I cooed, “It’s okay, kitty. Hold on.”
“Cammie, get the fuck up here right now! You’re going to get yourself killed!” Luke’s voice was demanding and full of testosterone, but I kept on.
By the time I got the branch off the cat, Luke was down beside me, preparing to drag me back inside. I watched as the cat scrambled underneath the opening of Luke’s porch, and I let out a huge breath. The cat was safe now. The porch would shelter it, for sure.
After letting out another a long breath, I felt two strong and sturdy hands lift me up from underneath my armpits. Once my feet hit the ground again, they were only there for a moment before I was whisked up even higher.
“Luke! What the hell!” I yelled over the rain pounding his soaked back.
“You are the most infuriating person I’ve ever met,” he grumbled, carrying me over his shoulder, up the porch stairs, and into the entryway of his house.
The warmth of his house hit me instantly as he placed me back on the floor. I quivered from the cold rain seeping into my skin.
“Stay,” he stressed.
I crossed my arms over my chest and watched him disappear into the darkness of the hall way. I could hear his stomping feet and when he returned, he handed me a cotton towel.
I whipped it out of his hand and wrapped myself in it, smelling the fresh, laundered scent.
“Come on,” he whispered as he ushered me forward. I followed behind him closely through the darkness until we reached another room.
I could tell it was his bedroom by the soft glow of a candle flickering in the far corner. His bed wasn’t made, the dark covers rumpled and bunched, as if he had been in it just before he’d come outside.
My gaze filtered around the room until I found him again, pulling clothes out of his dresser. He looked at me, eyebrows still furrowed, and handed me a long t-shirt, a pair of boxers, and some socks.
“Get dressed. I’ll grab some blankets.”
Then he exited the room, holding his own dry clothes in his hand. So demanding, and yet so sexy.
I dressed quickly, pretending like my mind wasn’t drifting beyond the imaginary line that I’d drawn. Luke’s boxers were now resting on my most intimate parts. His dick had been in these at one point, and now they were touching me… Hmm.
Draping my wet clothes over the edge of his bedroom door, I walked out into the dark hallway, using the wall as my guide to the living room.
The flickering of the candles illuminated the room, and I found Luke standing beside the couch, placing blankets on the soft leather. I bypassed him quickly and lowered myself onto the sofa, wrapping two blankets around my cold, shivering frame.
“You’re an idiot,” he said when he looked down at me.
“Did you expect me to just let the cat die?” I said, staring at anything but his face.
“Somehow I think I value your life more than I do a cat’s, Cammie.”
I grinned. “Was that a compliment, Soldier?”
“I said I think, it’s not decided yet,” he quipped. The couch dipped low as he sat down beside me. Our bodies were only a foot apart, yet it felt like they were miles apart. I wanted to inch closer, but I was still thinking rationally. I couldn’t do that. It was probably a bad idea that I was even here, let alone wearing HIS clothes!
I was in so much trouble.
I was in even more trouble considering I had just jumped closer to him at the loud bang outside. It sounded as if another branch had fallen down.
He chuckled beside me, turning away to look out the window. You couldn’t see a damn thing. It was too dark. Even the few candles did nothing to light the room except display some dancing shadows along the far wall.
“So,” I croaked, suddenly feeling awkward sitting here next to him in a dead silence. The room was crackling with tension. Whether that be sexual tension or just the normal tension that seemed to follow us, I wasn’t sure, but there was definitely a crackling spark of energy in the air.
Luke sat forward, leaning his arms on his cotton pants. “Do you remember…” he looked over at me, “That time we pranked your ex and he was sleeping with a blow-up doll?” Luke laughed so hard that the entire couch moved beneath us.
“I hate you,” I said, holding back my own laugher.
Then he laughed harder and I followed suit. I crossed my bare legs under the warm blanket and rested my elbows on my knees, my head hanging down.