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A crack of lightning lit up the darkening sky outside, making her jump slightly before clinging tightly to him. The thunder followed, a deep rumbling that echoed across the vast expanse of southern Ontario. As the storm intensified, the wind picked up, gusting through the trees and causing them to sway and creak. The temperature would soon drop rapidly, allowing the air to become charged with electricity. The sky grew darker, the quickly moving clouds heavy and ominous, pregnant with the promise of rain.
The drops began to fall, first lightly, then in a torrential downpour. The rain pounded against the reinforced windows, creating a rhythmically hypnotic sound as the lightning continued to flash, illuminating the landscape in brief, stark bursts of light. Each strike was followed by the deep, resonant boom of thunder, the sound rolling across the land like a distant drum. The storm was relentless, unyielding in its power and intensity.
She gasped, her heart pounding. Lukas held her soothingly as she practically climbed into his skin to escape the chaos outside.
“Breathe,” he whispered. “Count the echoes of the thunder, focus on the seconds between each boom and time them to your heartrate. Bring it down nice and easy, sweetheart.”
Doing as she was told, she let him talk her through yet another fear of hers: thunderstorms. They were intense, and she normally took cover under her bed when they struck. As her heart calmed, each small beat seemed to match the seconds while one large beat echoed the thunder itself. “What was that? What did you just show me?”
“I used to be terrified of them myself, but now I consider storms to be a physical manifestation of my inner turmoil. My father taught me how to stop the fear, how to make my mind as strong as my body during times like this.” He whispered, his arms wrapped around her now calm figure.
Stunned that something so small could make such a drastic difference, Johanna sobbed into his shoulder. “Thank you. No one’s ever done that for me.”
"Now, about your question concerning phone calls,” Lukas replied. He was happy she was finally beginning to show more of the girl hidden inside, that she trusted him enough to let him in. “If that’s a decision you’re making on your own, then go for it. As long as that’s what makes you feel comfortable and safe because that’s all that matters to me. We’re taking things slow, remember. I know there’s still so many things I need to help you unlearn, but all of my friends are going to help us along because that’s how we roll. One of us is in trouble, the rest re-up to support them.”
Thinking over his words, Johanna nodded. “I noticed that today. And yesterday with Jaxon and your brother, too. They don’t just say it, they show they care about the well-being of the team as a whole. I’ve never had that, but I appreciate being included in something so complexly thoughtful.”
Lukas paused, sidetracked by the eloquence of his wife’s word choices. “Just how good were your grades in school? Only asking because talking to you feels like talking to Declan – he’s one of my trainers and he was the man sitting by the window yesterday in the office.”
When she didn’t answer, he sighed and continued. “So, I did something I’m not entirely proud of – I eavesdrop on your conversation, and it’s clear there was fear and uncertainty toward consummating our union. Did your discussion with Kennedy help ease your mind any?"
“Lukas!” Her face reddened as she squeaked in embarrassment. She hadn't expected him to bring that up. The way he said it was almost like he was talking about the weather!
"Women are such complex creatures," he muttered. Smoothing a hand over the crown of her head, he smiled. "Johanna, please stop. You’re over-thinking it, honey. Come sit on the bed and talk to me."
Sitting beside him on the bed, she hung her head. "I only know what I've been told, Lukas. That's why I'm so scared. I want to get to know you, and to learn how it's supposed to be between us, but I'm afraid."
Pulling her into his arms, he kissed the top of her head. The warmth of his embrace and the gentle pressure of his lips against her hair made her feel safe. "Make me understand, and maybe I can dispel those fears for you."
"You would do that for me?" she asked, wondering just how far he was truly willing to go.
"Hell, if you told me you wanted to go to Disneyland tomorrow, we'd be on the next flight out. Right now, because of everything that's happened to you, I want to take it slow. I want you to be ready, to be sure that this is going to work out."
Blinking up at him, Johanna gasped. "What do you mean? Why would it not work out?"
