"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever."― Alfred Tennyson

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Chapter 52
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Maggie

Kimberly and Raven watched me down my twelfth shot of the night, crossing their dithery looks. It returned to me a second later.

"Hey, Mags," Kimberly called over the music, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Babe, are you sure that you should be drinking this much?"

I shrugged. "I drink all of the time." I nearly poured another round for myself, before I took the entire bottle, instead. Fuck it.

"Yeah, but that's vodka," Raven pointed out, glancing between me and the bottle cautiously. "You never, ever, drink vodka straight."

"Well, I guess I do tonight," I mumbled under my breath.

I needed a pump of influence to get my confidence going. Pure ego wasn't doing the job tonight. Alcohol was.

Just as I raised the bottle, again, a flicker of movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention.

Someone was staring at me, and I already knew who. I'd tried to disappear a number of times tonight, but if it weren't Kimberly and Raven, then it was Luke who had found me each time. He lingered, playing it off as just chilling along the walls, but was actually tracing over every move I made, and trying to catch me in a spot alone. I'd even gotten a couple of texts from him through the night, all flirty and claiming how ready he was to go home with me, but just as his presence, they went ignored.

Fuck him.

The vodka burned all the way to the pit of my stomach as I downed it. It was vile, and unpleasant. My face tightened at the bitter taste, but it only pushed me to have another.

"Okay," Kimberly interjected, taking the bottle from me. "That's enough for tonight, Mags. Let's just—"

I sighed, my limb lazy as I reached for it. "Give it back."

Over the island, she handed it to Kade, who placed it behind him on the counter. He had, of course, been with Kimberly the entire night. "No."

My eyes shut. The beat of the erratic music rung through my bones like a drum that provided the perfect, yet sickest thrill of my life.

I opened them, again. "Why the hell not?"

"Because..." Concern stretched Raven's expression. "Jax. He's been telling us that you've been acting really weird, lately."

Of course he did. "So?"

"So," Kimberly started to add, pushing her water bottle to me. "We don't want you aiding whatever it is with alcohol. It can turn real bad real quick."

I raised my eyes when I felt another set on the top of my head. Other than Kimberly and Raven, my attention was elsewhere. It was hard to avoid.

Kade was watching me closely, a little too closely. Like he was searching for something, like he was waiting for something. It was weird, and the crawl of my skin under his observation was undeniable.

I pulled my gaze away, first. Whatever.

"Don't worry, pretty ladies of mine." Clapping my hands along the girls' shoulders, I hopped off of my stool. "It's just a party, Everything's fine." The lie didn't sting so bad now that the alcohol was involved.

Both hurried to my side. "Where are you going?"

I glanced toward the side of the kitchen with the bottles. My hand ached to have the vodka in it, again, but I'd be trapped if I turned around.

"Bathroom. Don't miss me too much!" I called out over my shoulder.

My feet were clumsy, but they were pushed in the right direction. In no time, they had me heading toward the heart of the party, where the music was thumping, and the floors were jumping from the bumping of the people.

I faded right in with the thick crowd. It gave me enough time to run from everyone, all at the same time.

The house was spilling with so many people, yet they were all a blur in my imprinted vision. Half of them were already drunk, high, or horny and willing to dry-hump the wall, so I didn't pay anything of myself any mind.

Instead of listening to my bladder, I listened to the buzz I was getting from the alcohol. I'd been drinking for the past two hours, so I had enough of it, for sure.

As soon as the music settled in my bones, I was moving with it until I blended in with the dancing crowd. Hands grasped, and spun at me, just as I did them.

For a fleeting moment, it provided a well-enough distraction until two big hands grasped my waist from behind and never let go.

I expected it to be Luke, but the guess was debunked. If it were him, I would have paired it without much assistance. My body had grown to recognize his better than I liked to admit.

Those same hands didn't disappear like the others did. They remained, only furthering me back into his sway. My loose mind corresponded with them until I was letting him guide my hips with his.

"Nice moves!" he yelled in my ear.

I chuckled. "You too!" His grip tightened on my waist to turn me around.

I already knew that it wasn't Luke, but confirming it made my stomach drop. The guy was handsome, though. 

Atop his head were chestnut brown curls, and nice hazel eyes that gleamed back at me. His height only won against mine by a couple of inches, with a build that was average, but more lanky than anything.

After he had his look of me, he met my eyes, again. Satisfaction was holding the number one spot in his. "I'm Noah," he told me.

I forced a smile. "Maggie."

"Nice." He flashed an easygoing grin at me. "Wanna get a drink or something?" His eyes skipped over the crowd, then back to me. "It's stuffy as shit in here."

Despite my disappointment, that did sound nice. It was just a drink.

I shrugged. "Let's do it, then."

I didn't feel Luke's stare anywhere, which meant that he'd either given up, or was attempting to find me in the swarm about now. I only had a couple of minutes to play around with this.

Noah tugged me along to the drinks, and in my drunk stammer, I'd forgotten that my friends were in the kitchen, and so was Kade, who was practically being a watch-dog for Kimberly.

When we got to the kitchen, though, I only saw Kade. Kimberly and Raven were probably still looking for me, then. It was shocking that he left Kimberly alone in a party, and with the frown he wore, I knew he was just as upset about it.

Kade was leaned against the counter, phone in hand, and an agitated expression on. His eyes slipped up to us the moment we walked in, but I pretended not to notice him.

