Chapter 10 - Things get hot, then awkward

I asked Lukas with a grin, “Are you ready for round two?” I had secured my hand wrappings and was eager to change my mind with our sparring session.

Unfortunately, Lukas didn’t seem to share my excitement. He frowned and responded, “I’d love that, but that’s not what I had in mind.” His beautiful amber eyes were hidden beneath thick black lashes, and his long curly hair fell on his face. I resisted the urge to come closer and remove the strands from his face.

I slightly jumped in place and made small circles with my wrists to warm up. I needed to think of something else.

Lukas continued, “I was hoping we could go out and grab a bite to eat. Since you didn’t tell me where you lived, I thought it best to meet here.”

Lukas was dressed casually and wasn’t prepared for a fight. He wore dark-washed jeans over his construction boots and a white T-shirt underneath a black jacket.

My heart screamed, “Yes! Yes!” but I had to force other words out. “I’m sorry, but I’ve had a rough day today. I would be poor company. I prefer to stay here and demolish the punching bag or something.”

Lukas looked away when I turned him down, and I wondered what was wrong with me. Was it too late to say “yes”? I wanted to pull my hair out. This man was making a complete mess of me.

I turned around, hoping I’d find that bastard David somewhere and I’d be able to let off some steam.

Lukas leaned in, catching my attention with a sly grin. “If you’re looking to demolish stuff, I know a place where we can do that and more. Are you up for it?”

I turned to face him, curious about his proposal. “Where would we go?”

Lukas’s smile widened, and he extended his hand toward me. “Do you trust me?”

Without hesitation, I took his hand and followed him outside, where a shiny JEEP was parked. Lukas opened the passenger door and left me alone in the car while he circled it to climb aboard.

Christ, what was I doing?

“You must be out of your mind,” I muttered to myself. My mind raced with possibilities of what Lukas had planned for us. Was it something dangerous? Or was it something thrilling?

The vehicle was immaculate and still had the new car smell.  I briefly wondered if anyone had ever sat in the front passenger seat before me.

Lukas started the engine and drove us out of town. The scenic view was breathtaking, but my mind was preoccupied with what lay ahead. I looked at myself and wondered if I was dressed appropriately for whatever he had planned. I should’ve brought a spare change of clothes.

My thoughts were interrupted when the JEEP hit a dirt road and became bumpy. I shot a concerned glance in Lukas’s direction. I had only known him for a few days, and I was in his car, heading to an unknown destination. The suspense was killing me.

Shit… I groaned and blamed it all on my stupid hormones and the fact that he looked like a sex god. I had a hard time saying “no” to him. I would never have let myself get into a position like this in the past. I was a bright girl, but I now had doubts about that.

When Lukas saw me eating the skin around my nails out of worry, he laughed and gently placed a hand on my left thigh. My rigid body tensed even more, and a deep laugh escaped Lukas’s throat.

“I won’t kill you and leave you in a ditch.”

“Am I doing a face that gives exactly that impression?” I sheepishly asked and stared at his thumb, making circles against my legging.

“No, but I can imagine how this looks in your mind. I would never harm you, Max. I promise. We’re here to have some fun.”

Lukas guided the JEEP along another bumpy dirt road, leading us deeper into the forest. As we emerged from the dense foliage, a charming little cabin came into view, illuminated by the headlights. Despite its worn-out appearance, the cabin had a sturdy frame and a solid roof. A large trailer with the LR construction and demolition logo on its side was parked beside the house.

Curious, I asked, “Is that your company?”

Lukas beamed with pride as he replied, “Yes, it is. I’m working on restoring this cabin. When you mentioned wanting to demolish something, I thought of this cabin right away.”

He turned off the engine and led me inside the cabin. As we walked toward the back, he set up two work lamps attached to a tripod, casting a bright light on the dusty interior. He handed me a pair of work gloves and an enormous sledgehammer. Lukas held the hammer as if it weighed nothing, and when he passed it to me, its weight took me aback. The head fell to the ground with a loud thud, prompting him to chuckle.

“See that wall over there? You’re going to take it down. Do you think you can do it?” Lukas asked.

I picked up the hammer and approached the wall, examining it closely. It consisted of thin wooden planks nailed to the 2X4s, not drywall as I had thought.

“Do you also have a crowbar at hand?” A sledgehammer might help start the job, but it would probably be best to finish with a crowbar to remove all those nails that would ultimately stick out once everything was destroyed.

When I turned to face Lukas, his eyes had a playful gleam, accompanied by a slight upward curve in the corner of his mouth.

“What?” I asked, placing a hand on my hip.

Lukas shook his head and hid his hands in worn-out construction gloves. He stepped before me, his chest brushing against my breasts, making my heart hammer with excitement.

I inhaled sharply when I felt my nipples pebble under my shirt. I hated the way my body responded to him.

Fuck. Fuckety, fuck!

