He opened the door softly, trying to muffle the creak he knew would sound at the moving of the rusty hinges. He winced when the movement was protested, and slipped into her room with a large blue mug in his hands. Quietly he moved to her bed, the morning sunlight slanting in to illuminate her face, glistening off of her dark hair and glowing on her face.
He sat at the edge of her bed and reached out, gently shaking her shoulder. "Wake up, Sleeping Beauty," he teased, one hand still retaining its grasp on the mug.
The woman stirred, moaning, and buried her head in her pillow. "No," she mumbled. The man smiled and waved the cup near her head. Almost of its own volition, her body raised itself up as her nose followed the scent of the hot coffee. "Give," she ordered, sitting up completely, rubbing her eyes, and then holding out a hand.
He looked at her grinning, and stood up, still holding the coffee. "No," he mimicked. She glared at him, and reluctantly got out of bed. His eyes lingered on her body briefly. She was clad in a slinky nightgown, and as always he was mesmerized by her beauty. Finally, he tore his glance away and handed her the mug, looking pleased with himself for getting her up.
As she sipped at her lifeline, he spoke. "There. You're up, you've got coffee, and I have to go open up. There's food on the table for you, and more coffee in the coffee maker."
She smiled seductively at him. "You have to go…so soon?" she breathed, putting the cup down on the dresser and drawing closer. His breathing quickened at her nearness, and his heart pounded in his body when their lips connected. He briefly allowed himself to get lost in the kiss, and then he reluctantly drew away.
"I have to go," he said, trying to keep the disappointment out of his tone. He would have liked to stay all day. Hell, he never wanted to leave her. But he really did have to go, as did she.
She sighed in annoyance, and nodded. "I know. So do I. I'll see you later today though, right?" and she grinned at him again.
"Yeah. And we're on for tonight?"
"Of course."
"All right then. Bye." And he gave Lorelai a final kiss, lingering as long as he could before pulling away and leaving her house. Behind him, she stared wistfully before beginning to dress.
Luke woke with a start, sighing in remembrance of the familiar dream. Every night, without fail, his dreams included Lorelai. It was like an addiction, similar to her coffee need. He lived for the small moments of time he spent with her when she came in for food every day, and longed for their relationship to become something more.
But she was always involved with some man or another, and he could never get up the courage to ask her out when she WAS free. He had been hurt too often, too much. He didn't want to risk their friendship, for if she left he would never have reason to get up in the mornings. He couldn't do it, despite the yearning of his heart. And he would never know if Lorelai felt the same way about him.
Luke groaned, holding his head in his hands, and slowly got out of bed. He had work to do, and he knew she would be coming in soon. He could see her, fantasize what it would be like to really kiss her, to be with her, and go back to his mundane life when she left again. It never changed, it never ended. It was, and always would be.
He sighed.