Noah hadn't looked his way. "So," he started, glancing over the assortment of bottles. "How are you liking the party so far?"

I shrugged, grabbing a cup from the counter. "It's cool."

I heard him say something else, but with my attention on the cups, my mind faded and it went through one ear for me. I had to stop myself from yawning out loud the longer his voice continued on.

Jesus. Why was I so bored?

I knew why, even though I hated the idea of it. Fuck.

I'd gotten so accustom to the teasing and bickering from a certain asshole that anything else didn't do it for me, anymore. I couldn't even keep a conversation with another guy without wanting to threaten him, and if not that, then laugh or blush at something he said.

Hell. Luke had ruined me.

I blinked out of my daze as at the intruding image in the corner of my eye. Noah was waving a hand in my face, and attempting to gain my attention.

It took a moment to shake out of it. "Shit," I mumbled, meeting his eyes. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Noah stared after me with confusion, before he chuckled at me, and lifted one of the bottles. "I asked what you wanted to drink. There's a lot of choices, so have your pick."

"Oh," I blinked at him, again. My mind was fuzzing up. "Yeah, I'll take—"

"Nothing," Kade cut in. "She'll take nothing."

My eyes flickered up to him in surprise. His phone was on the counter, and his attention was latched onto Noah in particular.

"I wasn't talking to you," Noah chuckled, still looking to me.

"You're about to be talking to a paramedic if you keep looking at her like that," Kade corrected, cocking his head at him. A chuckle that left my body rigid came from him. "And, I promise you, if you give her a drink or even attempt to give her a drink, your parents are about to be talking to a funeral director about how dumb of a fucker their son was."

Noah moved his gaze to Kade then, but once he realized who he was, his eyes widened a bit. "Oh, shit. Ryder—"

I cut in with a glare to Kade. "Can you give us some privacy?" The fuck was his problem?

"Nope."

"And, why not?"

He leaned back until his head was against the cabinet. "Because. Kimberly forced me to stay here just in case you came back. She would kill me if I left her friend here with a fucker whose only trying to get you even more drunk so that he can take you upstairs to fuck you."

I didn't believe only that. The fucker was doing it for Luke, too. Them and their stupid brotherhood or some shit stretched to their girls, too. It was all a web.

My agitated gaze crossed over him before I moved to Noah, who was as flabbergasted as can be. "Don't listen to him. He's drunk."

"I—" Noah began before he was interrupted, again.

Kade clasped his hands together, leaning up from the counter. "By all means, keep trying." He threw a head nod at Noah. "I'll have the time of my life watching Vaudest beat the shit out of you. He might even let you have the first swing, just for some laughs." His eyes skipped over his lanky figure with a chuckle, his expression as carefree as ever. "Wallace and myself might get a few rounds in too, if you're lucky."

Any resemblance of color was wiped from Noah's face. "Levi Wallace?" His face fell as he placed the bottle back down to the counter. "And, Vaudest...Luke Vaudest?"

"That's my name."

I jerked around, the oxygen being strung from my lungs. Luke was standing right behind me, with Levi to his side. Fuck my life.

Levi crossed his arms over his large chest as he stepped closer to a rigid Noah, an icy glare building. "We got a new fan, Ryder?"

"Mhm," Kade voiced, reaching behind him for his bottle of water. He tilted it at Noah. "And, he's a mouthy little fucker, too."

Luke ran his eyes over him as if he were a pestering bug, the excited glint of a challenge building up behind his blues. "Well, we love the confident ones, don't we, boys?"

I nearly groaned at Noah's frightened expression. Pussy.

I grabbed his hand for an escape. "Come on, let's go—"

"You get three seconds to get your hands the fuck off of her," Luke said to Noah, who hadn't even initiated the touch. His eyes narrowed at our hands, then swept back up with a glare that hadn't lessened. In a matter of seconds, he was in our space. "One."

Kade popped his neck, hopped off of the counter, and placed his bottle back down. "Two."

Levi emptied the contents of his pockets to the kitchen island, placing his phone screen down last before turning around. "Thr—"

Noah nearly broke my arm as he yanked his hand from mine. His widened eyes flickered over the three boys, face flustered with nerves. "Wait! Wait! Don't—"

"What? No!" I groaned with frustration, jerking around to face Noah; this was ridiculous. "Stand up to them, you damned idiot!"

When he saw Luke barely even twitch, he nearly stumbled over himself as he moved back. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head at my argument.

"Are you kidding me?" His widened eyes tumbled over Luke, then back to mine in disbelief. "I've watched him fracture a guy's spine before, and you think I'm sticking around to—"

"Oh my god, Maggie," came from my side from a voice I recognized as Kimberly's. "We've been looking everywhere for you."

I groaned, dropping my elbows to the island. Bring the whole fucking Avengers group, then.

Luke reached forward, quickly. His hand tightened around the back of Noah's neck, throwing him quite literally out of the situation. Noah landed on his face with a yelp that I was sure stemmed from the pain. From his fall, I saw specks of blood dribble to the floor, but that was it before he went scrambling back into the crowd.

"Thank fuck that's over," Kade huffed, stepping closer to Kimberly. "Can we go home, now?" The pleading expression would have made me chuckle under different circumstances.

Instead, the anger overpowered it. Luke matched it, his eyes darkening under the rage as he stormed over to me. "What the fuck was that, Maggie?"

I cupped my face with a sigh. A small hand rubbed at the middle of my back, soft and gentle.

