"To love is to recognize yourself in another." —
Eckhart Tolle

Warning: smut
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Chapter 53
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Maggie

The first thing that hit when I woke up was the wrecking ball of a hangover. The pain settled in every cresses, followed by a crippling headache, and a rolling stomach.

Ugh.

Just as I sat up to voice my complaints, something else hit over all the others. Pleasure.

Skipped fingers trailed up my stomach, crossing over my nipple with a pinch. A sharp tug earned a moan from me, my head falling back to the pillow. I didn't care about anything else other than having more of it.

I flipped the blanket off of Luke's head, tossing it in whichever direction. And there he was, getting said revenge on me.

I couldn't really see the revenge in it, considering I was the one who got the pleasure, but fuck it. As long as this continued, he could believe whatever he wanted.

"Morning to you, too," left me in a breathless set as I trailed a hand through his curls.

I tried to get a better view of his face, my favorite sight. When I shifted, he planted his hand over my stomach, holding me in place.

With a shake of the head, I giggled. He was too stubborn so fine. The tip of his tongue was flicking away at my clit so perfectly, I couldn't consider anything else.

"You're already soaking, Norris. That's my girl," Luke murmured out, his hands tightening around the inside of my thighs. His dark eyes raised to mine. "Keep your legs open for me, yeah?"

I nodded hurriedly, not even ashamed of it. I'd do any damn thing he wanted as long as he kept his tongue working.

When he did the exact opposite, disappointment hit me in the stomach. "What are you doing?"

His smirk responded for him, and he left one leg on the bed as he stood. By my hands, he pulled me up, then situated himself right behind me, placing me in between his legs.

My chest heaved with both excitement, and anxiousness. "Luke," I said slowly. "What are you up to?"

He draped an arm over my stomach, and he leaned back until he was against the pillows, and I was against him.

It worried me, though. I always made fun of him when he did talk, but when he didn't, it was frightening. He was usually planning something.

His voice lingered near my ear, causing shudders to skip down my skin, "What did I tell you would happen if you went in that party acting like you weren't mine, Norris?" The arm that was over my stomach stretched up to my tits, fondling one.  "Hmm? What did I tell you?"

My attempt was cut short when he ran my nipple between his thumb and pointer. Pleasure wrecked through me, and it crushed my attitude.

"Do it, Norris," he whispered in my hot-tipped ear. His free hand draped over my thigh, squeezing once before he lowered it between them. "Be a smart-ass if you want to. I have all day with you."

To speed him up, I decided to hold back a snarky remark. "You told me to remember you..." My eyes draped shut as he inserted a finger, so agonizingly slow, inside of me. "You..." A moan passed over my sentence as he curled his finger, hitting my sweet spot.

"That I what, beautiful?"

He gathered up one of my tits, alternating between rubbing and tugging at my nipples and massaging at the mounds. The other worked slower, adding more fingers to the mix, reaching the third and showing me heaven in the midst.

The hand that was fondling my tits curled up, wrapping around my throat to gain my attention. By it, he tilted my head up to him, the challenge in his eyes evident. "What did I say?"

My hips attempted to shift toward his hand, but with his strong grip on me, it was impossible.

With a frustrated huff, I glared back at him. "You told me to remember you. Us. How you had me."

He grinned at my answer, and he leaned down to peck my lips. My heart thumped, and I tried to go in for more, but he wasn't having it, his fingers driving even deeper into me, finding all my desires and tugging them free with every single thrust.

And shit. He was moving too quickly for my mind to catch.

Luke dropped his head to kiss mine, soft lips brushing over. "And you didn't listen, did you, angel?"

My head shook, my chest bouncing over the bumps of pleasure. "I didn't."

His thumb applied the perfect pressure to my clit then, right where he knew I loved it. I was a mess, writhing and probably creating my own complicated series of curse words, now.

"And why didn't you listen?" he murmured against my head. I tried a response, but only a breathless moan followed, earning his chuckle and, "Use your words, or I stop."

I managed to croak, "Because I...fuck." He drew his fingers out of me then, instead fully focusing on my clit, already sensitive from his mouth. "Luke."

His cock rocked against my skin from behind, as he continued on. "Because you what?"

I was going to kill him. I was going to rip his head off, smash his teeth in, then burn his body. I hated him so, so much.

I found what little life I did have in me to say, "Because I wanted to make you mad..." I paused before adding, "And jealous. I wanted to make you jealous."

"Ah," he hummed, still rubbing at my aching nub of nerves with a reckless hand. "So, instead of just coming to talk to me about it, you decided to go and let some other fucker think he could have you?"

The possessiveness in his tone made my body jolt with arousal. I tried to shake my head. "He didn't even touch me."

A moment passed, and he left my clit aching as he dropped his hand, causing my head to whip up at him. "What are you doing? Keep going."

