“Here.” He takes a bite, and I slip the rest of it in my mouth. “Mmm, that’s good.”
I lick my thumb, and he takes my wrist in his hand and licks my forefinger. “I love watching you eat.”
Desire flashes, fast and hot, through me.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
I wander back to the fruit and pluck a grape from the stem. When I turn, Luke has taken the pancakes off the griddle and turned it off.
I do like the way he thinks.
I rub the grape across my lips, then pop it in my mouth and chew slowly.
“Want some?” I hold a grape out for him. He slowly closes the space between us and takes the grape out of my fingers with his lips.
“I like this game,” he whispers, and I grin. He lifts me up onto the counter so my feet are dangling, steps between my legs, and puts another strawberry against my lips. I grip it in my teeth and then lean down so he can take a bite from my lips and kiss him at the same time.
He tastes of strawberries and Luke, and I moan against his mouth.
“God, you’re so sexy.”
I pull my green shirt over my head and throw it on the floor, then my bra follows it. Grabbing another strawberry, I look in his eyes, bite my lip, and swirl the red fruit around my nipples, making them pucker. Luke’s quick intake of breath and tightening of his fingers on my ass tell me he likes the sight before him.
I pull the strawberry up my chest, against my skin, over my chin and push it into my mouth, enjoying the sweet juiciness of the fruit.
He doesn’t move. He just watches me, his hands gripping my jean-clad bottom, me naked from the waist up, and I set about seducing my sexy fiancé.
I push a chunk of cantaloupe in Luke’s mouth and lean down and kiss him, sucking the juice into my own mouth.
“You’re making me crazy,” he whispers against my mouth.
“That’s the point,” I whisper back.
He suddenly lifts me, and I wrap my legs around him as he twirls and rushes over to the dining table. He sets me down on it and pulls my jeans over my hips as I raise them and down my legs, taking my underwear with them.
He pulls his shirt over his head, not bothering with the buttons and pushes his soft blue jeans down around his thighs.
“I can’t get enough of you.” He covers me with his torso, his hands in my hair and face buried in my neck, kissing and suckling my sensitive skin.
“I don’t want you to get enough of me.” I wrap my legs around his hips, and he slides inside me, all the way to root of his cock, and I clench around him.
He grips my right hand in his left one and pulls it above my head and begins to move, in and out of me, at a steady pace.
“It makes me so hard to watch you eat. Your sweet mouth is the sexiest aphrodisiac I’ve ever seen.” His lips find mine, and I’m lost in his words, in his body moving so gracefully and surely above mine.
I run my hand down his back to his tight ass and hold on tight as he increases the pace.
“Oh God,” I moan.
“Look at me,” he growls, and my eyes meet his. “I want to watch you come.”
Fuck.
And that’s all it takes to send me over the edge. He slams into me twice, then stills and bites his lip as he erupts inside me.
“God, Nat, you’re going to kill me.” He kisses me gently, then pulls out of me, helping me up off the hard table.
“I can’t help it that you have a food fetish.” I slap his naked ass and collect my clothes on the way to the bathroom to clean up and get dressed.
When I join him in the kitchen, he’s fully dressed and has more pancakes cooking on the griddle.
I kiss his cheek and resume cutting up the fruit.
“I have to go to LA next week.” Luke flips his pancakes and turns to me.
“Why?” I finish stemming the strawberries and move on to the peaches.
“I have a meeting that I need to be there for in person. I should only be gone one night.”
“Oh, okay.” I frown. This will be the first night we’ve spent apart since our magical night at the vineyard.
“Come with me,” he suggests.
“I can’t. I’m still catching up with clients from our vacation. I’m booked solid next week.” I toss a pit in the garbage and grab another peach.
“It’s just one night,” he murmurs, and I realize he’s standing behind me.
I’m suddenly feeling vulnerable, and I don’t know why. It’s just one night! Surely I can get through one night without him.
