Ana Read online

  Also, Luke always asks me questions about my day each time he sees me. I doubt he finds it fascinating. In turn, he drops tidbits about his work without my asking. We seem to talk about everything except what exactly we’re doing and his family.

  My phone rings on my desk. It’s Luke. My heart decides to skip a few beats. I quickly glance around to make sure none of my coworkers are within hearing distance.

  I clear my throat before I pick up the call.

  “Hey,” I say, adopting a casual and relaxed tone.

  “Ana.” His voice is so damned sexy. “How are you?” he asks smoothly.

  “Good. Good.” Why the hell am I repeating myself? “You?”

  “It’s been a busy day. Do you have plans this evening?”

  This is the part where I say yes, where I tell him that I have a date. The fact that I don't have any plans is immaterial. It's Friday afternoon. He doesn’t get to call me and ask me if I’m available on such short notice. No way am I letting him think that I’m sitting around waiting for him to ask me out. No way.

  “Ana?” Luke is waiting for my response.

  “No, I don’t have any plans.” That’s great, Ana. Is there anyone anywhere else in the world that caved faster, without any pressure? Goodbye self-preservation.

  “I’ll be at your place at seven. We’ll grab dinner and then stay at mine. Pack a bag. Okay?”

  We’re having dinner together? And he wants me to pack a bag? That’s a first. I’m tempted to ask him if we’re spending the entire weekend together. But I don’t.

  “Ana. Seven. Don’t be late.”

  “Yeah. Okay.” I manage to get the words out. I realize he didn’t wait for me to confirm I’m okay with his plans before reminding me of the time and telling me not to be late. But you know what? I’m too happy to care. I’m pretty certain I’m spending an entire weekend with him.

  “I’ll see you later.”

  “Okay.” He hangs up. It seems like “okay” is now my new favorite word. That’s the Luke Charlton effect.

  ***

  “Would you like to watch the Spurs match?”

  It’s Saturday morning and I’ve just woken up in Luke’s bed. Last night felt like a date. He took me to a really lovely – and romantic – restaurant for dinner and when we got to his house, he let me pick a movie for us to watch. I chose a romantic comedy, and he graciously watched it with me. We went to bed immediately after the movie ended, and he proceeded to wring orgasm after orgasm out of me.

  “Sure.” Thanks to my lusting after him and wanting to know everything about him, I’m now practically a Spurs fan.

  “At the stadium,” he adds.

  Surprised, I stare at him. Is this another date? Luke’s expression doesn’t give anything away. He’s standing beside the bed patiently waiting for my response. I’ve never been to a stadium to watch a live match. It should be an experience.

  “Sounds good.”

  “We’ll leave in an hour. It’s an early game,” he says. I should ask him who they’re playing but who cares? I get to spend the entire afternoon with him. And whoever the opponents are won’t make a single difference to me. “I got you a jersey to wear. It’s in the closet.” My mouth almost drops open. “Can I get you something to eat?”

  I realize I’m now staring at him, so I shake my head to let him know I’m not hungry. Food is so far from what I need right now. I need answers.

  “Okay. I’ll be downstairs.” He starts to leave the bedroom.

  “Luke?” I want to ask him what exactly is happening here. I want to know what we’re doing. We seem to have gone from agreeing to spend one night together to having regular sex – without any commitment – to this. And I don’t know what this is.

  He turns to me. His eyes are a vibrant green – bright and clear – and focused on me. “Yeah?”

  He’s so gorgeous standing by the door shirtless and looking at me, making me not think straight. I feel all twisted up inside. I can’t ask the question. The words are stuck in my throat. They don’t want to come out.

  “I’ll be ready in an hour,” I say.

  Less than an hour later, I’m in the living room, wearing my new white Spurs jersey and ready to go. My name is printed on the back along with “11”, Harry Kane’s squad number. He’s Luke’s favorite player. Luke is also wearing his jersey which has Kane’s name and number on it. Is it crazy to be happy that we have the same number on our jerseys?

