Courted by Karma (The Adventures of Anabel Axelrod) (43 page)

“What are you doing, Anabel? Get over here into bed
. Come hide under the blankets with me before someone else needs you.” Luke teased, throwing back the covers.

Untying my robe, I grabbed a pretty white nightgown. “Just a sec, I’ll be right there.”

“What are you doing?” He asked again, swinging his legs to the floor and walking over to me.

“You told me to wear white next time to please you.” I replied, looking up at him with a
flirting smile. “You know that’s my only goal in life.”

He took the nightgown out of my hands and tossed it back in the open drawer.
Putting his hands under the open black robe, he slid the heavy fabric off my shoulders to land at my feet.

“
And such a smart goal that is, but I prefer you wearing this white tonight.” He ran a hand lightly down, following my curves while his hooded eyes leisurely followed.

Luke ha
d on a T shirt and boxer briefs that mold and outlined to perfection. I was definitely pleased with his choice of white. I was only glad the Florida girls couldn’t see his penis right now because I don’t think hiding under the covers with me could save him. Crookie’s research resources were accurate. Stretched penis size didn’t correlate in proportion to height.

My bedroom
was very chilly which is how I like to sleep. Seeing my shiver and mistaking me for cold, Luke took my hand and pulled an unresisting me over to the bed.

He frowned down at me. “Why is your forehead red? Did somebody slap you
again?”

I
giggled and waved off his concern. “I walked into a door, it’s nothing.”

He was silent a moment until
I teased, “I’m beginning to believe your house is just a stage setting with no interior. You don’t have a bedroom of your own, do you?”

Choosing
the side that was closest to the door, he stretched out and smiled up at me while patting the mattress next to him. “Damaris and Paul commandeered my bedroom. It was either here or the couch again.”

Rolling my eyes, I didn’t bother to complain
he was in my spot, but climbed across the bed and snuggled in next to him. I couldn’t believe what came out of my mouth next.

“I’m surprised Svettie didn’t rush to offer her side of the bed to you.”

‘What is WRONG with me?’

“
She did, but DDL has a strict no fraternization policy,” Luke answered blandly.

The
bedsprings squeaked as he turned off the bedside lamp and pulled the covers up over us both.

Th
at was exactly why I’d always scoffed at other women when they asked those kinds of questions of men.

I
totally agree, who in their right mind wanted to hear those kinds of answers?

Now I
was going to have visions dancing in my head of that sleazy, model thin, cat-eyed Russian trying to lisp my fake boyfriend into sleeping with her. They’d probably discuss the pros and cons of these seduction attempts at her next employee review. I bet Svettie’s come-fuck-me bra tonight was smiley face yellow.

“Oh.”
In the total darkness, I felt free to scowl fiercely. I punched my pillows to adjust them around Luke’s bent arm under my head. I wriggled even more, getting my bottom precisely adjusted against Mr. Employee of the Year’s benefit package, but I was careful not to press back on his bandaged chest.

I could
clearly hear the grin in Luke’s voice. “Yeah, aren’t I lucky to have a dirty, local secret as a backup bed?” While I grimaced at his cheerful tone, he spooned me from behind. He kissed my cheek and ordered, “Now go to sleep. I’m still disappointed in you for hunting Russian enforcers on your own, without honoring our pact. You have training in the morning, so we’ll talk more about teamwork then.”

Clearly being in the wrong on this one
, I said in a small voice, “You’re right. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner about the local grapevine in action. Thanks again for your help with Jack. The fake arrest idea was brilliant.” Except for a slight squeeze, silence met my belated apology and sucking up. “I can’t come over to train tomorrow morning, it’s Thanksgiving! I have too much to do. Plus, I am sleeping late if it kills me.”

“
Huh. A dedicated operator never lets anything get in the way of their training. Let me know if you change your mind, I’ll be in the barn all morning.” Luke’s big hand squeezed my waist again. There it stayed, resting on my bare skin like a hot coal. “Blanca is okay?”

Not biting
over his nonchalant comment at my lack of dedication, I murmured, “Yes, the darling is safe and sound with Stella tonight.” I sighed and added, “Will you really take care of the pedophile enforcer, please? I’m okay with castration, but I prefer culling for the good of the herd.”

“
Yes, that is the only real deterrent.” Luke’s voice was matter-of-fact in the dark room.

“Mmm,
good, so we’re agreed,” I stated softly with a tiny yawn.

There
was a minute of silence. Vividly aware of the weight of that big, warm hand just inches above or inches below more productive places it could be resting, I asked on another little yawn, “Umm…aren’t you going to punish me, my Devil?”

“I am punishing you
, Princess,” was the low response in my ear.

Smiling drowsily, I murmured, “How is it fair that
you get to sleep with clothes on while I have to be naked and wanting you?”

“Life is not fair. Deal.”

Feeling the lure of Morpheus beckoning, I fought it and whispered, “I’m not too tired, you know, or too sore, if that’s what’s stopping you.”

“You’re exhausted
,” he contradicted, kissing my neck. “Besides, I’d need to perform an up close and personal exam to determine if your,” Luke paused, “cha-cha is too sore.”

My yawn
was a jaw cracker this time; even while I giggled at the way Luke’s deep voice appeared to relish pronouncing the femininely foreign word cha-cha.

D
rifting off, the last thing I remember mumbling was, “My cha-cha exams are usually done by female doctors, not male lawyers, but if you insist….”

Chapter XVIII

“
Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers

Thanksgiving 11/22/12

4
:20 AM

“It’s time for that talk
.”