I paired it to Ravens when I caught the floral scent. I heard another set of footsteps come to my side a moment later.

"Are you okay?" Kimberly whispered in my ear. "Can we get you anything?"

"You sober enough to get the both of you home?" Kade asked, who I assumed, was Luke. "If not, I'll either take you home, or I'll order you a ride and get your car to your house in the morning."

Heat pranced over my sides, and it told me Luke was near. "Nah, man it's fine. I didn't drink tonight."

"I did," Levi chuckled. I heard Raven mutter something to him before their footsteps wandered off in another direction.

It didn't take much to realize their intention. They were leaving me alone with Luke.

Jerking around, I threw a glare at the people that were left. "Where are you guys going? The party's not even over, yet."

"It is for you," Luke bit out, rage brewing below a cool mask he called a face. "You're going the hell home. Now."

I scoffed. "Sure." My eyes moved over to Kimberly. "Can I come with you?"

"No," Kade replied at the same time that Kimberly responded with a, "Of course." At his answer, she jerked a glare at him, to which he shrugged.

Luke tilted his head at my answer, his voice tight with agitation, "In what planet do you think you're going home with anyone else other than me, Norris?"

My lips tugged into a dry smile. "This one, actually."

"Oh yeah?"

I crossed my arms. "Yeah, because trust me, Luke. After we're done with this silly, little funny conversation..." My smile grew as I patted his cheek. "I'm going upstairs, and I'm going to get fucked."

Luke cocked his head at me, the jealousy behind his eyes on fire. "Is that right?"

"Mhm," I hummed, balancing out a humored expression as I glanced over him. "And, it's going to be the best sex I've ever had. Believe that."

The muscle in his jaw tick back and forth at my statement. "Yeah?" His voice was menacingly slow, so low that I was the only one who could hear it. It strummed through me, effortlessly. "Because, I'd sure as hell love to see a fucker even try to make it out alive after just having you step a foot on that fucking staircase, Maggie."

We both glared back at one another, the intensity only pulling at our strings by the second. The challenge was there, too. Neither one of us were willing to break the spell, nor lose it so easily.

"Oh, for fucks sake; I'm not sticking around for this, anymore. You're both just stubborn assholes with the same tempers, too ignorant to see the most obvious shit in the world," Kade grumbled under his breath, but with the timbre of his voice, it was heard just fine. "Figure it out your own damn selves; I'm going home." His hand tugged at Kimberly's to lead her out, but she broke free to pass me a side-hug.

Her brown eyes gleamed at me past her glasses. "Text me to let me know you made it home, okay? I love you." I squeezed her back with a sample of a nod, but kept my eyes on the motherfucker in front of me.

"Don't worry," Luke said, glaring back at me. "She will. Even if I have to carry her ass there myself." I held my own gaze of death, daring him to carry out his promise.

Kimberly kissed the side of my head, before Kade wrapped his arms around her, and led her towards the door. I heard her giggles as he kissed her head, and picked her up to set her down on top of his feet.

I rolled my eyes, swallowing back the envy. Love-sick lucky little assholes.

"I need you to tell me what the fuck I just saw." Now that they were gone, Luke powered all of his frustration at me. The glower in his eyes had grown. "Because, either I'm confused as shit or my girl was just standing here with another fuckers' hands on her, Maggie. Which the fuck is it?"

"Why do you care?" I grumbled, grabbing my bottle of vodka Kimberly had took from me, earlier. "I'm gonna do the same thing in a minute or two, so don't even waste your time."

Luke's head fell back, his Adam's apple jumping around his laughter as he nodded. Once he got under control, his tongue darted in the corner of his cheek. "Try it."

My eyes went to the threshold of the kitchen and the main room. Even from here, and through the lights and the haze, the girls who were staring at him could be seen all the same. I had seen some of them wander up to where he lingered on the walls, too.

Luke had walked away from them mid-sentence every single time they approached, his eyes stuck on me, but I couldn't stop myself. It made the jealousy burn in my tummy from all directions, and it made me nauseous. The alcohol was tempting my violent side, but it was also bringing out my insecurities more than ever.

Luke could have any of them, and as he said, I wasn't an exception, nor was what we did together. I was just another girl to him, and that burned my mind to ashes more than I ever thought it would.

Luke caught where my attention was, but only kept his own on me. His eyes were narrowed, and behind them was a cluelessness that I would fill.

Waving the bottle toward the girls, I painted on a smile that burned my lips. "Go ahead, and get your revenge, then. They've been waiting all night for you." I jerked around to hide the anger, and growing jealousy in my eyes. "Have fun, Luke."

"Nah, hold the fuck on." He paid them no attention at all, gently turning me back around to face him, again. "Fuck them." He snatched the bottle from my hands, slamming it down far out of my reach."I don't give two shits about any of them, or anyone else if it's not you. My eyes are on you, Maggie. You and only you. Don't forget that shit because it won't ever change, I promise you that."

My glare seized just enough. His words were wrapped with honesty, and as much as my influenced mind attempted to deny it, they still worked their way past my insecurities.

Luke continued on with, "But, you doing whatever the fuck you're doing and trying to make me jealous is only gonna get some poor fucker's teeth knocked out real quick. I don't do that silly shit when it comes to you, and you're not going to do it, either," he hissed, stepping closer. "So before you try to make any other funny decisions like that, I suggest you leave with me, Maggie." His tone left no room for argument, but I'd make one, anyway.

