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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

DAYNA

W e spent all afternoon at the baseball field, playing catch and taking turns batting.

Sadie nearly took Luke out a couple times with how hard she swung, but his quick reflexes saved him from getting a black eye.

Luke, of course, hit a homer over left field— because of course he did.

By the time we packed up, Sadie looked like she’d wrestled the Green Monster itself, her baseball pants stained with green and brown.

As promised, we took her for ice cream at Swirl and Toppings , and now, we’re back at Luke’s house, she’s showered and in her room watching Cinderella . I’m leaning against the counter, watching Luke move around the kitchen as he preps dinner— meatloaf, my favorite.

A chill runs through me, and I rub my hands along my arms. Without thinking, I head to the hall closet and grab one of Luke’s flannel shirts.

I pull my arms through the sleeves, and the scent of citrus and pine instantly surrounds me.

Warmth blooms inside me, wrapping me up like a blanket.

I close my eyes for a brief moment, breathing it in.

“Baby? Are you okay?”

I open my eyes to find Luke watching me, standing a few feet away with a kitchen towel slung over his shoulder .

“Yeah,” I exhale, giving him a small smile.

“I just love the way you smell. It smells like home.” His eyes darken with something familiar— something hungry.

Luke steps forward, one hand finding my hip, the other curling around the back of my neck as he pulls me against his chest. His breath is hot against my ear as he murmurs, “We have about an hour before dinner’s ready, and Sadie is distracted with a movie.

” His voice dips lower, sending a delicious shiver down my spine.

“If you’re quiet enough, I’ll get you to come on my cock. ”

Heat pools low in my belly. Before I can answer, we’re moving hand in hand— fast. We hurry up the stairs as quietly as possible, Luke taking a quick peek into Sadie’s room. She’s sprawled out on the bed, fully captivated by Cinderella .

The moment Luke closes his bedroom door behind him, I’m already slipping off the flannel shirt, shoving down my leggings.

His gaze travels the length of my body, slow and deliberate, making my skin prickle with anticipation.

I should feel exposed, but instead, I embrace his stare.

Luke’s fingers hook behind his neck, and in one swift move, he pulls his shirt over his head, tossing it to the ground.

Two large strides.

Then his lips crash into mine. The kiss is frantic-hungry.

His hands tangle in my hair, and mine grip his hips, feeling the muscles tense beneath my fingertips.

I barely register my back hitting the wall, too focused on the hard length pressing against my stomach.

I reach for his belt, but his hand covers mine, stopping me.

His eyes—those deep ocean blue eyes, darkened with heat and something possessive— locked onto mine.

“Turn around and spread your legs for me.”

My breath stutters, but I do as he says.

My pulse pounds against my skin, anticipation thick in the air.

Before I can brace myself on the wall, he yanks my panties down and slides two fingers inside me.

I gasp. He hooks them just right, pressing against that sweet, dangerous spot that makes my legs tremble.

Just as my back starts to arch, his fingers disappear. I let out a soft, frustrated whimper, but the sound of his zipper lowering sends another wave of heat through me .

The head of his cock bobbles against the top of my ass.

Luke’s breath is ragged against my ear as he rasps, “Are you ready, Dayna?” He moves the crown of his cock and begins to coat himself with me as he rubs my clit.

Instead of answering him, I press my ass against him, rolling my hips slightly.

He lets out a sharp hiss through his teeth. “Dayna.”

“Yes, Luke. I’m ready.”

One deep thrust.

A moan rips from my throat as he fills me completely, stretching me open. We stay still for a second. Giving me a second to adjust to his size. I feel every inch of him, every ridge, every pulse of his cock buried inside me.

“Fuck.” His voice is strained. “You’re so tight.

You feel like fucking heaven.” Luke starts moving, slow at first, deliberate, agonizing.

His lips trail from my shoulder down my back, sending shivers across my skin.

Then, he picks up the pace. A relentless rhythm.

Deep. Hard. Devastating. His grunts and moans vibrate against my neck, his body flush against me.

If it weren’t for his arm wrapped around my waist, his other hand bracing against the wall above my head, I’d be a puddle on the floor.

I let out a loud moan when he leaned back.

Taking his cock out. “I need you to be my good girl and keep your moans down.” My breath stutters as he enters my pussy again.