He was attempting to fight his mischievous grin with a frown. "I asked you a question, Norris."

I tried to grab at his hand, but it remained still against me. "And, I answered it, you idiot, now finish—"

A finger ghosted over my clit. "You answered it?"

My eyes shut in preparation. "Mhm."

"Then, why did Kade send me a text telling me that he saw that fucker dancing with you?" he asked, running a finger along my slit, then dragging the wetness over my clit. "And why did I see you grab his hand in the kitchen, too?"

I cursed Kade in my head in this moment like I'd never done before. That nosey motherfucker.

"I'm sorry," I breathed. "I was only trying to make you mad."

His touch began to heighten against my clit, again. "And how'd that work out for you, angel?"

I fought past the moans, digging for a reply that would give me his cock now. I needed to push him.

I tilted my head up at him, smiling. "Pretty damn good, actually."

Luke tipped a smile back, and he left one last kiss to my neck. His eyes raked over my figure. "You know, I was actually going to be nice and let you have this one, but..." he sat back again, bringing me with him so my back was flush against his chest. "Since you wanna run that pretty mouth of yours, fuck that."

Before I could press, he alternated back to his first speed, mind blowing and wrecking and torturous all at the same time. I was going to come crashing down any minute here.

A gasp fell from me as the pleasure threatened to swallow me whole, my nails sinking down into his arms. "Luke!"

"Has a nice ring to it, yeah?"

My head went against his chest in desperation. Fuck.

"You're mine, Norris," he stated clearly, the deep vibration of his voice bouncing right through me. "I don't care what made you seem to forget it last night. I'll be here to remind you every single time."

My heart, despite the physical circumstances, was only beating so hard because, for, him. "And what about you?" I breathed out. "Are you mine?"

Unless I took his signs wrong, and I hoped to god that I didn't, then I already knew the answer. But I needed the confirmation. The promise.

He lifted my head until I was looking at him, a frown framed his face. "Without fucking question," he didn't hesitate to reply. "You own all of me, Maggie. You've owned me before I even met you."

His words tracked over the pleasure long enough to reach me. Their impact was felt in every direction. And when they settled, I knew, without a doubt that I'd never grow tired of hearing them.

He tipped my chin to catch my lips. My own caught up eagerly, attempting to take in as much as I could, but I still couldn't get enough no matter how much I received.

I broke free as a cry of pleasure slipped out. His grin bounced back at me as he planted his forehead against mine, a chuckle following.

"Mhm?" His grin found its way into a smirk. "You want me to let you come, beautiful?"

"Yes," I whispered, his warm chest burning into my back in the best way. "So bad."

"Fuck, you're so goddamned wet, Maggie," he rasped against my ear. "Ask me nicely, Norris." My hips lifted as he thrusted two fingers back inside of me, while using his palm to scrape at my clit. "Beg me for it."

My body attempted to follow after his movements, but he wasn't having it. I felt his chuckle against me as he shook his head, hauling me back in place.

"I know what you're doing, Norris," he mumbled in my ear. "Tell me what my girl wants."

My ego was long gone. To reach one of the best earth shattering orgasms I'd ever experienced, I'd do anything.

"Please, Luke," I pleaded in a whisper, drawling out another sigh. "Please let me come."

Feeling his grin take to my skin turned me inside out. Too many sensations flooded through me as he continued on. My skin and blood brewed alike until I was lightheaded. And having him hold me through it only heightened it.

A familiar, delicious tightening licked through me like a blaze, just waiting to be sent off with the right—

Then, he stopped.

This fucking prick stopped.

"Mhm," he hummed, tucking my hair out of my face. His fingers slowed to the point of insanity until they were no longer even moving. "Maybe next time, Norris."

His hand fell from me entirely just as he balanced another kiss to my cheek. The shock riddled me senseless. I jerked around to face him, but before I got close, he pulled us both up, swinging his legs over the bed.

Without a care in the fucking world, he strode over to the bathroom, a cocky grin on his face.

It clicked, then. This was him getting me back for last night. I had teased, and fucked with him, and that had been his opportunity to do the same.

My eyes narrowed at him in anger. "You asshole!"

Laughter skipped from him as he thumbed a hand through his hair. "Frustrated, Norris?"

I groaned with frustration, squeezing my trembling thighs shut. "You're dead, you hear me? Dead, Luke."

"Gumball," he laughed, turning to flash his cockiness at me. With a shrug, he teased, "Gumball, broccoli, pillows—"

I launched the pillow at him, but he dodged it, returning to me with a humored wink. I wished the damn thing would have given him a concussion.

I flipped him off with a look of hatred. Fucking asshole.

I grabbed another pillow, to which he immediately backed up at. Instead of throwing it, I used it to groan my frustration in.

His laughter bounced through the room before he retreated into the bedroom. "Once you're over your little tantrum, come in the shower with me. You know I'll make it better."

