Stepbrother Backstage (The Hawthorne Brothers Book 3) (54 page)

“I fucking hated leaving you,” Luke growls, kissing down
along my bare throat as he grinds his hips against mine, “But I have to say,
I’m a big fan of coming back.”

“Then we’d better make this reunion count,” I laugh, running
a hand along that staggering desire testing the strength of his slacks,
“Because the leaving part nearly killed me.”

“I’ll make it up to you,” Luke vows, suddenly serious as his
green eyes lock on mine, “Trust me when I say that I will.”

“Well, I know a pretty good way you can start,” I grin back
at him, feeling him growing harder in my hands.

“Oh, that’s a given,” he smiles back, his eyes closing as he
savors my touch, “But aren’t you on the clock, Miss Asphalt Denim?”

“I’m sure I can take a fifteen,” I say, my voice dipping low
as I bring my hands to Luke’s belt buckle, “Union rules and all.”

“Christ, I’ve missed you…” Luke breathes, bringing his mouth
swiftly back to mine.

Let’s hope our sentries stayed by the doors
… I think
briefly, tugging down my black lacy panties and bracing myself against the
brick wall. It’s the last coherent thought I have before I feel Luke’s
throbbing cock pressed against my slick sex. I bury my head against his
shoulder as he drives up into me, my ecstatic cries muffled by the fine Italian
wool of his suit.

How’s
that
for function and fashion?

***

“Well,” I pant, pushing my hair out of my face as I tug my
dress back into place, “That’s my new favorite way of saying ‘hello again’.”

“In that case,” Luke replies, shrugging back into his suit
jacket, “I vote we say ‘hello again’ three times a day, every day, for the
foreseeable future…”

“There’s a foreseeable future for us then?” I ask,
straightening up on my sky-high heels. We got so distracted by our much-needed
makeup, that the question of our future flew straight out of my mind. I almost
don’t want to think of it, now. Out here, away from our friends and families,
it’s easy to imagine that Luke and I are the only people in the world. If only
it were that easy.

“Is that still what you want?” Luke asks.

“Well, to be honest, I don’t think any future between the
two of us would be at all
foreseeable
,” I reply, “We can’t predict
anything that’s going to happen, or plan for what might go wrong.”

“I know that,” Luke cuts in, running his hands down my bare
arms, “And I’ve hated the thought of that, Sophie. I hate the idea of not
having control over what happens to us next. That’s what I’ve been wrestling
with these past few weeks.”

“How about this,” I say softly, “For tonight, let’s leave
off with trying to predict the future. Let’s just say that what happens next is
us having an amazing time, drinking all the free booze we like, and partying
our faces off.”

“I guess there’ll be plenty of time for adult conversation
in the morning,” Luke laughs, laying his hands on my hips, “We can spend
tonight indulging in all the other adult activity we want.”

“Deal,” I grin, giving Luke a swift, hard kiss.

We hear the door crack open behind us, letting a roar of
music escape out into the otherwise quiet night. Unlocking our lips, we turn to
see Maddie and Cash sticking their heads through the cracked door. They look
every bit the smug big siblings they are—I half expect Cash to break into a
round of “Luke and Sophie sitting in a tree…” But luckily, they manage to
contain themselves. Mostly.

“Come on lovebirds,” Maddie says, “ReImaged wants some group
pictures of the Asphalt brand ambassadors. I promise you can keep making out
the second we’ve got a few shots.”

“I
guess
we can manage that,” I grin, lacing my
fingers through Luke’s.

“Speak for yourself,” he shoots back, squeezing my hand.

We set off after Cash and Maddie, heading back into the fray
of the party. Pure elation courses through me as I savor the feel of Luke’s
hand in mine. It feels so good to be out in the open with him, before the eyes
of our siblings, the party-goers, our friends.

“Oh my god…” I laugh, as we make our way across the dance
floor.

“What is it?” Luke asks, cocking his head at me.

“I just realized…We were supposed to go out together for the
first time that last night at the lake,” I gush, “So that means, technically…”

“This is our first date,” Luke completes my thought with a
gruff laugh.

“Worth the wait?” I ask, looking around the wild party.

