HAPTER 58 JESS Sleep just wouldn't come. Every tI closed my eyes, I was back in that truck with Bryan- terrified, shaking, feeling so helpless. And if it wasn't Bryan's face haunting me, it was Luke's. His face, with that icy stare and emotionless slack of his jaw. It tormentedjust as much, if not more. I lay in bed, tossing and turning, trying to find peace, but it just wouldn't come.
I finally rolled over, giving up when I heard it-a soft sound so quiet I almost missed it. I could have sworn someone had just jumped in the pool, but that's ridiculous. It was raining outside.
I slipped out of bed as quietly as could and crept to the window to pull back the curtain. My window overlooked the backyard, and I saw someone swimming laps in the pool.
The rain was softer now, and I could see the pool clearly, the water rippling as someone cut through it with precision. I kne who it was. His dark hair clung to his head, and his broad shoulders rippled with muscle as he continued stroke after stroke. He was built like a lineba to resemble a Greek god. Nothing like a lean swimmer, but still, Luke could swim well.
I stood there, staring at him, unable to look away. My heart pounded in my chest, and a wave of erhotions crashed over me. I wanted him-so badly, heat polled between my thighs, and I had to cross my legs. I hated that my body responded to him, 111 17:47 OUPILA M9 1280 Mechers like this. Why couldn't it just be Tom? Every tI see him and tell myself I hate him, I'm lying to myself. But Luke made it very clear that he did not wantand that the whole promise to helpwas a complete joke to him.
I watched him swim, each stroke powerful and deliberate. The water glistened on his skin, and I couldn't tear my eyes away.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe stopped, bracing himself on the pool's edge, his chest heaving. I saw the frustration and anger in his eyes. Something happened, and for sreason, I'm not allowed to know.
Thinking of Luke made all the other bad memories disappear, but I couldn't tell him that. I couldn't let myself want him.
I turned away from the window, my heart heavy. I needed to find a way to sleep, to escape these thoughts that wouldn't leavealone. But as I lay back down, I knew it was hopeless. Luke was in my head, and there was no escaping him. Tiptoeing through the house, I grabbed a towel and made my way to the back door. My heart was pounding, but I pushed my nerves aside. I was already halfway there-not chickening of now. I needed to see what was going on with Luke. Somet was eating at him, and even if he wouldn't talk toabout it, i couldn't just ignore it.
I reached the pool's edge and stopped, watching him beneath the surface. He was just sitting at the bottom, unmoving. I waited patiently, wondering how long before I should be worried, but bubbles floated to the surface, so he was still breathing. The rain had now becshirt. Nothing Luke hasn't technically seen... or tasted before.
20 20% 17 47 CHAPTER 58 like this. Why couldn't it just be Tom? Every tI see him and tell myself I hate him, I'm lying to myself. But Luke made it very clear that he did not wantand that the whole promise to helpwas a complete joke to him.
I watched him swim, each stroke powerful and deliberate. The water glistened on his skin, and I couldn't tear my eyes away.
He stopped, bracing himself on the pool's edge, his chest heaving. I saw the frustration and anger in his eyes. Somethi happened, and for sreason, I'm not allowed to know.
Thinking of Luke made all the other bad memories disappear, but I couldn't tell him that. I couldn't let myself want him.
I turned away from the window, my heart heavy. I needed to find a way to sleep, to escape these thoughts that wouldn't leavealone. But as I lay back down, I knew it was hopeless. Luke was in my head, and there was no escaping him.
Tiptoeing through the house, I grabbed a towel and made my way to the back door. My heart was pounding, but I pushed my nerves aside. I was already halfway there- not chickening out now. I needed to see what was going on with Luke. Something was eating at him, and even if he wouldn't talk toabout it, I couldn't just ignore it.
I reached the pool's edge and stopped, watching him beneath the surface. He was just sitting at the bottom, unmoving. I waited patiently, wondering how long before I should be worried, but bubbles floated to the surface, so he was still breathing. The rain had now beconly wore an oversized T-shirt. Nothing Luke hasn't technically seen... or tasted before.
1741) CHAPTER 58 1 283 Vouchers The thought of Luke tastinghadshudder a little.
I waited for him to surface, clutching the towel tightly. When he finally broke through the water, his eyes were closed, and I could freely stare at his muscular chest glistened, the grooves between his muscles highlighted by the droplets of water running down his skin. My bre My body reacted to just the sight of him, a warm flush spreading through me. I knew I was staring, but I didn't care. Luke was mesmerizing. The most handsome... asshole I've c met./ Luke looked up, surprise flickering across his face for a second.
Jess," he breathed, his voice low and rough. "What are you doing out here?" I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "I couldn't sleep," I admitted. "Heard someone in the pool..." I shrugged.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe looked right at me, then lower, his jaw tightening. I felt my body react, and my breasts suddenly felt very sensitive, the thin material grazing over me. I shoved a towel toward him as he got out of the pool.
"Luke," I said softly, taking a step closer. "I know something's going on. You don't have to tellif you don't want to, but I'm here." He stepped forward, towering over me, water dripping onto my oversized T- shirt. Luke ignored the towel. The cool droplets of rain that still fell sent a shiver down my spine. He was less than an inch away, his presence overwhelming. For a second, I thought he might tellwhat was going on, so Lwaited.
1740 CHAPTER SI 288 Voucherl "I don't want to be alone," he finally said, his voice low and rough. The words hung in the air with intention, and I couldn't move. What did that even mean? Tseemed to stand still as we stood there, so close I could feel the warmth of his breath on my skin. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in the silence.
Luke's hand reached out, almost hesitantly, and brushed a strand of wet hair from my face. His touch was gentle, but it sent a jolt of electricity through me. I swallowed hard, tryin come. I felt like my sh....
find my voice, but the words, was on fire, and his touch was the only thing that could soothe 1. it.
"I..." I started, but my voice failed me. The intensity of his gaze was almost too much to bear, and I felt like I was drowning in those dark eyes.
He took another step closer, and now our bodies were almost touching The heat from his skin seeped into mine, and felt a flush spread across my cheeks. "Jess," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
But then, with a resigned sigh, he closed the remaining distance between us. I tilted my head up. His eyes flicked to my mouth; and up.this something insidesnapped. Before I could second-guess myself, I stood on my tiptoes and closed the gap between us, pressing my lips to his.. His lips were firm and demanding against mine, and I responded with equal enthusiasm, my hands sliding up to tangle in his wet hair.
Luke's grip ontightened, his arms pullingeven closer as CHAPTER 58 268 (Vouchers
if he couldn't get enough. The thin material of my shirt was soaked in less than a second. d from he water that still dripped from him. The world En around us disappeared, and all I could feel was the searing heat of his mouth, the way his tongue teased and explored, making my head spin.