Chapter Nine

Lorelai woke up to a swoosh of cold air. Damn, she had been having such a nice dream. She was being held, actually, Luke was making love to her. And it was all she had hoped it would be, only better. Their kisses hot and probing, their hands uncontrollable, and the passion undeniable. She reluctantly opened her eyes and slowly focused on his silhouette by the window. His robe was loosely tied, exposing dark chest hair, and a little of his masculine beauty below. He seemed agitated, and out of breath. She was naked; her nipples hard and wet from his lips, her body still tingled from his touch.

"Hey, I was having the most wonderful dream. You were there, and this big bed and satin sheets...." She reached over and ran her fingers across the satin sheets.

"It wasn't a dream, was it?"

"Nope."

"Luke? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm just frustrated and feeling stupid."

"Stupid?"

"Yeah, thinking I could spend the night with you and something like this wouldn't happen."

"It's ok Luke. Nothing really happened."

"But it almost did."

"But it didn't. And it wouldn't have been a tragedy if it had."

He smiled down at her. "Nope, not a tragedy. Just too much, too soon."

"Ah, you're such a gentleman."

"You wouldn't say that if you knew what I was thinking right now.....not to mention what I was doing a few minutes ago."

Lorelai got out of the bed and pulled her robe back on. The sight was not lost on Luke. She had the most beautiful body he had ever seen, curvy and womanly. And everything about her just fit. Her breasts in his hands, her curves next to his, everything. He took a deep breath and turned to look out the window. She approached him from behind and wrapped her arms around him. Accidentally touching his bare chest but purposely leaving her hands there.

She gently kissed the back of his neck and ran her fingers through his chest hair. She was surprised when he abruptly pulled away.

"Lorelai, I can't do this just now."

Luke walked to the bathroom and dropped his robe. He quickly pulled his clothes on, but not before Lorelai caught a glimpse of his magnificent naked form. His strong back, his round firm butt, strong shoulders leading to muscular arms and those huge hands—the hands that had gently caressed every part of her.

Luke stormed out of the room, slamming the door and bringing her to her senses.

Lorelai crawled back into bed. She lay there and thought about their night together. It had been perfect until now. Now Luke was gone with no explanation and she was alone in this big bed with all these feelings reeling through her mind.

She dragged herself out of their bed and pulled her clothes on. When she left the room, she saw Luke's truck pulling away. He was really leaving. She had hoped he'd be waiting for her in the kitchen. She had hoped he would hand her a cup of coffee, and make some joke about their night. She had hoped.

Lorelai quietly let herself into the girl's room, just wanting to change for the day. She just had to greet the few remaining guests during this last breakfast and then she could go home. She so needed to be home to deal with all the confusion in her life. How could ones life change so completely in such a short time?

She glanced at the bed. Lane and Rory looked so young and innocent sleeping there. She wished they could just stay that way. And then she remembered that Rory had lost a little of that innocence. She exited the room, gently pulling the door closed behind her.

The morning went quickly and before she knew it she was in the jeep on her way home. Rory was dropping Lane off in town, so Lorelai had time to jump into the shower. The hot water cascaded over her body, all those parts that Luke had touched, all those parts that Luke had rejected. She knew it was too soon, but she wanted him too. She wished she could turn her thoughts off, as easily as she turned off the water flow. She towel dried her body gently. Luke had left her swollen and tender, another reminder of the night. She hoped she had left some sort of reminder on his body. It had gotten pretty out of control there for a while.

Rory was pouring two mugs of coffee when Lorelai finally wandered into the kitchen. She had trained her daughter well.

"So, is this a living room talk or an across-the-kitchen table type talk?" Lorelai asked her daughter.

"I think a kitchen table, look-in-the-face, type talk."

"So, how was the rest of your weekend?"

"Actually, better than expected. Lane and I laughed and she made me forget certain things for a while. She's so young and innocent, and fun to just hang out with."

"And you are?"

"Not so innocent anymore. Actually, I'm feeling immature and stupid, but I'm adjusting. Thanks for giving me some time to just chill out and have some fun. I did a lot of thinking. I didn't murder anyone -- I just slept with the wrong guy. Well, maybe not the wrong guy. Just at the wrong time. I'm still not upset that it was with Dean. Sorry."

"Somewhere in the back of my mind, that statement makes a little sense. You don't have to apologize to me." Lorelai noticed her daughter seemed a little older and wiser.

"I know. I just..."

"Made a mistake. We all do. I guess it was just your turn. But honey, did it have to be such a big one?"

"Mom!"

"Sorry, it slipped out."

"Mom, I understand so much more now. About you and dad, how it all happened. Guys, hormones – they make us do crazy things."

"Tell me about it. Did you tell Lane?"

"No, not really. I told her something happened with Dean and left it at that. But when we went into my room to grab some CD's, well, the evidence was still there. I'm sure she noticed."

"Maybe not."

"Mom, she's innocent, but bright. I'm sure she put two and two together. After you left that night, I just pulled the door closed. I spent the night in your bed. So my room was exactly as you last saw it."

Lorelai flashed back to the scene. . "Ok, so today is a new day. And we are both starting it fresh and new. A little wiser and a whole lot happier, right?"

"Right.' Rory answered with honest conviction.

Lorelai hugged her daughter and they both picked up there coffee mugs and took a huge sip. Rory looked up from her mug.

"So, you and Luke."

"Yep, me and Luke."

"You spent the night together"

Yep, we did. Slept in the same bed all night."

"Uhm"

"Slept together, but not SLEPT together."

"Oh."

"Well, it just seems too soon. I don't want to go too fast and ruin it. This thing with Luke, it's so unexpected and yet it feels so right. God , life is full of surprises."

"Mom, I may be nineteen and stupid about my own life. But if there's one thing I'm sure about, its Luke's feelings toward you. They have always been there. You just couldn't see it, and I guess, neither did he. But the way you two have always been together. It just always seemed right with you two. You're so different, but so much the same -- he's like your life 'puzzle piece'."

Lorelai cracked up laughing. "He'd love to hear you say that!"

"I can see the eye roll now."

It felt so good for the girls to be talking like this. Best friends again, just a little more on an adult level. They had gone through a tough time, and survived. There was still more to go through, but the worst was over.

"So last night?"

"Last night started out good. We were mature and adult and kept everything at bay. But then in the middle of the night, something happened. It freaked us both out, him more than me. And this morning, he just left me there."

Rory looked at her and asked, "So now?'

"I need to go to him."

"You know you may have to drag him away from that 'nervous' counter wiping he always does."

"Hey, I thought I was the only one who noticed that. You have been watching."

Rory laughed, "For ages."

"I hope he's ready to talk."

"If he's wants this to work, he will be."

"Getting him alone may not be easy, but I have my ways." Lorelai smiled knowingly.

"I've noticed, taken note and filed it away for future reference."

"Smart girl."

"I'm on the outside looking in on this one. As long as it doesn't pertain to my own life, I'm an expert. And, as for Luke, well, he already feels like family."

Along with Rory's obvious approval, Lorelai detected a sad note there, but she knew it was time to let her little girl deal with her own demons. She could now see her daughter, warts and all, and the special mother daughter bond was stronger than ever. And she was pleased. Now she had to face her own life, and her new life with Luke. Time shouldn't matter, love is love after all, when ever it comes into your life. She was learning that from both her daughter and the new man in her life. At least, she hoped he was still in her life.

True love never runs smoothly!!