Coming Ashore
Lorelai blinked her eyes open. It was early. Far earlier than their usual wake-up time on their trip. The birds were chirping outside, and a pale morning light was filtering in through the blinds. She looked at the clock and found it was just shy of 6am.
Luke was up, in the shower currently. The sound of the water coming on is what roused her.
She groaned and closed her eyes again, willing sleep to come back. They only had a few hours left of their vacation, this was not the time to give up on precious sleep.
She had just started to doze when Luke came back into the room. She felt the mattress depress as he sat next to her and teased her hair away from her face with a gentle finger.
She mumbled sleepily, "Go back to sleep. It's not even tomorrow yet."
Luke chuckled. "It's tomorrow. Get up. There's something I want to show you."
Lorelai groaned loudly. "Luuuuke," she whined.
He nudged her and she opened one eye, squinting up at him. He was watching her with a smile, a little amused, but still adoring. He was naked, save for a towel secured around his waist.
"Come on." He leaned down and kissed her forehead before getting up and heading for the dresser.
"Okay, if – if – I get up with you right now at 10-past-nothing-o'clock, where are we going and why?" she asked as she pushed herself up into a seated position. She watched without shame as Luke dropped his towel, enjoying the view thoroughly.
"It's a surprise. But you have to get up now if you want to see it before we leave," he shot over his shoulder. She made a face as he covered his singular best asset with swimming trunks.
"That's not much of a sales pitch. This bed is extremely comfortable."
Luke sighed and turned around to face her, hands on his hips. She grinned at the view.
"Drop those and come back to bed," she said suggestively, pointing to the shorts.
Unfazed, he said, "Get up. I'll make it worth your while, I promise." Lorelai heaved a dramatic sigh and her shoulders sunk as she realized she wasn't going to entice him back into bed with her.
"Fine. Wherever we're going, there'd better be coffee."
XXXX
Lorelai followed Luke closely, her hand in his as he led them down a path that snaked through the jungle-like forest that surrounded the resort.
"Are we even supposed to be in here?" she asked.
Luke chuckled. "It's totally fine, don't worry."
"Okay, but when we both get bit by radioactive spiders, is there an antidote on hand or do we just become Spidermen? Spider people?"
"We're not gonna get bit by anything," Luke said, patiently. He continued to lead her further into the woods.
"If I die out here, I want my mother to get my monkey lamp," Lorelai continued on. "And the clown pillow. Make sure she gets them, with specific instructions that they have to go in the formal living room to honour my memory."
Luke shook his head with amusement, and took them down the left-most path when the trail forked in two directions.
"Seriously, where are we going? Do you even know?"
"I know," he told her.
"But how do you know? Does your mountain man-ness extend to foreign countries now?"
"Yes," he said simply. Lorelai stopped walking and he halted at the tug on his hand. She eyed him nervously. "Lorelai, relax. I came out here yesterday when you were getting your massage. I know where we're going, I know what we're going to find there, and I know how to get back. Okay?"
She eyed him skeptically for a moment longer, before conceding.
"Fine. Lead the way," she allowed. Luke leaned in and gave her a quick kiss before heading further down the path.
Lorelai heard it before she saw it, the falling water. They rounded a corner and her breath was taken by the sight – a waterfall emptying into a pool of crystal clear water, surrounded by lush vegetation that made it feel like a scene out of a fantasy movie.
"Wow," Lorelai said in a breath. "This is beautiful."
Luke smiled. "I found it the other day and wanted to show you. I figured if we got up early enough, we'd have the place to ourselves." He caught her eye, "Worth the 6am wake-up call?"
Lorelai couldn't help but grin. "Yes. But don't get used to me getting up super early with you. When we go home, I expect you to let me sleep in on weekends."
Luke chuckled. "Fair enough. Come on." He took her hand and led her closer to where the water spilled over the edge of a low cliff. They each ditched their clothes and belongings, save for their swimsuits, and headed for the falls. There was a rocky shelf behind the falling water, which they eased onto so they could watch it cascade into the pool. It was a beautiful sight, leaving them feeling like they were in a private oasis.
Lorelai reached a hand out into the spray. She smiled, finding the temperature pleasant and inviting. She let Luke pull her into his arms, and they quietly enjoyed the moment, taking pleasure in simply being together in this place, trying not to think about leaving for home in just a few hours.
"This might be the perfect moment," Lorelai whispered. She placed a kiss to his bare chest as she snuggled in closer.
"Yeah, I think so," Luke agreed quietly. He looked down at her as she took in the scene, and almost felt winded by the intensity of his emotions. Being with Lorelai had been a dream of his for so long, and although he had many times considered what it would be like to be with her, to hold her like this, the reality of it was well beyond anything he could have imagined.