That idea did seem pleasing, but for right now, my mind was on much else. Despite him leaving me hanging, I still remembered the turn of my heart at his confession.

You own all of me. You've owned me before I even met you.

The words jolted at my heart, before it set in stone entirely. A familiar warmth that only he could conjure was one that could challenge a million fires. It was exhilarating, relieving, and more than any other feeling or person I'd ever found in my life.

Luke, though, he had me. I wasn't even sure when it happened, but it did and it wasn't going anywhere. It hit so hard, that it knocked off what little control I thought I had over myself. He made me feel, question, and want to answer those very questions: all of the things I'd never trusted myself to say aloud or even think, again.

I had never considered myself as someone like this, until now and until him. I could listen to any conversation, any word, and be near him at all times, and still want even more of it. All pieces of him were sacred, and I treasured them all the same.

Without a doubt, he cared about me, too, just as I did him. So incredibly much that I found myself wondering how I had went so long without the feeling, and without him.

My smile never faltered, despite the ache in between my legs. It was nothing compared to the one he just healed inside of me, the one that I had hidden on my own with artificial glue.

For so long, it'd been that way. Pieces were never as secure as they seemed, despite it appearing that way on the outside. In reality, though, one push or jerk would have them tumbling out of place.

Luke, though, he had waited for it to dry. He waited for it to crack, while still seeing me just as beautiful, then showed me another type of seal that wouldn't break off. Him.

I loved it.

I headed to the kitchen for a quick drink to before taking him up on his request for the shower, though. As excited as I was, I needed a pain reliever, and water to nurse this hangover.

My smile only heightened at the sight in the kitchen. He already had a water, and my pills waiting for me on the counter.

Quickly, I downed both. It wouldn't do a miracle, but it was better than nothing at all.

I could guess it was around seven in the morning, now. We could spend a couple of hours together, then go and work on Luke's building for a bit. I honestly didn't feel up to shit from my hangover, but I didn't want to use it as an excuse.

"Norris!" Luke groaned out over the stream of water. "Come on!" He paused, before adding in a softer tone, "Please!"

Amused, I stopped by my own bathroom to brush my teeth. By the time I made it back to Luke's room, his grumpiness had morphed into mumbled curses.

At the sight of me, his face lit up. I chuckled at his enthusiasm, but my heart skipped all the same, too.

When I stepped closer, Luke stretched his arms out for me, and pulled me right into him.

I giggled as he hauled me against his body. With his hands to my ass, he tucked my legs over either side of his waist, and draped my arms over his shoulder.

His lips made my cheeks go fuzzy. "What the hell took you so long?" he hummed against me. "I missed you, brat."

I chuckled, leaning into his neck. Even though I was naked, I'd never felt so comfortable. It was what he always caused the moment he touched me.

That was another thing that was my first experience in a relationship. I didn't care about the sex alone.

As amazing, fucking perfect, and as pleasurable as it was, I could do just fine without it when it came to him. I could sit in his presence for hours on end, with our words and just us, and still be just as happy.

I'd never felt that way about being with anyone, before. It had taken years to get comfortable with sex, but once I did, I was in the phase of my life of trying to piss Jax and Granny off at any opportunity I could.

Like I said though, so many things took so long. But without my brother, it wouldn't have even happened at all. I couldn't have done anything without him at my side, which he was. Unconditionally.

For three years, I couldn't even go anywhere without him. For two, I couldn't sleep without him. For one, I couldn't even use the bathroom without knowing he was close by. He was the only reason I even started my therapy, because as long as he was near, I'd listen. For a while, we wouldn't even let granny handle our medication or our food, so we did it for the other. And so much more.

There would have been no surviving myself without him.

A simple touch from anyone who wasn't my brother would result in violence from me, and it'd done so a number of times.  I didn't even let a stranger hold my hand until I was fourteen. I'd cried and kneed a guy the very first time I tried to have sex again, and he had to call Jax to come talk me out of whatever panic my mind was trying to force me into. As shameful as it felt at the time, I now understood more about myself and my body because of it.

But by the time I started getting comfortable with sex, my hurt and rage had exploded in all the wrong ways. Even Jax couldn't stop it.

I would stay gone for hours at parties or at a guy's house, and sometimes I'd just drive hours away by myself without telling Jax or granny, just to be a bitch. It was something I regretted heavily, but as I said, I'd been willing to do anything in order to feel something other than my rage. It wasn't that I was an addict or anything, but it was more of the idea of using something physical as a distraction when my mind became too scrambled.

It'd taken a shit ton of time, patience, as well as therapy to get to where I was with being comfortable with my body, as well as my mind during anything sensual, but I was. It was something I was proud of myself for achieving, because once upon a time, I thought I would never even want to look at my body, again.

