Emily’s eyes fluttered open, the morning light filtering through the curtains and casting a soft glow across the room. Her head throbbed, a dull reminder of last night’s tequila-fueled escapades. She found herself wrapped in one of Lucas’ oversized t-shirts, the fabric soft against her skin and smelling faintly of his cologne.
“Shit,” she muttered, trying to piece together the foggy memories of the previous night. Her gaze fell on Lucas, still fast asleep beside her, one muscular arm draped protectively over her waist.
Emily’s heart skipped a beat as she studied his face, relaxed in sleep. The lines of worry that often creased his forehead were smoothed away, making him look younger, almost vulnerable.
“How the fuck did I get so lucky?” she thought, a mix of awe and anxiety swirling in her gut. The reality of their situation – Lucas being Ryan’s father – hit her again, but somehow, in the soft morning light, it didn’t seem as insurmountable as it had the night before.
She shifted slightly, trying to ease the stiffness in her limbs without waking Lucas. But her movement caused him to stir, his arm tightening around her waist.
“Mornin’, baby girl,” he mumbled, voice rough with sleep. His blue eyes blinked open, focusing on her face with a tender intensity that made her breath catch.
“Hey,” Emily replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I, uh… I’m guessing you played dress-up with me last night?”
Lucas chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. “Had to get you out of those clothes. You were dead to the world.”
Emily groaned, burying her face in the pillow. “God, I’m sorry. I must’ve been a fucking nightmare.”
“Hey,” Lucas said softly, cupping her cheek and turning her face towards him. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. We’ve got a lot to talk about, but right now, I’m just glad you’re here.”
Emily’s heart raced at his touch, her body instinctively leaning into his warmth. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them, to lose herself in his kiss and forget about the mess they’d stumbled into. But as she parted her lips, the sour taste of last night’s tequila and greasy food hit her like a sledgehammer.
“Fuck,” she grumbled, pulling back slightly. “I want to kiss you so badly right now, but I can’t. My mouth tastes like death and farts had a baby.”
Lucas burst out laughing, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “That’s quite the image, baby girl.”
“It’s the truth,” Emily insisted, her own laughter bubbling up despite her embarrassment. “I’m pretty sure something crawled in there and died while I was passed out.”
“Well,” Lucas drawled, his fingers tracing lazy circles on her hip, “I’ve got some mouthwash in the bathroom if you’re that desperate for a kiss.”
Emily groaned, burying her face in his chest. “Don’t tempt me, old man. I might just take you up on that offer.”
She felt more than heard his chuckle, the vibrations rumbling through her. “Who’re you calling old, huh?”
Emily lifted her head, meeting his gaze with a mischievous glint in her eye. “If the orthopedic shoe fits…”
Even in her hungover state, Lucas was like an undeniable addiction. Emily’s resolve crumbled. With a dramatic sigh, she rolled out of bed, her feet hitting the cool hardwood floor. “Alright, fuck it. I’m going to de-zombify my mouth.”
She padded to the bathroom, wincing as she caught sight of her reflection. Her makeup was smeared, hair a wild nest, and Lucas’ oversized t-shirt hung off one shoulder. “Christ, I look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backward,” she muttered.
After a thorough rinse with mouthwash that made her eyes water, Emily felt marginally more human. She ran her fingers through her tangled hair, attempting to tame it into something less feral.
When she slipped back into the bedroom, Lucas was propped up on one elbow, watching her with a mix of amusement and desire that made her stomach flutter.
“Better?” he asked, his voice rough with sleep.
Emily crawled onto the bed, closing the distance between them. “Much,” she murmured, before pressing her lips to his.
The kiss was slow, tender, a stark contrast to the chaos of the night before. When they finally broke apart, Emily rested her forehead against his, her eyes closed.
“We should probably talk about… you know,” she said quietly, her stomach churning with anxiety.
Lucas’ hand came up to cup her cheek. “We will, baby girl. But right now, I just want to hold you. Is that okay?”
Emily nodded, relief washing over her. She nestled against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. “Yeah,” she whispered. “That’s more than okay.”
