A/N: This is the last of my Support Stacie auction chapters. It belongs to my good friend and international agent, Boston4. I've enjoyed my time as an hono(u)rary Canuck, and thank all of my friends in the Great White North, and elsewhere, for their continued support and enthusiasm.
I'd already written a story for this episode which featured the obvious moment for such activity, but as Boston pointed out, it's a shame for such a great line to go to waste. I hope that you never think that reading my stories is getting you nothing. I'll apologize now for the torpedo reference. I couldn't resist. Smooches! Mags
Give a Little Somethin' to Get a Little Somethin'
"Hey, Colonel Flagg! We're bugging out," Lorelai called into the kitchen.
Luke appeared, his broad shoulders filling the narrow doorway. "Colonel Flagg?"
"Well, you're a little crazy, but not nice enough to be Hawkeye, or Trapper, or even Sherman T. Potter."
"I got it," he assured her.
She huffed, sparing the now empty diner a glance as she planted her hands on her hips. "Well, we've ripped up the grassroots of good old American social activism, and restored your diner to its previous state of apathy. You happy?"
A smile twitched the corners of his lips. He tossed the towel he held onto the counter and closed the distance between them in two strides. The smile widened as he peered at her upturned face. "Yeah, I am."
A blush flared in her cheeks as she returned his smile, ducking her head as the color took hold. "Me too."
His fingertips grazed her arm, raising goosebumps in their wake as awareness crackled in the air around them. "You guys moving the front lines?"
Lorelai shook her head. "The General's son demanded a late lunch and a nap. We shall return," she warned him darkly.
"You need a pipe and some of those mirrored sunglasses for that line."
"I didn't have time to arrange the proper props. Where do I get one of those riding crop things Patton carried?"
"You don't need that," he answered quickly.
A slow, wicked smile curved her lips. "You never know."
"I know."
"You might like it."
"Stop."
"Oh, I can't stop now," she cooed.
"So, where are you headed now?" he asked, anxious to change the subject. "Gonna dig some trenches around the gazebo?"
Flashing him an affectionate smile, she stretched the aching muscles in her neck. "The army life's not for me. I'm thinking of joining the Navy instead."
"We're kind of landlocked."
Lorelai shrugged. "There's water in my tub. I thought, since you don't want me, I'd let Calgon take me away."
Luke's eyebrows lifted. "We still on for tonight?"
"Pick me up at seven," she confirmed, backing toward the door.
"Hey." He took another two steps and this time his hand closed around her arm, holding her there.
Lorelai looked up at him, startled by the abrupt move. "Is for horses. Another reason for the crop thingy," she murmured, turning her questioning gaze from his hand to his face.
Luke released her arm, reaching up to touch a tendril of dark, wavy hair curling on her shoulder. "I do like your hair like this," he said at last, his voice warm and husky.
"I'm glad," she whispered. Her eyes closed as his mouth brushed hers, and she hummed appreciatively. "Gotta get used to that, huh?"
"Yeah." He backed away, his gaze locked on her. "Get used to it."
"Yessir," she answered, giving him a jaunty salute before reaching for the door handle.
Luke stood at the door, frankly admiring her wake as she navigated the clusters of tourists and townies milling along the sidewalk.
When she disappeared from sight, he turned to survey his now deserted diner. The tables Lorelai and Sookie had commandeered were back in their places, the napkin dispensers and shakers perfectly centered on their formica tops. For all intents and purposes, is diner had restored. As a matter of fact, nothing seemed out of place.
He turned back to the windows, and stared in the direction she had last been seen. Nothing had changed. She could still drive him crazy. She still had him wrapped tightly around her little finger. He'd noticed the hair. He always noticed. Everything.
He'd never been a big fan of change. It didn't come naturally to him. He wasn't inclined to adapt. But this…. Now it was Lorelai and him, him and Lorelai – at last. The biggest shock was to discover how much he liked it. This kind of change was entirely different. This was a change he could get behind. The kind of change where everything and nothing changes.
He did a quick about-face, striding through the diner moving each cluster of napkin dispensers and salt and pepper shakers to the edge of the tables. When he was through, he stood back. Resting his hands on his hips, he gauged the level of change, and decided with a nod that he could live with it.
Wandering back toward the kitchen he snatched the towel from the counter, winding it around his knuckles and capturing the end in his fist. Leaning against the doorjamb, he scanned the square – the one piece of Stars Hollow that resisted change more stridently than he did. People rushed, strolled and even meandered along the sidewalks, each on with a different agenda, most of them faces he saw every day.