“Always,” Luke murmurs, his eyes fixed on me.

Something tells me it isn’t just this date he’s talking
about, either.

Chapter Fifteen

I spend the night lifted up by a rushing swell of euphoria.
The music, the booze, and the feeling of Luke’s arms around me entwine in a
dizzying cocktail. I can feel the stress and anxiety of the past few weeks
melting away with each new song, each touch of Luke’s lips against mine. I set
down my burdens, kick off my heels, and have more uninhibited, raunchy fun than
I ever have before. This night was bound to be incredible or devastating, but I
didn’t know it was going to be one of the best of my life.

It’s early morning before the party even begins to break up.
Luke and I are still on the dance floor, trying to keep the day from breaking
by sheer force of will. But I can’t hold my exhaustion at bay much longer, and
Luke knows it full well.

“Come on,” he yells above the music, “Let’s get you into
bed.”

“Five more minutes!” I shout back, though my every muscle
aches for rest.

“I’ll make it worth your while, I promise,” Luke grins,
running his hands over the rise of my ass.

“Well, I can’t very well argue with that,” I say, throwing
an arm over his shoulders, as he leads me off the dance floor at long last.

The second we clear the dance floor, I feel my weary feet
leave the ground. I cry out with startled delight as Luke scoops me up into his
arms, easily bearing my weight as we take our leave. Out of the corner of my
eye, I spot Maddie across the room, shaking her head with a smile as she
watches us go.

“How very gentlemanly of you,” I laugh, as Luke carries me
across the hotel lobby and into a waiting elevator.

“I want to get you upstairs and out of that dress as quickly
as possible,” Luke murmurs back as the elevator doors slide together, “But if
that’s what you call gentlemanly…”

“That’s what I call fucking perfect,” I breathe, kissing
along Luke’s throat as he holds me close.

The second the elevator doors slide open, my exhaustion is
seared away with raw, lusty energy. I take off like a shot down the hall,
racing Luke toward the door of my suite. He sprints along behind me, both of
our raucous voice echoing off the pristine walls. I open the door and bolt
inside with Luke on my heels. The momentum of our chase carries us across the
suite, straight into the bedroom. Luke’s arms circle my waist, picking me up
off the floor once more before throwing me down on the sprawling bed.

“You realize this is another first, right?” Luke growls,
kneeling over me with his gleaming green eyes hard on my body.

“What?” I ask, letting my knees fall apart under his gaze.

“Fucking in an actual bed,” he grins, shrugging out of his
suit jacket and lifting his shirt up over his broad shoulders. “You know,
rather than the bed of a pickup truck.”

“I’m sure we’ll get used to it,” I laugh breathlessly,
drinking in the sight of his perfect chest, his cut abs, and the insistent
bulge in his fine slacks.

I reach up to release his throbbing member, but he pushes me
back hard against the bed, pinning me beneath him.

“You just lay back,” he growls, kissing along my throat.

“Whatever you say,” I breathe, my back arching as that
sweet, warm pressure starts to mount inside of me.

Luke reaches around my back, tugging down the zipper of my
tight red dress. He all but peels the garment away from my body, groaning as he
sees my black lace panties and strapless bra.

“You wore my favorites?” he grins, running a finger under
the band of my panties.

“I was dressing…optimistically,” I breathe, closing my eyes
as he snaps open my bra and takes both breasts in his firm, capable hands.

He runs his tongue over my hard nipples, taking one then the
other into his warm, hungry mouth. Working down my body, he caresses every bit
of me he can reach—with everything at his disposal. I buck my hips, grinding
against the rock hard length of his cock…But he’s not done with me just yet.

I gasp as his teeth close around my panties, tugging them
clear down my legs before tossing them aside. He straightens up, towering above
me as he runs his eyes all along my stark naked body. Only now, with his eyes
fast on mine, does he whip open the buckle of his belt, letting loose that
gorgeous, throbbing member I’ve come to love and crave.

“Luke,” I whisper, pulling myself onto my forearms,
“Please…Let me take you in my mouth.”

His eyes flash brilliantly as he runs a hand up along my
torso, his fingers lingering just below my throat. Slowly, he presses me back
against the bed one last time. He brings his hands to my knees, spreading me
wide open as he lowers that eager, grinning mouth.