"That's not what I meant to say," Lukas winced, knowing the thoughts that crossed her mind. "I chose you, and that means this marriage is forever unless you decide to leave me. I didn’t bring you here only to abandon you at the first sign of turbulence."
She thought it over for a moment, her mind working through the possible scenarios. "Well, would you ever hit me?"
"Not a chance," he stated firmly, his brow furrowing.
"Would you call me foul names?" she asked, needing to get the questions off her chest. She waited for his response, feeling the tension in the air.
He laughed, kissing her head as he said, "Never."
Wanting to know the darkest of her thoughts were only shadows of doubt in her subconscious, she continued. "What about other women? Would you ever stray to another’s bed if I were unwilling?"
"My father would put my ass in the ground if he found out I was cheating on my spouse. I wouldn't do any of that to you, Johanna. You’re far too precious to me," he told her softly, his voice filled with sincerity.
Lukas moved to kiss her forehead again, shocked when she tilted her head back. For the first time since they said, "I do", she let him kiss her. His hand came up, fingers tangling in her now shoulder-length brown locks as he pulled her closer. He noticed when a tremor of desire ran through her entire body. Noticed the way her breath hitched slightly as his other hand ghosted across the outside of her jean-clad thigh.
Testing how far she was willing to go, he ran his tongue across her lips. They parted as she gasped, and he deepened the kiss, groaning at the taste of chocolate still on her tongue. He knew then that she’d indulged in the sweet treat, and silently vowed to keep a stockpile of it in the apartment. Sure, he'd desired girls before, but not like this. None of his potential girlfriends ever made him feel like they were the air he breathed as soon as they met him. None of them made his pulse race just by existing in the same room, nor did they make his libido jolt to life with a single, whispering touch of their hands, either.
Breaking from her, he searched her clear, shimmering teal eyes for any sign that she was unwilling. Finding none, he rose to his feet and shut the door of the room. Locking it, he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to the side.
"Let me know now, Johanna. Tell me now before it's too late," he whispered hotly against her skin as he ran his nose along her jawline.
"Show me," she murmured.
Suddenly, the familiar bang of his father's fist against the wooden doorframe grabbed Lukas's attention, the sound reverberating through the room. “Lukas Kristoph Victor Roberts! Get your ass out here!”
"For crying out loud," he muttered, dropping his head to Johanna's shoulder as she giggled, feeling the vibration of her laughter. "Stay right here, okay? I gotta deal with my stickler father."
Getting to his feet, he unlocked and opened the door, the cool metal handle smooth against his palm, to face his father. "What's up?"
"You're not spending another night alone in a room with her until you show me proof of your marriage," Trace said. His voice had the undertones of someone looking for a fight. Out of the corner of his eye, Trace watched Johanna rise from the mattress, her bare feet sinking into the soft carpet as she moved with a quick, quiet grace to pull the documents out of the desk drawer. Raising a brow at her compliance, he glared at his son. "She's a little more open today. What happened?"
Rather than answer for her, Lukas let his wife fill the man in. "I had fun shopping with the girls. Here’s all the paperwork he told me to have ready and waiting. Now I know why."
Handing it back, Trace rolled his eyes, the crinkling of the paper loud in the quiet room. "Seems it’s all in order. Fine. You win, brat. You know the rules, right?"
"You raised me better than that, Dad," Lukas groused, crossing his arms over his naked, well-defined torso, the muscles tensing slightly.
Nodding, Trace left them alone. The soft click of the door closing behind him was closely followed by his mumbled grumbling about being left out made them both laugh as his steps faded down the hall.
Breathing out a huff of air as he turned back to the woman waiting for him, he realized just how quickly she could move without being heard. His heart skipped and he hardened painfully against his jogging pants as he took in the sheer nighty she was wearing. “Um…”
“Andromeda said this would drive you crazy,” she said, her face flushed with a mix of need and embarrassment.
He growled playfully before practically dragging her to the bed. “My eyes only, Anna. Say it.”
“Your eyes only,” she whispered as desire awakened with a vengeance. “I’ll only wear this for you, Lukas.”
- Writer