I turn and smile brightly, not wanting him to see my insecurity. “It’ll be fine. What day are you leaving?”
“Early morning Wednesday. I’ll be home Thursday around noon.”
“That’s a long meeting.” I raise my eyebrows.
“I’m going to pack a few meetings in there, since I’ll be there anyway. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Of course. I love you, but I think I can survive without you for one night. Jules and I’ll have a girls’ night.”
“Okay.” He kisses my nose and returns to his pancakes and slips some bacon into the oven.
“What are we going to do about all the flowers outside?” I ask, changing the subject.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you want to eat out on the deck?”
“No, we’ll eat in here. We can bring them in if you like.”
I walk over to the glass door and gaze out at my beautiful flowers, trying to shake my melancholy mood now that I know Luke will be leaving overnight next week.
“They’re beautiful. I don’t know where we’ll put them all.”
“Leave them for now, and we’ll figure it out later.”
“Okay.” I set the large dining room table for six, pour orange juice and coffee into carafes and set them on the table as the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it.” Luke flashes me a smile, and I relax a bit, excited to see his parents and give them their gifts.
“Hello, darling.” Lucy kisses Luke’s cheek and comes into the great room. Neil and Mark follow with Samantha bringing up the rear.
They’ve obviously spent a lot of time in Luke’s home. They’re comfortable moving around the space, and I stand back for a moment, enjoying the view of Luke with his family.
My family now.
“Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to my beautiful fiancée, Natalie.”
I laugh as Luke joins me and kisses my hand.
“Yes,” I say drily, “we’ve met.”
“Oh, Natalie, I’m so excited that you’re going to be a part of our family.” Lucy hugs me tight, and I blink back the sudden tears that threaten.
“Thank you.”
“And here I thought you’d choose the right brother.” Mark shakes his head ruefully and pretends to pout.
“I did.” I laugh at his stricken face and give him a quick hug. “Don’t pout. We’ll find you a good girl.”
Mark laughs and heads for the kitchen to steal a piece of bacon. “No need. I’m good.”
“Stay away from that bacon!” Luke bellows.
Neil hugs me and cups my face in his hands, his kind eyes happy. “Are you happy, sweet girl?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Good.”
Luke’s parents are both so generous and welcoming. Samantha, however, rolls her eyes and pours herself a cup of coffee.
“So.” Her eyes gleam with malice, and she glances at Luke, then back at me, and I brace myself for what’s about to come out of her snarky mouth.
“Who was that delicious-looking man you were with the other day in the coffee shop?”
Chapter Thirty
I frown, then the blood leaves my face, and I turn to Luke. His eyebrows are raised almost to his hairline. The room stills.
“I met with a client to give him some work he purchased.” My eyes don’t leave Luke’s, but his face changes, and gone is my carefree, happy man. He knows exactly who I’m talking about, and he’
s pissed.
Fuck.
I forgot to tell him about meeting with Brad because it was the same day that we went to the cemetery.
“What’s his name?” Sam asks and takes a sip of coffee.
“Brad,” I murmur, watching Luke as he exhales and hangs his head. “I forgot to tell you because we went to the cemetery that day.” My voice is low and thin.
Samantha frowns for a moment and swallows, and she almost looks guilty.
Luke stares at me, his eyes ice cold, and I feel tears threaten. “Don’t be mad. I just gave him his photos, and he asked if he could make another appointment, but I told him you wouldn’t like it. He offered to call you himself and talk to you to let you know that he’s not interested in me like that. It was nothing.”
“Why didn’t you say something when you got home?”
“I really forgot. It was nothing.”
“It didn’t seem like nothing when you smiled at him and rubbed your hand all over his shoulder.” Samantha shrugs smugly, and I gasp.
“Sam.” Lucy’s voice is sharp and loud.
Luke’s eyes don’t leave my face, and I shake my head.
I pin Sam with a glare and ball my hands into fists. How dare she?
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” My voice is shaking in rage.
