Chapter 15

I have zero idea what's gotten into me. I know I shouldn't even come close to teasing Luke.

Because one of these times, he's going to take me up on it.

Still, I just can't seem to help it when we're together, and running into him after the shower—clearly fresh from his own—just isn't the way to keep me from thinking about him like the biggest temptation of my life.

The shower had done very little to quell my hunger for him, maybe even making it worse.

Especially considering all I did was fantasize about letting him sink that evidently large shaft as deep inside me as possible.

That towel of his hid very little about Luke's impressive anatomy, and this naive young resident was thinking more and more about how she'd let herself stay a virgin for way too long.

No matter what I might have thought about all this, staying with Luke was going to be a prolonged test to see if I could stay the inexperienced neophyte.

And it wasn't looking good.

* * *

Two daysalone in the penthouse with Luke passed, and today, on my third night with him, I drive home after returning to work.

The time away was necessary, but now, I just want to focus on helping the people I can and put all this Cobra bullshit behind me.

"You're fine, Clara. Just get back to the penthouse and tell him you have to look over the case studies again. He doesn't know it's a lie. You're fine."

I pull into the garage, flashing my new badge at the security guard, who recognizes me at this point, and find the usual spot I've claimed for myself.

The engine goes silent as I take out the key, and I step out into the cool air of the garage.

I ditched the white coat in my locker at the hospital, and the breeze whispers across my skin.

It's nice to be greeted with the fresh air after hours in the hospital, and I spend a few moments just standing by my car.

The crisp summer evening in Hildale Port eases some internal ache, and I suck in a breath through my nose, enjoying the smell of the ocean not far away.

"Miss, are you all right?"

I snap out of my little daydream and look over at another one of the security guards who's come over to where I'm standing.

"Oh, sorry. Yes. It's just nice out."

The guy smiles, and it's a warm, comforting grin of a person very much on the same page as you.

I like this guard, Calvin, judging by the name tag. I've seen him around, and the way his deep brown skin crinkles at the corners of his eyes is charming.

"Oh, that it is, miss. I'm sure Mr. Shaw will be thinking the same. He'll probably be out on the balcony, if I know him."

"You've worked here a long time, then?"

He nods. "I have. Oh, it's been—" he looks up, thinking "—about ten years now."

"Wow, that's impressive. Well, thank you for checking on me. I'll head up."

"Any time, miss. Have a good evening."

I grin, offering him a wave, and then start for the elevator up to twelve.

When I get inside the penthouse, Luke is, in fact, on the balcony, and I take a second to appreciate the way he looks in the slim black suit pants and white button-down.

He's lost the tie and undone a few of the top buttons at his neck. He's also rolled up his sleeves.

And there is something about seeing him in this relaxed, "after business hours" stance that does something to me.

My heart rate quickens, and when I drop my keys on his console table, Luke spins around to see me standing at the door.

He grins, and my knees literally go weak, damn them. Stepping inside from the balcony, Luke sets his glass down on the bar and walks toward me.

"Hey, doc. How was work? I'm assuming you saved several lives."

"As a matter of fact," I start to say, toeing my sneakers off, desperately needing a break from them. "I did. And now I'm starving, so I'm going to just eat something in my room while I review the case studies."

Luke's right in front of me now, and he snags my arm as I try to walk past to the kitchen.

"Hang on. You've been going at it way too hard. You need a break for a few hours. Let's get some pizza and watch a bad movie."

In any other situation, it would be a harmless request.

But I know Luke, and furthermore, I know myself. If we're too close like that…

Yeah, not a good idea, Clara.

"And before you turn me down—" Luke takes out his phone, checking something before returning it to his pocket "—the pizza will be here in five minutes. So…"

I sigh, but it melts into a grin that I can't keep down, and I roll my eyes at him.

"You don't take no for an answer very often, do you?"

"Not if I can avoid it." He smirks at me, and I swear one of these days, I'm going to drown in how gorgeous it is.

I throw my hands up. "Fine, fine. But I get to pick the movie."

Luke goes to the couch, picking up the remote and handing it to me.

"Sure thing, darlin'."

Whenever Luke calls me that, my heart trembles, so I quickly distract myself by taking the remote and going to the couch to have a seat.

I pull up his large array of streaming services and find a suitable action-packed film.

"Ooh, okay. How about Uncharted? It's based on that video game, and I really like Tom Holland."

Luke stands behind the couch, eyeing the screen. "Sounds great. I like the game, so should be fun."

We get through the quick opening, when Mark Wahlberg"s backstory is revealed, and then Luke's phone rings, saying the pizza has been delivered.

"Great, thank you. I'll be right down."

"I'll pause it." I do, standing up and going to the kitchen to get a drink. "Do you need anything, or you still working on that whiskey?"

