Love me till the end

Chapter 7

Satisfied? He has to be kidding.

Luke's kiss had set her blood on fire, leaving her hot and hungry for so much more. Charlie hadn't known how badly she'd wanted physical contact until now. It had been too long since she'd felt the firm pressure of a man's mouth on hers, felt the rush of desire surge through her blood. How could she be satisfied when his demanding lips had wreaked havoc with her heart and her blood pressure, only to leave her empty and wanting?

She was so weak she could barely remain on her feet. He could lay her down in the cold snow and make love to her and she wouldn't protest. His rock-hard shaft throbbed against her, revealing he was more than ready to fuck her, as he'd so eloquently stated.

"Don't push any more buttons, Charlie," Luke warned her hoarsely, still leaning into her. "Next time you might get more of a human reaction out of me than you can handle."

Is his threat hollow? Charlie couldn't tell and she wasn't about to test him. Something her brother Scott had said to her once about waking the sleeping bear flashed through her memory. And one thing was certain, after experiencing Luke's kiss she was certain she'd barely survive anything else he had to offer.

His threat revealed a lot, though. The knowledge that she turned Luke on was a boost to her ego. The knowledge he wanted her frightened her a little. There was no way she could ignore his pounding hard-on. Recognizing that she reciprocated those feelings terrified Charlie. She couldn't recall ever wanting a man with such fierce need. Had she provoked him on purpose?

"I understand." It was the only thing she could think to say. She was still shaken over her response to his powerful kiss and rough caress. And a little embarrassed she'd goaded him into a reaction she hadn't been able to handle.
Her intentions hadn't been to get him to kiss her, at least not consciously. For a brief second when he'd teased her about her snowman she'd seen a different side of Luke, one that she liked. His relaxed expression and the humor glistening in his eyes had taken years off him. She couldn't help wondering what had shaped his life, turning him into the cold, unfeeling man he seemed determined to be. No, that wasn't an accurate description.

He was hollow inside, and that saddened her to the core.

"Do you understand? You have no idea how close..."

His voice was hoarse. She watched the play of emotions on his face go from fear to anger and then deep suffering. She recognized the signs because she'd been there too. The difference was Charlie had survived because her family and friends had surrounded her with love. People who wouldn't let her dig a hole to crawl into when she couldn't face the pain anymore, people who wouldn't let her give up. Something told her that whatever happened to Luke, no one had been there for him.

She recalled the words he'd uttered that first day, of not needing anyone. He was wrong. Everyone needed someone, but he'd have to figure that out for himself. Whatever had happened to him had sent him into isolation because he thought that was the only way to deal with it. Instead, it was slowly destroying him, making him afraid of human contact, making him fear living. He was obviously punishing himself for something.

"Don't tempt me again," he said.

Tempt him? Tempt him into what? Is he feeling the attraction, too? When he released her shoulders and moved away Charlie expelled a breath of relief. As he stooped to retrieve his fish, she quickly opened the door and slipped inside the cabin. He was right behind her and together they wordlessly peeled off their outerwear and boots. The situation between them suddenly seemed awkward and Charlie decided the best thing to do was pretend nothing had happened.

"Would you like some hot cocoa?" She was barely able to meet Luke's eyes. Removing a layer of outer clothing had done nothing to cool the inner fire that engulfed her. Was it the same way for him?