“You first,” he growls.

The feeling of his warm breath against my wet, aching sex
sends goosebumps trailing all across my trembling body. A low, rasping moan
rises up in my throat as Luke runs his tongue along the length of my slit,
parting my pink lips as he presses back against my thighs. I grab onto handfuls
of white bedding, bracing myself as his tongue traces slow, firm circles around
my clit. Hot, bracing pangs of pleasure shoot up through my body with each
swivel and flick of his perfect tongue. I cry out as he closes his lips around
that aching button, sucking gently. I can feel myself filling up with
bliss—it’s only a matter of time before I spill over.

“You still want to taste my cock?” he growls, his lips
vibrating against my clit as he flicks those green eyes my way.

“God yes,” I gasp.

With athletic agility, he swings his towering figure around
on the massive bed, pulling me to kneeling above him. He grabs hold of my hips,
drawing my throbbing pussy back to his mouth as he lies beneath me. And
standing tall right before my eyes is that delicious, piercing length I’ve been
craving. Bracing myself on quivering forearms, I bring my lips to Luke’s cock,
closing my mouth around his bulging tip. He groans beneath me, grabbing firm
hold of my ass as he flicks his tongue against my clit. We buck against each
other as I take more and more of his staggering manhood into my mouth, running
my tongue along the smooth expanse. I can feel him everywhere—and it’s bringing
me to the very edge.

“Luke,” I groan, working my hands up and down his raging
cock, “You’re gonna do me in…”

“That’s the plan,” he laughs raggedly, giving me a push
forward onto my hands and knees.

I have to close my teeth around the nearest pillow to keep
from screaming as he eats me out from behind, lavishing my sex with his perfect
mouth. My delirious, disoriented body can’t hold back for a second longer. With
one last decisive, leveling pass from Luke, I come hard and fast. Pleasure
surges along my every nerve, lighting up my body from the inside out. Luke
savors every last drop of my desire, licking the taste of me from his full
lips. The mere sight of that is nearly enough to make me come all over again.

“Luke,” I gasp, rolling onto my back as my chest heaves,
“That…That was…”

“I know,” he growls, lowering his body to mine. My mouth
falls open as I feel his pulsating cock pressing against that wet, aching place
between my legs. “I hope you have late check out for this room. We’re gonna be
needing it for a few more hours.”

It isn’t until dawn that Luke and I finally collapse into
bed, completely spent with the fervor of our fucking. He was right about one
thing—makeup sex would be a terrible thing to waste. I fall into a deep,
dreamless sleep with my back pressed up against Luke’s firm chest. His strong
arms wrapped around me are dream enough, in my book.

The smell of rich, dark coffee draws me up out of my deep
slumber hours later. Prying my eyes open, I glance at the bedside clock—it’s
already 10 a.m. Rolling over, I find that Luke has beaten me to the waking
world. I glance through the open bedroom door and spot him in the kitchenette,
pouring out two massive mugs of coffee.

Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I stretch
languorously. I grab Luke’s white shirt from last night, sliding into it before
padding across the suite toward him. He looks up as I sidle into the living
room, grinning when he catches sight of my makeshift nightgown.

“It’s not exactly as rugged as our last coffee date,” he
says, nodding toward the balcony, “But the view is still pretty decent, right?”

“I’d say,” I reply, following my man out onto the patio
overlooking the Seattle waterfront.

We settle down at a small table, sinking into our chairs and
lifting our mugs in contemplative silence. Our bodies and minds are still numb
with last night’s lovemaking. The uninhibited peace makes me feel like I can
speak freely, even about the hardest subjects. Which is convenient, since
that’s what we still haven’t addressed during our blissful reunion.

“So,” I sigh, swallowing a sip of coffee, “Once we leave
this place today…Where are you headed next, Luke? I hear you’ve been drifting
these past few weeks.”

“It’s true,” he says, looking out over the horizon, “I’ve
been on the move since we left the lake house. I just drove, mostly. Tried to
clear my head. But I did make one last stop, back in my hometown. Just a couple
days ago…I went back to speak with my father.”