  He pulls out his phone from his pocket. “I’ll call Cole and find out where –” The doorbell rings, interrupting him. “That should be him,” he says, walking to the door.

  Cole’s coming with us?

  “Ready?” Cole asks as soon as Luke opens the door. Rae is standing beside him, grinning like she’s just won the lottery.

  “Yeah. I was about to call you.”

  “Hey, Ana,” Cole says, walking into the house and smiling at me. He leans down to kiss my cheek. He doesn’t look surprised to see me in Luke’s house.

  “Hey,” I say, smiling up at him.

  “Hi, Luke. Ana, sweetheart, I didn’t know you were here. The four of us could have had breakfast together,” Rae says, trying to look innocent and failing. Of course she knew I was spending the weekend at Luke’s. I called her as soon as Luke dropped the phone yesterday.

  I don’t look at Luke to see what he thinks about us having breakfast with Rae and Cole like we’re a couple. “I . . .” What the fuck am I supposed to say to that? I have no idea what's happening between Luke and me.

  “Maybe next time,” Luke says. “We should go before the traffic starts.”

  Rae widens her eyes at me and hooks my arm with hers. I know she’s eager to find out what happened between us last night and this morning especially now that he’s clearly stated that we’d all be having breakfast together someday. I don’t want to read any meaning into his words. I don’t want to get my hopes up.

  We all get into Luke’s car. Rae and I sit in the back. She looks adorable in a baby blue T-shirt with ‘Tottenham Hotspurs’ printed on the front and a pair of dark blue jeans. Since she moved in with Cole, she’s become a huge Spurs fan. She and Cole are inseparable. I’m so happy for them. It’s obvious to everyone how devoted they are to each other. I wonder how it’d feel to have Luke look at me the way Cole looks at Rae, to have him fall in love with me. No. I can’t go there. I can’t let myself think about him or us that way. I’d be setting myself up for massive disappointment. Everyone knows that he doesn’t date seriously. He’s made it clear that he isn’t interested in being in a committed relationship. I can’t afford to hope.

  My phone buzzes in my hand. I look down at the screen and I see I have a message from Rae. I glance at her and her brown eyes, alight with curiosity, are on me waiting for me to read the message.

  Her: I’m dying here. What’s going on with you and Luke? Are you guys finally together?

  Me: No, we’re not. We didn’t talk about what we’re doing. We had dinner last night and this morning, he asked me if I’d like to watch the game.

  While she’s reading it, I put my phone on mute. To anyone looking at us, we’re both engrossed in our phones.

  Her: He got you the jersey, right?

  Me: Yeah. He gave it to me this morning.

  Her: I knew it! I bet he wanted to put his name on it. You guys look so good together.

  Rae included some love-struck and heart emojis in her message.

  Me: I’m not reading anything into it.

  Her: You know he didn’t get you the jersey this morning, right? Asking you to the game wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. He thought about it and then got you the jersey to wear. He wants to spend time with you.

  I read Rae’s message again and again, and I know I’m in trouble because that light fluttering in my heart is what I’ve been desperately trying to ignore. Hope. It’s dangerous but I can’t help feeling it. He wants to spend more time with me. It can’t be just sex. Right? I look up at him and my gaze
collides with his vivid green eyes in the rear-view mirror. God, I want this man so much. Please let me be right. Luke pulls his gaze away and focuses on the road. We aren’t moving but I can’t see any traffic. A traffic light ahead must have stopped us.

  “Baby, why are you so quiet?” Cole asks his fiancée, turning to look at her. He sees her grinning widely. “What's up?” She tucks her phone away and tries to wipe the grin from her face. She does a poor job of it. Cole glances at me, and then turns back to her. “What are you both up to?”

  “Nothing, sweetheart,” she says.

  “Rae, you promised and I’m not letting you break it.”

  She raises an eyebrow at him. “What promise? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “I knew it. We’re having this conversation later,” he says seriously.

