CHAPTER 33

'Look…' before her throat constricted and she couldn't breathe let alone talk.

Lucas, it was Lucas.

Lucas smiled the first genuine smile in three weeks, his girl was standing in front of him and she looked even more beautiful than he remembered. Albeit totally shell shocked. Peyton couldn't form a coherent thought let alone say anything, Lucas…he was here. In LA. He looked even better than she remembered, he seemed more rugged and muscled somehow… basketball maybe? Whatever it was it was making her breathing erratic and her heart race.

Before she could say anything Lucas' lips were crushing hers and without even a moments hesitation she was responding, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his lips to hers more.

Peyton's mind was all over the place, Lucas Scott was here and he was kissing her like his life depended on it and nothing had felt so good. Lucas moved them deftly backwards so that they stumbled slightly, one of his hands clipped the door of the apartment and it shut with a click before his hand found its way back to her hip, running slightly down her leg. He let out an audible groan at the short shorts she was wearing and a small smirk formed on her lips before she took Lucas' hand and pulled him towards her bedroom, opening the door quickly. They hesitated on the threshold looking into each other's eyes, excitement etched into their features.

Hesitantly this time Peyton stood on her tip toes and brushed her lips against his, almost immediately he demanded more in deepening the kiss and seconds later they were falling through her door, Lucas kicking it shut behind him as they kissed feverishly.

They fell onto her bed seconds later but before long she was letting out a chuckle against his lips, he withdrew his lips and looked down at her questioningly. She reached under her back that was pressed into the mattress and pulled a CD out from underneath. He took it off her with a smirk and threw it haphazardly over his shoulder, as she pulled his mouth back down to hers.

'Good album by the way.' He muttered moments later as they broke apart. Peyton couldn't help but laugh and wondered how she'd gone so long without him. She wondered little else as his lips worked wonders on her neck. When he pulled away she let out a small sound of protest and his lips curled into a grin before his eyes turned serious.

She rolled her eyes at him… was he really asking, in so many words, whether she wanted to do this? He looked so vulnerable that her heart ached. His eyes were serious, his eyebrows pulled together slightly… She sighed pulling herself up onto her elbows; he rose with her so that he was kneeling above her. The look didn't leave his face and she thought that taking matters into her own hands would probably be best…she didn't trust herself to speak without crying and so with a quick look at his face she pulled her tank top above and over her head, dropping it on the floor beside her bed. Lucas' eyes widened, secretly more than a little turned on as her hand found the back of his neck bringing his lips to hers once again.

Things seemed to progress quickly then and at the last garment of clothing they looked into each other's eyes again. Lucas had a fire in his eyes that Peyton had never seen so alight before, Peyton's were bright and sparkling unable to actually believe what was happening. How could this actually be happening?

Minutes later and they met as one for what felt like forever, Lucas groaned and his eyes fell shut, his face smoothing out and his lips finding hers once again. Peyton couldn't believe how different this could feel… yet still the same. She'd forgotten how perfect he felt, how Lucas' hands caressed her and she fell deeper and deeper into the pool of complete bliss. He was perfect as his lips moved from her neck back to her mouth. Lucas had thought about this moment a thousand times since she'd left, but he realised that his musings had never done it any justice. They were perfect together, they knew each other and they just fit together…like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

The inevitable end came too fast for both of them. He tried to move off of her, not wanting to crush her, but Peyton kept him there, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. Lucas braced his weight on one elbow. Blinking stupidly he couldn't seem to get rid of the white spots that flickered in front of his eyes as he looked down at the girl beneath him…chests pressed together and breath mingling, before he kissed her lips softly once again. Lucas clasped Peyton's hand with his shaking one tenderly and placed it over his heart, where it was still beating a mile a minute, Peyton just looked at him in nothing short of awe and then she placed his hand over her heart which he realised was beating just as fast as his. He breathed in deeply closing his eyes and resting their foreheads together. After a minute Peyton pressed her lips softly to his and his eyes opened again, the fire burning once more as her arms tangled around his neck.

Peyton tucked a hand under her cheek looking at the person lying next to her, Lucas had fallen asleep pretty quickly, no doubt exhausted from flying. Her eyes raked down his body stopping at the sheet which lay loosely at his hips, she fought the urge to run a hand across his torso.

What was he doing here?

She couldn't believe that they had yet to say a proper word to each other, they'd been so caught up that she realised she hadn't even said 'hello' or 'come on in'.