Though, I'd never actually found a person who I didn't want to just use physically, for him and for me. Until Luke. His company alone was a different type of euphoria for me, and it was something I thought could never be mine.

"I was gone for maybe five minutes." I leaned back to get a full view of him, and just as always, I was more than pleased. "You were fine."

His lips were wrapped in a frown as he shut the shower door after us. "That's way too long."

I chuckled with a shake of the head. He was ridiculous. I leaned closer to kiss him, but something in the corner of the spacious shower caught my eye.

On the ledge of the wall was my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and practically everything else I had in my bathroom, but it was all brand new. It was sitting right next to all of his products, too.

I bit into my lip to hold my laughter back. "Did you seriously go and buy all of my things for your bathroom, too?"

"Mhm?" Luke, who was too busy kissing along my neck, raised his eyes to the items. A sheepish smile pulled at his lips as he shrugged. "Maybe."

My laughter came through this time as he sat me back on my feet. "Wow." I went for his shampoo, and just the scent of it nearly had me sinking to my knees to take him down my throat, again. "Just ridiculous."

His smile grew as he lowered his head to me. When my fingers weaved through his strands, his eyes fluttered shut with a pleased sigh. "I wanted to have an excuse to have you in my room with me as much as possible. Or, yours. It doesn't matter." At this, his eyes raised to mine just for a second to be passed off as normal, but I didn't take it as such.

It clicked. "Are you saying that you want to share a room together?"

His gaze followed after mine with a nod. "If that's okay with you, yeah."

I stared down at the top of his head. We already shared a house, and pretty much everything else, so there wouldn't be too much of a difference. It was more than fine with me.

A teasing smile played on my lips. "You do realize that we practically share a room already, right? We sleep in the same bed, every single night."

"Unless I can walk into a room with you in our bed, every single day of every single minute, then fuck no we don't."

I stared at his lathed strands of hair in thought before asking, "I get to pick the sheets and all else, right?"

"Pick leopard print pillowcases for all I care," he chuckled. "I don't care as long as we're in it, and as long as we're together."

My lips lifted and remained in a smile. Together.

I concentrated on getting the shampoo out of his hair while he lathed up my body. His fingers continued to squeeze and tickle at my skin just to get my laughs, but I started to tug at his hair until he cut it out.

Our laughter began to die as he turned me around to his chest in order to get my hair. I tilted my head back for him.

"So, what do you say?" He leaned down to peck my lips. "Wanna share rooms?"

My smile stretched big; I wanted to fuck with him a bit. "Maybe."

"Maybe," he repeated with a tsk of the tongue. "What can I do to get a yes, then?"

"You know that really nice thing you do with your lips. When you put them on mine, and—" My speech was cut off as he kissed me, snatching up my snarky façade.

His smile hung over mine, hand sweeping over my throat to hold me in place. "Like that?"

I nodded, attempting to make way past my dazed self, "I'm gonna need a minute or two to consider—" Another kiss that left me flushed.

A half-smirk crossed his face. "I'm not stopping until I get a—"

I cut him off with a kiss of my own, our smiles growing against the others the longer it continued.

"Of course I'm in," I murmured against his lips.

The build of his grin had my stomach turning tricks the longer I watched it. He washed the remaining shampoo from my hair before turning me around to face him.

Sparks shot through my blood the closer he grew. He didn't stop until my back was against the shower wall. His arms caged me in, and our eyes swept over the other our desire mirroring the others perfectly.

My eyes fluttered shut as his hands claimed my thighs to wrap around his waist. Soft cushioning of his lips teased at my shoulder. "That wasn't a 'yes' so I guess I'm gonna have to keep going, Norris," he mumbled against my skin. "Lucky fucking me."

Cloud nine turned around me, rattling my very reality as I tightened my grip. "Let's get started, then."

His grin lit up as his hand ran past my nipples, my stomach, then finally, the spot that needed him most. My body jolted, earning his biggest grin.

So quickly, we were finishing our shower, and he was hauling me closer to his body so that he could lead us out. His lips only left mine so that he could toss me onto the bed.

In my fit of giggles, he gave me a grin that was as bright, and beautiful as all of the stars combined. I wanted it in my world forever.

The sweetness on his lips was as exhilarating as ever. I barely managed to find the strength to wrap my legs around his waist, but luckily, he did it for me. Warm, comfortable palms pressed into my thighs as he stroked them, before he tightened his grip and flipped us over so that I landed on top.

He molded his hands into my ass to pull me closer, only furthering me into his chest. I couldn't pick a better feeling than this, being so close to him. It was perfect.

When he tore back, he was as drunk off me as I was him. Lust caved his blues in as he ran them over me. I only saw a glimpse before he was leaning forward to trail those same kisses down my face in order to get to my throat.

A pleased sigh flew from my throat, earning Luke's grin against my throat as he worked at a hickey. Through a trembly palm, I reached behind me to wrap my hand around his cock.