Luke chuckles lightly, knocking the rest of the drink back, and then sets his glass down on the island.

"I'm good. How about cracking us a few beers?"

My eyes go wide. "That's a hell of a tolerance you got there."

The humor mildly defuses the tension I feel, and Luke just grins.

"Military. It breeds high alcohol tolerance."

I know less than nothing about it, so I have to take Luke's word for it.

He slips out the door, getting the pizza, and when he returns, I've got us set up for eating on the couch.

Napkins, beers, and plates, they're all ready to go.

"Hey, look at that." Luke smiles as he sets the box down on the coffee table right between our setups. "Careful there. I could definitely get used to having you around."

I laugh it off, but inside, my chest squeezes, and I have to tamp down on the giddy feeling hearing him say that elicits.

"All right, action." Luke sits down, pressing play. "I hope you like meat lovers."

With a short chuckle, I take a few of the slices and put them on my plate, tucking my legs underneath myself as I get comfortable on the couch.

"I do. I mean, I like pizza in general." I take a bite. "Unless it's that weird taco stuff. I'll keep those separate, thank you very much."

Luke laughs, stuffing a large bite into his mouth, and at once, I realize how comfortable I feel.

I really could happily stay here. Luke isn't a bad roommate, and more than that, being with him makes me feel…safe.

Returning my attention to the movie, I enjoy the fun if predictable plot, and soon both Luke and I are yelling our theories at the screen as it plays.

"No way! She's going to leave them high and dry, and then, so is Sully. I so do not trust him."

Luke chuckles, taking a sip of his beer as we watch the crew of thieves and adventurers use two crosses to unlock a secret passage.

"You really think so? No good guys here?"

"Nah, not them. Nate is sweet, and yes, I know. Tom Holland. But I still think the others are no good."

A few minutes later, we see Chloe take the map and drop a clue about Nate's missing brother.

"Ha!" I stand up from the couch, clapping my hands together. "What did I tell you?"

"You're right. You're right." Luke puts his hands up in surrender and chuckles as I plop back down on the couch triumphantly. "You're very good at guessing the story."

"Eh." I sip my beer. "It's always been an easy escape for my sister and me. When life was too tough to deal with, we'd find a way to switch on a movie. Either in our room or before our aunt and uncle got home. We could pretend there."

There's a thoughtful hmm that slips free from Luke, and I see his eyes focus on the floor.

I know that look. I do it all the time. He's remembering something he'd rather not.

"You okay?"

He turns back to me, a grin quickly taking over his face as he pushes the other stuff down.

"Fine. I just understand the rough childhood thing." He leans back on the couch, crossing one leg over the other at the knee. "So, who do you think is going to come out on top at the end?"

I see the redirection for what it is, but I don't want to push him, so I just lean back into the couch.

"Well, obviously, the main characters. But what I'm wondering is if they're going to use the played out trope of guy gets girl. I think I'd prefer for them to just stay enemies at the end."

Luke scoffs with a snort. "Not a fan of romantic clichés?"

"I mean, is anybody?" The corners of my mouth turn down as I consider it. "Okay, I'm sure there are people who are, but I am not one of them. Give me action and adventure, please. I don't like that sugarcoated nonsense. Life's not like that, and it's going to take more than a movie for me to forget."

Silence hangs for a moment, and I realize how cynical I sound. But it's just how I feel.

"So, you know, yeah. I like the gritty stuff. It's more realistic."

"I get that." Luke nods, his eyes flicking to the film. "It's also nice to watch something that can make me laugh, though."

Suddenly, I feel like I've been far too blunt, and guilt creeps through me. There's such a sense of deep sorrow to Luke in quiet moments like this, and I want to ask him about it.

But I don't.

We watch the rest of the movie, chatting and laughing, and it's when the credits roll that I realize I'm seated right next to Luke.

He looks down at me with those brown-green eyes of his, and tension presses down on me like a boulder.

"Um, so that was fun."

Luke nods. "Yeah. You're good company."

My cheeks warm, and I can only imagine the pink coloring them.

"Oh, well, thank you. You too."

I break eye contact, reaching for the beer on the coffee table. But Luke's hand is there too, going for his, and our knuckles brush.

Swallowing hard, I pull my hand back. Christ, it's like you're in fucking high school or something.

Luke chuckles as he turns to face me again, and I can't look at him.

It's no use, though. His fingers go to the hair by my face, tucking it behind my ear.

I enjoy it too much. I enjoyed this whole evening too much.

Without thinking, I look up at him, and my eyes land right on Luke's lips. God, they look kissable.

No! You can't, Clara. Come on.

I abruptly stand from the couch, walking away and straight for my room.

"Well, I have to get up early. I'll see you in the morning."

And like a damned frightened animal, I'm out of there so fast, I'm pretty sure I left Luke dazed and confused.