“Since its two days, I got us a suite. We can make a weekend out of it.”
Valerie gulped, hoping he didn’t notice, and forced a smile. “I heard that place is really nice.”
“Oh it’s awesome. I’ve had meetings there a few times but never actually stayed there.”
Later in the evening, after a few glasses of wine, they danced on the romantic terrace that overlooked his backyard. This was the first time she’d been to his place, and as expected, it was lavish. The backyard resembled a resort with a huge pool and outdoor kitchen. He said it was all about the investment. A single man obviously didn’t need such a big home. Resale value is what he was looking at when he’d bought it.
She thought of Alex’s simple more unassuming house. Alex said the more house he had the more there was to clean, and he was hardly ever home so what was the point? But Valerie knew that as modest as his place was it was still upscale, because of the area he lived in.
Luke promised her the grand tour later, and she had a feeling she knew where the tour would end. He was already being more passionate than usual, and he’d started to call her honey. But it didn’t sound like when Isabel or her dad called her that. With Isabel it was like having your older sister say it, even though they were the same age. The way Luke said it, felt intimate.
Luke kissed her neck as they danced slowly and squeezed her a little tighter. Then he kissed her lips. Valerie focused more than usual on trying to enjoy it. She felt him start to breathe heavier as their tongues intertwined faster. His hand lowered on her back and caressed her behind softly.
“Do you know how long you’ve been driving me crazy?” He gasped between kisses.
Valerie shook her head. She didn’t want to know. It was hard enough trying to enjoy the moment without thinking about Alex. Now he was going to add guilt to the mix?
He stopped dancing and kissed her with more aggression. Thrusting his tongue deep in her mouth, his hand slid up her blouse and caressed her breast. Surprised that she was beginning to feel a little aroused, Valerie closed her eyes and let herself go with it. She welcomed his tongue and kissed him back with just as much passion even biting his lip softly.
In a flash, he picked her up. She instantly wrapped her legs around his waist, her skirt lifting. His hands squeezed her behind as she continued to kiss him even as he walked into the house. She held his face in her hands, kissing him with the kind of yearning she only ever felt with Alex. Her heart raced. She closed her eyes tight, excited by the unexpected enjoyment of it.
By the time they reached his bed she was fully ready to go to the next step, and it thrilled her. They fumbled undressing each other partially while still trying to keep their mouths together. She fell back on the bed, and he fell onto her. He took her naked breast in his mouth while she ran her frantic fingers through his hair.
“I want you so bad.” His strained voice was barely understandable.
She was so incredibly aroused at this point she could barely muster up the words herself. “I want you too, Alex.”
Luke froze, then jerked his face away from her breast. Valerie’s eyes flew open, her hand flew to her mouth, covering it as if that would take back what she’d just said. Mortified, she tried desperately to understand what just happened. Alex’s words rang in her head. Please tell me you haven’t given up on us.
CHAPTER 10
Luke stared at her. “Alex?”
Valerie moved away from him slowly. “I’m sorry...I don’t…”
He moved off her, and she sat up pulling the sheet over herself. “I’m so sorry, Luke. I didn’t mean-”
“The guy I met outside the club?”
Valerie nodded and climbed off the bed with the sheet around her feeling like a complete idiot. She didn’t even want to look at him. Her hand instinctively flew to her face for a second.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” His demeanor was unusually calm. She could only imagine the reaction she’d get if she ever called Alex by another name in bed.
“I was seeing him for a long time… and I haven’t been with anyone else since.” She looked away still trying to grasp what just happened.
She finally turned back to him. His expression turned to stone. “You were real quiet that whole night. You still have feelings for him?”
Her eyes went from the bed to the door. Maybe she could make a run for it.
“Talk to me, Valerie. You said you’d be honest.”
“I was honest.” She maintained. “I didn’t lie when I said I wasn’t seeing anyone else.”
Luke motioned for her to take a seat on the bed.
She shook her head.
“C’mon Valerie. This is dumb. I’m not going to stand here talking to you with the bed between us. At least sit down.”
She sat down slowly, clutching the sheet in front of her. She’d never regretted being somewhere so much in her life. The absurd thought of flying out the window crossed her mind.
“So, are you going to answer the question?” Luke sat on the edge of his side of the bed. “You still have feelings for him?”
For a second she thought about lying, and then thought better of it. She may as Well, come clean. Worst that could happen is he’d want to stop seeing her, and she actually hoped he would.
“I thought I was over him,” she whispered.
He was quiet for a moment. “I see.”
“But it’s not like I’ve done anything with him recently. It’s just taking me a lot longer than I thought to get over it.” That was putting it lightly.