"Whatever," I grumbled, jerking back around so that my back was to him. I reached for the bottle, again. "You're all talk, Luke."

"Really?" He stepped closer to my backside, yanking the bottle from me, again. "Am I?"

"Yes, you idiot—" I jerked back around, but was stuck in place by his large frame, which was pressing me back against the sink. I had to concentrate on anything else, but his eyes to continue. "Why are you even here?"

Confusion reached his face. "The fuck do you mean by that?"

"I'm just saying..." I gave a small chuckle that left my own stomach rolling. "Shouldn't you be grinning all over town by now, Luke?"

It took him a minute to get it, but when it did, his expression fell, and his head went along with it, his brows knitting at the ground. "Fuck."

"Hmm?" Sarcasm dripped into my next words, "Did you get the clue, Scooby-Doo?"

With a scoff, I tried to push past his chest, but he caged me in place before I could.

"Hold the fuck on," he started, his expression twisting with confusion. "You're mad at me for that?"

"Yeah, Luke, that's what usually happens when an asshole who just claimed to like a girl disrespects the shit out of said girl to his friends."

"Wait..." His lips pursed as he thought it all over, but the confusion only continued to grow. "So, you're pissed at me for doing exactly what you told me to do?"

My eyes nearly bulged out of my head at him. "I didn't tell you to say that shit!"

"You told me to hide our shit, and they were on my back for it, so I had to get them off. That was the only way I could do it, because they weren't going to stop on their own," he argued, his eyes darting over my face for help. "Again, doing exactly what you told me to."

"Fuck no." I flicked him in the center of his head with my index finger. "You're not about to guilt-trip me for something you said."

Luke hissed put a curse, rubbing at the spot as he jerked a glare over me. "How the fuck are you upset about me doing what you asked me to do, Maggie?" A frustrated huff slipped from his lips. "What if I would have told them the truth? Would you still be mad, then?"

My glare answered for him, despite me wanting to keep it up. I would have been more upset than I was right now, but still. I didn't forget what he said so easily.

"Get off of me, Luke," I mumbled, pushing at his chest. Immediately, he relented, lifting himself off of me, but I hadn't even taken my first step before he was following after me.

With the extension of emotions I was feeling, I didn't hesitate to push and shove the people in the house out of my way. Even though the loud music, I could hear Luke yelling after me, but I continued on my path, anyway.

It was aggravating. Why was he chasing after me? I was simply the chick he fucked, and only fucked. I was only pussy to him. There shouldn't be any problem, or desire to do or seek anything other than that.

Fuck him. Fuck him, and his stupid ego. Fuck him, and his lies. Fuck him, and how easily he had me believe them, and him.

On the outside, cold, frigid air disputed against my heated skin for dominance. It was a good feeling, but the sting from all else beat the relief of the coolness.

I shut my eyes. I sucked in a deep, shaky breath, then turned to the first direction my body chose.

I could get a hotel for the night just to blow off some steam. I still had Lowen's money from his card to use for smaller things, so I'd be fine. I wasn't going back to that party, though, and I sure as hell wasn't going with Luke.

I passed the garden, then the front of the house in order to get to the concrete. Pushing past the groping guests outside, I stumbled along the sidewalk. I was going for the first hotel I saw.

"Maggie!" I heard Luke shout from behind me, the anger in his tone as hard as ever. "You come your ass back here, right now, Maggie!"

I threw a middle finger up in the air for him to catch. "You're gonna have to kiss it first!"

I hurried my footsteps up. It would be a challenge to keep the distance between us with his speed, the alcohol made my legs wobble, and my vision was hardly reliable for much, but I'd managed before, so I could do it, again. I'd be just fine on my own.

With Luke's long legs, it didn't take him long to reach my stance. I didn't even have a chance to turn around before the situations changed, though.

Before I could register how close his curses had grown, I was being lifted off the ground, and tossed over his shoulder like a feather.

A scream of frustration erupted from me at the realization. "Put me down, you fucking—"

Luke situated me so that his shoulder wasn't digging into my stomach uncomfortably. "I used to make fun of Kade and Levi for having to do this shit with their girls," he grumbled, his arm tightening around my waist to keep me to him. "Now look at me."

His feet crunched over the gravel as he marched us to his car, despite my arguments. I swung, hitting him in one of his ass cheeks. "I said put me down, Luke!"

My demands went unheard as he pushed through the drunken people with shoves that made some of them tumble. I caught sight of their offended expressions from how rough he was with them, before they realized who it was. Fucking pussies.

Just as I cursed his very existence, a sharp slap went to my ass, and the sting behind was more than familiar.

"What the—" My head jerked back in shock, my fists tightening. "Did you just spank me?"

Luke did it again, this time harder than the last. Butterflies strung through my stomach as he threw a glare at me over his shoulder. "This isn't shit compared to what I'm going to do to you," he snapped, warningly. "You're testing my patience by the fucking minute tonight, Maggie."

Despite my anger, my body gravitated toward his threat, since I knew what it meant. My senses betrayed me the moment I heard it.

I fought back the climbing pleasure up my backside, and continued on with my fight. I even screamed bloody murder that he was a serial killer, but no one came to my aid. They all pretended not to notice it the moment they saw Luke fucking Vaudest holding me. Bitches.

Luke got us to his car, quickly. Jerking the passengers door open, he lowered himself to place me inside.

