Healed (Scarred #2)(15)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“Where should we go to talk?”

“We can go to my room…”

“Are your parents home?” I made a face.

“No. They went to Minneapolis to visit my aunt.”

“Then let’s go to your room.” I grabbed his hand and we walked into his house.

“Do you want anything to drink or eat?”

“Luke! No,” I laughed. “Please. I just need to talk to you.”

“Okay okay.” He grinned and we ran up the stairs. I jumped onto his bed and lay down as soon as we walked in and he lay down next to me. “So, you wanted to tell me something?”

I rolled over and looked at his earnest and trusting eyes and I was reminded of how I nearly lost this wonderful man. “I did.” I took a deep breath and Luke leaned in and kissed me. This time he was the aggressor and his tongue plunged into my mouth, tantalizing me with its strokes. I felt warmness in my belly and pressed myself closer to him, wanting to feel him closer to me. I reached my hands up to his head and ran my fingers through it, loving the feel of him on my fingertips.

Luke groaned and pulled away from me. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I’m glad you did,” I sighed.

“But don’t you want to talk to me first?”

“I guess,” I moaned and licked my lips. Luke’s eyes fell to my lips and I could see a tremble in his throat.

“Don’t lick your lips if you want me to keep my hands off of you.”

“Who says I want you to keep your hands off of me?”

“I want to hear what you came to say.” Luke’s voice was low and I think I saw a flush rising up from his neck. Luke was nervous. I grabbed his hands and I held them close to my heart.

“Luke. When I was in school I took a philosophy class. And in that class we all discussed a story.”

“Okay.” He looked confused. Maybe because he knew I didn’t really like philosophy.

“Basically, this story talked about this village. It was the happiest village in the world. Everyone who lived there was happy and rich and everything in their life was perfect. The only problem was, for everyone to be happy, there was one young boy tied up in a cellar at the edge of the town. He was trapped in a little basement and tied with chains. He only had water to drink and dry bread to eat and his life was miserable. And he had to stay locked up. Because, if he was let loose, the village would become normal. Meaning that there would be misery, anger and poverty. So, for the sake of the village, that one kid had to suffer.”

“That’s horrible.” Luke frowned.

“It is horrible,” I agreed. “Anyways, in class we all discussed what we thought should happen, should they let him loose, should he stay tied up?”

“He should be let loose.”

“I agree.” I smiled at him, briefly. “No one should be sacrificed so that someone else can be happy.”

“Good.” He looked at me curiously. “Why did you tell me this story?” He cocked his head and laughed. “You’re not about to tell me that you would be that boy for me, are you?”

I gazed into his eyes and a single tear rolled down my cheek. “No. But you would be that boy for me. You’ve already been that boy for me.”

“I’m not…” He shook his head and I reached over and kept it still. I leaned towards him and stared into his eyes.

“Luke, you have put my feelings before you in everything that you have ever done. And I always took you for granted. I nearly lost you. I hope I haven’t lost you.” I stared into his eyes, searching for an answer and he shook his head silently.

“You know, in fairytales, there is one great love for the princess. Her Prince Charming is always the one and they ride off into the sunset and her old life is left behind. But what they don’t tell you is that the Prince isn’t always the one. Sometimes it’s the faithful farm boy who’s always been by her side, through thick and thin. Sometimes a princess doesn’t need a prince.”

“Are you saying I’m not a Prince?” He smiled, slowly.

“I’m saying you’re better than a Prince. I’m saying you’re my best friend, my everything. You’ve been the sunshine sitting in my pocket while I’ve been waiting for the rain to stop.”

“I like being the sunshine in your pocket.”

“I like you liking that.”

“I like you liking me like that.”

“I like that you’re a goof.” I laughed and he leaned over and kissed my nose.

“I like that I can lean over and kiss your nose now.”

“You always kiss my nose.”

“But I didn’t do this afterwards.” Luke reached over to kiss me and rolled me over so that he was lying on top of me. His arms were splayed to the side of me so that he wasn’t resting all of his weight on me. He leaned down and kissed me again and, this time, he rested his chest against me. I put my arms around him and he played with my hair as he kissed me. His lips left my mine and trailed down my neck. I felt his tongue against my skin and I squirmed against him.

“Luke,” I giggled, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, but extremely happy.

“Yes, my love.”

I don’t know…” My words cut off as I felt his tongue run over my breast. Even though I still had on my top and bra, I felt the tip of his tongue against me. “Oh Luke.”

“Can I take off your top, Lexi?” He looked into my eyes again and I nodded. He pulled my top off and I lifted my arms up so he could get it all the way off. “You’re beautiful, Lexi.”

“Ssh,” I laughed, shaking my head.

“Your br**sts fit the palms of my hands perfectly.” He grinned as he cupped my br**sts through the bra. His finger slipped up into my bra and I squealed as he pinched me.

“What are you doing?” I breathed in shock, barely believing he had just touched me there.

“Do you trust me, Lexi?”

“With my life,” I nodded.

“Do you love me?” He whispered, hopefully. He was on top of me, looking into my eyes, keenly, with a scared concern on his face.

“I love you with all my heart and soul, Luke Bryan.”

“Oh Lexi.” He burst into a huge grin and showered kisses all over my chest. “You don’t know how I’ve longed to hear you say those words.”

“Oh you have, have you?”

“Yes.” He leaned down and stroked the hair away from my face. “I want you to know something.”