Feeling him so hard made the bells in my head ring in the best way possible. I swept my thumb over the tip to feel the precum already leaking from it. I loved knowing that I did that to him, if I were completely honest.

Luke's curse burned against my skin as he shifted even further into my hand. He still had his grip on my ass, but I tried to scoot down so that I could taste him. Pleasuring him was even better to me.

But his soft lips peppered electrified kisses to my neck, and just as I thought myself on fire, he squeezed down on my ass again, to keep me still. His head raised so that he could flick it at me, raw want striking his features.

"On my face, Norris," he mumbled, the drawl of his voice dragging me in deeper.

I nearly jumped at the temptation, but it wasn't what I planned out. "I wanted to make it about you, you prick."

He leaned forward to kiss the tip of my nose. "There is no me without you, Maggie, you know that." The hands on my ass went to my hips, so that he could rock my pussy along his length, and he patted my ass. "Come here and sit on my face, though."

The decision was made quickly.

Hurriedly, I went to straddle his face. His hands covered the insides of my thighs, parting them even farther for himself.

His lips seared a promise into my thigh, and he murmured, "Not a fucking thing about my girl is imperfect, is it, Norris?"

A shudder rang through me as he planted a kiss to my clit, turning my limbs into jelly. "If you tease me right now, Luke, I swear to god—"

The rasp of his chuckle bubbled in the pit of my stomach. "When have I ever teased you, angel?" He lifted his head at the same time that he brought me down, burying his tongue inside of me to shut me right up.

His nose grazed against my clit with each stroke, sending mindless shocks of pleasure through me. My train of thought was lost the moment his tongue darted out and tickled that aching bud.

My moans grew with his licks, each one more eager than the last. At some point, I started to wonder if my body would mold into his just to keep him as mine even longer.

Through my euphoria, I focused on him. I lifted my thighs to give him a bit of air, but Luke delivered a firm smack to my ass, something he always did to tell me to stay in place.

His fingers dug into the flesh of my ass until they were marked in my skin. "The fuck are you doing, Norris?" He lifted his head just enough to add, "You better keep these pretty thighs of yours tight around my face, you hear me?"

Crimson kissed my skin, and like putty, my body started to sink back down. Luke dragged me down even quicker by my thighs again, positioning me so that they were smothering his face.

My moan fell into a sharp, weak breath when he sunk a finger into me. Then, two. Then, three, with the most gratifying curve so that he was grazing my most sensitive spot. The relentless drag of his tongue continued on, and it only added to how quickly he was moving his hand.

The link between my brain and body distinguished. The more I moved, the more the familiar pressure grew in my abdomen.

Behind me, hand fell to his cock again. When I found a grip, I squeezed my thighs around his face, earning the gentle nibble of my clit in return. Fuck. My hand pumped his cock to its best ability, but with the pleasure he was inflicting, it was hard to keep up with anything else.

"Luke," I pushed out weakly. "I'm—"

His head lounged back against his pillow, a satisfied grin lining his lips as his hand crept up my stomach over the scars, in two different ways. "Get on my cock then." Cocky motherfucker.

I nodded hurriedly, more than willing to go for it as I straddled his hips. His cock travelled the same path his tongue had as a tease.

I wanted too much of him at one time, in all the ways I could have. The world faded as I leaned down to get another taste of him.

And it seemed he was the same way. His kiss took from mine the same energy and load of feelings I was snatching from him. Heat wrung me out from every possible corner until I was weak, but I didn't stop. I wouldn't.

In the midst of our kiss, I sunk down onto his cock until I was full. I didn't waste anytime in taking it all, but Luke thrusted forward without warning me, and in the meantime, buried himself to the hitch.

Stars covered my vision as the feeling pounced from its crouching position, springing through the rest of me. He leaned back from our kiss, remaining close enough to trap my bottom lip in a tug.

His free hand grasped mine, and he brought it to his lips to leave a kiss, a cocky grin building against the skin as he mumbled into it, "I told you I'd make you feel better, Norris."

***

I plucked a loose piece of lettuce from my sandwich. "I can't believe you got me, again."

Luke snorted, peeling the wrapping back from his burger. "You're the one who started it."

"How so?"

He lifted a brow at me. "You threw a can of paint on my shirt because I put a little bit on your face," he returned, sending me a humored glare. "Now you tell me how you didn't start it...supposedly."

"Simple. I said I didn't, so I didn't." I did, but it was because he had painted on me, beforehand. It was fair to me.

Luke and I had been at his building for the past couple of hours. I had to force him to let me help, but once he realized I wasn't backing down, he gave in.

I didn't plan on abandoning his building, no matter how much had changed or would change between us. I wanted the building to come to life just as much as he did, now. I couldn't wait to see it do so.