His hand covered the top of my head to stop me from hitting it against the door with my thrashing. "Quit moving, Maggie. I don't want you to hit your head—"

I jerked myself away, attempting to make a run for it past him. "Let me—"

I heard his huff as he struggled to secure me to the seat. "Maggie," he snapped past my struggles. "Just—"

"No!" I argued, finding the strength past my alcohol intake to make it out. I managed to get an arm out before he was placing it back in. "You're nothing, but a selfish, lying manwhore and—"

Frustration tightened his face up. "Stop it, damn it!" he growled, attempting to click the seat belt to my body. "Maggie—"

My body writhed in all sorts of directions to toughen it for him. "Fuck you—"

Before I could step foot outside, Luke was in my space, his hand holding me in place by my stomach. His eyes narrowed at me, with mountains of anger built behind them as he leaned in so close, our lips were practically touching. With the way we were positioned, nothing else mattered in the tension packed space except us. The anger in his eyes bit at my own, instead replacing mine with apprehension.

The rage in his expression made my own look like a pebble. "Don't fuck with me right now, Maggie. You've pissed me the fuck off all night, but you're done with it now, and without any fucking argument. I'm not leaving this spot until your ass is with me, in this car, in this seat, and with this seatbelt around you. I'm not leaving you here because you're drunk, and I'm not leaving this seatbelt off of you because you could get hurt, and I'll be damned if I let you. So you either sit the hell back, and put this shit on, or I do it my own goddamned self," he growled in warning, his eyes never falling from mine. "I'm not going to say it, again. Do you hear me?" 

Our eye contact never broke. My chest heaved, the beat of my heart thundering against my eardrums. The words on my tongue were stuck there, so instead of responding, I swiped at my tangled mess of hair, and jerked my glare forward.

Luke stayed still, his gaze and body looming over me, and watching over me cautiously. Slowly, he leaned forward to secure the seatbelt around my body. Energy was surging through the small space between us, but I pretended to be oblivious to it.

Once he finished, he straightened himself up, and attempted to shut my door. Before he could, I slammed it shut by my own hand, leaning back into my seat with a huff.

Luke scowled, murmuring a string of curses as he stormed over to the driver's side. The car shook from how hard he slammed his own door shut, but I didn't move my glare away from the window, watching as he tore out of the driveway.

The ride was more than tense. Not a peep came from either of us as it stretched on. I contemplated on breaking it just to curse his name, but I refrained due to the blowout that would follow.

I nearly jumped out of shock at his voice. "You hungry?"

"Nope."

"You sure?" he tried. "I don't want you to go to sleep hungry—"

"I'm not."

"Thirsty?" he attempted, again.

"Nope," I answered, staring out the window.

I heard his sigh before he tried, "I can stop and get you that slushie—"

"Nope."

Luke grunted in response, his sigh stretching out until it was faded into the wind. Silence followed right after before he broke it, again.

"You're going to have to talk to me sooner than later, Maggie," he said, glancing over at me. "So, you might as well start now. You're not going to bed mad at me."

"Mad? I'm not mad." I'm livid. I'm hurt as shit.

"Right," he said, sarcastically.

I bit the inside of my cheek, glaring into the glass. The hurt reflected through me as I considered over his words. It'd been a couple of hours, but I still heard them as if they were blaring through his radio speaker.

"Did you mean what you said?" I asked, quietly.

Luke's brows shot up at my question.

"What you said to Kade and Levi," I repeated through a trembly sigh. "Did you mean it?"

Disbelief widened his eyes. "What?" he tripped over his disbelief before saying, "Fuck no, I didn't mean that shit."

Everything was mixing together, and I didn't know which one to focus on. Tears brimmed my eyes, but I didn't let him see them as I looked away, again.

The ride continued on with his side glances. I held my hardened position in place, but it was more of a challenge than a simple action.

Once he pulled into the driveway, my hand was falling to the handle. Just as my fingers grazed the cool material, Luke was locking the door into place.

I threw a glare back at him. "Let me out, you idiot." I tried unlocking it from my side, but when I did, he locked it back into place. We carried on with this until I gave up, turning to him with a look of distaste. "Luke."

Luke, unfazed at my argument, crossed his arms at me as he propped himself against the door. "Not until we talk."

"Unless you're prepared to get on your knees, and apologize to me, then I couldn't care less," I threw back, the anger bitter on my tongue. "And, talk about what, exactly?"

"About what I said," he returned without missing a beat. "And, how sorry I am for saying it."

"You still said it." And, probably wrecked my heart that had just began to beat again in the meantime.

His chest fell with a sigh before he let his arms go with it. "My comment still stands from earlier, Maggie. Kade and Levi weren't going to stop with their questions, and if they would have figured out, they would have told the girls in a heartbeat. I was just trying to throw them off, because I knew that you didn't want this...us," he motioned between our bodies. "Getting back to Raven and Kimberly. I knew that, okay? And, those two tell their girls everything. I didn't want it to get to them before you did, and I didn't want you to be ambushed by them and their questions, so I said the most 'me' shit that I could to make them think that nothing changed."

Before I could open my mouth, he stopped me. "But, I didn't realize that it'd come out the way it did, and I didn't realize how fucked it would sound to you after everything. I should have thought about it, and I really wished I would have before saying it. It came out like you were just a warm body to me, when that's not true at all. I know I'd feel like shit if I heard you say that shit about me, and I know how badly I fucked up saying it about you, even if I had good intentions. They came out wrong, and I completely understand why you're upset because of it. I fucked up by doing it, I hurt you, and I'm sorry." His expression had deepened with his apology, the words mirroring through his eyes. "I'm sorry, Maggie. I swear I am."