“I do,” Lukas said in a low voice. “It’s on the left. Oh, and don’t forget this.” Lukas leaned down and placed protective goggles over my eyes. “I’ll be in the kitchen removing the tiles. Let me know if you need anything.” He winked and left me alone.

I closed my eyes and sighed. God, I really wanted him to kiss me.

The sound of metal hitting wood echoed through the empty hallway. Each hit of my hammer was fueled by deep-seated anger and frustration that had been building up inside of me for weeks. The wooden planks shook and groaned under the force of the sledgehammer, as if they, too, were feeling the weight of the emotions behind each strike.

At that moment, the only thing that mattered was the sound of the hammer crashing into the wooden siding. With each blow, the frustration grew, and the feeling of deception that had been gnawing at my mind intensified.

I yanked the sledgehammer away and pounded into the wall with more force. I felt a sense of deception regarding the Umbridge case that I couldn’t solve right away. Another hit of metal on planks—deception for not being able to control my emotions when I was around Lukas. I wrenched the tool out and broke more siding. I wanted to scream—deception of being powerless, of not being able to change the circumstances of my past.

I turned to face the wall and groaned furiously.

The memories flooded back, overwhelming me with a sense of helplessness and despair. I remembered growing up in a different foster home every month, being at the mercy of people who didn’t care whether I lived or died, as long as they received their monthly check. Those growing pains taught me to build a thick shell around myself to keep those memories at bay and focus on the present. At that moment, the present was the hammer in my hands, the sweat on my brow, and the sound of wood splintering under the force of my blows.

Finally, I hit a 2X4 with such force that the hammer vibrated painfully in my hands. I let it fall to the ground and looked at the split beam that would need to be replaced.

Damn it.

Why was I even thinking about those things? I had always been an independent person. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t need anyone in my life, and I was content with that. However, I found myself wanting Lukas to take care of me, even though I knew I didn’t need a man.

Lukas popped his head from the kitchen at the sound of my cursing. He looked at the wreckage I had made, then at his watch, and his eyes rounded. “Wow. You did quick work on that. I was sure it would keep you busy for at least forty-five minutes.”

When Lukas saw the state of my face, I realized my emotions were showing. His amber eyes scanned every inch of me, searching for signs of injury or distress. He took a step toward me but then hesitated, unsure of what to do.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I jerked the work gloves off my hands and rapidly sprinted toward Lukas. I jumped on him, linking my fingers behind his neck, and crashed my lips on his. My legs went around his muscular waist, and Lukas’s arms held me in place while he savagely welcomed my mouth and pressed my head closer to deepen our kiss.

My blood was singing inside me, and I shuddered at his rough touch. It appeared as though he had been holding back as well.

The muscles on his back rolled under my touch, and his body melted into mine. We were puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together.

Lukas backed us into the kitchen and swiped his arm over the counter. I heard power tools and broken construction materials fall on the ground, and he sat me on the now-free surface.

I tightened my legs around him, not wanting us to part. His hands slid up my back, and one of them twirled around my ponytail. When my hair was firmly twisted in his hold, Lukas yanked my head back and trailed ravenous kisses along the length of my jaw and down my neck. His other hand dropped over my breast, and he kneaded it gently.

I was getting drunk from his scent and touch.

My fingers fumbled while searching for the hem of his T-shirt. When I found it, I pulled it up and looked down at his naked torso. There were scars, strangely resembling claw marks, that started at the top of his pectoral and ended close to his navel. There were more on his shoulders and ribs. I traced my fingers over the thick, healed skin and wondered when he had gotten them.

I slid my hand lower over his abdomen and cupped his erection through the material of his jeans.

We were both panting when Lukas detached himself from me and backed away. His eyes were yellow, but I thought I had imagined it. The bad lighting must have caused me to see them in that colour because it was impossible for someone to have animalistic yellow eyes.

Lukas turned around abruptly, his eyes scanning the room as I stood there, embarrassed and vulnerable. He bent down to pick up the T-shirt that I had just taken off, his muscular arms stretching the fabric back over his head. Despite his outward strength, I could see that his whole body was shaking.

“This was a bad idea,” he said, his voice low and strained. “I’ll take you back to Sal’s.”

His words cut deep, and I slowly climbed down from the counter, feeling a wave of humiliation wash over me. I smoothed my hair and tugged on my clothes, trying to regain some sense of composure.

As we drove back into town, Lukas remained silent, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. I felt the weight of his rejection, the bitter taste of disappointment lingering in my mouth.

When we arrived at Sal’s, Lukas opened my door; his movements were rushed and abrupt. He barely looked at me as he sped off in his Jeep, leaving me standing alone on the sidewalk.

I couldn’t shake the memory of his rejection as I walked back to my apartment, the feeling of embarrassment and shame gnawing at my stomach. I removed my T-shirt and threw it in a garbage bin. It smelled like Lukas and sawdust, and I didn’t want to think of him and what had happened.

The streets were quiet as I ran back to my place and prepared myself for a sleepless night of tossing and turning, wondering what I had done wrong.