical moments. Until now.

I sigh dreamily and look up at the stars in the dark winter sky. “I love the idea of soul mates,” I finally say, squeezing his hand. “To think that there is someone out there that has loved you before, loves you now, and will love you again? It’s a pretty intense idea, but I think it’s only something that happens in movies and books, unfortunately.”

He pulls me against his chest and wraps one arm around my waist, his other hand letting go of mine, sliding up my arm, over my shoulder, and stopping to rest at my neck, holding me so he can look into my eyes.

“Maybe.” He kisses my lips softly. “Or . . . maybe not.” His lips come down on mine again, lingering longer this time.

“If soul mates are real, I want you to be mine,” I whisper against his lips. And I do; I really, truly do. Maybe that’s what that feeling is we keep feeling . . . that spark, that heart-jump, that odd recognition. A low groan comes from his throat, and he pulls me even further on top of him, sliding his body down on the couch until he is completely under me. He pulls the blanket over us and finds my lips, kissing me hungrily. His hands slowly roam my body, giving me time to get used to his touch. Turning us both on our sides, he lifts my leg over his waist, his hand sliding down my outer thigh to my ass, pressing my body against his so I can feel his hard cock through his jeans. My heart rate quickens as I touch the exposed part of his chest, and lower my head to kiss him there.

“Unbutton my shirt,” I hear him whisper, his breathing heavy. With a shaky hand, I undo the remaining buttons of his shirt and push the dark fabric aside, letting my hand roam across his chest and down over his hard toned stomach. My brain and body are fighting a battle . . . my brain saying I’m not ready to go further than this right now and my body saying go, go, GO.

He reaches for me and pulls the hem of my sweater up, and I freeze, that inner battle starting up again.

“I just want to feel you against me. That’s all,” he says reassuringly, sensing my panic. Leaning up, I let him pull my sweater over my head, and he wraps his arms around me, holding me tight against him. His skin is so warm, even in the cold night air.

Our lips meet again, our hands slowly exploring each other with gentle caresses, our bodies moving against each other in a drowsy rhythm. Winding my hair in his hand, he gently pulls my head back and kisses my neck, moving his lips down to kiss the sensitive flesh between my breasts, his fingers grazing over the edge of my black lace bra. His soft, slow touches and kisses are exactly what I need and want, and somehow he knows this. My eyes flutter closed, and I let myself relax into his touch, bowing my head down to kiss the top of his head as his lips and tongue roam my chest. His hair is soft and silky against my lips, and smells of sage. He is so easy to get lost in. He ignites all of my senses, awakens all my desires, and calms my fears and insecurities. He is quickly finding his way into my heart.

He drags his tongue up over my throat and back to my lips, making me shiver.

“Are you cold?” he asks, pulling the blanket up.

I shake my head. “No . . . not at all. You’re just making me all shivery again. The way you kiss . . . Lukas, I have no words.”

He sucks in a breath and touches my cheek. “Can you stay with me tonight? Do you have to go home?”

Oh, God. I don’t want to leave the cozy warmth of his arms, or break the closeness that is growing between us. I’m afraid it will stop and never come back again. I don’t want this moment to end. Ever. Tommy is with Paul, but Macy is home alone, and I told her I would be home. Yes, I could call her and tell her I won’t be coming home tonight, but what will she think? She knows I had a date with someone new tonight. How will that make me look as a mother if I don’t come home? I don’t want my kids thinking both their parents have just started hooking up with random people. And if I did stay . . . am I ready for this to go further?

No. I’m not. Not yet.

“I can’t,” I finally say. “I’m sorry. Macy is alone, and I told her I’d be home. I know she’s almost eighteen, but I’ve never stayed away from home over night before, and she knows I had a date tonight and I don’t-”

“Shhh . . .” He touches my lips with his finger and smiles at me. “I understand, Ivy. I know there’s a lot of new going on here for you. And your kids.”

“I’m sorry . . .” I feel like the immature one here, having to run home all the time, shying away from sex.

“Don’t be sorry. I can be patient.” He takes a deep breath and exhales. “Will you keep seeing me?”

“Yes, I want to see you again.”

A big smile lights up his face, and it’s contagious. “You’re really cute when you smile,” I tell him, tracing my finger over the tattoo on his chest.

“You’re pretty cute yourself. So . . . can we go steady? Is that the term you use?”