When he finished, he went silent, but my head was still stirring. My gaze fell to my hands.

My mind was still challenged by the alcohol intake of the night, but my ears worked just fine. I could hear, feel, and see his apology trickling at my anger by the second.

I had to be technical. As hurtful as his words had been, I knew why they were said. I had asked him to hide us, and as he said, Kade and Levi wouldn't have stopped on their own. They hadn't told Kimberly and Raven about what Kade heard, but they definitely would have told them about whatever we had going on. I could understand it.

My warm fingers tangled with the other, my words as soft as a whisper, "You're sorry?"

I saw him quickly nod in the corner of my eye. "I am. I fucking promise I am." He reached in between my hands, taking one for himself. When he kissed it, he held it to his lips as he spoke, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Maggie."

My sigh was quick. I'd need to run it back over with my sober self in the morning, but for right now, I guessed I'd believe it. He seemed sincere, and for someone who didn't do apologies, he gave one that mirrored and recounted over his mistakes.

At my silence, he said, "What? You don't believe me?" His hand fell from mine, instead reaching over to his side, and unlocking the doors. "Here."

My head snapped up at him, confused. "What—"

All I saw was a flash of his back from how quickly he moved. "I'll gladly get on my fucking knees for you," I heard him mutter before my side of the car was being pulled open.

A gasp of surprise slipped from me as he unbuckled my seat, pulling me until my feet were to the pavement. That surprise blossomed into pure shock at his next move.

Luke knelt in front of me, big blue eyes gazing up at me. His hands went to my thighs, squeezing down. "I'm sorry, Norris. I'm a fucking idiot who doesn't think before he speaks, and I should have shut the fuck up in that moment. And, I'm so, so sorry that I didn't, but for right now..." His eyes fell with his hands, going to my knees as his expression spilled with plea. "Forgive me, Maggie. Please—"

Rather it be the alcohol, or having Luke on his knees in front of me, my laughter was unmanageable. I couldn't stop it.

"Luke," slipped out past the giggles. "Get up." The idea of having one of the town's most notorious, wealthiest playboy's on his knees for me was pleasing, but I'd give him a break. He didn't have to do anything like that for me, despite how adorable the sight was.

Confused, a frown turned his lips. "But—"

I shook my head, humored as I tugged him to me. "Come here." His sheepish smile grew at me, bringing forth my own. I ran a hand through his locks. "Thank you for that. I should have snapped a picture."

His fingers trailed over my face, finally pausing at my cheeks. The fearful hope in his eyes grew as he cupped them. "Did it work?"

I nodded, offering a bigger smile. "For now. I might need a new car to think on it, though." At his thoughtful expression, I paused, craning my neck at him. "That was a joke, by the way. Just a joke."

Luke's head fell with a chuckle that made my stomach dip. When he raised it, his expression was more lighter than before, but the traces of regret remained in them.

His hands fell to mine, taking them in his own. "Fuck." His brows curled into a frown as he glared down at them. "I'm really sorry, Maggie."

"You've said that already."

"I know, I just..." Luke raised his eyes to mine, honesty lined inside. "I don't want you to think that I think any of that about you." He grabbed my chin, tilting my head to him. "Because I don't. Not at all, Maggie." My heart skipped at the dip in his tone. "I could never in my life think that shit about you. Any of it."

My heart was doing tricks in my chest. "Careful, Luke..." My smile was shaky. "You're starting to sound real soft. I might think you like me, or something."

It was funny how differently the meaning to those words were given originally, compared to now. Neither of us ever expected it, but it was here.

"Good, then," he whispered back, kissing my palm. "Because I do."

His expression softened, his smile heavenly. "I do. More than anyone, and more than anything." I sucked in a sharp breath as he pressed his warm forehead against mine. "I want you, Maggie. I want you so fucking bad. I want you as my girl, and as my best friend. I can't say that I want you as my soulmate because you already are, but I can say that I want you to know that you are. I want to take you out, and do every single thing that I can think of to show you how badly I want it all. Because I do." He shifted a bit to kiss my forehead. "And, I want you to want me as all of that shit too, because I'm honestly losing my fucking mind pretending as if I don't." His confession was light, full of nothing but sincerity but also fear. I wasn't sure if it were in himself, or if it were in me, in fear of my rejection.

He wouldn't have it. Words could barely even graze how badly I agreed with it.

Through the drum of my heartbeat in my ears, all I could register was agreement, as well as something heavy riding along the sidelines. It was light and full, yet dominant, and I knew it was all for him.

I didn't care about my friends finding out, or his telling them. I didn't care about anything, but this and him. Whatever consequence that followed would be handled, but I couldn't think of them, any longer. I couldn't lie about it to myself, or to anyone else, because it was impossible to.

My hand swept up the length of his back, but by the time I reached his neck, the limb was shaky. "Then, have me."

That was all it took. Luke detached from me, but in lifting himself, he hauled me up with him. Instead of his shoulder, he cradled me to his chest like a baby, arms tight and secure.

Giggles fell from my lips as I glanced over his shoulder. "Luke, you forgot your door." It was wide open.

He scowled. "Fuck the door."

I chuckled at his stubbornness. "Go and close it before someone breaks in."

