Thank you @frissonsmiles for the beautiful covers <3

I know you're going to like this chapter.

Chapter 61: Siren Call

I love the guy, don't I?

I love him because a day doesn't end well if he and I don't kiss. And I don't want to see a day that isn't just like this.

"Song lyrics, for sure," I mumbled, typing them out to Jake.

But then I paused and deleted the message before sending. Sometimes I forget to think before I send. Writing to Jake about my love for Luke was not a sensitive move.

I was alone in my room, while the sounds downstairs started to get louder. The clock was ticking closer to evening and I was a little nervous for New Year's.

Cearra had done my make-up. I felt it on my face. This was the first time I was wearing fake eyelashes and my lips were covered in cherry red lipstick. We had chosen a more natural eye shadow to balance out the dramatic lips.

I sound like I know what I'm talking about. Ha.

I walked to the closet and picked out a red dress. It was my New Year's Eve dress, which Nicole had lent me. Short and playful, the ends flared out as I moved. (picture 7 on my Instagram Oct-21)

I asked myself, "I think I'm ready?"

I scrutinized myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the girl staring back. I looked at myself from as many angles as possible, trying to catch any flaws in the outfit. My skirt wasn't stuck in my underwear, so I guess that's a good sign.

I slipped my phone, credit card and ID into a black handbag and picked up the plastic bag on my bed. Cearra had brought it for me – it was going to be a surprise for Luke.

My phone vibrated with a text from Luke: You coming down?

I guess so. I opened the door and left the safety of my bedroom. A small part of me wanted to hide under the covers. I was scared of the background noise – the people who would judge me and call me a try-hard. I couldn't silence those inner voices, but I could ignore them.

Music was on loudly in the living room as they started pre-gaming. I heard the sound of beer cracking open and casual talking.

My heels clicked against the surface of the staircase as I walked down. My heart was pounding in my chest. What would they say when they saw me?

What would he say?

The living room was already in pregame mode. Alcohol had been brought out, NYE themed balloons floated on the ceiling and music was pumping out of the speakers.

Chad was posing between Oma and Bianca beside his white Christmas tree while Cearra took the photo.

They looked incredible. He was in a three-piece navy suit. Oma was glowing in an Ankara print dress. Cearra was killing it in a gold long-sleeved but short dress and Bianca wore a glittery pink spaghetti strap dress.

I stopped at the foot of the doorway, standing between the living room and the hall. Why was I afraid to be seen? What am I doing hiding? So embarrassing.

I stopped peering in like a giraffe and took one step inside. And then another. OK, I can walk. That's always a good first step.

Punny.

I saw Luke sitting on the couch, leaning forwards with his phone in his hands. He was talking to Austin before he looked back down at his phone, waiting for a text.

I wondered if he was waiting for me. He'd sent me a text asking if I was coming down and I hadn't responded.

I couldn't respond. Luke was looking good. I was used to his laid-back style, but this put-together look had me swooning. Yes, I said it.

He looked mature and confident.

His soft lips moved as he spoke to Austin. He was mid-sentence when his eyes glanced in my direction and locked on me. He stopped talking. The words literally fell out of his mouth and his sentence was left unfinished.

I wasn't used to seeing guys in suits.

His button up shirt showed off how slender his upper torso was, as it stretched over his broad shoulders but tapered down to his waist. He stood up from the couch and the shirt creased around his shoulders as they moved. He slipped his hands into his pockets, smoothly leaving his phone inside, and the movement stretched his shirt to reveal more of his skin under his collarbone.

Be still, my heart.

I don't know why I ever leave him alone when he sets my senses ablaze like this.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked me, his hands reached out to rest on my hips.

I let his mouth rest on my lips.

My eyes closed as I kissed Luke. I forgot everything. He was passionate, causing me to take a step back. His hands moved from my waist to around my back while he kissed me. He was kissing me while he guided me backwards to the hallway and towards a side room.

Like I said, he's coordinated.

"YAS!" Cearra yelled out and clapped, "GET ITTT!"

"Guys! We need to go!" Chad called out, pointing at his shiny watch.

"We'll be right back," Luke responded, sounding like he wouldn't care if we left for 100 years.

I wouldn't care. Give me the elixir of life and I'll go anywhere. What am I even saying?

My mind is literally melting because of him. His touch was making me disintegrate and I was trying to think of anything to avoid melting into a puddle in front of him.

I held the bag in my fingers, his gift, but it wasn't the right time.

Even if it was the right time, I was the wrong person to be able to move my hand. I couldn't move anything unless it was to touch him. Help.

"I wanted to surprise you with something," I whispered.

His eyes lit up.

I smiled at how uncontrolled he was, "No, not like that-"

"Then it can wait," he mumbled between our kiss, closing the door with the back of his foot.

His lips hadn't left mine.

....

....

...

....

Luke's POV

I fit her mouth against mine and explored her taste with my tongue. She moaned, holding onto my body with her bare hands. I cupped her face with my hands as she gripped my hair.

We were breathing hard as I kissed her aggressively. I couldn't control myself. I filled my hands and my mouth with her taste.

Her red dress was like a f*cking siren call. I ran my hands all over it, pulling at it without ripping it.

"Your phone's ringing-" she gasped, breaking free to breathe for air.

Her hand gripped the pocket of my suit and I got excited by how close she was to...

This motherfu- I could hear banging on the door.

"Ignore him," I told her, leading her down to the couch.

