Chapter 23

SCARLET

Flying with a private jet was so convenient; our flight turned smoothly. Luke wasn’t much of a talker as usual. He didn’t bother me for the whole hour and a half, which I preferred. I wouldn’t know what I would say to him either. All he did was stare at his iPad. I took it as a hint that he shouldn’t be bothered.
A sleek blue Ferrari F60 was waiting for us at the airfield when we landed. The man standing next to it handed him the keys, and Luke shoved our suitcases in the compartment, then we pulled out.
Still not talking, Luke maneuvered every turn in the roads I’d known for six years. Luke and the sports car were absolutely something else. I’d never thought driving could be sexy. He handled the steering wheel with control and maintained an even speed.
He then finally spoke, “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Something on my face?”
I probably kept staring at his handsome face, and he had noticed me. I shrugged. “You’re a bit different than the way I thought you were.”
“Like how?” he asked, his eyes still on the road.
“Like socializing on dating sites? I’ve been looking for you on Facebook, and nothing appeared.”
“I don’t waste my time on such a thing. I deal with the real thing.”
And he just had to answer me in a cold tone as always. I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. Where are we heading?”
“To my apartment.”
Words came out so easily. He must be so used to bringing all his escapades to his place. The thought made me cringe instantly.
“Why would we go there? I need to get home first.”
“Do you prefer we go to yours?”
“I’m sharing a room with Katherine. We can’t—”
“Then, should I book a reservation?”
My mouth parted. “I don’t want to be like the women you fuck.”
His mouth curved with a smirk. “My place then.”
“Do you have spare rooms? You don’t stay with a woman at night, right?”
He flashed a cocky smile. “I guess you know more about me than anyone else. Why do you ask?”
“That’s because it’s what you want—”
He shushed me. “I’m not finished,” he cut me off. “I told you, you are the first woman I ever allowed to invade my private life.”
“Oh, shut up, Jax.”
“It’s Luke, witch. I told you we’re done with that.”
I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry. I really prefer calling you Jax because at least he isn’t some asshole. And I told you to stop calling me a witch.”
He let out a rich laugh. Apparently, he was enjoying this.
“Yours doesn’t matter since you’re a witch. What did you do to me? Did you put a potion in my food?”
I groaned in annoyance. “I don’t want to talk to you. Wake me up when we get there.”
I shut my eyes and turned my head away from his side. I was tired of talking nonsense with him.
Luke gently shook my shoulder a few minutes later, and I noticed we’d already stopped.
“You’re staying at the Atmark?” A suite in this residence costs ten thousand per month, but why was I not surprised?
“You don’t like it?” He stepped out of the car, not waiting for my answer. I pushed the door open and came out after him.
I followed him quietly as we went through the posh entrance. We headed straight to the elevator, where he pressed the top floor button. In my mind, I already saw myself coming here for two months. Now, I had to fix my schedule and change my routine. I was unprepared.
Luke’s place was spacious and massive. The interior was minimalistic and clean—there wasn’t a speck of dirt anywhere.
“Want a drink?” he offered as he paced towards the dining area. I walked to the living room and slouched on the sofa in front of the fireplace.
“Yes, please.” It was what I needed.
I curled up as I felt the place’s coziness, realizing this could work for me. My eyes wandered around, and I couldn’t help but admire his home. It was just as bright as Thomas’s, and strangely, this place didn’t give a feeling of dullness.
Luke came back in a few minutes, holding a bottle of Pinot Grigio and two glasses. He sat a few inches away from me and filled the glasses. He handed one to me.
“Feeling okay?”
“Strange.” I smiled a little and sipped the drink.
“Thinking that I might be hiding a skeleton here?” he joked with a playful grin.
I chuckled, then shrugged. “Maybe.”
His expression abruptly turned serious, and he looked at me in a long silence. I didn’t know if he was going to respond or not.
“What’s wrong?”
He moved closer to me and spread his arms at the backrest. His thumb brushed my nape. “You must remember this. I want you in my bed and nothing more.”
“I know about that. At least.” I took another gulp of my wine. “So, can you tell me about this setup you had in mind?”
“It’s simple. You and me. Just sex. No strings attached.”
“Just sex,” I repeated. “How about when you said we should set up some rules? How about after we have sex? Are you going back to being a dick and making things hard for me?”
“We remain friends. Just like Jax and Ericka.”
“I thought we were done with that?”
“It’s just an example. It doesn’t have to change.”
“Those aren’t rules, you know.”
He nodded. “Just one. I want this exclusive.”
“I’m not polyamorous.”
“Have you been checked?”
“No, but I don’t do unprotected sex. Have you?”
“Yes.”
Luke put down his glass, then snatched mine as well. His blazing eyes didn’t leave mine.
“Wait. Do you mean right now? I’m not prepared. At least let me get ready.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Get ready?”
“You know what I mean, shower, perfume, a nice pair of lingerie.”
“There’s no need for that. You don’t have to seduce me with those.” Luke moved swiftly on top of me and pinned my wrists above me. My small frame was now underneath him, and his other hands instantly grasped my thighs and trailed down my ass. He squeezed me. “I’m already seduced.”
“Okay, but at least let me—” His mouth cut me off, crushing my lips. I was still stunned, and my eyes widened. Then I realized it was Luke’s face in front of me, with his lips coaxing my mouth, seeking an entrance. This was our first kiss. My stomach fluttered with pleasure, excitement, and nervousness—my sex clenching with need. Slowly, I shut my eyes, finally giving in.
He groaned at my response. I slid my arms around his neck. One minute we were in the same position, and the next, his arms were around me, my legs curled around his waist, and my hands messing with his hair. We kissed, nipped, and licked each other’s mouths, learning how to taste and savor each other better.
“Damn,” he hissed, breaking off the kiss. I felt the cold air again and instantly longed for his touch. He stopped and started unbuttoning his dress shirt. The suspense was killing me, so I sat up and lifted the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and tossing it on the floor, and then he took off mine.
I smiled, biting my lip at his bare chest, showcasing his defined six-pack abs and the v-cut on each side of his waist. He was so surreal. He was more beautiful than I pictured him in my wet dreams. He looked as hard as rock everywhere.
“If you keep staring at me like that, I’m going to make you pay for making me wait to have you.”
I bit my lower lip again, grinning. He was the total definition of perfect. It made me crave him. It made me want to run my tongue over those cuts and muscles. I didn’t know how but his fingers reached for the button of my pants.
“It’s easier for me if you’re in my bed, but I can’t wait anymore, witch.”
He stepped off the couch and pulled my jeans down, including my panties. He spread my thighs to accommodate him between my legs. He cupped my breasts and teased the crown with his thumb.
“Ohh…”
The next moment, he was already sucking my breasts, and the sounds made me crave him more.
“Tell me how badly you want this,” he whispered harshly as his skillful fingers squeezed my breasts rhythmically. I arched my back.
“Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
“I want you badly…”
He lifted his body and crushed his mouth with mine. He kissed me passionately, aggressively, like a lost lover yearning for his woman. I jerked a little when I finally felt his fingers touch my cleft. I moaned between our lips as he slowly slipped a finger inside me, hitting my most sensitive spot.
“Luke, please…”
He chuckled and watched me make different faces in response to what he did to me. He thrust his finger in and out. Again and again.
On the verge of coming, I grabbed his shoulders as my core throbbed, but he abruptly stopped.
“You can’t come until I’m inside you, and that should be on my bed.”
“No...” I wanted him now.
The next thing that happened, he lifted me in his arms with my legs wrapped around his waist without breaking the kiss.