With a grunt of disapproval, he rounded the car again. With his foot, he slammed the door shut, hauled me closer to him, and rushed us to the house.

His curses were grumbled as he fiddled with the key to the front door. In record time, he had us in, down the hallway, and in his room.

Luke lowered me to the mattress, and I yanked him down by his shirt before another second was wasted. His chuckle against my lips brought the grin out of mine. Neither of us hesitated to go for the other, then.

Our lips fit like a puzzle. The kiss tried to start off as slow, but the more we tasted of the other, the more we ached for it. His hands alternated between my face, and my neck, but not where I needed him most.

I grabbed on, and tried to lower it to my thighs, but Luke shook my hand off, instead bringing his own back to my face. The pads of his fingers shoved strands out of my face until he had a perfect view of my face.

His gaze softened at me, the adoration in it blooming. "You're beautiful." Every other emotion seemed to slip away from him, except the ones that left my heart in cahoots. With the softest smile, he leaned down to peck my lips, again, his words vibrating against them, "You're so beautiful, angel."

Pleasure kissed at my skin before he did, his compliments shading it red. "No need to remind me, pretty boy. I know I'm hot."

Luke paused against my lips, leaning up.

"That too, but..." His head shook at me, his fingers stroking over my cheeks. His blues were as bright as ever.  "You're beautiful, Maggie."

I stared back at him, and it was then that I got it. My heart nearly lurched out of my chest at the realization.

It was him appreciating all of the parts of me that I had deemed unfit to be loved. It was him taking it, and keeping it shielded from all else until I had a clear view of its beauty on my own, again.

A soft smile built across my lips as I attempted to control the flutter in my chest. When I met his waiting eyes, beauty was all I knew, just like every other time I caught glimpse of him.

My smile settled still spot, but on shaky lips. "You're not so bad yourself, Palce."

Luke chuckled, but was still watching me with nothing but sincerity to his expression. My own matched it just as well, and I didn't try to hold anything back.

We both leaned in so slowly, it barely felt like moving. Intensity wore at my skin, the feeling of no other. It was leaving its scars behind on my skin with its burn, but in the meantime, replacing all the others.

Neither of us broke free from the kiss. If his hands didn't have such a tight grip on mine, I would have sworn my body wasn't my own. That was the only close enough resemblance I had to this cloud nine feeling.

I wrapped my legs around the muscles along his waist, and drew him in closer. I wanted him in every form, and in every way that I could. I couldn't get enough of him even if I wanted to, in every single way.

I pulled back just enough to get the words out, "Touch me, Luke."

"Mhm?" he hummed against my lips, his gaze overtaken with infatuation. The cushioning of his kiss was as soft and sweet as cotton candy. "I am touching you, angel."

"No." My eyes blurred with desperation, my sigh morphing into a huff that somehow ended in a pout. "I want you."

His chuckle was given against me. "Not tonight, Norris."

"What?" I groaned, and nearly stomped my foot, despite them hanging around his back. "Why not?"

I'd never thought I'd be whining for dick, but here the hell I was. The alcohol was making me lose my judgement as well, but I didn't give a shit about my morals, right now. I knew what I wanted, and that was me riding him until my legs gave out.

He pulled away, a humored smile tugging at his lips. "Because you're drunk, Maggie. I'm never going to touch you like that when you're under the influence."

"You've fucked me drunk before," I pointed out, my skin warming. I was hanging on by a thread the longer he looked at me like this. "Hungover, too."

"We were both drunk," he corrected. "I'm not drunk now, and you are. Very, very drunk, actually." That was true, we were both wasted as shit when we hooked up all those years ago. "I'm not taking advantage of that, or you, especially after a fight. I wanna make sure you've forgiven me when you're sober, too."

This time, I did groan. "Luke." My head thumped against the pillow in frustration. "You're not taking advantage if—"

Luke kissed me, knocking my argument off guard. Once my lips were as tingly as ever, he leaned back, a grin on.

"Keep that same attitude in the morning, Norris." Raw jealousy flashed through his expression, with a fire to join it. He flicked his head at me. "Don't think I forgot about your little stunt in the kitchen tonight, Norris. I'll handle that shit in the morning, though."

I almost gave a grin, even a little tease. The thought of it excited me, but when I thought about the time frame, my lips slumped into a pout.

Luke chuckled, pecking my lips, again, before he rolled off of me, and went to my side. His arms trapped me against his chest, and I nearly folded right into him without care for much else. 

It wasn't until he reached down to tug the blanket over us that I grumbled under my breath, "I don't like you."

His lips brushed against my shoulder in a kiss, his tone humored. "What was that, brat?"

My frustrations only grew. "You heard me," I snapped back, gathering against him.

His chuckle echoed through my ear as he ran his hand along my thigh to get to my stomach, rubbing in a motion that would surely pull me into sleep. If it weren't for my stubbornness, it would have, but I couldn't ignore my next idea.

I played it off as normal with our position. My hips built friction against his lap until his cock hardened against me. A smile stretched my lips as Luke grew rigid behind me.

Strong hands jumped to my waist, his fingers nearly molding into my skin as he forced out, "Maggie."

My smirk grew as I turned to look over my shoulder, and I situated myself until his cock was digging against my ass. "Hmm?"

Luke shoved out a shaky breath, his fingers crossing over my chin, so that he could tip my head to him. "You know what you're doing." His eyes bore through mine, the threat in them clear. "I'm not playing around, Maggie."