Lorelai peered up at him, a smile gracing her features. Luke caught her gaze, her clear blue eyes darker in this secluded place, but no less expressive.
Maybe it was the fairytale romance of the moment, or the reasonable assurance that they wouldn't be interrupted, but Luke felt a surge of primal need as he stood in this place with the woman he had fallen for. He captured her lips easily, starting soft and then building in intensity. His tongue parted her lips and she wound hers around his in her mouth. He swallowed her groans of pleasure as their hands began to move over hot, damp bodies.
There was no particularly good or easy way to make love here, in a cave behind a waterfall, but Luke wouldn't be deterred. He dropped his shorts and eagerly pulled Lorelai's bathing suit off her body, kissing her ardently as the clothes were shed.
Lorelai let him take the lead, knowing full well that he would take care of her. He turned her away from him, bent at the knees and entered her from behind, holding her body close with an arm across her chest, his hand cupping her breast gently, and his other snaking down between her legs to enhance her pleasure.
Luke pumped in slow, deliberate thrusts. Lorelai wrapped an arm around his neck and dropped her head back onto his shoulder, succumbing to the feelings he was creating within her. With his mouth next to her ear, she could hear his breath hitching on each thrust, his hot puffs of air teasing her skin. She groaned as his fingers began to spin circles around her clit, pleasuring her while his cock was deep inside. With her free hand, she found the firm curve of his ass, feeling the muscles playing with each thrust.
The roaring of the waterfall, the chirping of the birds, the sound of his desire, it created a cacophony around Lorelai and she let her eyes close as she gave in to the sensory overload as Luke took her to new heights. She felt completely encompassed by sensation, and her body hummed with need as she neared her inevitable peak.
Luke could feel her climax coming almost as acutely as his own. He felt her body shiver against him, her wetness saturating his cock and fingers as they worked in tandem to bring her over the edge. He groaned as she moved back into each of his thrusts, making a harder connection each time he filled her.
When she cried out, it echoed through the shallow cave, off the limestone and washed away by the falling water. Luke felt her tightening around him, squeezing him for all he was worth, until he gave himself over to his pleasure and came inside of her with deep, jerking thrusts.
Luke held her for moments longer as they came down. Both of his hands migrated to her breasts and he massaged them tenderly, bringing small moans from the back of Lorelai's throat as she luxuriated in the feel of his hands on her body.
When they finally parted, Lorelai turned to face him and she kissed him, long and slow. She attempted to pour everything into it, the way he made her feel, not just now, but all the time. She wanted to share the depth of her emotion, all the while contending with the intensity he gave right back to her.
When they parted, reluctantly, Luke searched her face for the answers to all of his questions; was she okay with what was happening between them? Was she falling in love like he was?
She smiled back at him, a small, but comfortable and reassuring grin.
Yes, she told him without words. The answer was yes.
XXXX
Planes, trains and automobiles. Well… no trains, but they may as well have been included as Lorelai and Luke finally pulled into her driveway after hours of travel.
The pair made the most of the morning. After packing up their belongings, they enjoyed their last breakfast buffet, swam in the pool, and lounged by the ocean until the time came to check out and catch their bus to the airport.
Neither was in a rush to leave their tropical paradise, but they were both ready to rejoin society, refreshed and reinvigorated. Unfortunately, returning home also meant popping the lovely bubble they had been living in since they finally gave into their feelings for each other. Now, they would have to share the news, and endure intrusive questioning from their lovable but annoying friends and neighbours.
Luke had floated the idea of just keeping their relationship a secret for a while, so they wouldn't get bombarded. Lorelai was quick to dismiss that, knowing that hiding it would just make things harder when they got around to telling people. Besides, she was happy about this new development, so she wanted to share it with the people they loved, even if that meant tolerating some indelicate questions.
Once they finally hit the tarmac in Hartford, the pair hailed a cab that brought them back to Lorelai's house, where Luke had left his truck for the duration of their trip.
It was a little after 4pm. Luke knew that heading home meant going headlong into the dinner rush at the diner, and Lorelai knew this too. It wasn't hard for her to convince him to stay awhile, prolong their vacation for just a few more hours before letting the world in again.
The first time Lorelai made love to a man in her own bed, it was Luke Danes. Somehow, she wasn't surprised by that. She was delighted to learn that it wasn't vacation magic that made them such impressive lovers. Luke's physicality and attentiveness were just as potent on American soil as they were anywhere else.