I smack his arm and gape at him. “Lukas! I’m not from the fifties! Jesus!”

Laughing, he hugs me closer to him, his big arms circling me. “Well, how the fuck do I know how to say this right?”

“Well, what are you trying to say exactly?”

“I’m trying to say I want you to be my girlfriend, and I think I’m failing miserably.”

My heart soars from cuteness overload. How could I say no to such sexy adorableness? It would be seriously impossible.

I reach up and push his hair out of his eyes. “You’re not failing at all, Lukas. I don’t think you could fail at anything.”

“So, is that a yes?”

With a big smile and my heart beating faster, I lean forward and kiss his lips. “It’s a yes.”

LUKAS

MY FIRST DATE WITH IVY COULD not have been more perfect. Dinner came out great, she looked beautiful, Ray kept his beak shut, and kissing her under that blanket—with the stars above us—was simply exquisite. I didn’t want the night to ever end. If I close my eyes, I can still taste her on my lips and feel her soft skin pressed against mine.

That was over a week ago, and I haven’t seen her since.

I practically begged to see her for Christmas, but family obligations kept her from me, which I totally respect and understand. But I wish I was part of her family and not an outsider. Maybe someday that’ll happen.

A couple hundred text messages and a few phone calls later, I’m on my way to pick her up to take her to see the band play tonight. I feel weird when I pull into her driveway, sorta wishing I let her come to my place like she wanted to, but I insisted on picking her up here. It feels fucked up, though, ringing the doorbell of the house she lived in with her husband. After a few seconds, she opens the door and comes out on the front steps but doesn’t invite me inside, which probably would have been really uncomfortable. Instead, she throws her arms around my neck, clinging to me.

“I really missed you,” she murmurs. Fuck, I’m not with her for five seconds, and she’s already got my brain going gushy.

I hug her close to me and lift her off her feet, making her laugh and hang on to me tighter. “I missed you, too. I was starting to think you were gonna friend-zone me.” I set her down on her feet and study her face, afraid to see some kind of change in her, but I don’t. Her eyes are still sparkling at me, just like they were when we said good-bye over a week ago.

“No, Lukas, I’m not friend-zoning you, silly. I’m sorry I couldn’t see you for Christmas. I wanted to, really, but I just needed to focus on the kids and keep their routine normal.”

I take her hands in mine. “I understand. You’re a great mom, and I love that about you.”

We walk to my car, and I open the passenger side door for her, then go around and get in behind the wheel. Leaning across the console, I turn her face to mine and kiss her lips, and she makes a little startled sound, fueling me to want more of her. I pull her over to me until she’s half lying on my chest, her body stretched across the console, and kiss her d

eeper, my tongue searching out hers.

She pulls away. “This car is really small,” she jokes. “Not really conducive to making out in the front seat.”

“I don’t care. I’m dying to kiss you.” I cup the back of her neck and pull her back to my lips, wishing we didn’t have to go to the club so I could just take her home with me. Right now, I’d love nothing more than to stretch her out on my bed and explore every inch of her until she’s crazy stupid for me.

“I’ve been thinking about your kisses a lot,” she says, her voice small and sweet. She may be older than me, but truthfully, she’s so tiny, cute and shy that she seems younger than she is. I don’t think she sees that in herself, but I do.

“Oh yeah? What have you been thinking?” I lick her bottom lip and let my hand slide over her jeans to rest on her ass.

“How good you make me feel.” Even in the dimness of the car, I can still see her aqua eyes shining at me, and the glint of her lips, moist from my kiss.

“I want to make you feel things you’ve never felt before, Ivy.”

She closes her eyes, as if she’s taking my words into her to keep, then slowly opens her eyes again. “You already have,” she whispers, then presses her lips to my cheek.

Sighing, I help her back over to the passenger seat. “We should go, or we’ll be late,” I say. “Although, I kinda just want to stay here and be alone with you.”

“I do too, but I really want to see the band. I’ve been looking forward to this since you told me about them. We can be alone after. Macy is staying at a friend’s house tonight.” She smiles shyly over at me, and I think I know what she’s hinting at. What she doesn’t know is that, in a little while, she’s gonna see me on stage with the band, and I hope to hell it doesn’t change her mind about me.

The club is crowded, and there’s a line at the door, so I text Vandal to meet us at the back door to let us in.