“Yeah, go on home and keep my kids in line. I’ll be by tomorrow morning to pick them up and Heidi Jo can spend the day with us. Maybe that will give Carly a little break.”
Colton nods then looks down at Luke who appears to have fallen asleep with his arm slung over his face and just shakes his head. “Holler if ya need anything.” He says, heading out the front door.
I grab the throw off the back of the couch and just as I toss it over Luke he catches my wrist mid-air and pulls me down into his lap. He nuzzles his face in the crook of my neck and says, “Didn’t think that prick was ever gonna leave.”
“You were awake this entire time!” I laugh, swatting at his thick chest.
“I’m done for the day, Sav. Exhausted. Just wanna hold my girl.” He whispers.
“Your girl, huh?” Luke nods against my neck, peppering tiny kisses along my collarbone. “Maybe we should talk about that?”
“What’s there to talk about, Sav? You see where your ass is planted.”
“Uhm, well,” I trail off, my words suddenly a jumbled collage in my brain and I’m suddenly scared to tell Luke how I feel. “I’m gonna go finish up in the bedrooms. Sit still and rest. I’ll be back in a few.” I say bolting up quickly.
“Sav, just leave it! Come back.” I hear Luke call behind me, but I ignore him and take the stairs two at a time to the bedrooms. He’s too exhausted to come after me right now.
I set to work cleaning up Braden’s room first. I gather the plastic, brushes and rollers, tossing them in the trash bag, then carry the leftover paint and tools to the hallway closet before vacuuming the carpet. Luke did a good job picking themes for each of their rooms. The kids will be so surprised when they come home tomorrow.
Braden’s room is painted royal blue with red accents and a large S shield donning the wall. Luke knows how much Braden loves Superman, and in a way I think this was his way of keeping Sawyer’s memory closer to his heart
.
Brailee’s room was a bit challenging because she loves everything, but Luke kept it elegant with pink walls and white and black accents. It struck me as odd that he wanted to put in the work of decorating their rooms, considering he hasn’t really known them all too long. But looking around it seems he knows them better than Josh does, which relieves me.
I finish up their bedrooms and head back downstairs for a hot shower. Luke is nowhere to be found, he’s probably went out to feed Buttercup, so I think nothing of it and go on about my shower. We’ve worked non-stop for the last two days, cleaning, painting and bringing in new furniture that I am ready to become one with the couch and my Kindle.
Walking in the bathroom I notice a wadded up towel heaped in the floor next to the hamper. Oh sweet, I can see Luke’s a bit comfortable in his bachelor life. I wonder if he turns his underwear inside out so he doesn’t have to wash clothes as often, too. I set the shower to steam then pick up after Luke before stepping in. The scalding hot water cascades around me, easing the tight muscles in my shoulders and it feels amazing. I would stand in here all night if I weren’t so damn tired, so I wash off quickly. I towel off then dress in pajama shorts and a tank top, leaving my hair damp and messy.
I pad through the dark hallway, covering my mouth as I yawn. The shower really relaxed me and I’m sure once my head hits the pillow I’ll be out. Suddenly I feel hands on my hips as I’m thrust against the wall. Luke rests his arms over my head, caging me in beneath him.
“I asked you not to hide from me, Sav.” He says, his voice low and husky.
“What?” I ask, taking in his primal state. His piercing blue eyes are stern and urgent. “You know I went upstairs to clean up the kids’ room so we can get the beds up tomorrow.”
“That’s not what I meant, sweetheart. You were confused when I called you my girl, and I replied the way I did so you’d finally open up to me. Supposed to have cleared ya head, ‘member?” He smirks. That damn smirk, ugh I wanna swipe it off his face sometimes…he smirks to flirt, when he knows he’s right about something.
“Well everything got a little crazy for a few days.” I lie.
“Ya know, when I was unconscious I had these crazy as hell dreams. It’s like everything that ever caused me pain was taunting me. The dreams were surreal and it’s bothered me a lot over the last few days because it was just a reminder of what hell I’ve been through.” He stares down at me, gauging my face for a reaction to him, but I’m frozen. “I kept hearin’ you cryin’ but I couldn’t find you. I could hear you talkin’ but couldn’t make out everything you were sayin’. It was enough to drive me mad.”
“It was just a dream, Luke.” I whisper as fear crawls through my chest.
“What were you sayin’ to me when I was out, Sav? Just tell me. I can hear it in my mind, but I need to see it in your eyes when you say it this time. I need to feel it.”
No. Oh no, no, no. I know what he’s referring to, and I meant it when I said it, but right now, with him caging me in like a predator staking claim to his prey, glaring at me through those baby blues, I don’t think I can muster a coherent thought to speak. So I just pinch my eyes together and shake my head, hoping he’ll take that as a sign to let it go.
But he doesn’t.
Back and forth. Back and frickin’ forth. I knew she had something on her mind when I had her wrapped up in my lap, but I had to be a smart ass, braggin’ that I already had her when fact is I don’t. I’ve done everything I can to show Savannah how I feel about her, but I haven’t voiced it yet because I want her to be the one to take that step when she is ready so I don’t scare her away. I didn’t expect her to feel like this so soon, but I’m relieved she does.
At first I thought it was really just part of the dreams I had when I was unconscious. But then I heard Savannah cry out for me in her sleep last night and I knew then it wasn’t part of the dream at all.
I can plead with Sav ‘til I’m blue in the face, she ain’t gonna tell me what I wanna hear, so I encourage her in my own way.
I clutch my hand around the back of her neck and crash my lips onto hers, fervently. She gasps into my mouth, but doesn’t pull away like I expect her to. No, she leans into my lips, kissing me sensually as she rakes her nails across the back of my neck, pulling me closer to her. Pulling away, I’m left breathless and dazed by her kiss. I lean my forehead against hers and pant against her mouth, “Tell me, sweetheart. Please.” I lock eyes with her, pleading that she’ll relent.
“I,” her eyes drift closed and she sucks in a gush of air, her chest pressin’ against mine.