The Love From Vengeance

323: FASHION FLIRTATIONS

ARIEL’S POV

I stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around my body, and I was getting ready for work. Yesterday, Andre agreed with me to take my spot back at his company. He was such a wonderful friend. If it were some folks, they’d go ahead to do something that was not on the right side.

Luke was walking around the room, making a phone call. I just stood, watching him until he was done. He let out a sigh since his talk on the phone was more of an argument than a conversation. But staring at me, he smiled.

“Is it just me, or do you look absolutely pretty whenever you step out of the shower?”

He walked closer to me.

“Oh really, you think so?”

“You haven’t noticed?” he raised an eyebrow. Oh, right, I forgot. You can’t look at yourself unless you go and stand close to a mirror.

“There’s a mirror right there.” I gestured towards the mirror fixed on the wall in the

room.

“Go take a look at yourself then.” Luke grinned at me.

I sighed and moved towards the mirror. The cool air of the room contrasted with the warmth still radiating from my skin. Luke followed closely behind, his presence a

comforting fervor at my back.

Standing in front of the mirror, I caught our reflections. The contrast between my towel–wrapped form and his casual, everyday attire highlighted the intimacy of the

moment.

Luke’s hands found their way to my shoulders, his touch gentle. Our eyes met through the mirror; his gaze was soft yet intense, making my heart flutter.

“See?” he said quietly, his voice soothing to the fullest. “Absolutely stunning.”

across

523 FASHION FLIRTATIONS

the mirror does add a special touch,” I teased, meeting his gaze in the

resonated through the small space between us. “It’s not the mirror,” he insisted, leaning in so his

his voice, coupled with the affection in his eyes, wrapped around me like a baronial embrace. Our reflections in the mirror–a

just the physical aspect of us standing there. It

our connection, the silent communication and understanding that had grown between

gaze shifted from our reflection to meet my eyes directly,

seemed to narrow down to

with the early morning light casting a

Luke behind me, his hands

the compliment but for the comfort, the love, and the

his own–to be there,

was right there, in the way we stood, in the way we looked at each other, and

for work today, and guess what! It didn’t

he muttered, pulling out a

up for inspection.

crossed, and raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me you’re

the offending dress over his shoulder. “Not a

223: FASHION FEIRTATIONS

continued his search, pulling out dresses of varying colors

to torture me?” I exclaimed, shaking my head in mock dismay. “I think- you’re

a sequined monstrosity that seemed to glitter under the room’s fluorescent lights. “But hey, at

at the office.”

swatting the dress out of his hand. “I’d

for something more subtle,

dramatically throwing his hands up in defeat. “Fine, fine. But where’s the fun in subtle?”

underneath the

dress from him, inspecting it with a critical eye. “Now we’re talking,” I