Page 107 of Lust

I offer a kiss, and as he receives it, his tongue plays across mine. Each time we’ve kissed since he woke up has been a consoling reassurance, reminding me he’s safe.

And that’s what really matters.

I firm our kiss, my hands greedily probing his body as I guide him back until his ass is against Alexei’s desk.

He moans, then pulls away. “Let me at least take a shower. I feel so gross having been in the hospital.”

“I don’t mind kissing you dirty,” I say, which makes him chuckle.

But then his expression turns serious again. “Dan was really worried.”

After all those revelations yesterday, not only did he have to contend with visits from Alexei and the cops, each stressful for different reasons, but then Dan arrived at the airport. I borrowed Luke’s car to pick him up so he could pay his nephew a visit, and as much as Luke wanted to see him, it had to be a lot. I hate how much he’s had to deal with in such a short span of time.

“He was relieved to see you were all right,” I assure him.

“Yeah, it was just tough. He was trying to keep it together, but I could tell he was struggling. And then Alexei seemed so out of it. Like he wanted to push more about what happened but knew that wasn’t the time, and I don’t know what the hell I’m gonna tell him when he actually asks.”

I know what he means—Alexei was agitated, uneasy in a way that’s unlike him. But it sounded like he was mostly trying to figure out how the hell he wound up in the woods with the strange scar, which is far better than if he knew the truth.

“Hey, hey, we don’t have to figure all that out tonight,” I say.

“You’re right. I’m just glad Seth was there for the cops. Hopefully that was enough to get them to let it go.”

“From what Seth told me, he sowed enough doubt about the stuff covering you that they won’t get anywhere near the truth.Probably think it was a prank gone bad, since they’re already pissed they found Bucktooth Beaver behind Alpha Alpha Mu’s house. But they won’t push because Alpha Alpha Mu’s guys have powerful dads who can really fuck over this town if the cops start rumors about what happens at that frat.”

“Nice to see dirty politics come in handy for a change,” he says with a wry smirk.

“We’ll see. But again, all this can wait. Go take that shower. It’ll make you feel better, and then we can watch a movie. Maybe order some Lucky Buddha.”

“Ooh, you know me so well.” His smirk expands into a grin, but I detect tension in his expression. What he’s been through isn’t something he can just shake off.

He grabs his towel and toiletries and heads out to the communal shower, leaving me in the room. I lie in his bed, start an episode of theReal Housewives of Salt Lake City, and watch for a bit before calling Mom. I tell her Luke’s back from the hospital and that it looks like everything’s going to be all right. Luke’s back just as I end the call, a towel around his waist and his clothes tucked at his side.

He throws the clothes in the hamper, then joins me in the bed, curling against me. His body radiates the warmth from his shower, and a drop of water falls from his bangs onto my chest. As he sighs, I can feel his exhaustion.

“It’s just…too much,” he mutters. “That night. The stuff Kysar wrote for us. That we have to train for something worse. And all I can think is, something worse than that? I don’t know what to focus on first.”

“How about…what you want to order from Lucky Buddha?”

He chuckles. “Maybe pad thai. And while we’re at it, can we order some cookies from that place nearby…and ice cream? I’m fucking starving.”

“Anything you want.”

He angles his head up to me. “In that case, I’m ready for some more kisses.”

I submit to him, taking what’s mine and giving him what’s rightfully his. God, I missed these when he was under. Desperately.

“Thought these lips…might never be…mine again,” I fight to say through our kisses.

“I thought…they might not…be either.”

He pulls away, studying my expression. As I look at that beautiful face, I’m overwhelmed with emotion. “All I keep thinking about is how close you were to being gone. The things I’d never be able to tell you. About how obsessed I am with you. How even in this short time I’ve known you, I can’t get enough. I’ve seen your passion. I’ve seen your desire to help others. And I’ve seen your willingness to sacrifice yourself so selflessly.”

“Says the guy who was willing to die to save me.”

“You know why I wanted to save you. Because I’m totally, hopelessly in love with you. I love you, Luke, my Straight Boy.”

His gaze meets mine, and he smirks. “I love you too,” he says softly before our lips collide.

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