When Luke finally did go home, Lorelai tried to busy herself with putting her things away and doing laundry, checking her overflowing email and getting back to some of the mundane normalcy of everyday life. She wasn't quite prepared for how quickly the feelings of loneliness could set in. After being with Luke almost 24/7 for a week, his absence was keenly felt.
She busied herself as best she could. She called Rory and caught her up on all that had happened between her and Luke, relieved to learn her daughter was just as excited about her new relationship as she was. When she called Sookie with the news, she had to pull the phone away from her ear and endure three solid minutes of shrieking, 'I knew this was going to happen,' as her best friend made no effort to hide her enthusiasm for the pairing.
Between phone calls and chores, Lorelai managed to while away most of the night. It was after 9:30 when she finished folding her last load of clothes and putting them away. By then she knew the diner would be closed and Luke would be starting his own nightly rituals in his apartment.
She snagged her keys and a warm jacket to fend off the cool December air before venturing out.
XXXX
Luke puttered around his apartment. When he returned home, he unpacked and then went down to relieve Caesar, opting to close up himself and give his right-hand man a much-deserved break. The night wasn't too busy, much to his relief. He wasn't prepared for the full onslaught tonight. Tomorrow, maybe, but not just yet.
After closing, he went upstairs and had a quick shower before changing into warm pajamas to ward off the wintry chill in the air. He had become acclimated to searing heat, and his drafty apartment wasn't doing much to keep him warm. Not for the first time since returning home, he wished he and Lorelai were snuggled up in bed together. He thought about calling and inviting her over, but he didn't want to come across as too desperate. He knew Lorelai could be easily spooked, especially this early in a relationship. The last thing he wanted to do was come on too strong.
Instead, he opted to open a bottle of beer, sink into his trusty old leather chair, and watch some baseball. It was his typical wind-down after a long day. He just hoped it would be enough to keep him from embarrassing himself.
He had just gotten comfortable when the phone rang. Not quite able to stop himself, he leapt from the chair and crossed the room in a few long strides, picking up after the second ring.
"Hello?"
"You know what I really miss?"
He chuckled. "What's that?"
"Bottomless margaritas. Do you make a good margarita?"
"I wouldn't know, never drink the stuff."
"Well how about a piña colada. Can you do one of those?"
"I can offer you a cup of coffee and Caesar's apple pie. Not as good as mine, but it'll do in a pinch," he came back.
"How about warmth. Can you offer me warmth? Because this whole 'December in Connecticut' thing is kind of bumming me out."
"I've got blankets."
"Is that your way of inviting me over?"
"In so many words," he said lightly.
"I thought you'd be sick of me by now."
"Surprisingly, no, not yet."
"Well good, because I'm downstairs."
Luke's eyebrows raised. "You're downstairs?"
"Yup. And trapped outside. I'm gonna need a key or something if I'm going to be making regular visits to your den of iniquity."
Luke chuckled and slipped on his sneakers, heading for the door. "Give me a sec, I'll come let you in."
Downstairs, he caught sight of her peering through the glass into the darkened diner with her face between cupped hands. She backed away as he unlocked the door and opened it for her.
"There's a spare key above the door," he said, pointing upward to the frame. Lorelai grinned.
"Does anyone else know about it?"
"Just you, Caesar and Jess."
"Ooh, I feel like I'm part of a club or something."
"Yes, it's very exclusive. Now get in here, it's freezing," he said gesturing for her to enter. She headed for the counter as he relocked the door and then went for the coffee maker.
"You know, as much as I'm sure you enjoyed having the week off from making coffee, I have to say, I'm glad we're back, because the stuff at the resort kind of sucked."
Luke chuckled as he prepared the brew and turned on the machine. "Glad to know I've got a loyal customer."
"For life, Baby," she confirmed. She smiled and looked down at her hands on the counter before peering back up at him. "So it's been like four hours and I already miss you. Is that pathetic?"
"Yes, definitely." She shot him a glare and he chuckled. "I may have missed you too. A bit."
"Just a bit?" she prompted.
"Slightly more than a bit, but I'm trying to be cool here."
"Ah yes, nothing says 'cool' like PJs before 10 o'clock," she said, gesturing to his sweats and long-sleeved shirt. Luke smiled sheepishly.
"I wasn't expecting company."
"Well, I tried not to come, but I was craving coffee," she said nonchalantly. Luke nodded.
"Completely understandable."
"You know I've come to really enjoy coffee," Lorelai said. She took a few steps and rounded the counter, coming to stand next to him. He turned so they were facing each other head on. "Me and coffee, I think we may have a future together."
Luke grinned. "Yeah?"