  “What conversation?” she asks with the fakest innocent expression I’ve ever seen. I don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.

  Cole mutters something under his breath, and then says out loud, “This isn't over.”

  Rae doesn’t get the chance to respond because Luke stops the car in front of a café, and asks, “Ana, are you hungry?”

  “I’m glad you care about Ana, Luke. Cole and I could do with some hot chocolate,” Rae says before I can answer him.

  Cole groans. “She’s joking,” he tells Luke.

  “Baby, I’m not. I also feel like having a muffin, preferably dark chocolate with hazelnuts.”

  Cole is going to get her the hot chocolate and muffin, no doubt about it. He lives to make her happy. She feels the same way about him too.

  “Ana didn’t have breakfast,” Luke says. I don’t know if he’s explaining that it’s the only reason he asked. Why does that bother me?

  Rae turns to me. “Why? Were you too tired to eat?” she asks, all fake innocence.

  Luke raises an eyebrow at her and his lips twitch. He’s obviously holding back a smile. Cole just shakes his head. As for me, my cheeks feel very warm.

  “I think we should go inside. We still have some time before we have to be in the stadium,” Luke says.

  Cole opens his fiancée’s door, and pulls her to him once she’s out of the car. As for me, Luke takes my hand in his. To the world, we look like any other normal couple.

  EIGHT

  Luke

  I’ve pored over the contracts from our general counsel and I’m satisfied with the terms and the wording. Months of negotiations have paid off. Enton is going to be the majority shareholder in RoftCom Limited. All the signatories from the family-owned technology company we’re acquiring have signed the contract. I’ve signed too and all I need is Cole’s signature and we’re in business.

  I may as well go to his office and get it signed so I can ask Lindsay, my assistant, to send it back to the lawyers this afternoon. I want this deal tied up immediately.

  As I get closer to Cole’s office, I hear a feminine voice. Rae.

  I can’t say exactly what happens to me when I see her standing inside with Rae and Cole. Everything seems to stop. The contract I’m holding in my hand is forgotten. There’s no one else in world but me and her. All I do is stand in the doorway and stare at Ana. She’s so fucking beautiful. And her dress . . . Her dress is a deep red – no, burgundy – with a zipper from the top to the bottom and belted at the waist. Her long, beautiful blonde hair is loose around her face and shoulders.

  “Hey, Luke. We brought you guys a late lunch. Cole said you’ve been so busy and skipped lunch,” Rae says, smiling at me and pulling some of my attention away from Ana.

  She’s right, I’m hungry. Very hungry. But not for food.

  I clear my throat quietly. “Thanks.”

  I see Cole watching me with undisguised amusement.

  “Ana,” I say in greeting.

  “Hi, Luke. Rae and I were just leaving. We don’t want to take up your time.”

  She’s leaving? Which means she had no plans to stop by my office.

  “May I have a word?” I ask her. I can’t take my eyes off her.

  She glances at Rae. “Sure.” She covers the short distance between us, and my hand immediately goes to the small of her back. I need to touch her.

  “Excuse us,” I say to Cole and Rae, not glancing at them. We pass Lindsay on the way to my office and I give her the documents I should have given to Cole and tell her that I don’t want to be disturbed.

  As soon as we enter into my office, I lock the door. Without thinking about it, I start removing my cufflinks, and rolling up my sleeves.

  “How are you?”

  “Good. You?”

  Happy, now that we’re in my office alone. “Would you like to sit?” I ask, standing next to my desk.

  “Is that what you want?”

  “No.” I still can’t take my eyes off her.

  I hear the thud of her bag as it hits the floor. She walks seductively towards me, and I feel my heart rate increase with anticipation and excitement. I want to help her out of her dress.

  “That’s not what I want too,” she murmurs as she stops right in front of me.

  I open the top drawer and pull out the document that’s been sitting there for a few hours and place it on my desk in front of her.

  “This is for you.”

  “What is it?” she asks, looking at the sheet of paper in front of her

  I let her eyes scan it for a moment.

