Shadows of the Night

“I have to go to school and work tomorrow, but if you could get me up early so I can get my car—”

“I’ll take you,” Lucas said, warming up the pot roast.

Layla settled herself at the kitchen table and smiled. “You don’t have to. I know you have your own life.”

Lucas nodded. If only she knew how much of his life revolved around her now.

“It’s all right,” he told her, fixing their plates. “I have some work to do in town.”

“Thank you for everything,” Layla told him as she ate daintily, shifting a bit in her seat.

Lucas smiled. “Layla, I should be thanking you, not the other way around.”

Layla nodded. “We’re helping each other, right?”

“Are you saying what I do to you is helping you?” Lucas chewed slowly, eyeing her.

“If we’re talking sex, then yes, you’ve been an amazing release,” she said, her blue eyes dazzling as they caught his gaze, “but I love your company and I didn’t think I would.”

Lucas chuckled. “Most people don’t.”

“Most people don’t know you like I do.”

There it was. The thing he was certain he’d be able to keep from her—his truth, his feelings, his personal life.

Layla smiled. “Besides, I’m sure you’re tired of me by now.”

“I don’t think I could get tired of you, Layla,” Lucas confessed. “Even if you can be annoyingly optimistic.”

Layla laughed, and just that sound alone made Lucas happy. Happiness wasn’t something he ever felt.

Layla got up and began to wash the dishes. Lucas followed her lead, drying and putting away.

It was so weird to have a woman in his home, having dinner and doing domesticated chores, but it also felt so right to him that Lucas almost forgot he wasn’t supposed to be going this deep with the little hippie.

She was only supposed to be his outlet, a tight, warm hole for him to fuck and please himself—not something that was tugging at his fucking heartstrings.

“I’m a little exhausted.” Layla yawned. “Do you mind if—”

Before she could finish, Lucas picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. He gently placed her on the bed, helping her strip down to her birthday suit.

“Are you feeling all right?” Lucas found himself naked and massaging Layla’s pussy.

“A little sore.”

“A little?”

“It feels raw, but I love what you’re doing.”

Lucas wasn’t going to penetrate her, but he was going to make her feel good. She deserved to feel good.

Her back was arching and she was writhing beside him, but Lucas didn’t want to hurt her anymore.

“Do you want another?”

“I don’t think I have it in me…”

Lucas smiled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “I won’t continue unless you want me to.”

Layla gripped his hand and moved it gently away from her core, intertwining her fingers with his.

“You know my body better than I do.” Layla placed her head on his chest as Lucas pulled her closer. She was out in no time.

Lucas didn’t know what to do with this girl. He was going to hurt her. He would show his true colors, she would see the darkness that consumed him, and he’d regret ever letting her in.

***

“Ahhh!!”

Layla screamed into the night, this time waking up fully. Lucas sat up right away, taking her into his arms as she shook violently.

“Layla!” Lucas turned on the nightstand light, keeping one arm around her. “Baby girl, what’s wrong?”

Layla’s eyes were opened as she scanned the room, breathing heavily and sweating profusely.

“I-I don’t know… I was…I was being held down.”

She looked at him with so much fear in her eyes that Lucas wanted to jump into her dreams and rip away all of the nightmares Layla ever had.

“Someone was holding me down, but I couldn’t see their face.”

She couldn’t tell him what had happened to her. She couldn’t put her problems on him when she was supposed to be what was good for him, not the thorn in his side that he thought her to be before they knew each other in the intimate sense.

“Are these what your night terrors are usually about?”

“Sometimes…”

She was so worn out that it took only moments for her to fall back to sleep.

“Layla.” Lucas held her close. Their naked bodies fit perfectly together; they were a part of a puzzle, and they were the last two pieces ready to fill the empty spaces.

She’d no idea how much of an emptiness she was filling in his life, or maybe she did, and that’s why she was keeping some things from him.

They knew each other better than he wanted to admit. Layla said he knew her body, but it went deeper than that. They could read each other.

“Sleep well, angel,” he whispered softly as her little snores tickled his bare chest, causing Lucas to chuckle. “Sleep well.”

***

The week was typical.

Gretchen needed all of the details that Layla had to offer, but Layla had become a bit secretive with her relationship with Lucas, so she shared very little.

She also found out Lucas had security on her at school and work. At one point she would have disapproved of such a move, but it made her feel so good that he wanted to keep her safe.

There were times they’d see each other at Cole’s, but they didn’t let on how well they’d gotten to know each other the last month or so—no matter how many times Lucas whispered in her ear that he wanted to take her to the back and fuck her on the break room table.

“You’re insatiable.” She tried to stifle a giggle as the women in the store gawked at Lucas. “Your admirers are looking.”

Lucas smiled. “Let them watch because I’m only interested in you.”

Once Friday rolled around, Layla was getting a little nervous because she’d no idea what was in store for them when Lucas’s family showed up.

He didn’t seem too concerned though as he tidied up around the house.

“How will you introduce me?”

“The woman I enjoy fucking every chance I get… Who warms my bed most days of the week… Who makes a mean steak and eggs.” He winked at her.

“Lucas…”

“My friend and sponsor.” Lucas smiled, taking her into his arms. “I’ve already mentioned you to Liam, so it’s all good.”

Layla nodded, easing into his embrace. She heard a car pull into the driveway and quickly withdrew from him as Lucas stroked her cheek and then stepped away to answer the door.

Layla lingered a few feet behind with a big smile on her face, ready to face the family that hadn’t been kind to Lucas, even though he did say Liam and Lois had become better as the years went by.

“Liam!”

“Lucas! You big son of a bitch! I swear you could bench press a house at this point!”

The two hugged quickly as a woman stepped behind them.

“Lucas!”

“Courtney.” Lucas hugged Liam’s wife as two brooding teenagers came in behind them. “Corey! You’re getting taller every damn time I see you! Carly, looking fabulous as always.

“Family, this is my friend, Layla. Layla, the family.”

He waved at her to step closer, but she was frozen. She knew Liam. She’d seen him somewhere before, but she couldn’t place him.

“Lucas, you told me she was pretty, but that was an understatement.” Liam moved closer to Layla, but she took a step back.

Lucas noticed and quickly retreated to his little hippie’s side.

He put an arm around Layla, snapping her out of her thoughts. She smiled as Carly and Corey nodded to her, following their mother.

Courtney had quickly hugged Layla, mumbling something about the bathroom. Lucas motioned for the three to follow him to the rooms they’d be staying in.

Extending her hand, Liam took it and held it longer than she preferred. She tried to pull away, but Liam held on.

Liam’s eyes darkened and he pulled her closer to him. She tried to wiggle away, but his grip was too tight.

“Nice to meet you, Layla. It’s going to be one hell of a weekend with you around.”