Behind the Mask

Chapter 27

Luke's POV

I lay there watching her sleep. She kept wrinkling her nose and sighing in her sleep. It was fucking adorable. Last night was so different from what I had planned. I thought I'd impress her with the course then we'd have a quiet dinner. Instead, she kicked my ass, jumped in a giant pool, and then we just snuggled. I prefer the way it went - for that matter, I didn't want it to end. I wanted to stay here with her in my arms forever.

"Hey," she said in a scratchy voice as she opened her eyes, looking up at me.

"Hey yourself, beautiful," I replied. She nuzzled against my chest and I couldn't stop the sigh of contentment that left me. Then her stomach growled and she groaned in embarrassment. "Oh damn, I never even fed you last night," I said, groaning. "Come on, you need food." She complained about the cold but finally got dressed and we headed out for a very late breakfast.

My mouth gaped as she finished her third pancake. "You know, I'm starting to feel a bit inferior," I mumbled, "First the course, now pancakes. Who are you - Wonder Woman?"

She laughed as her cheeks flushed with color, "Well, I was hungry. Besides, I have my curvy figure to maintain."

I gave her a playful growl, "Oh and I do love that figure." She slapped at my arm and blushed deeper. "So do you have any plans for Halloween?" I asked.

She scowled for a moment, "Yeah, I guess. There's the annual office party, and I have to make an appearance, but I really don't want to go."

"We could come with you," I offered quickly, "Then you could come back to the house with us and pass out candy. We get lots of trick-or-treaters and Gabe goes a bit overboard on decorating. It tends to draw a crowd," I chuckled.

"Well then you would all be too busy to come," she sighed, "It's okay, really, I'll just pop in and out, then come home and eat my weight in candy."

"Nope, not happening," I told her. I flipped open my phone and started texting before she could protest any further.

Group text: Luke: Hey guys, we need a group theme costume. Sugar has an office thing and she doesn't want to go alone. It will be a short thing then she's coming to our place for Gabe's extravaganza.

Gabe: Themed you say? Ohh....what about gangsters and their dame, or the cast of Toy Story or Grease, or well, hell anything!

Victor: Sean, I think Gabe's having a seizure - he's vibrating right now and not in the sexy way

Sean: *chokes on drink* Gabe, step away from the costume websites...take deep breaths.

Owen: Perhaps we could match the house theme, or is that still secret?

Gabe: I don't think the house theme will work, unless...

Victor: Gabe just ran out of the room...should I be worried?

North: Are there any spiders nearby? If not, then no, no worries.

Silas: She can be our Goddess and we are her loyal subjects.

Kota: Aren't we already?

Marissa: Well, at least someone paid attention during the submission training😉

Kota: That's one, pet.

Luke: Um, I think she's contemplating if she wants two, Kota...

North: What do you think, Nate?

Kota: Nate's a bit tied up at the moment...