She didn’t know what the hell to call what they were doing. She just knew that if she wanted a shower; she’d have to take off her clothes, and if she took off her clothes, she and Luke would make love.Have sex.She needed to keep reminding herself that no matter how fucking perfect it was, they weren’t making love. At least not on Luke’s side of things. Her heart was long gone.
They hadn’t fixed anything between them. Pete’s death just threw them together. It was a false intimacy. But she’d be damned if she turned away from the comfort he offered her.
“Sweetheart?” he said, taking a step toward her.
He’d taken off his shirt, and she couldn’t help but be knocked a little breathless at the sight of his strong muscled chest and tightly defined abs. He had the body of a man who worked hard every day, not one who spent most of his time behind a desk.
“It’s okay,” she said, reaching out to clasp his waist.
She pulled him in close enough to rest her forehead against the firm, ridged plane of his stomach. He cupped her head in both of his hands, pausing for a moment to hold her before gently tugging the elastic band free, releasing her pony tail. With the pads of his fingers he massaged her scalp, working loose some of the tension and knots that had been building all day. It felt exquisite, and after a moment she tipped her head up and pressed a kiss to the warm skin just above his waistband. With determined fingers, she undid his belt, not bothering to pull it from the loops before unfastening his slacks and sliding down the zipper.
His cock was already hard, long and thick, the tip protruding from underneath the elastic band of his boxer briefs. She licked, running her tongue along the tip, tasting the salty pre-cum. His fingers tightened in her hair and the delicious tug spurred her on. She ran her tongue over the round head, dipping below his waistband to trace the ridge of his cock before freeing him completely and taking him in her mouth. She worked her mouth up and down his length, stroking the underside of his cock with the flat of her tongue, giving herself over to his pleasure so she didn’t have to feel out of control.
“Wait, sweetheart,” he said, stopping her with a groan. “I want to take my time with you. If you keep doing that, I won’t last.”
Helping her to her feet, he kissed her, teasing her lips apart and meeting her tongue with his. He broke the kiss and grabbed the hem of her T-shirt, stripping the soft cotton from her body before reaching for the button on her jeans. Tugging the jeans over her hips and down her legs, he steadied her as she stepped clear of the denim. With quick efficient movements, he stripped her of her bra and panties.
He let his hands skim over her body, waking her nerves and pebbling her flesh. Cupping her breasts in his strong warm hands, he traced her tight nipples with his thumbs. The heat that seemed to be always just under the surface surged between them, and her mouth fell open, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Bending his head, he caught her sighs with his mouth, taking the kiss deeper, winding her desire tighter.
With hands made desperate by his kiss, she pushed at his slacks and briefs, shoving them past his hips and groaning into his mouth as he stepped free of them, and she felt the hard press of his cock against the soft mound of her belly. She reached down to wrap her fingers around his long hard length, but he caught her hand, pinning it against her side.
“Shower. Now, sweetheart,” he said, breaking the kiss and spinning her toward the fogged glass enclosure.
She opened the door and stepped in under the gentle warm rain. The water washed over her like tears, and just like with tears she felt the loss, the waste and the barest edge of resignation. Hidden in the spray of the shower, she let her tears fall, mourning for Pete and his family and for the love she didn’t think she’d ever have with Luke.
When Luke climbed into the shower with her, he pulled her to him, cradling her against his chest. He sheltered her under the spray until the water washed away the last of her tears, and she was able to tip her head up and give him a weak smile.
“I’m sorry,” she said, pulling back enough to let the water run between their bodies. “That snuck up on me.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you. I’m floored at how strong you’ve been today.” For a few minutes, he held her, letting his hands follow the path of the water as it slid down her back. Stroking her until the comfort of his touch turned into something more. Something hotter.
Claire stretched up on her toes to kiss and taste the water as it ran down his neck. Her fingers tangled in his wet hair as she licked at the hollow at the base of his throat. She felt the vibration under her lips as he groaned in pleasure.
“Close your eyes, sweetheart. And tip your head back,” he said, swallowing against her mouth.
She did as he asked, letting the warm water rain down on her face and slick her hair into a wet sheet against her back.
“Keep them closed and don’t move,” he said a moment before his lips found the pulse point under her jaw.
Her mouth opened on a sigh of pleasure, and she licked the drops of water from her lips. He traced a path from her jaw to her collar bone with his mouth, hotter than the water falling on them. Pausing to scrape his teeth over the knotted muscle where her neck met her shoulders, he gripped her hips, anchoring her in place before continuing his torturous route down her body. He wrapped his lips around first one nipple and then the other, suckling her, his mouth a hot brand on her skin.
When he went to his knees, she almost dropped down beside him. She felt so raw and vulnerable. Having him kneeling in front of her only emphasized the feeling, but when he pressed a kiss to the mound of her sex she froze, her breath catching in her throat. And when he licked into her, she lost her mind, her whole world focusing on the way his mouth felt on her aching flesh.
Nudging her legs apart, he hooked a hand behind one knee, raising her leg so it rested on his shoulder. His hand on her hip held her in place while he spread her open for him. With long firm strokes, he licked from her opening to her clit, grazing the sides of the tender bundle of nerves, winding her desire tighter without ever quite touching where she needed him most.
He cupped her butt with his other hand, his fingers playing along the seam, dipping to touch a slick fingertip to the tight bud of her ass. His thumb pressed against her opening, and she tangled her fingers in his wet hair, urging him closer to her center and the relief she needed.
With her head tipped back, the water raining down on her breasts, and his mouth teasing and tasting her, he wound her desire tighter and tighter until the only thing keeping her from fracturing apart was his hand on her hip and her fingers clinging to his hair. Pressing with his thumb and the tip of his finger, he entered her as he wrapped his lips around her clit and sucked. Her breath left her on a gasp and she tasted the water from the shower on her lips. Anchoring her in place so she had no choice but to take the pleasure he was giving her, he thrust with his hand, flicking the tight bundle of nerves with his tongue.
“Luke, please, please, Luke.” She panted, chanting in rhythm with his relentless touch.
He drove her on with his mouth and hand, demanding she give into the climax rolling over her. Her leg tightened on his shoulder even as her other knee went weak. Sliding his hand from her body he circled her waist with his arms, pressing both hands into the small of her back. She arched against his touch, desperate to get closer even as she needed a break from the onslaught of his mouth on her sensitive flesh.
When he’d drawn out the last bit of her orgasm, leaving her breathless and limp, he stood taking her in his arms. Spent, she pressed her face against his wet chest, fitting herself into him. He tucked her head under his chin and sheltered in the strength of his arms, the shower beating down around them, she found the only peace she’d had in her whole day.
She stroked her hands over him, her fingers tracing the water slicked muscles of his back. He flexed his arms, pulling her in tighter, and she felt the coiled strength of his masculine body, tight and powerful under her hands, and more than capable of holding the world up for her for a while. She slipped her hand between them, wanting to give him back some of the pleasure he’d given her. When she reached for him, he caught her hand, pinning her in place.
“Not yet, sweetheart,” he said. “Let me take care of you this time.”