  “I’m clean,” I say.

  She lifts her eyes to mine.

  “I’m clean too. I don’t have my test results but I could get it tomorrow.”

  “You don’t have to. I trust you.” I trust her completely. She looks very pleased at my words. “Are you on the pill?”

  “Yes,” she says, looking at me with lust in her eyes.

  I close the distance between us and touch her soft and silky blonde hair, lightly running my fingers through her hair.

  “My office is soundproof,” I say, needing her to know that she can scream as loud as she wants in the next few minutes.

  “That’s good to know, Luke,” she says, smiling, her fingers are on my shirt button. I draw her closer to me and kiss her the way I’ve wanted to since I saw her in Cole’s office.

  My hands eagerly run all over her body and in her hair. Fuck. I need to taste her. I can’t wait. I take a step back and unclasp her belt. She watches me with her gorgeous brown eyes filled with desire as I pull down her zipper. I push the dress off her shoulders and it falls to the floor. My eyes leave her face and greedily scan her body. My dick strains harder against my trousers at the sight of her in a black and pink lace underwear. Keeping a firm grip on my control, I unhook her bra and release her full breasts. I almost groan out loud. My mouth latches on to one pink, hard nipple and my hand squeezes her other breast. Ana’s hands clutch my shoulders and her breathing sounds a little labored. I squeeze, suck and knead her breasts before trailing kisses down her body and then help her out of her panties, leaving her sexy heels on.

  “Sit on the desk,” I order, as I straighten. I hear the hunger in my voice, and I have no doubt that she hears it too. She takes a step back and does as I say, and then opens her legs wide. My eyes are immediately drawn to the juncture between her thighs. I’ve never wanted a woman more than I want Ana right now. I drop to my knees, my eyes fixed firmly on her sex. My fingers rub her clit and her soft moans spur me on. I press my lips to her center, and breathe her in. Fuck. She smells so good. Unwilling to wait a second longer, I lick and suck her. Her hand grips my hair as she grinds against my mouth. Her moans grow louder and her movements more desperate as she nears orgasm.

  “Luke,” she moans sensually as she shatters in my mouth. I fucking love hearing her say my name. I get up slowly, powerless to do anything but gaze at her as I quickly unzip my trousers and release my swollen dick. I’m desperate to bury myself deep inside her. Anticipation slams into me. I don’t want anything between us. She’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted to have sex with bare.

&nbs
p; “Turn around, babe.” Her eyes lift up to mine and then she turns around and bends over.

  “I need you,” she whimpers.

  As I plunge into her, one word resonates in my head and in my heart.

  Mine.

  She feels like heaven. I groan out loud. She’s so tight and sweet. Nothing in my life compares to being with Ana, and I have a feeling nothing ever will.

  I pound hard into her relentlessly. The paperweight on the desk lands on the floor. The desk phone joins it with a loud clatter. Ana is trying hard not to scream, but I can clearly hear the muffled sounds that she can’t hold back. The only thing that’ll make me stop is if the desk breaks.

  “Let go, sweetheart.” She does, and the sounds she makes are the sexiest sounds I’ve ever heard.

  I want to own her, every single inch of her. I can’t get enough of her.

  “You feel . . .” I start to say, thrusting into her hard and deep. Ana is moaning my name loudly. I love knowing I’m the one who’s making her lose control. I grip her hips tighter and pump faster and harder into her. She’s so fucking exquisite. “Ana,” I groan. I don’t recognize the sounds that I know are coming from me. She cries out my name as she orgasms, and it sends me over the edge. I come hard inside her, making sure I give her every single drop of me. I’m breathing raggedly and feeling so fucking fantastic. I’m reluctant to move.

  “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

  “Yes,” she answers breathlessly.

  As I lean over her satisfied and content, caging her in with my arms, I feel a flood of emotion flow through me, but that’s now par for the course since I got involved with her. It’s overpowering. I never thought I’d feel this way about a woman.