She was worried.

Before now she'd thought that if she could just spend half an hour with Lucas she'd be set but now… the thought of him doing the leaving this time near enough broke her heart.

Tears sprang to her eyes but she held them in impatiently, she shouldn't be crying…she should be ecstatic. The reality was that she was ecstatic and that was why the tears fell down her cheeks, it was just too good to be true, surely. Her memories somehow didn't capture the exact shade of his eyes or the faint crease in his forehead when he was concerned. But now his face was smooth as he slept and she couldn't decide on whether to carry on crying or wake him up so they could continue with their earlier activities.

She decided that she had to let him sleep, after all he'd just flown across the country for her so she turned onto her back, staring at the ceiling, only to wish she was looking at him once more, he was like a magnetic pull. After a few moments of inner battling she turned over once more only to find a pair of blue eyes looking back at her. The smile on his face nearly reduced her to tears again, she felt her eyes well up and Lucas' forehead creased in worry,

'Hey what's wrong?' He asked pulling her to him and stroking her face tenderly; Peyton blinked away the tears and said,

'I love you.'

Lucas smiled his heart feeling lighter than air, 'I love you too.'

She let out a puff of air she didn't know she'd been holding and he leaned down to kiss her softly. Her hands making their way idly across his chest as though memorising every muscle, she pulled away a moment later and exclaimed,

'Why are you here? I can't believe you're here!'

Lucas smiled, 'What, like, here in LA or here…in your bed?'

Peyton chuckled, 'Well being in LA led you to being in my bed.'

'Hmm. Actually I'm pretty sure that it was you who led me to your bed.' Lucas smirked.

'Luke.' Peyton said seriously.

Lucas sighed, 'I…needed to see you.'

'So you just up and left Tree Hill?!'

'Erm…yeah. I made the decision and was on a plane within the same hour.'

'Luke.' Peyton said again but this time her voice quivered dangerously.

'Nathan drove me to the airport…'

'Nathan did what!' Peyton interrupted, 'I would have thought they'd have tried to stop you.'

'Well Nathan was kind of like…cupid in that moment. He's turning into quite a softy.' Lucas chuckled.

'Evidently.' Peyton grinned.

'He said it was because he loved us both- and then he told me not to tell anyone that so don't tell him I told you else he will totally kick my ass!' Lucas said quickly.

'Secrets safe with me.' Peyton winked with a smile and Lucas kissed her lips once more before she murmured, 'It's not like I'll actually see him to tell him anyway.' Lucas looked at her and his eyes seemed more vulnerable by the second, 'Sorry. Carry on.' Peyton said intertwining their hands.

'Well he'd have to kick my ass after my mom's killed me anyway.'

'She wasn't pleased?' Peyton asked, knowing the answer.

'Actually I kind of…didn't tell her.'

'Luke!' Peyton exclaimed punching his chest lightly.

'She's going to be pissed.' Lucas said grimacing.

'Yeah…' Peyton sighed and waited a minute before saying. 'Then again…it was worth it.'

Lucas was surprised at the abrupt change but as her mouth formed a grin and she pressed her lips to his he couldn't help but agree.

'So worth it.' He agreed with a chuckle.

Smiling Peyton pulled his head down to hers for another kiss, 'I've…really…missed you…' She muttered in between kisses and Lucas knew that he'd never made a better impulsive decision than getting on that plane in Tree Hill airport.

Peyton laughed and Lucas grinned, he didn't know how he'd gone weeks without hearing that laugh. He couldn't help but stare at her, his memory of her was beautiful but in the flesh, he thought she was so much more. It was early morning and both had woken up, intent on spending time with the other. Peyton knew that by sleeping she was wasting time and Lucas seemed to know that as well. They lay face to face in bed talking, Lucas' arm draped across her, pulling her closer so their noses touched.

'How's Nathan and Haley and Brooke?'

Lucas smiled, 'They're good. Well of course they miss you too-'

'Obviously, who wouldn't?' Peyton smirked, sticking her tongue out and Lucas laughed again.

'Brooke and Chase still together?'

'Yep, now I know how Brooke felt before she began going out with Chase. I'm totally the one being left out.' Lucas pouted and Peyton sighed understandably, patting his cheek affectionately.

'How's you mom? How's the café doing?'