My head went against the soft pillow, but I kept up with the strokes of my ass into him. Luke tightened his grip around me, his breaths turning raspier the longer it continued, until I finally heard him curse.

"Fuck this," he breathed out past his frustration. "I'm not doing this shit."

With another curse, he jerked himself up out of bed. He nearly hit his toe against the nightstand along the way.

I turned, my smirk in full motion. "Frustrated?" The bulge in his pants answered that for me.

Luke passed a look of disbelief to me. "No, I'm 'A' fucking okay, Norris. Just goddamned perfect."

With a grumbled curse, he yanked his pillow, and a blanket off from bed, then marched to my side. When they fell to the floor, he went right along with it.

I flipped around so that I was on my stomach. "What are you doing, love?"

He fluffed the pillow with more energy than needed. "Getting away from you, and your little plan."

"Get back up here." I gazed up at the ceiling with a grin. "Please. I promise I'll be good this time."

"Yeah fucking right, you little smartass," he hissed from behind me, his tone lacking control. "Just give me a couple of minutes, okay?"

A series of giggles rippled from my throat. I gave him those minutes, but they don't seem to work too well by his mutters of curses.

"Broccoli. Cotton swabs," he mumbled to himself. "Cigarettes. Quarters."

My head followed his voice with confusion. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to get my dick to go the hell back down, because your sexy ass wouldn't leave it alone," he growled back at me with frustration. Huffing, he continued on with, "Pillows. Bird poop. Gumballs."

I bit back a laugh as I leaned over the bed to stroke at his hair. "Balls, you idiot."

Luke groaned. "Fuck," he drawled out before jerking a glare at me. "Quit talking to me. Every time I hear your voice, it fucks me up."

I chuckled, leaning back into place on the bed. In the midst, my mind returned to the first time of us sleeping together here. How he had teased, and fucked with me until it nearly drove me crazy.

Karma was a bitch.

I made my moves quickly, then took the chance to peer over the bed. Luke was too busy chanting nonsense to notice me, and now he even had his phone in hand, glaring back at a picture of a piece of broccoli he had pulled up.

I returned to my stomach, kicking my feet in the air behind me. Grinning, I tapped at his forehead with my pointer finger until he turned his glare to me.

"I'm sorry, love," I said, softly. "I haven't been so nice tonight."

Luke watched me cautiously. "No..." His eyes studied my face over for any mischief. "No, you haven't."

"Mhm," I hummed, faking a frown. "I'm real sorry."

Before I had time to carry out my next act, Luke gripped my chin from underneath. In the midst of a grin, he leaned forward to capture my lips in a quick kiss.

"You have nothing to be sorry about, angel," he smirked at me.  "Because, I'm going to have the time of my life fucking with you in the morning."

I blinked, a little woozy in the head from just that It took an extra second before I recovered from the kiss and him in general, sinking back into the bed.

Behind me, my fingers wrapped around the cloth with a grin. "Is that right?"

Luke glanced to me, but before he could give a response, I launched my bra over the bed. It landed him in the head. 

He snatched it up, a growl ripping from the back of his throat as he jerked his eyes over to me, "Maggie." The erection he worked so hard to get down began to stiffen right back up the longer he held my bra.

My panties went next. They weren't sexy or anything like that since this wasn't how I expected the night to go, but I knew how to wear them as if they were.

This time, it landed right on top of his lap.

Luke groaned, thumping his head against the pillow. "Maggie." He raked a hand through his hair with a heavy sigh. "I swear to you, Norris. I fucking swear to you—"

Giggles tickled my lips as I leaned over the bed to kiss him. In my drunken state, though, my grip wasn't good enough, especially with my position.

My body went flailing right over the mattress. It would have been a much harder impact on me had Luke not caught me in his arms. This only doubled my laughter.

His grip tightened around my waist as he glared back at me. "You know what?" His expression was stained with arousal, but frustration above all else. "That's it." Swiftly, he raised the both of us up from the ground. "You're getting your ass in that bed and going to sleep, and I am, too, you hear me?"

As soon he placed me in the bed, I tried to make an argument through my laughter.

Luke shook his head. "No, hell no." Pointing to me, he narrowed his eyes. "I'm not taking shit else for an answer, so you lay your beautiful ass back in that bed, and give me a damn minute, woman." I was too busy laughing to give a response, but he responded with a scowl, anyway.

Huffing, he stomped around in circles until he was back to normal. I watched him, amused at how adorable he was.

Exhaustion was hitting much harder, now, right. The alcohol was catching up to me, too. I'd hold him to his promise tomorrow, but I'd give the poor thing a break for now.

Luke grumbled a string of curses as he slammed his pillow back onto the bed. Caution drug along his face at me before he got in, tugging me over to his body.

Chuckling, my back relaxed against him. "Are you—"

"Nah," he hissed, turning me around by my waist. "I'm not falling for it, again; you're sleeping against me, tonight."

I shrugged, not even fighting my smile. I went to move closer, but Luke pulled me to him by my waist, arms closing in around my body until I was cocooned by him.

"You're such a brat, Norris." His kiss to the top of my head went along with a satisfied sigh. "And, I've never been more grateful to have you as mine."

I could hear his heart pounding against my ear, and I knew my own matched. I was grateful that it did. "Takes one to know one," I murmured, my eyes shutting.

His warmth pulled me into its comforting embrace until finally, he kissed my head, again. "Sleep good, beautiful."