“What did I do?” She widens her eyes innocently.
“I met with a client. I patted his shoulder when he expressed nervousness about talking with my protective boyfriend about the possibility of having a chaperoned photo shoot with me. We were in a fucking public place having a conversation.
“Is this how it’s always going to be, Samantha? You questioning my motives with your brother for the next sixty years? Do you have any idea how much money I’m worth without Luke? I don’t need his money or his contacts. When my parents died, I inherited over twenty million dollars.”
Sam blanches, and I hear Lucy gasp, but I keep going.
“Your brother is famous. Get over it. I wouldn’t love him any less if he flipped burgers for a living, if that’s where his passion was. You seem to be the only one hung up on who he is.
“I am marrying him, Sam. I’m in it for the long haul. I’d prefer to have a friendly relationship with you. I think that if you gave me half a chance, you’d like me.
“But I will not continue to be disrespected by you. I don’t deserve it.”
“I don’t trust you,” she spits out through clenched teeth.
“I don’t trust you either, so I guess we’re even.” I look at Luke to see what he’s thinking. His hands are in his pockets, and he’s gazing at me thoughtfully. “Do you want me to go?”
“No, don’t go!” Lucy comes toward me, glaring at her daughter. “Samantha, you’re being ridiculous.”
I continue to look at Luke. He hasn’t answered me. Neil and Mark are both also glaring at Samantha.
“Well?” I raise my eyebrow at him.
“No, this is your home,” he says quietly, and his eyes warm. Oh, thank God.
“Sam,” he says quietly and walks around the table to her. She’s still glaring at me, but he turns her chin so she’s looking in his eyes. Lucy grips my hand in hers, and I smile thinly at her. I’m shaking like crazy.
“Stop this. I am marrying Natalie. I’m in love with her, Sam. She’s nothing like anyone from my past. You have got to knock the chip off your shoulder and move on. I have.”
He runs his hands through his hair and looks over at me, then turns his attention back to her. “If you don’t trust her, trust me. Give her a fighting chance. She hasn’t done anything to you.”
Sam shakes her head and closes her eyes, and she suddenly looks tired. “I can’t bear to see you hurt again.”
“You are hurting me, Sam.”
She gasps as though he’s hit her. “What?”
“When you hurt her, you hurt me. Stop. This is our home, and if you can’t respect her in it, you’re not welcome here.”
Holy shit. He’s defending me to his sister, and I just want to wrap myself around him and kiss him, but I stay where I am, riveted.
I look around the room, at Lucy, Neil and Mark, and decide this has gone on long enough.
“I’m hungry.” My voice is calm and light. “Let’s have brunch. I think Mark’s about to eat all the bacon by himself.”
Lucy smiles at me and squeezes my hand as we head to the kitchen to place the food on the table. Mark and Neil help us get everything settled, and I watch out of the corner of my eye as Luke murmurs something to Sam. He hugs her gently and joins me in the kitchen.
“I’m sorry.” I hug him around his middle and breathe in his scent.
“Don’t be. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m sorry for Sam.”
I shake my head. “Let’s eat.”
“Okay.”
We enjoy our delicious meal, and the mood lifts considerably. I’m relieved that the conversation isn’t forced or uncomfortable after my altercation with Sam. She continues to eye me speculatively from across the table, but she’s no longer glaring at me, so I figure we’ve leaped one hurdle.
“Natalie, let me see that ring.” Lucy leans toward me, and I show off my beautiful ring, a silly grin plastered on my face.
Lucy smiles at her son. “I did such a good job raising you.”
Luke laughs, and I nod. “That you did. He has good taste.”
Luke kisses my hand and smiles at me, his eyes soft and loving.
After breakfast, we clear the table. Lucy, Sam and I clean up the mess and join the men in the living room with fresh coffee.
“Presents!” I jump up and down and clap my hands, excited to give Luke’s parents their gifts. Everyone laughs at me, and I grin. “I love giving presents.”
