“I hope there's a ‘but’ coming,” I say.
“But I love you, and I'd rather be miserable with you than miserable without you.”
“I love you, too,” I say.
Luke's fingertips graze my arm. He leans towards me, his body pressed against mine, his lips pressed against mine and I feel it again, the electricity, the fireworks, the joy of being alive.
Jesus, I missed him.
His hands slide around my back, my body melting into his.
“I missed you so much,” he says.
“You read my mind.”
“No,” he says. “I know you have something much, much more illicit on your mind.”
“Pervert.”
“You love it.”
I smile. I do, I really do.
***
I wake up to a torrent of sunshine. Luke stands in front of the windows, naked, light surrounding his amazing body in a soft glow.
I suppose that's one way to roll out of bed.
He looks at me with a smile, stretching his arms above his head so I get a long, hard look at his b
ody. I start at his thick, black hair and work my way down. Big, bright eyes. Soft lips. The curve of his neck as it meets his broad shoulders. His arms, so strong and safe and comforting.
God, it's like he gets hotter every time I see him.
I brush my teeth and wash my face. I didn't manage to get all my makeup off last night, but it's close enough, and when I look in the mirror, I don't see the cheating bitch who hated herself. Okay, I see something pretty close to that, but I know I need to work on it. I know I need to change it.
Luke fixes tea in the kitchen. I actually missed stealing sips of his tea, and I don't complain about my lack of coffee. He hands me a cup—Earl Grey, with honey and almond milk—and I sip it slowly, finally allowing myself to think up all kinds of alternate uses for the honey.
“It's really not fair for you to come out here naked,” he says.
“And you're not wearing any clothes because…?” I slide my fingers across his shoulders, running them down his back and sides. God, his body feels good. And it's mine. It's all mine.
“Because I want to drive you mad with lust.”
“It's working.”
“I know. I'm very attractive,” he says.
“And humble, too.”
“I know. My humility is one of my many amazing qualities.”
“Uh-huh.”
“But, see, my dear Alyssa, the plan only works if I can somehow avoid having my way with you.”
“You're what, 35, 40?”