When we started to paint the other rooms, Luke had swept over my mouth with paint, because I had said something that he took as a snarky comment. It was one, but I denied it, anyway.

It was a small mark, but when he got back with our food, I threw a small can of paint on him. To get me back, he had forced me into a hug until I was covered, too. After our laughter, we sat down in our paint, and ate the burgers he brought.

Luke rolled his eyes at me. "Whatever, brat."

I chuckled around my bite. "You know I won."

His eyes raked over me, a grin following up along his face. "Did you?" He dropped his free hand, wrapping it around my seat to tug me closer to his.

"Mhm." I tossed the last of my burger back, my gaze softening at him. "Remember when we first did this?"

"I do," he chuckled. "The situations are a little different now, though."

"How so?"

He took my wrapper from me. "For one, we switched colors this time."

"What do you mean?"

Luke grinned, sweeping a finger over my cheek where the paint hadn't dried, yet. He showed the grey streak to me. "The first time we did it, you used grey paint on me and I used blue on you. We used the same colors, but swapped the ones on each other."

I thought over it for a moment. I wasn't even sure how he remembered something so subtle, but it was true.

Either way, the idea was definitely something else. We had used the opposite colors on one another when we hated each other, then used the same in a different way now that we were together. Something about it ticked and toyed at my heart in all the best ways.

My smile soon blossomed into a grin. "What was the other change?"

His grin softened into a smile that made my stomach flip. "I've got the best fucking girl in the world as mine, now."

Fuck. Just hearing that for the first time made me feel as if it were my time hearing. That, or maybe it was just my first time loving something I had heard so much.

I retraced over a paint pattern on his wrist, using it as a distraction to the blood in my cheeks. "You're not so bad either, pretty boy."

Luke chuckled, turning our hands over until he had mine, then lifting us both up. I went along with him, grabbing my milkshake from the table before we went too far.

"Where are we going?" I questioned.

"Home, so that we can get a shower to wash all of this shit off, and so that I can take you on a date."

My face perked up, excitement humming through me. "A date?"

I reeled myself back in the moment I heard myself; I'd made it sound as if this were my first time ever going on a date. It was the same way with our first kiss.

"Fuck yeah, a date." He pulled me in by my waist, letting his hands remain there as he smiled at me. "I want to take you out."

I cocked a brow. "You've taken me out a million times."

"Not as my girl," he corrected, kissing the tip of my nose. The moment his words settled, his head dipped with a chuckle. "Jesus. I love calling you that. Leaves my heart all jumpy and shit."

He grabbed my hand, and placed on his chest, where an erratic heartbeat sat underneath, just as he claimed. Humor strung through my own.

"You feel this shit?" He was serious. "It's all your fault, Norris. I swear, I've never had this much heartburn and shit in my chest until you."

I couldn't tease him too much, because I had the same reaction. This man, and how he made me feel had me questioning my physical health more than I ever had my entire life.

"Well, not that I'm accepting," I teased back. "But, what time are you thinking of doing this date?"

"Well, if you wanna spare me a fucking heart attack from nerves, how does eight o'clock sound?"

I laughed as his heartbeat thumped even harder against my palm. "Tonight?" I wasn't sure what he was planning, or how he'd get everything together so quickly, but from past experience, I knew I couldn't doubt him too much.

"Fuck yeah, tonight," he snorted. "I'm only a couple of seconds away from just taking us straight there, paint and all."

I grabbed his hand. "No need. We still have a couple of hours to get ready, but let's do it." I smiled, squeezing down. "Let's do it. Anything, as long as we're together."

Humor struck his expression, a hand raising to rub at his chest. "Thank fuck."

I rolled my eyes, releasing his hand to slam my own into his chest. He pretended to hiss, using my hand to stroke over it. "Quit being dramatic and take us home, dingus."

His 'pain' disappeared, immediately at that. He packed our things with a quickness, then locked up the building behind us.

Even though I teased at his enthusiasm, I was the same. Every time I thought of whatever we were going to be doing on our night out, there was nothing but anticipation involved.

When we pulled off, the time was 3:48.

Raising my eyes to Luke, I squeezed at his hand. "I'm gonna work on your car for an hour or two, then—"

"Maggie," he sighed out.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not listening to this, again. It's pointless, Luke. You know I'm not stopping until it's back on the road."

He brought our hands to his lap, stroking his thumb over the back. "Angel, I already told you that you don't have to do shit for me—"

"I'm doing it, anyway. You can go ahead and start getting ready, and I'll join you soon."

Luke pressed his lips together, humor sailing past his expression. "You know...I never in my life thought I'd love that attitude of yours as much as I honestly do, Norris."

"Remember when I told you that it'd only take a couple of weeks for you to become obsessed with me?" My cockiness cracked through the surface a moment later as I shifted toward him. "Guess what happened?"