But even these people changed. They grew older, their hair a little greyer, and their waists a little thicker. The Brown kid shot up six inches in the last two months, and that Brennan girl definitely wasn't a little girl anymore – not that he was looking. He just couldn't help but notice when she'd leaned over his counter in that halter top he was sure her parents hadn't approved. Davy Belleville had a tooth. Sookie had put some blondish stuff with her hair. Jackson, the most non-confrontational person he knew, was running against Taylor Doose for town Selectman. And he, Luke Danes, had permission to kiss Lorelai Gilmore whenever the mood struck him.
No, not all change was bad. Pushing away from the doorframe, he reached for the phone as the towel unraveled in his grasp. The stained cloth fell to the floor unheeded, and all desire to run his business was squashed as the mood struck him. Repeatedly.
Twenty minutes later, Caesar had tied on his apron two hours early, and Luke was tracking the trail Lorelai had cut across the square, a Styrofoam container filled with slices of pie clutched in his hand.
He climbed her porch steps and raised his curled fingers to knock on the frosted glass. The forward momentum had already taken hold when he changed his mind. His knuckles grazed the pane, and he snatched his hand away, glancing over his shoulder to see if anyone had witnessed his knock. He debated with himself for a moment, and then rapped his knuckles against the glass so softly that Lorelai probably wouldn't have heard the knock if she had been standing just on the other side. But, at least, he'd knocked, he reasoned.
He reached for the handle and slowly opened the door, slipping through the opening the moment it was wide enough. Clutching the handle, he eased his grip just enough to hear the snick of the latch as it caught behind him. He stood still, leaning forward just enough to swivel his head from the living room to the kitchen.
"Lorelai?" he whispered.
There was no response, but for the drone of a radio floating down the stairs. The dull thump of bass covered his footsteps. When he reached the base of the stairs, he placed the container of pie on the landing and bent to unlace his boots. Keeping his weight on his toes, he reclaimed the to-go box as he crept up the stairs in his stocking feet.
When he reached the top, he heard a ripple of water followed by a long sigh. A moment later, she sang out, "She chic but she's not shady, so-phis-ti-cated lady … and she makes me feel good…."
Luke bit his cheek to keep from laughing out loud. Rounding the corner, he poked his head around frame of the open bathroom door.
Tipping her head back against the tile wall, Lorelai sang out to the ceiling, "She's so fine!"
He lost it. A laugh burst from his lips, causing her to jump and sit straight up in the tub. "Oh my God!"
"Sorry, sorry. It's just me," he assured her as he rushed into the room.
"You scared the crap out of me! What are you doing here?"
"I, uh…."
Luke tried to formulate a response that would lend some legitimacy to the fact that he had essentially sneaked into her house and accosted her while bathing. He had a hard time coming up with one. The frothy bubbles cascading down her body were too distracting, the sight of her pink nipples peaking beneath the snowy white foam too enticing.
Dropping to his knees beside the tub, the styrofoam container squeaked in his hand. He blinked as she suddenly fell back, using her hands to gather the bubbles, covering her body with them like a blanket.
"Pie," he managed to grunt at last.
Lorelai's brows rose. "Excuse me?"
He shook his head to clear it. Forcing his gaze to her face, he held up the box. "I brought you pie."
Lorelai laughed. "Wow, for a minute there I thought you were being extremely dirty."
A rush of blood burned in his cheeks. "Lorelai."
"Well!" She gave him a speculative once-over. "I thought you were working until six."
"Well, uh…." His gaze drifted to the tiny bubbles that hissed and popped along the surface of the water. "Caesar came in early, and I, thought…."
Her eyebrows rose as she glanced down at her bubble covered body and back up at him. "You thought I might need pie?"
He jerked, his eyes locking on her face once more. "You said it was getting you nothing."
"What was?"
"Sleeping with me. You said that sleeping with me was getting you nothing," he repeated in a husky whisper.
"I meant in terms of special treatment."
Luke cleared his throat, fixing her with a meaningful stare. "I don't deliver pie to just anyone."
"No?" A hint of a smile played at her lips. "You mean I'm special?"
"Yes," he answered without hesitation.
Her smile blossomed. "Well, you know, I don't let just any guy sneak into my house and bring me pie while I'm taking a bubble bath."
"We won't talk about the front door being unlocked," he grumbled.
Lorelai laughed. "No, let's not talk about that."
Luke nodded his agreement and placed the container of pie on the floor next to the tub. He pulled his cap from his head and tossed it aside before grabbing the collar of his shirt and giving it a yank.
"What are you doing?"
Luke yanked both the flannel and his t-shirt over his head, his answer muffled by the layers of fabric. "I'm comin' in."
"In here?" she asked, using her toes to push herself upright against the back of the tub.
"Yep." Luke discarded the shirts, and rolled to his feet, straightening to his full height as he reached for the buckle on his belt.
"Luke, it's a bubble bath. Have you ever even taken a bubble bath?"
"Sure."