He begins to move inside me. “Do you know how fucking pretty you look taking my cock from behind?” His voice is a growl, sending a sharp jolt of pleasure through me.

Oh God.

I’m close. So fucking close.

My moan is muffled against my arm, as I’m biting my lip but Luke hears it, anyway. “Come for me, Dayna.” His voice is raw, strained, demanding. “Come all over my cock.”

And I do.

Pleasure crashes over me, lightning and fire and pure euphoria. Luke groans, gripping my hips tighter, his thrust turning wild, desperate. I feel it before I hear it. The sharp jerk of his cock inside me, the way his body tenses.

“Fuck, Dayna.” His grip bruises as he spills inside me, his chest collapsing against my back, his breath hot against my skin.

For a moment, neither of us moves, both of us spent, bodies still trembling.

Luke kisses the side of my neck, then he slowly pulls out, reaching down to push his release back inside me.

He grabs his discarded shirt, gently wiping between my thighs. I could cry. My heart is so full, so overwhelmed with love and warmth and him. I press a soft kiss to his lips and head to the bathroom. By the time I return, Luke is standing in his jeans, shirtless, his belt undone.

Fuck. I could go again.

His eyes find mine, but then his brows furrow. He squats in front of me, thumb grazing my lip. “What happened, Dayna? Your lip is bleeding.” I wince slightly. Shit.

“I bit down too hard trying not to moan.”

Luke blinks. Then, his lips twitch into a slow, knowing smirk. “Oh, Baby. I thought I hurt you.” He kisses my swollen lip gently. “Let’s get some ice on that before it bruises.”

Fully dressed again, we head downstairs, passing Sadie, who’s still glued to the tv.

Luke hands me an ice pack shaped like a penguin, his voice steady and confident— “If there’s no baby in your belly, I have no doubt, there’s one in there now.

” He places his splayed hand over my lower stomach.

Kissing my cheek before he turns to walk into the kitchen.

My stomach flips. My heart stutters. For the first time, I let myself hope.

Standing hip to hip with Luke at the kitchen counter, I rest my elbows on the cool surface and lean forward slightly.

“I’d like to take Sadie shopping for Christmas presents after school this week.” I say, glancing up at him. “Let her pick out gifts for our families. ”

Luke reaches for a wooden spoon, folding in the mashed potatoes on the stove.

“Sadie loves shopping for gifts, just be sure she doesn’t go overboard.

Last year, I couldn’t get her out of Target fast enough.

” He shakes his head, lips twitching. “I spent so much money, but she was happy with her choices, so I let it slide.”

The mental image of Luke pushing around a shopping cart, Sadie perched on the toddler seat like a little commander, directing their every purchase, makes my heart swell.

I grin. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t go over the limit.

If she does…” I trail off, tilting my head playfully.

“Cara said Sadie already knows your credit card numbers.”

Luke freezes for a split second before turning his head to me, eyes narrowing. “She what?” I let out a soft giggle, but it’s cut off when I feel a sharp, playful slap against my ass.

I gasp, spinning toward him, but Luke is already smirking, throwing the kitchen towel over his shoulder like he didn’t just do that.

He pulls the glass dish from the oven, setting it carefully on the cooling rack.

The scent of baked meatloaf and warm spices fills the kitchen, but it’s the heat of his gaze that lingers on my skin.

As he’s remembering where we were just ten minutes prior.

We eat dinner out on the back patio deck, the soft hum of the overhead space heaters keeping the cool air at bay. My lip isn’t as swollen as I thought it would be, but it’s still a little tender when I chew. Luckily, Sadie hasn’t noticed anything different, and that’s a relief.

Luke is sitting back, relaxed, sipping on a beer while we talk about our Christmas plans. Sadie is leaving in a week to visit her grandparents for the first half of her break.

A week without her.

The thought makes my heart ache. She hasn’t even left yet, and already, I miss her.

I hope she’ll want to FaceTime me while she’s there.

I glance at Luke. I wonder how he’s feeling about it.

I know it’ll be good for her— spending time with her mom’s family, making memories, feeling connected to Juliette in her own way.

She’s going to have so much fun, she probably won’t even have time to miss me.

I swallow around the lump forming in my throat and turn to Sadie. “I was wondering,” I begin softly, “if you’d like to go Christmas shopping with me next week?” Her spoon clatters against her plate as eyes go wide with excitement.