“You did?” I ask, whipping around to face Luke,
“About…what?”

“About the things we were raised never to mention,” Luke
says, his jaw pulsing, “I told him, in no uncertain terms, that I’m not
interested in being the heir to a man who doesn’t respect me.”

“Wow…” I breathe, “Luke, that must have been so hard.”

“I would have thought so too,” he replies, shaking his head,
“Growing up, I was so in awe of my Dad. But as I’ve become a man, I can see him
for what he really is. Scared. Alone.
Human
. That stunt he pulled at the
lake house was the last straw. He doesn’t have any power over me anymore,
Sophie. And he certainly doesn’t have any say in my future.”

“Then…What’s your next stop?” I ask softly.

“I guess that depends on you,” he replies, swinging his gaze
toward me. “And whether or not you’d mind if we stopped next in the same
place.”

“I wouldn’t mind that at all,” I tell him, a smile breaking
across my face, “In fact, nothing would make me happier.”

“I’m still not interested in being back at Sheridan,” he
says, “No more dwelling in the past. But I could be close by.”

“Actually…” I tell him, “There’s a chance that I may not be
at Sheridan for too much longer either. There’s a guest artist named Karen
Krause who’s got her eye on me for an acting apprenticeship. In New York.”

“New York?” Luke echoes, tasting the words ponderously.

“Yeah,” I tell him, “That could very well be my next stop.”

“Well…I’d never think of it myself, but now that you mention
it, New York seems like as good a next stop as any,” Luke says, reaching for my
hand.

“Really?” I ask softly, turning to face him, “You’d come
across the country…Just to be with me?”

“If that’s what you want,” he replies, lacing his fingers
through mine.

“It is,” I tell him firmly. And the second I say it, I know
that it’s absolutely true.

“Guess I’d better start memorizing the subway map, huh?”
Luke smiles, “And forming bizarrely intense opinions about bagels. But first, I
think a shower is in order. Want to join?”

“In a second,” I tell him, sinking back in my chair, “I have
to remember how to walk, first.”

Luke laughs, kissing me lightly on the forehead.

“This is going to be a great thing for us,” he says
decisively, “I can feel it.”

I can feel it too, in every inch of my body. And all we had
to do was let go of our stupid hang-ups about propriety, and what kind of love
is “allowed”. Luke and I are so much more than just a bundle of taboos. We’re
two people who care about each other. That’s it.

Sighing happily, I carry my mug back into the kitchen for a
refill. I can hear the running shower in the other room as I pour myself a
second cup of smooth, black coffee. A chirp rings out from my purse, sitting on
the kitchen counter. Sipping my fresh coffee, I pull out my cell. I perch on
the counter, legs swinging lazily beneath me, to see who’s just texted.

My stomach turns unpleasantly as I see that my mother has
sent a group message to me, Maddie, and Anna. I’ve barely had more than a
cursory word from her in three weeks. Once she was assured I was back at
Sheridan, she carried on her own merry way. Maybe she’s reaching out now to
apologize to me and my sisters about the way she spoke to us that night at the
lake? Maybe she’s finally broken things off with John and come to her senses?
That would be a lovely surprise.

Might as well get this over with
, I think, pulling up
the text. It’s a picture message. No words, just a single photo. I cock my head
at it, trying to discern its meaning. It looks like she forgot her phone was on
and accidentally took an off-center selfie. The picture is framed around her
frantically waving hand. The image is so blurry that I almost overlook the new,
shining stone that rests on her ring finger.

My coffee mug shatters into a hundred pieces as I stare down
at my phone, the blood draining from my slack-jawed face. I hear footsteps
across the suite, muffled by the thundering sound of my own beating heart. Luke
appears in the bedroom doorway, a white towel tied hastily around his waist. A
look of concern twists his gorgeous features.

“What’s the matter?” he asks urgently, “I heard a crash,
and…Jesus, babe—you’re white as a fucking ghost.”

I try and make my mouth form the words he needs to hear, but
no sound comes out. I’m gripping the edge of the counter, my knuckles going
white. My breaths come high and shallow as my body refuses to process what’s
happened.

“Sophie, you’re scaring me,” Luke says, walking slowly
toward me across the suite. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”