She moved forward and circled his waist with her arms, his immediately encircling her as well.
"Yeah. You know I've had other hot beverages. Lots of tea, hot chocolate, whatever. But I think coffee might just be what I've been missing all these years."
Luke leaned down and kissed her gently.
"And the way coffee goes down… man, smooth…" she went on.
"Shh," Luke quieted her and kissed her again, more intently. She smiled into the kiss as he took it deep, enjoying the play of his tongue over hers, the faint taste of beer on his lips. With her eyes closed she could almost pretend they were back on the resort, ready for another tumble in the sheets. She took hold of his shirt in two fists and began to back them toward the curtain.
"I thought you wanted coffee?" he said, breaking the kiss.
"Coffee can wait," she said. "Right now, I really need coffee."
Luke chuckled and shook his head. "Junkie."
"Got a problem with that?"
He shook his head. "Nope."
She grinned. "Good."
Luke kissed her again, harder this time, and they sunk into that familiar dance that they had perfected over the past several days. Her lips parted under his and he took the opening, tasting her again. He had to admit, if she was a junkie, so was he.
Luke turned them and pushed her back against the counter. His hands, seeming to have a mind of their own, found her backside and pulled her hips into his so she could feel exactly how much he did not mind her presence now that they were back on home turf. Lorelai moaned into his mouth, and her hands went for the top of his sweatpants.
Luke broke the kiss. "Let's go upstairs," he suggested huskily, before she could get too far. She eyed him conspiratorially.
"I want you here."
He shook his head with a chuckle. "Not a chance."
"Oh no?" Her hand snaked past the elastic waistband and grasped his burgeoning erection. He grunted at the direct contact. "Still a no?" she asked, innocently. She began to pump.
"Still a hard no," he replied. She grinned.
"Well, something is hard, at least," she came back. He shook his head.
"Lorelai…"
"Stop me," she cut him off. "If you don't want this here, stop me. Take me where you want me." She caught his eyes, seeing a look of unmitigated pleasure crossing his face. "Just take me, Luke."
"Fuck," Luke whispered, making her moan.
"God, I love when I make you curse. Makes me feel powerful," she told him. Luke narrowed his gaze.
"What else do you like?" he asked. He reached down between them, careful not to disrupt what she was doing to him, and brought his hand to cup her sex, applying pressure.
"Ung, that's good. Big fan of that," she said, panting a little at the contact. He moved his fingers over her, hard enough to be felt through the layers of material. She responded by tightening her grip.
"Jesus," he groaned. He pulled his hand away just long enough to undo her jeans and push them down over her hips, along with her underwear. His hand went back between her legs, this time making direct contact with her pulsing clit, making her gasp.
Luke took her neck then, dropping long, hard kisses, punctuated with nips and drags of his teeth as they each worked to bring the other up. He began to pump into her hand, quickly needing more as he dipped two curled fingers inside of her, finding her more than ready for him.
"You're so wet," he whispered in her ear. She moaned as his thumb grazed her clit.
"God yes," she told him in a harsh whisper. "I'm so wet. You make me so fucking wet."
He nipped her earlobe. "I want you," he said, his voice gruff and raw with need.
"Take me," she demanded. He pulled back and looked down at her, both their eyes darkened with desire. "Take me, Luke. I'm yours."
Luke growled as he pulled back. He grabbed Lorelai by the waist and turned her around – carefully enough so she wouldn't trip over her pants around her ankles, but perhaps not as delicately as he would if they were making love in a bed. She leaned on the counter for balance.
His sweatpants hit the floor, and he grabbed his cock and put it at her entrance. "Never again, you hear me?"
"Whatever you say, Doll," she teased breathlessly over her shoulder. He put the head of his cock inside.
"Never again," he repeated, more for his own benefit than hers, and he thrust all the way in, making Lorelai cry out at the sudden invasion.
His hands claimed her hips as he set up a hard and fast pace, occasionally eyeing the windows to make sure no one was walking by. Even though the blinds were half-drawn, he was certain they were going to get caught like this.
For some reason that he could not immediately suss out, that concern did nothing to tamp down his need for her. If anything, it made him want her more. He knew then that there was nothing he wouldn't do for – or to – Lorelai Gilmore, if she wanted it from him.
Lorelai was never a quiet lover, this he had come to learn. But as he fucked her from behind in his diner, her noises seemed to fill the space around him in a way he knew would linger. He'd be hearing this when he went to work every morning. He'd be feeling her heat consuming his cock. He'd be imagining her bent over this counter with every meal he served.
He pumped harder, faster.