I felt kisses on my face
, my neck, my breasts, my stomach.

I shook my head to escape the voice
. “Talk?”

I felt
more kisses and hands on my body, stroking and making me moan in my dreams.

“The talk you promised me.”

I felt hands turning me and arranging me, putting my legs here and my arms up there.

I mumbled a
nd moved closer to the hot sun.

I felt
the warmth hold me closer and then I felt friction and fullness.

“I want to
know everything you don’t like about me.”

I moaned
softly. “Why do men want to talk so much?”

“Every. Single. Thing.”

I begged my dream man, “Oh my god. Please don’t let me wake up.”

I fel
t his lips on mine, and I opened my mouth to the slow rhythm of his tongue. I opened my legs wider to the slow rhythm of his hips.

“Tell me, Anabel.”

I murmured faintly, “I told you I wasn’t too exhausted and sore for this…”

“
Tell me, Anabel. I want to know everything you don’t like about me while I’m inside you like this and you’re holding me tight, kissing on me.”

I held him tight to me and kissed
on his chest, his neck, his face, his mouth. My unlocked soul gave new meaning to my murmured words of hunger and adoration. My hands showed him this with every stroke on his body and every touch on his face while I worshipped him. He moved within me harder and faster in response to these caresses and whispers, until he groaned my name and I sighed his.

W
e came together while I whispered the one true answer to what he demanded to be told.

“I hate
there’s nothing I don’t love about you.”

“
Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye

Thanksgiving 11/22/12

6
:40 AM

I woke up alone
, but I’d slept in ten minutes later than normal so I was feeling refreshed and raring to go. Fleeting thoughts and images of Luke echoed in my mind while I sat up and stretched. After our lovemaking, he got dressed in the dark and left my bedroom without another word or a backward glance.

Undisturbed by
his behavior, I couldn’t stop smiling while I slipped on my robe and pulled back the curtains. The sun was not completely up yet, but it’s lighter in my bedroom once the heavy draperies were pulled aside on their gliding rings.

Today
was supposed to be another sunny day, but it could be a raging black storm out there and it wouldn’t affect my exultant mood. Those hushed moments in the predawn darkness of my bed while joined together with Luke have filled me with such an intense joy. I couldn’t bear to face the brightness of my exhilaration head on. I also couldn’t stop myself from happily, but tentatively, poking and prodding at the heady, new feelings overwhelming me this morning. My mind, body, and soul were singing exultantly with a sense of harmonious rightness. Filled with sparkling effervescence, I believe I could whistle right now and maybe even sing.

I
was convinced by this never before experienced melding of my brain and spirit that somehow I was going to have a relationship with Luke Drake that I don’t have to run away from, and that wasn’t going to smother or trap me.

I
was going to put into practice what NanaBel advised me in her recent email. I was going to follow my instincts. Where Luke was concerned, I had given myself over to him sexually since the moment I clapped eyes on him, but I’ve fought the giving of myself in true intimacy. Well, I have no clue what true intimacy was, but I was going to do what my soul has demanded of me. I was going to stop fucking around and find out.

‘My name is Anabel Katrina Axelrod and I’m not a junkie.
I love Luke Drake!’

Amidst the cheering in my head
and the mean mommy’s voice wondering if Luke has a middle name, I danced around my room straightening up bed covers and arranging throw pillows. I did my thing in the bathroom, threw open all the shutters in the living room, and went to the kitchen to brew coffee in the fifty cup coffee urn I use when having parties or sleepover guests. I had a feeling some people were going to require mega caffeine when they got their butts up today.

Returning with the coffee urn in my hands from the pantry, I spied a
sturdy red gift box tied with a cheerful yellow ribbon sitting on a folded note on the granite island. Recognizing the bold scrawl, I grinned as I set down the urn and hurriedly opened the note.

Anabel,

I don’t know how much more of your endless complaining I can take.

Luke

Laughing, I put down the note. I savored the box for a moment before untying the bow and opening the lid. Sitting on separate gold doilies were six pieces of Damaris Drake’s baklava.

After getting the coffee perking, I poured
myself a glass of apple juice and sat at the island. After deliberation, I picked two of pieces of buttery love to devour. Soon I had sticky, honey fingers and gleaming lips. Very reluctantly and using my palms, I put the lid on the box to save the remaining treats for my houseguests. I contented myself with sucking my fingers clean.

Looking around my silent
, clean apartment, I thought about my morning ahead. I had to make dressing, cook a turkey and a ham, get the table and myself ready, cook with Crookie, and have fun entertaining my Florida guests until everyone else arrived. It was only seven. All of this could wait a couple of hours. I planned on working out anyway, so with a huge grin, I decided to take Luke up on his offer of my first lesson in self defense.

I left the sleepers a note and went to go get dressed. I recalled the limo waiting for my
slightest command. Thrilled to realize I could bring my laptop and finish my February book order on the drive, I sent a quick text for a front door pick up in fifteen minutes. I thought about texting Luke, but didn’t bother since he was going to be in the barn all morning and gave me an open invite. Maybe I could ninja him and John.

Twenty minutes later, I
was tooling along in the Barbie mobile being driven by a new driver named Phil. After commiserating with him on the limo company’s cruelty in expecting their drivers to wear pink and black uniforms, I closed the dividing window and got to work. As I typed away on my laptop, I was feeling like a Mattel executive—if a Mattel executive went to work in a black sweat suit and running shoes, with their hair up in a messy pony tail and their hearts on their sleeve.