"Are you sure you're ready to go back to work?", he asked.
"Yes, mom. I'm sure."
"Don't get mad at me for being worried about you. I need you to be okay."
"Luke," she said, grabbing his shoulders and turning him to face her. "I am going to be fine. Dr. Hastings said so himself. All my bones, cuts, and bruises are healed and I can return to my routine activities gradually and in moderation. It's all on that paper you forced me to hang on the fridge."
"I just don't want you to overwork yourself," he said, his voice soft.
"I know. And you're incredibly sweet for that, and for so many other reasons. But I need to get back to my life. I promise, if I start to feel pain or feel sick, I'll step back. Deal?"
"Yeah. Deal."
She closed the space between them, wrapping her arms around his waist as he did the same. They both marveled at the feeling that the embrace introduced them to. It was warm. It was comfortable. It was familiar. And they fit, metaphorically and literally.
As they began to part, his nose skimmed her hair, then her ear, then her cheek, and without warning, she turned her head, giving him no choice but to allow his lips to brush over hers.
They barely touched at first. They took their time trying to comprehend their feelings. The series of short, light kisses turned to slow, drawn out pecks. They were careful not to move too fast, but also eager to show one another a deeper affection.
She retracted her arms from around his waist and slid her hands up over his stomach and chest, finally letting them wrap around his neck and pull him closer to her.
As he brought his hands up to hold her face, he deepened the kiss, claiming her lips with his own, desperate for the contact he'd been craving for half a decade.
She pulled back to catch her breath and focused her attention on the kitchen floor. Taking hold of her chin with his thumb and forefinger, he lifted her face and guided her lips back to his, kissing her again, slowly and gently.
Hesitantly, his tongue glided over her lower lip, a feeling that both surprised and ignited her. She sensed his uncertainty and opened her eyes to find his already looking at her. He saw the permission in her gaze, as she parted her lips, granting him all the access he needed to take this deeper. He massaged her tongue with his, applying different pressures to different areas inside her mouth. He made mental notes of the things that she responded best to, determined to memorize every action that brought her pleasure. The frequent moans coming from the depths of her throat reassured him, letting him know that he was doing something right.
He smiled against her lips, infatuated with the feeling that kissing Lorelai Gilmore brought him.
This is perfect. This is amazing.
Fueled by the desire he was pouring into this kiss, she moved her tongue against his in response, hoping to convey the same passion back to him.
Their tongues soon found a synchronicity that neither had ever experienced with any other person before.
Oh my god, our lips were created for one and other.
Damn, I wish I could remember how far is far enough without crossing that line.
I hope he's not expecting anything.
What the hell, Lorelai? You sound like a 15-year-old catholic school girl.
No, you're right. It's Luke. It needs to be more than this.
"Luke," she attempted, his mouth muffling her voice.
"hmmm?" she was surprised he'd heard her.
She pulled back, both of their chests heaving from a lack of oxygen.
Their eyes locked and he smiled, knowing exactly what she was thinking.
"Yea, you're right," he said in response to her thoughts.
"You're going to have to buy me dinner first."
"Believe me, I plan on it."
"I'm not a cheap date."
"I assumed as much."
She kept her eyes locked with his, her arms now loosely draped around his neck.
"I really like you."
"I really like you too," he replied in adoration.
"Are you busy Saturday night?", he continued. "I have a date that I promised to take you on."
"I'm all yours," she said and then, lowering her voice, added "and I don't just mean Saturday."
His mouth opened but no words came out. His lips were moving but no sound could be heard. He closed his mouth and simply looked at her in wonder.
She's the one.