"Luke!" Lorelai exclaimed as the first wave of her orgasm began to build. She bucked back into him, doubling the intensity, giving as good as she got. Her legs began to shake and the tightening coil in her gut snapped. She let out a long, loud cry as she was overcome.
Luke felt every second of her release, squeezing him with her unimaginably tight muscles. She dragged his climax out of him, as much as he surrendered to it. He grunted loudly through clenched teeth as he came, hard.
Lorelai dropped down onto her crossed forearms, resting her head on them as she breathed heavily. Luke dropped his forehead to her back, wrapping his arms around her as he did the same.
"I'll take that coffee now," Lorelai said weakly. Luke huffed a laugh, prompting her own, until they were nearly in hysterics in the middle of the darkened diner, their pants around their ankles and Luke's spent erection barely hanging limply between them.
When the pair finally did manage to right themselves, Lorelai fixed herself some coffee and sipped it quietly while Luke insisted on giving the area a full disinfecting wipe down. She smiled to herself as she watched him clean.
Three weeks ago she called into a radio contest on a whim. It turns out, she was even luckier than she thought.
XXXX
Epilogue
Lorelai smiled as she ebbed into consciousness. The smell of Luke surrounded her like a warm blanket. She had an immediate physiological to response to that, one she figured she would eventually get used to; but for now, she let herself enjoy it.
Opening her eyes, she found herself alone in Luke's single bed. The sun was just starting to rise; it was just after 6:30, and the days were getting shorter and shorter. She thought about her wake up call the day before, and how sunlight streamed into the room. It was different here, but not necessarily for the worse. Waking up in Luke's bed, after cuddling up with him all night, put her in the best possible frame of mind to return to her regular grind. Life was getting busier and more complicated, but at least she had this. She had Luke. The rest would work itself out.
She climbed out of bed and put herself together as best she could without any of her belongings. Some toothpaste on her finger had to sub in for a toothbrush. A quick finger-comb of her hair – not willing to let Luke's fine-toothed comb anywhere near her curls – ended with her just pulling the untamed strands up into a messy bun. She'd put herself together properly at home.
As she was donning her clothes from the night before, she spotted a note left on the bedside table. She smiled as she read Luke's hasty scrawl.
Went downstairs to open the diner. Coffee's ready when you are.
She chuckled. He knew the way to this girl's heart, that was for sure.
Slipping on her shoes and coat, she headed for the door.
Downstairs the breakfast rush was well underway. Lorelai went behind the counter to where Luke was standing by the register.
"Morning," he greeted, smiling.
"Hey, Handsome." She tilted her chin up, inviting a sweet kiss. Luke tried to keep it quick, but she pulled him back in, lingering for a moment longer before letting him go.
"Coffee?" he offered.
"I'll take it to go. I have to get home and get ready." He nodded his understanding and poured her a to-go cup, securing the lid before handing it to her.
"Will I see you later today?" he asked.
"A girl's gotta eat," she confirmed. He smiled at that.
"And later?"
She shot him a sly grin. "A girl's gotta eat," she repeated, winking for effect.
"You're a master of subtlety," he told her.
"Do you want subtle, or do you want me?" she asked, pointedly. He heaved a heavy sigh, as if considering his options, only to receive a well-earned smack on the arm. He chuckled.
"I guess I'll see you tonight then. Your place?"
"Hon, until you upgrade the bed, I'm gonna say 'my place' is a given," she told him.
"I'll order a new bed today," he promised.
Lorelai gasped. "King-sized?"
"Sure, if you don't mind my entire apartment being a bed," he deadpanned.
"That sounds perfect, actually." He shook his head amusedly.
"How about a queen?"
She sighed dramatically, "Fine. I'm accustomed to a certain standard of bed now, but I guess I can slum it, for you."
"Big of you."
"I do what I can." She nodded toward the door. "Okay, I really do need to go now. Kiss." She leaned in and Luke met her for another easy peck, before she slipped around the counter and headed for the door.
It was only then that they noticed the eyes of all of the diner's patrons glued to them. Patty, Babette, Mrs. Cassini, Kirk, Gypsy, East Side Tilly… all the biggest gossips. The room had gone silent as they waited for the couple to realize they had been spotted.
Lorelai met Luke's wide gaze, and shot him a grin. "Good luck with all this, Doll."
He rolled his eyes as she bolted. "Thanks for the support."
A/N - That's the game, folks! Thank you again for your kind reviews. It's a blast writing this stuff knowing there's still an audience for it. I hope you enjoyed the ending - I added on a little epilogue with the town finding out just for giggles. Let me know how you liked it!