“You didn’t have to get us anything at all,” Neil informs me.
“You only celebrate your thirty-fifth anniversary once.” I decide to give this olive branch thing another try and turn to Sam. “Will you please help me bring their gift in from the other room?”
Her eyes widen in surprise, but then she shrugs good-naturedly. “Okay.”
I smile and lead her down to Luke’s office, where the large box sits on his desk.
“Holy shit, that’s a big box.”
I laugh. “I know. I had a hell of a time wrapping this sucker. Here, you take that side and I’ll take this one.”
We lift it together—it’s really not that heavy, just awkward—and carry it out to the living room.
“What did you do, buy them furniture?” Mark asks drily.
I stick my tongue out at him, and Sam and I set the box on the floor in front of Neil and Lucy.
“Open it.” I sit next to Luke on the couch, and he drapes an arm around my shoulders.
They attack the box from opposite sides, tearing the paper and pulling the lid off.
“Oh my.” Lucy’s hand covers her mouth as she gazes at the contents. She begins pulling the black, framed photos out of the box, one by one, and Neil takes them from her, arranging them on the floor. At the bottom of the box are the two larger frames of their wedding day and at my birthday party.
“These are wonderful,” Lucy says as they hold the image from the party in front of them and gaze at it. “Natalie, you’re very talented.”
I blush, delighted that they like their present. “Thank you.”
Luke kisses my hand. “There’s more.”
“What?” Neil frowns, not privy to this part of the present, and I giggle.
“We’re sending you on a second honeymoon to the south of France. It’s all paid for, you can go whenever you like.”
Their mouths drop, and Lucy looks back at their photos and starts to cry.
“Geez, Mom, what’s wrong?” Mark awkwardly pats her back, clearly uncomfortable with a woman in tears.
“I’m a bit overwhelmed, I guess. First, last night’s party, then my son is giving me a beautiful daughter-in-law, and now we’re going to France. It’s a lot to take in in such a short time
.”
Neil kisses her forehead and hands her a handkerchief. I didn’t know men still carried those.
I freshen everyone’s coffee, and we sit and chat about weddings for the better part of an hour.
“Have you set a date?” Lucy asks.
“No.” I chuckle and look at Luke. “He asked me twelve hours ago.”
“Winter weddings are lovely.”
“I’m going to need help. Also…” I frown and peer at Luke, and he runs his hand over my back.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want the paparazzi to get wind of it.”
“Do you want a big wedding?” Neil asks.
“No, just family and close friends.” I shrug. “I’ve never really thought about it.”
“Every girl thinks about her wedding. It scares us men to death.” Mark smirks.
I shake my head. “I’d never planned to get married. This wasn’t even on my radar.”
“I have an idea,” Sam says softly. “What about a destination wedding? You can fly everyone somewhere and have a small wedding somewhere lovely, like Tahiti or something.”
The idea takes hold in my brain, and I smile. I look over at Luke, and he’s smiling at me.
“What do you think?” I ask him.
“I’m the man. You just tell me when and where to show up and what I’m supposed to wear, and I’ll be there.”
I grin at Sam. “I like that idea. Let’s talk about it some more later.”
Sam smiles at me—smiles at me!—and I have visions of Luke and I getting married on a white sandy beach with crystal-clear blue water surrounding us.
***
“So what are your plans for tomorrow night with Jules?”
Luke and I are snuggled up on the couch. It’s Tuesday night, and he leaves for his trip tomorrow, which I’ve been trying very hard to not dwell on. I don’t want him to go.
“I think we’re going to be in the studio.”
Luke raises his eyebrows and looks down at me. “Why?”
“She wants me to do some photos for her.” I shrug. “I’m not sure why. She already has quite a collection.”
“What do you mean?”
“You must not read Playboy.”
“Not since I was a randy teenager. Why?” He looks perplexed as I turn on the couch to face him, then realization dawns, and his eyes go wide.