Artist's Dream by Gerri Hill Page B

answer.
    “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
    They managed a quick exit through the kitchen door. Once outside, Luke’s arm came around her shoulders, and Cassie leaned her head against Luke, if only for a moment. She closed her eyes, wanting nothing more than to snuggle against Luke’s soft breasts, and this realization made her feel all the dizzier. She finally stopped walking, breathing deeply instead, trying to clear her head but unable to stop her body from trembling
    “You’re shivering. Are you cold?” Luke asked.
    Cold? Could Luke not feel how hot her body was?
    “I’m okay.”
    “Sure?”
    “Yes.” Cassie held both her hands against her flushed cheeks and shut her eyes. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
    “Don’t worry about it.” Luke took her arm and guided her slowly to the Lexus. “Let’s get you to bed.”
     
    It was a perfectly innocent comment, Cassie knew. And had her own thoughts not been running in that same direction, she could have taken it at face value. But her stomach rolled, and she was afraid she was actually going to be sick. She swallowed hard, gulpŹing in fresh air, wishing she had a glass of cold water. Luke’s hands were warm on her skin as she helped her inside and Cassie leaned against the cool leather and closed her eyes. She felt like hell. She would feel worse tomorrow, she knew. And God, she was embarŹrassed. What must Luke think of her?
    “Are you okay?”
    Cassie nodded and slowly rolled her head to face Luke, finding concerned eyes looking back at her.
    “Actually, I feel like crap,” Cassie admitted as her eyes slid shut.
    She heard Luke chuckle and managed a small smile of her own. It faded quickly when a warm hand cupped her cheek. It took all her strength not to rub against that hand, to move her lips over the soft palm. She heard a low moan and was mortified when she realŹized it had come from her. That same hand slipped behind her neck and strong fingers rubbed gently, relaxing her.
    She leaned her head forward, giving Luke better access and she was unable to stop another low moan from escaping. She didn’t care. The impromptu massage felt too good. The throbbing in her head subsided somewhat and she felt herself drifting, her last conŹscious thought that she wanted to lay her head down in Luke’s lap and sleep.
    A nudging of her arm woke her, but her eyes refused to open, and she snuggled closer against the warmth, her face touching warm skin.
    “Come on, Cassie,” a voice penetrated the haze in her brain. “As much as I’m enjoying this, you’d be more comfortable in bed.”
    Cassie groaned and tried to lift her head. “No. This is fine, really,” she murmured. Then a husky laugh in her ear brought her around, and she opened her eyes, only to find her face snuggled securely in Luke’s neck.
    She pulled back, Luke’s arm sliding off her shoulder, and she sat
     
    back in her own seat. How had she managed to cross the console and end up practically in Luke’s lap? Her eyes widened and she felt a deep blush creep up her face.
    “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
    Luke laughed again. “Please don’t be sorry. It was rather nice.”
    Cassie blushed a deeper red and turned away, trying to open her door.
    “Don’t stand up just yet,” Luke was saying, but Cassie was already swinging her legs out. She would have fallen to the ground if Luke hadn’t run around the Lexus to catch her.
    “I speak from experience,” Luke said. She pressed Cassie against the trunk, holding her there, and Cassie was aware of every place their bodies touched. “I don’t ever … do this,” she said. Her thighs burned where Luke pressed against them, and she shut her eyes against the fire. “I hardly drink more than a glass or two at a time.”
    “Then why tonight?”
    Luke’s voice was barely a whisper, her mouth just inches away, and Cassie couldn’t pull her eyes away from Luke’s lips.
    Cassie shook her head. Her body seemed to have a life of its own,