5: LUKE

Indeed Grace had a point, if Luke did not like her then he would not have acted so decently when she was busy setting up the table for dinner. Clare thought that she had judged Luke quite harshly earlier. All the mixed signals that she had seen were a sign from Luke to help him get close to Grace, and when she failed he decided to ask for her number directly.

After a few more hours of chatting, Grace decide to go back to her place that night. She was now comfortable to leave knowing that Clare was feeling better. She took her coat and the two friends bid each other goodbye.   

Clare felt better and proud knowing she had a friend like Grace. Then her mind started to think about Luke. His pose, his facial features, his smile and the way he looked composed. The truth is that he had like Luke but had been scared to talk about it with Grace. She was her friend and was always there to support her every time she needed her. Clare was not ready to take away something that excited her friend for her selfish reasons.

Clare was selfish and she had accepted herself that way but this time, she was going to tame herself and avoid Luke as much as possible. While in her thoughts there was a knock at the door. She hurriedly rushed to the door thinking Grace had forgotten something. It was Luke!

Claire did not know how to react as she had not anticipated for Luke to be on the other side of the door.

“I’m sorry for coming back late… I assumed you are not people who sleep early.”

“I so sleep early look, if you came to look for Grace then you just missed her, she went back to her place… you could call her though!”

“I’m here to borrow some sugar, I wanted to have coffee and I realized I have not gone shopping yet…will you?”

Luke stretched his hand to give Claire the bowl he had come with.

“You may come in.”

Luke as innocent as he seemed, knew exactly what he wanted and had no intention of wasting time to get it. He had wore some silky baggy shorts that exposed his physical structure. Claire walked to the kitchen  thinking about what she had just seen.

“Grace would have collapsed if she saw him like this” Claire said in her heart trying to convince herself that she was not craving for him.

Luke followed behind but maintained some distance.

“You are a beautiful and intimidating lady Claire. I like you!”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I like how strong  you pretend to be when you are just tender to the eyes that can really see who  you are.”

“You do not know me Luke… stop acting like you do.”

“ Then why don’t you show me who you really are?”

“You are lucky my friend likes you, I could have kicked you out like my enemy.”

“Your friend or you?”

Luke moved closer to where Claire was standing putting sugar to his bowl. He took one of her hand and held it. Claire did not resist, his hands gave her a shiver that she had craved for a long time. Their gaze met and she had lost all the energy she had to this stranger.

“I know you like me Claire, I just don’t know why you are so angry.”

“Why don’t you mind someone else. Leave me alone.”

“Friends don’t do that to friends Claire…”

“I am not your friend and have no intention of being one.”

“I agree, with time we should be more than friends.”

“I do not like you Luke!”

“Why don’t you tell me that while looking at me? In my eyes.”

Even though this man was a stranger Claire could not tell him that she did not like him while looking into his eyes. His eyes made her feel light and wanted to just stay there looking at them. She would be lying  to him and even if she was a lot of things, she was proud to say that she was not a liar.

“I thought so Claire.”

He picked his bowl with sugar and walked away fro Claire. She wanted  him to stay, to start a fresh beginning of happiness but her mouth did not say anything, and the man left. Claire staggered to the living room and sat on the couch as she breathed in and out, trying to relax. She thought about what had happened to her keenly and enjoyed the feeling.

This game that Luke wanted to start was an interesting one and Claire was more than willing to play it after feeling the touch of the man. She thought about all the ways she could use him to feel better and get over Cane. This was not some temptation, it was an opportunity, a remedy for the heartache and bad days ahead.

She had one thing to confirm before she played her determinant card. If only the man next door would be willing to keep this therapeutic meetings private then it would be perfect and according to her plans! The only problem that was going to hinder her plan was making sure Grace starts to dislike Luke. Then she would make sure that Grace never found out a  thing.

Everything seemed well planned in her brain. She was in deep thoughts for a while trying to figure out a way she could make her  first move. She removed her jacket and remained with her white blouse that expose her perfect boobs, went to the kitchen and washed the dishes that carried food to her place. Wiped her hands clean and rubbed them to make them warm.

Claire applied her  perfume and sprayed some on her wrist. She rushed to the kitchen to taken the dishes and stood at the door still conflicting within herself if she was doing a good thing or not. That did not matter to her at that moment she wanted to feel alive and let her adrenaline kick in. She made peace with herself and walked out of the door.

Claire did not want to think twice about her decision before knocking on Luke’s door. When she got there she instantly knocked.  The door was opened and this time, it Luke who stared blankly at the sexy lady before her. He had been caught by surprise that he did not know what to say. He did not know if he should stare at the beautiful face that could be noticed even in the dark or the perfect boob that were staring back at him

“You forgot your dishes neighbor.”

Claire did not give the man a chance to speak, she gave the dishes back, leaned closer to the man who still perplexed, gave him a peck  on his left cheek. Seeing some changes on his short, Claire left swaying her hips from left to right.