Lucas’ arms enveloped her, strong and secure. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment. Emily sighed contentedly, her ear pressed against his chest.
The steady thump of Lucas’ heartbeat filled her senses, drowning out the whirlwind of thoughts that had plagued her since yesterday. Each beat seemed to whisper, “I’m here, I’m real, I’m not going anywhere.”
Emily’s fingers traced lazy patterns on Lucas’ skin as she listened. “Your heart,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s… grounding.”
Lucas’ chest rumbled with a soft chuckle. “Is that so, baby girl?”
She nodded against him. “Mhmm. It’s like… a reminder that this isn’t some fucked up dream. That you’re actually here.”
His arms tightened around her. “I’m not going anywhere, Em. No matter how complicated things get.”
Emily tilted her head up to meet his gaze, her green eyes searching his blue ones. “Promise?”
“Promise,” he replied without hesitation. “We’ll figure this shit out together.”
A small smile tugged at Emily’s lips. “Good. ‘Cause I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you, you know.”
Lucas’ eyes softened, a matching smile spreading across his face. “That works out well, then. Because I’m already head over heels for you, baby girl.”
Emily’s heart swelled at his words. Without hesitation, she reached up, her fingers tangling in Lucas’ hair as she pulled him down for a kiss. Their lips met with a desperate intensity, all that pent-up emotion pouring out in a single moment.
Lucas groaned, deep and primal, as he deepened the kiss. His tongue sought hers, teasing and exploring with a hunger that set Emily’s nerve endings on fire. She matched his fervor, giving as good as she got.
“Fuck,” Emily gasped when they finally broke apart for air. Her chest heaved, and she could feel the heat of a blush spreading across her cheeks. “That was…”
“Yeah,” Lucas agreed, his voice husky. He traced her jawline with his thumb, his eyes dark with desire. “You’re incredible, you know that?”
Emily smirked, a hint of her usual sass returning. “You’ve told me once or twice.”
Lucas chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into Emily’s body. Without warning, he rolled them over, his muscular frame pressing her into the mattress. The sudden movement knocked the breath from her lungs, but in the best possible way.
His weight on top of her felt right, like he belonged there. Emily’s body responded instinctively, her legs parting to cradle his hips. The thin fabric of his t-shirt did little to hide the heat building between them.
Lucas paused, his piercing blue eyes searching her face. “Emily,” he said, his voice low and controlled. “If you want me to stop, now’s the time to say it.”
For a split second, Emily’s mind raced. This was crazy, wasn’t it? Everything that had happened, all the complications… But then she looked into Lucas’ eyes, saw the mix of desire and genuine care there, and knew her answer.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” she growled, reaching up to tangle her fingers in his hair. She tugged his mouth back down to hers, capturing his lips in a searing kiss.
Lucas groaned against her mouth, his control finally snapping. His hands roamed her body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. Emily arched into his touch, craving more.
“Fuck, baby girl,” Lucas panted when they broke for air. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
Emily grinned, a wicked glint in her eye. “What a way to go, though.”
Emily broke the kiss, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. With a swift motion, she tugged the t-shirt over her head, tossing it aside. She lay beneath Lucas, completely bare, her skin flushed and tingling with anticipation.
Lucas’ eyes darkened as they raked over her exposed form. “Baby girl,” he breathed, his voice husky with need. “You’re fucking gorgeous.”
His calloused hands began to explore, sliding over the curves of her breasts, down her ribs, across her stomach. Emily shivered under his touch, her body responding instantly.
“Daddy,” she gasped, arching into him. “Please…”
He dipped his head, trailing kisses along her collarbone. “What do you need, baby girl?” he murmured against her skin.
Emily’s mind was spinning, overwhelmed by sensation and emotion. Part of her wanted to slow down, to savour every moment. But a larger part just wanted to feel, to lose herself in Lucas completely.
“You,” she managed. “All of you. Now.”
Lucas groaned, his control visibly fraying. “Fuck, Emily. You don’t know what you do to me.”