"What's this?" he whispered in amusement, voice still raw, smiling against her skin. "Awake? Lorelai Gilmore awake at this hour?"
"I should leave, now, before your daughter…before April…"
His body stiffened when he heard her say April's name.
"No, it's OK, relax," she assured him. "Remember, I'm a parent too…" She wrapped her arms more tightly around him. "And you should know by now, after all that's happened, that you don't need to tiptoe around me…"
"You're right," Luke sighed. "I just hate…I just don't want you to ever again feel like less than what you mean to me."
Lorelai wiggled her way up so that she was face to face with him. Rubbing her nose gently across his, she acknowledged his tacit apology.
"I promise I'll make it up to you when we're married," Luke added, after gently stroking her hair. "You won't ever have to go and leave me like this." And then he gave a look that electrified Lorelai, all excitement and reassurance and promise.
"Did I ever tell you that you were the first and only man who ever slept in my bed, in the Crap Shack? I always kept that part of my life separate from Rory."
"Even Max?" Luke asked with a touch of wonder in his voice.
"Yeah. Even Max." Lorelai then laughed. "But hey, why am I discussing other men when I am in your bed?" She kissed him. "I. Love. You. But I need to leave."
Luke enveloped her even tighter within his arms, then reluctantly reached over and pulled on some sweats, as Lorelai gathered her clothing.
Once both were dressed, Luke practically smothered Lorelai's head against his chest, as Lorelai encircled his waist with her two loving arms. They helped each other to the suite door, even as Lorelai murmured a continuous mantra of "I love you"s and held onto him tightly.
"Where are you going to be?" Luke murmured as he opened the door and ushered her into the hallway.
"My office," Lorelai clarified, "the one behind the reception desk. I need to type something up on the computer and send it to Durham Group Headquarters."
"Oh yeah?" Luke queried absentmindedly, between the kisses he just couldn't seem to stop exchanging with her.
"My resignation from this contract."
"MMM….Okay…" he gave her a final kiss, then a quick smack on the posterior, causing her to giggle.
"Call me before you leave for the airport?" Lorelai asked.
"Of course!" Luke said, and then suddenly, he realized what she had just said she'd be doing. "Lorelai, wait…resignation letter?"
She shook her head in the affirmative.
"But what about your big chance with Mike Armstrong?"
"Doesn't seem so hot here, with no one to share it with. I want to go home," Lorelai declared. "I'm ready to go home."
Luke started towards her again.
"No, Luke…I don't want any of the kids to see us in the hall outside your room. They'll be getting up soon. Just give me a call, OK?"
"OK."
------
A few hours later, Trish shook Lorelai awake.
"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!"
Lorelai stretched, quickly trying to get her bearings.
"Sleeping on the office couch, huh?" Trish teased. "Don't tell me that that gorgeous man kicked you out of his bed?" she proclaimed in mock shock.
Lorelai grimaced. "No. He's got a kid and I…"
"Had to get out of Dodge before the kid saw ya. 'Nuff said," Trish responded with understanding. "Well feel free to shower in any unbooked room and…"
"I'm quitting," Lorelai blurted out.
"What?" Trish seemed quite surprised.
"I haven't really been honest as to why I'm out here…" Lorelai started.
"Look, no problem. Your job is between Mike and you. Take care of things and let me know…"
"I'm thinking of leaving this weekend. I hate to do this to you…"
-----
Later that day, Luke called Lorelai's office.
"Ms. Gilmore's not in the office right now, sir," Trish responded. "May I…"
And then it dawned on her.
"Are you her…friend from back East?"
"I'm Luke."
"Luke. Well Luke, Lorelai's resting in Room 144. It seems she was…busy…working…all night."
She was met with an embarrassed silence.
"As I said, Room 144."
-----
Lorelai was awake when Luke knocked on the door. Lorelai quickly let him into the room, and he, just as quickly, appraised her appearance. She was wrapped in a plush hotel robe, her hair still damp.
"It's not going to be easy, is it?" Luke asked. "When we get back. Dealing with Anna."
Lorelai sighed. "Hon, you have a gift for understatement." She looked at him then, and he could see the longing in her eyes. "Every day will be a struggle between my wanting to give her what she deserves, and my brain…"
Luke looked at her, clearly not quite understanding her meaning.
"Look. She makes me so angry. How could she have done this to you? Kept your own kid from you for all these years. When I went to see her that time after the party, I so wanted to strangle her for the hurt she's caused you and April. How can she live with herself? Twelve years, Luke. Twelve years!"
"Lorelai. Lorelai! Stop!" Luke squeezed her shoulders gently, getting her to focus on him and stop her rant. "I know. It is what it is."
Lorelai was clearly still angry, and tears--of both anger and empathy for Luke--were forming in her eyes.
"Geez, Lorelai, I'm so sorry that all this happened. Aw geez…" He stopped to wipe a tear from her face, "I've made you cry again."
"It was a horrid thing to do to you, Luke." She twined her fingers with his. "What are you going to do when you get back?"
"I'm getting a lawyer. My friend Ed has a buddy who knows one of the soccer team dads…"
Lorelai nodded her approval.
"I finally feel that April has accepted me as her dad. Maybe it'll be easier to deal with her mom now. But let's wait 'til you get back to Stars Hollow to talk about that. Right now…I just want to be with you. Lorelai…"
He stopped, gulped down a breath, and then continued. "I want…I want you to stop punishing yourself. None of this was your fault. I should have told you the very first day when April came in with that silly helmet…"
"Silly helmet? Sounds like I might like to hear more…"
"I don't want anyone else but you. Don't want to make love with anyone else but you." He brought her hand to his lips, turning her palm up, kissing it. He flicked his tongue lightly against the middle of her palm, then traced the lines there with just the tip.
"Luke...you are a bad, bad boy."
"And you love me for it."
"Yes, I do."
Lorelai couldn't help herself. She leaned in and kissed him, and before long, they were devouring each other. Her lips found their way to his ear and she licked his earlobe.
"A quickie before you have to pack up and leave?" she tempted him.
He smiled.
tbc