'Everything's fine Peyt, seriously.' Lucas smiled at her concern.

'I-I just…miss Tree Hill, y'know. With the river court, the café and TRIC and the beach…'

'You're missing the scenery, nice.' Lucas chuckled and Peyton swatted him carefully.

'Focusing on the things I don't miss as much makes me not focus on the things I do miss.'

Lucas nodded grimly, 'Unfortunately I don't have anything to focus on except you, because you are the only thing that I miss…'

A small lump formed in Peyton's throat as Lucas looked at her with haunted eyes as if remembering the last three weeks since she'd left vividly.

'How's school?' Peyton said quickly, trying to force Lucas' pain away.

'Okay, I mean basketball is the best part really…the worst being English Lit…'

'What? Luke you love literature.'

Lucas shrugged but Peyton saw the vulnerability in his eyes, 'It's just hard talking about love... which inevitably is what our whole literature curriculum is about.'

'I'm sorry.' Peyton answered with a grimace. Realising how much leaving had hurt him broke her heart.

'No, there's no need to be sorry; it's just been so hard without you.' Lucas said running a hand through her curls.

'Ditto.'

'I bet it's been easier with Jake here though right?' Lucas asked and although he hadn't meant to say it there was a definite note of bitterness in his voice.

Peyton's mouth fell open in surprise and she saw the hurt flash through Lucas' eyes. She tried to move away from him, feeling too guilty to lie in his arms but Lucas held her close, 'I'm sorry. I just…saw what happened last night, outside the apartment…'

Peyton eyes widened, 'You saw…everything?' As Lucas nodded Peyton squeezed her eyes shut, a tear falling between her lids, Lucas kissed it away quickly. 'You probably hate me…'

'Peyton Sawyer, I could never hate you.'

'Why did you still knock my door…if you saw it all?' Peyton asked.

'Because I heard everything too, he kissed you and you were the one to back away and say you weren't ready. You didn't know I was there; you could've easily gone along with his intentions. But you didn't want it and that was enough for me. Besides I was feeling selfish and I didn't fly half way across the country to see you to turn away at the last moment.' Lucas' grin was decidedly infectious as he gave her a slightly goofy wink that made her melt.

Peyton stared, amazed at how understanding he'd been at the time and now, 'Lucas Scott, I really love you, you know that?'

Lucas smiled, he would never get tired of hearing those three words that meant so much, 'I know.' He said leaning forward and pressing his lips to hers before pressing himself on top of her, a small moan escaping Peyton's mouth… he pulled away abruptly and pressed his lips against the shell of her ear murmuring softly, 'And your lucky I love you so much else I probably would have walked up to Jake and killed him there and then.' Peyton laughed and as the sound flowed through him Lucas closed his eyes smiling,

'You would have killed him?' Peyton asked with a smirk.

'Well…okay probably not. But I'd have called Nathan and he'd have done it for me.' Lucas smirked with a wink, 'But I'm glad you think your man isn't capable of…being a man.'

'Oh with these arms, you are totally capable. Have you been working out?' Peyton asked with a grin and a cocked eyebrow.

'Basketball. Our coach, Whitey, has been working us overtime. He really wants to win state this year.' Lucas shrugged and pressed his lips chastely to hers. He couldn't say he wasn't pleased at her compliment.

'Well it's totally working in your favour. I mean three weeks ago you were positively skinny compared to now… now you're just… incredibly…' Peyton's voice lowered as she struggled to find words.

'Yes?' Lucas smirked pressing his lips into her neck.

'Incredibly…manly… which is sexy by the way.' Peyton breathed her eyelids fluttering shut. Lucas smiled again and mumbled something inaudible against her skin, his hushed gruff voice against her making her shiver.

Peyton's hands softly made their way up his arms, across his shoulders to lock around his neck, pulling his lips to hers but stopping before they made contact so that he groaned,

'Do you know how glad I am that you knocked on that door?' She whispered her breath on his lips.

'Not as glad as I am that you opened it.' He smiled his voice low and his eyes dark.

Peyton's answering smile made her glow and they wasted no more time after that.

So i realised that i was really mean in giving you that cliff hanger because...lets just face it, it was mean!! I'm sorry for that and as a 'sorry' i've updated earlier like some of you requested! :D I was going to update yesterday actually but something got in the way, anyways...

Really hope this chapter didn't disappoint! :S --- And i always love to hear/read your views!!