"You have?" she asked, clearly shocked by his admission.
Luke opened the fly of his jeans, pushing them down over his boxer briefs. "I think I was about six, but yeah."
"Six?"
"Maybe younger. My mom got a box of that little kid bath stuff for me and Liz," he explained as he stepped out of the stained and splattered denim.
"Mister Bubble?"
"That's it," he murmured, stripping off his socks.
Lorelai blinked up at him. "I don't know if we'll fit."
"Oh, we'll fit," he assured her as he hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his briefs. He hesitated for a moment, coking his head. "Okay?"
Pressing her lips together, Lorelai nodded mutely. He stripped the last of his clothing away, and stood poised at the edge of the tub, trying not to fidget under glare of her frank perusal.
"Move up a little," he said softly.
Lorelai sat up, the bubbles cascading down her arms and chest as she moved to the center of the tub. Her skin was flushed with the heat of the water, and a prickle of awareness tingled down his spine, taking up residence in his groin as he plunged one foot into the water and hissed between his teeth.
"Too hot?"
"I'm fine," he assured her.
Pulling his other foot in, he braced his hands between the wall and the rim of the tub and dropped to a crouch. He hissed again, and Lorelai's back shook as she silently giggled. His toes slid under her bottom, his knees nudged her back, and his hand squeaked against the porcelain tub as he eased back.
"Lift your arms," he murmured. When she did, he took the opportunity to slip his feet through the space created, cradling her between his legs. One arm snaked around her waist as she slowly lowered hers to rest on the sides of the tub. "Commere."
Lorelai slid back, water sloshing over the edge of the tub as his arms encircled her too. "So, you like bubble baths," she said as she relaxed against his chest.
Luke buried his nose in the jumble of waves and curls clipped on top of her head. "I like you, and if you're in the bubble bath…."
He let the thought trail off, lifting one bubble dripping hand to release the hair clip. A quick flick of his wrist and it clattered to the floor. Rich, luxuriant waves of dark hair tumbled to his chest. Long, wet fingers combed through her fragrant tresses. Her knees poked up out of the water, bracketed by his. Her body slithered against his, soft and warm, flushed and pliant.
His throat felt rough, as if he'd swallowed a truckload of gravel. Forcing the words past the rockslide, he whispered, "I'll wash your hair for you." Lorelai moaned softly as his lips grazed her shoulder. "Scrub your back." Tiny, tender kisses trailed up the side of her neck. "Don't you know I'd give you everything?" he whispered into her ear.
Lorelai shivered, and tried to turn her head toward him. He ducked, burying his nose in her hair and breathing deeply. "Luke."
"Shh. Relax," he whispered, his fingers trailing along her forearms soothingly. "Pie?" he asked, a smile coloring his tone.
"Here?"
"Yes."
Lorelai gasped softly. "You are a wicked man, aren't you?"
"Not too wicked. At least, I don't think so," Luke protested. He dropped his arm over the rim of the tub, groping blindly for the container. "I had peach and apple today. There was a slice of cherry leftover from yesterday, so I brought that too."
Setting the box on the lip of the tub, he released the tab with his thumb to reveal his offerings. "I'll bake a chocolate silk and a boysenberry for you tomorrow."
"For me?"
"Lorelai, I only bake pies for you," he admitted gruffly.
Hearing her sharp intake of breath, he pulled her closer. He was hard. Hard as granite, but that was nothing new when Lorelai was around. What was entirely new was the feel of her slick, supple skin gliding against that hardness. He bit down on his lip hard, splitting the tender flesh. Wincing, he ran his tongue over the spot and asked, "Cherry?"
Lorelai nodded again, and he used his wet fingers to separate the pointed tip of the slice from the rest. He carried the morsel to her lips, waiting patiently for her to part them. Her tongue grazed his finger, and every muscle in his body tensed. Focusing all of his energy on keeping his hand from trembling, he dipped his sticky fingers back into the container.
"More, or another kind?" he asked in a rasping whisper.
"More."
He broke off another hunk, flaky crumbs of crust bursting delicate soap bubbles as they scattered over her breasts. Lorelai eagerly opened her mouth, wrapping her tongue around his index finger and laving the sweet cheery glaze from his skin.
"I can't believe you're doing this," she mumbled as she chewed.
"Bad?"
She shook her head emphatically, bumping his chin. "So good." When he reached for the box again, she placed her hand on his arm to stop him. A froth of bubbles slithered from her hand, onto the dark hair matted against his muscular forearm.
Luke stilled. Her fingers closed around his wrist, pulling his hand back to her. Her lips parted, sliding slowly over the tip of his middle finger, sucking on the sugary sweet glaze until his eyes glazed over too. He moved against her, sliding his stiff cock against the plush curve of her ass. She released his finger, moving rapidly to his ring finger and bathing it in the same manner.