A scowl took place on his lips at me. "Don't you dare—"

"I was right," I boasted, patting at his reddening cheek. "I told you so."

Luke shook my hand off, taking it in his own, again. With an eye roll, he scoffed, "I change my mind about your attitude, you little brat. I swear, it's like I'm arguing with my reflection or some shit."

Chuckling, I glanced over my phone, again. I'd seen the messages from Raven and Kimberly, and they were new, even sent after Jax's. I already knew what they were about.

It had been four days ever since the party. Their texts and calls hadn't stopped the entire time.

As much courage as it would take, I planned on telling them about Luke and I the moment I saw them next, which would most likely be tomorrow or the next day. I'd seen some glimpses of the group chat where they were talking about setting a nail appointment, so I'd try to slip the conversation in.

All I could do was hope that they wouldn't piece it together, and that they wouldn't think too deeply about it. I knew Raven, specifically, would be the one to think over it too much, but hopefully, she wouldn't think too hard.

I didn't want to hide Luke from anyone. I definitely didn't want to hide us from anyone, especially our friends. It would only be harder on the both of us, especially Luke. Despite not claiming it, I knew how worried he truly was about whether or not he was handling us and his emotions right, and I didn't want to purposefully add to it.

I didn't plan to. I couldn't think about anything, or anyone, except us and only building that exact connection between us up.

"Maggie."

My eyes raised at my name.

Luke was watching me. "Did you hear me?"

"Yeah..." I began to nod, before giving a small laugh. "I didn't. What did you say?"

Luke chuckled, kissing the back of our hands. His free hand barely tended to the wheel, since his knees did it for him.

"I asked where you learned so much about cars," he said. "You've never told me before, but I've been wanting to ask for a while. You're good as shit with them, better than anyone I've ever known, honestly."

Oh. I moved my gaze to the front of me, and tried to recover the words as good as I could.

"Honestly just reading a fuck ton of books and watching videos," I explained. "It's not something I want to make a full-time career out of, but more of something that helps me figure myself out, sometimes. It wasn't just an overnight, learning thing, though, that's for sure."

"When granny was granted custody of Jax and I, she homeschooled me for a couple of years to be a better help to my recoveries and to make my PTSD a bit easier on me, so I had a lot of spare time. I didn't have any friends at the time, and I didn't want to bother Jax too much with his or his life, so I learned to be on my own a lot, and just found an interest, I guess. Granny had this really old car that she wasn't using, and let me experiment on."

Luke nodded along, nibbling on the corner of his cheek in thought. "What interested you so much about it at first?"

The moment I heard it, I knew of my answer, but it'd been so long since I was able to give an honest one from this part of my life, I nearly resorted to another lie.

Then, I realized that this was Luke. I didn't have a reason not to trust him. He'd given me every reason to do so, instead.

Regardless, I did have to dig for a bit of courage. Once I found it, I gave my explanation.

"At first, it was just the act of taking something apart. It was just like me. Broken and scattered all around the place, with me just not knowing a single thing on how to put it all back," a sigh parted my lips as I lowered my eyes with a laugh. "I was just sitting there, bawling my eyes out about these parts that I had taken apart my own self; honestly, I probably looked insane." I chuckled, sweeping at my burning eyes. "It was more of the fact that I had convinced myself that if I couldn't piece it back together, if I couldn't fix what was so broken and astray, then I was doomed, too. I think it was just me trying to find a quick, easy solution to everything that could give me at least some hope. I wanted to be fixed, normal, and put back together, but I couldn't figure out how to get there."

I sighed, raking my free hand through my hair. "I remember when granny found me. I expected her to freak out, to yell and curse, or send me off overseas, or something...but she didn't." A shaky smile cracked through the surface. "Instead, she held me until I calmed down then, she took me inside, then watched repair videos with me until I fell asleep. The next day, she ordered me every single book she could find on the subject of cars. I used it all until I finally got the parts back into place, and even got the car to work, again. Granny didn't stop until she knew that I had the bigger picture, too."

A gentle smile came from Luke. "Tell me, angel."

My eyes fell to my lap. "She wanted me to realize that I wasn't broken. Those parts, as loose and out of place as they were, still fit inside the car, even after me sobbing and swearing that they didn't," I whispered out, a ghost of a smile reaching my lips. "She reminded me that it wasn't an immediate thing. She told me that I learned it all myself. That even though it took a while, the parts and the car were still there, just waiting for me to put them back into place. In the end, she said that my healing, me finding those parts again...it wouldn't be easy, but just like the car, I would learn and I would make them fit again, no matter how long it took me."

By the time I was finished, I was going to war with the buildup of tears, but they were kicking my ass, honestly. Just conjuring it all clouded my judgement in a way that nothing else ever could.

I remembered recalling her advice so much in my life, when I'd felt low and ashamed of it all. I never thought that those lessons would actually be true, but now, I think that they were.

