Home

The sun still hadn’t come up.

Early dawn washed the neighborhood in pale gray light. Moisture clung to parked cars and trimmed hedges. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked exactly once, like it had decided the morning was disappointing.

Lukas woke slowly. Without opening his eyes, he reached across the bed.

Warm sheets.

Empty space.

His eyes snapped open immediately.

Hannah?

Gone!

The familiar feeling hit faster than panic.

Alone again.

Then he heard footsteps moving softly through the hallway. Bare feet against hardwood. A second later the bedroom door eased open.

Hannah stepped inside carrying two mugs of coffee with steam curling lazily into the dim room.

She wore one of his shirts like the world’s least convincing attempt at modesty. The only visible button was her belly button.

When she noticed he was awake, she smiled.

“Sorry,” she said quietly. “Habit. I always wake up early and make coffee.”

Lukas sat up slowly, tension easing from his face almost against his will.

She handed him a mug, climbed back onto the bed, and tucked her legs beneath herself while blowing gently across the coffee.

Lukas took a sip.

Bitter.

He still couldn’t answer the question clawing at the back of his mind. Had she really stayed because she wanted to? Or because he wanted her to?

He studied her quietly over the rim of the mug.

Hannah caught the look immediately and raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

Lukas shook his head faintly.

Then he set the coffee aside.

His eyes stayed fixed on her as the thought formed almost automatically.

“Come.”

This time he smirked when he said it.

Hannah shivered hard enough that he felt it from across the bed.

Confusion flashed over her face first, sharp and startled, followed by sudden realization. Her lips parted on a broken breath. Her eyes fell shut as the sensation hit her fully this time, rolling visibly through her body in helpless waves. A soft, involuntary sound escaped her throat while the tension drained out of her muscles all at once, leaving her flushed, trembling, and struggling briefly to steady herself in the aftermath.

She pulled the oversized shirt off her shoulders and tossed it carelessly aside. Her hands slipped into her lap, and a silent “O” formed on her lips.

Color spread slowly across her cheeks and down her chest.

“Well,” she whispered, voice rough with amusement, “that was pretty naughty.”

Lukas smiled wider.

“And exactly how do you plan to get even?”

Hannah grinned and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder while her hand drifted slowly across his chest, exploring him with growing confidence.

Lukas leaned back and closed his eyes.

And for the first time in longer than he could remember, he didn’t feel the need to run. Or fight.

He simply felt home.

THE END

So yes — this is the ending of the story, at least the way I originally imagined it.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Lukas and Hannah are done with each other, though.
There may be a sequel. Or alternate paths the story could take from here.

I’m changing the status so other writers can jump in and add chapters too.

Sweet kisses,
Your Darling