The water undulated, carrying them both away on wave after wave of pulsing desire. She pressed a soft, wet kiss to his palm, and whispered, "I can't believe this is happening," as she claimed the pad of his thumb.
Luke groaned, his hips jerking as her teeth scraped against his calloused skin. "It is, though, right?"
"Yeah, it is," she answered, lacing her fingers through his. She lowered their joined hands, her palm caressing his knuckles as the water closed around them.
The movement created a hole in the foamy white shroud. Tilting his head, Luke watched as she pressed his hand to the curve of her stomach, guiding it over her slick skin.
"I get to kiss you whenever I want," she murmured.
Luke hummed low and deep in his throat. "I know."
Lorelai smiled, her cheek curving against his as she drew his hand to her breast, arching into his palm. "It's so weird, but it feels so right."
Luke squeezed her breast, trying to unravel his other arm from the tangle of soap-slicked limbs. Lorelai drew her hand away, taking the veil of bubbles with it. He groaned again as his fingers parted, revealing the pink, beaded tip. Her back pressed against his chest as he traced the outline of the taut flesh with one soapy finger. Her head fell back against his shoulder, and he raised his other arm, dripping clumps of bubbles that fell to her chest and skimmed over her skin.
He pushed her hair back, unveiling her ear and tucking damp tendrils behind it. "This special enough for you?"
Lorelai braced her hands on his thighs, kneading the thick muscle beneath his skin. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Luke smiled, his lips tickling her ear. "One of the perks of not talking all the time. You never know what I'll do."
With that, he plunged his free hand into the water, spraying her with droplets as he cupped her breast possessively, his thumb brushing over her nipple. His fingers cut through the water, seeking the soft skin of her inner thigh like a well-aimed torpedo. He moved against her back, leaving no doubt about his mission as he coaxed her legs apart.
Lorelai moaned as his fingers fanned over her sex. Her toes pressing against the foot of the tub as her body bowed, nearly squeezing the dregs of air from his lungs. Parting her with those questing fingers, he teased the swollen bud of her clit, trying desperately to draw a breath as she writhed at his touch.
"Relax," he whispered hoarsely, pressing a sweet kiss to the lobe of her ear.
Lorelai shuddered with the effort, but slowly floated back to the bottom of the tub. "You're making it hard to relax," she panted.
"You make it hard all the time," he chuckled. His hand closed over her breast, holding her still as he drew one finger the length of her sex. "All the time, Lorelai."
He pressed that finger to her entrance, and matched her moan as it slid into her. "Soft," he murmured, pressing a tiny kiss to her neck. She tilted her head, and he took full advantage, peppering each word that sprang to mind with damp, soft kisses as he stroked her. "Wet. Hot. Soft. Sweet."
Lorelai moaned, rubbing against the heel of his hand with each thrust. He withdrew, circling her clit with his finger before plunging into her again. "Mine," he whispered.
She gasped, "Yes!" moving against his palm, minute mewls of approval filling the steamy air.
"I waited so long, Lorelai."
"Oh!"
"Wanted you for so long. Only you."
"Luke!"
He felt the rush of heat sufficing the cooling bathwater. Her muscles tensed, her walls closing around his finger, pulling him deeper and deeper. He closed his eyes, drowning in the pleasure of giving her pleasure.
"I'll bring you pie," he vowed.
She cried out as she crested, his name spilling from her lips, her pulse throbbing in both of his palms. He slowed, stroking her softly as her body grew pliant in his embrace. His lips trailed over her skin, his tongue soothing the heartbeat that jumped at her throat. She sank against him, and he drew his hands away, wrapping his arms around her, determined to keep her afloat. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he rested his scruffy cheek against her smooth one as she closed her eyes.
"Luke?" she whispered.
The moment he heard his name, his body tensed, his cock twitching against her back. "Mm hmm?"
"Can we have Jackson's victory party in the diner?" she asked in a rush.
He chuckled, and nuzzled her cheek, letting the thick bristles of his beard abrade her tender skin. "Well, I don't know," he began, his voice soft and slumberous. "Any good relationship involves a lot of give and take, right?"
Lorelai snickered. "Uh huh. Do I need to ask what you want?"
His hips moved, rubbing against her bottom suggestively. "What do you have to offer?"
Lorelai pressed her hands to the sides of the tub, leveraging herself from the water with a grunt. Water cascaded over the side as she turned to face him, the remnants of the bubbles clinging to her as gravity pulled them back to the tub. She looked down at him, her lips twitching as he brushed opalescent bubbles from the hair matted to his chest.
Extending one hand, her smile grew wide and inviting, and her voice warm and husky as she whispered, "I'll make it worth your while."