I'd found another missing piece that was beginning to mend back into place. I'd found the others in granny, in my brother, and friends. I'd found them in many activities, and places, but this one...this one was like no other.

With Luke, it was me going against every single thing I'd ever feared, doubted, and more. Trust.

Luke had managed to tap into that part of a damaged soul, and revive it back into place. Despite my every claim that it didn't exist in the first place, he did it.

Ever since he'd stepped foot in my life, though, that theory, as well as all else had been smashed to nothing. It was everything to me.

I hadn't even realized we were now in our driveway until Luke came in my line of vision.

His thumb stroked over my chin, pulling me closer by his grip. With the way he was looking at me, that simple gaze was melting down the very familiar block of ice, which was attempting to chill my heart over all over again. Luke wasn't letting it happen though, thankfully.

"You're so strong, Maggie, and to see that you made it through everything makes me so fucking proud of you." His gaze softened at me. "I don't care if you think there are parts missing, or if you think they're not there at all, because to me, you're perfect, Maggie," he whispered. "You always have been, and always will be perfect in my eyes, you hear me? Not a thing can change that."

The ice in my chest burned to nothing at all at his words. I wasn't sure how he always had the right ones with me, but he did.

My eyes were clouded with tears asI pulled him into a hug. His big hand reached under my shirt to stroke my back, something he'd always done that seemed to provide more comfort than anything else. I hummed my satisfaction, entangling my fingers with his hair.

"Thank you," I whispered into his neck. His lips pressed against the side of my head, then did it again and again. "Don't ever thank me, angel."

I nodded, squeezing my eyes shut against him. It was nearly laughable, that he thought so much of me, but with the way he looked at me, the way he talked, and felt about me, it made me actually feel as if it were true. I loved it.

I hadn't even realized my body had started to tremble until I felt his grip tighten. "Maggie, if you're not feeling up for tonight, we can just order in a pizza, and—"

I shook my head, immediately. "I'm fine, I swear."

Luke pulled back to get a view of my face, studying me over for any falseness of my statement. When he didn't find it, he nodded, pecking my lips again, before releasing me.

When we both made it inside, I forced him to let me go work on the Mercedes. To calm his nerves, I offered that I'd take another shower with him as soon as I was done. That barely seemed to work, but it did, anyway. 

I kept my phone to the side of me to keep track of the time. By the time I decided to stop on his car, it was nearing seven o'clock. I didn't get to do too much, but even a little progress was better than none at all.

I felt my phone vibrating to my side the moment the clock hit 6:50. I already knew it was Luke, threatening to come carry me back to the shower with him, most likely.

With a chuckle, I closed the hood of his car, then slipped my phone back into my pocket to head for the door. Once I made it inside, I could hear Luke cursing and grumbling.

Just to fuck with him, I decided to stretch the time by snacking on one of the candy bars from our counter, then taking an extra minute or two to sip on a beverage.

I nearly choked on my juice at his yell. Even though he was a couple of walls away, I heard him just fine.

"Norris!" he snapped, the frustration in his voice ahead. "You get five more minutes before I—"

I rolled my eyes, tossing my bottle into the trash. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." It was ironic that he had the nerve to call me a brat, yet here he was.

Quickly, I rushed down the hall to his bedroom. I could hear Fang lingering around somewhere, but he was far. As soon as I was in his room, I shut the door, kicking my shoes off.

Luke had already started his shower from the sounds of it, but knowing him and his attitude, he was probably just standing there, a mess of curses until I joined him.

"I'm coming, brat!" I teased, sinking onto his bed to take my socks off.

"Don't use your damn nickname on me," he grumbled over the stream of the water. I didn't even have to look at him to see that familiar scowl.

Amused, I started to pull my shirt off, but something stopped me. Someone was knocking.

I waited, but over the next couple of seconds, I didn't hear another.

I could have imagined it.

With a shrug, I lifted my arms, again, but that same knock came down. Then another, and another. The final one came down so hard, I knew it couldn't be ignored.

Luke hadn't heard it, because he would have been out of the shower in a heartbeat if he did. With the water running, he couldn't have.

I knew it was just a knock, and I might have been overthinking it all, but in my life, I'd accepted that it was better safe than sorry. My instincts had gotten me out of a lot of situations because I overthought them.

And, this...

It was strange. More than strange, actually. Levi and Kade would have used their keys, and even if the girls were with them, they still would have used their keys.

Luke and I didn't usually get any strangers for visitors. The houses were spaced out, and Luke didn't associate with his neighbors.

And, by the weight and continuation of that knock, it sounded frustrated. Angry. Really angry.

Just like a certain someone's would.

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Who do you think it is and what do you think will happen? 🫢 I'm not saying much else lmao.

I'll be back Wednesday!🤍 thanks so much for reading!!