I could continue through an earthquake.

But the banging got louder. The wrong kind.

"I know you don't want to be interrupted," Chad called out from the other side of the door.

Doesn't stop him from interrupting us.

"But this is the one day in the entire year when we can't be late!" Chad yelled, "I'm not going to be sitting in my living room on New Years' just so you two can have a good fu-"

I ripped the door open.

"What's wrong with you?" I glared.

Chad averted his eyes. "I'll let you get dressed."

We were barely undressed. I've been living in a Disney movie.

"Leave," I told him.

"You have five minutes man. We'll leave without you then," Chad snapped, marching off in his two-piece suit.

One day. No interruptions.

*Millie's POV*

Luke is usually pretty disciplined, but he'd just lost it. I had too.

I tried to think rationally, but it was so hard. His messy hair was begging me to mess it up even more. My lipstick all over his neck...

But we spent so long getting ready for tonight, preparing for tonight, that it didn't make sense to undo everything before going. Undo his shirt though? Maybe we had a few minutes for that...

I selfishly wanted alone time with him. It hadn't been a very intimate trip for us so far, since everything started out so rough. But we were back on track, and if I'm being honest, I felt closer to him now than ever before.

Everything felt raw between us. More honest. More connected.

"Stay or go?" Luke whispered, his hands still roaming my body.

"We'll have time," I assured him, ignoring how my senses screamed otherwise, "We're about to experience an incredible night and we'll be together through it."

I rested my hand on his soft hair and slid it down to his neck. He closed his eyes, as if my touch was relaxing to him.

"It's up to you," he answered.

**

We walked into the living room with Luke's hand holding mine. Austin wolf whistled.

He was holding a glass of champagne in one hand. Six full bottles were on the table. If I didn't know better, is that a bottle for every person?

The girls were in gorgeous dresses in different colors that sparkled. The boys looked dapper in their suits. Austin and Luke had chosen not to wear a suit jacket, but Chad had gone full out.

Chad raised another champagne bottle and popped it open with a knife, sending the bubbles spraying into the air. He poured glasses for everyone who didn't have one.

Happy new year.

Cearra came running towards me, "You can't miss the pre New Years' photos!" She handed Austin her phone, "Austin can you take one of us?"

Was this Cearra's way of making Austin stare at her whiles she looked this stunning? Austin didn't mind and pointed the camera towards us.

Cearra's arm linked with mine and she raised her champagne glass in a pose towards him. I smiled into the camera and copied her pose.

"Now one of you and Luke," she said, calling out to Luke who was already looking at us.

He walked over and stood next to me. His arm draped across my waist and his other hand slipped into his pocket.

Austin snapped a couple photos of us and I kissed Luke on the cheek. Then I suggested, "Cearra, Austin, why don't you come into the photo too?"

We needed a new cameraman and Austin recruited Chad. He handed the camera to Chad who refused it. Chad pulled out his own phone to take the picture.

I was watching Austin and Cearra with such eagerness that Luke caught me staring. He glanced from me to them.

Austin came next to Cearra and put his arm over her shoulder. I would've preferred if he put his arm around her waist... but one step at a time I suppose.

**

~Leaving, before Chad's second freak out~

Before we left the villa, I went to the bathroom. I waited before it unlocked, and Oma stepped out.

"You look great, Millie," she said, "Nailed it this time!"

"Thanks. This is definitely new to me," I answered, "But you look beautiful, as always."

"I know," she joked, "But I like the flattery."

We traded places and I stepped into the bathroom, holding the door open. I watched her as she began to walk back to the group and blurted out, "Do you think Bianca and I can ever not fight?"

Un-ask that question, Millie. I have a problem because I always need to resolve my grudges before New Year's Eve. For some reason, I feel like it's bad luck to bring negative energy to the new year.

"Bianca genuinely cares for him," I said, "So I'm wondering if there can be a... I don't know what I'm wondering. It's silly. Forget that I ask."

Oma broke the situation down for me. "When you got Luke, Bianca lost him. She's in pain and you're in love. You've already won, Millie. You now have a chance to be the bigger person here."

Her words carried wisdom. The advice was really hard to follow. Why do I have to help her when she never helped me?

I've been humiliated by people like Bianca my whole life. She was no different. She made no attempt to make me feel comfortable or accepted. And now that roles were reversed, I'm meant to accept her?

This self-development thing is hard. It doesn't break the cycle if I forgive her... she's the one creating the cycle. People who are 'popular' and ostracize others... that's the cycle that needs breaking.

"Thanks Oma," I said. She's definitely given me a lot to think about. I just wasn't sure what I was going to do about it.

The air was heavy between us so I tried to lighten it. "I haven't heard you ever mention this but, are you dating anyone?"

"I'm single."

"Is there a guy or girl you like?" I asked, wondering if cupid could work his magic on more couples this New Years' Eve.

"I'm a senior in high school and boys are still so immature."

Her sparkling, six-inch stiletto heels clicked against the floor as she walked away.

**

I was about to leave the bathroom when I heard Chad's voice echo around me:

"If everyone is not in the car in ONE minute, I'm leaving you all!!"

I froze and retracted my step back to the mirror. I stared at my reflection and slowly raised my eyes up to the ceiling. There was a speaker next to the lights on the ceiling.

Chad had literally put a speaker in the bathroom of his own home.

"LEAVING YOU ALL!" he repeated loudly on the speaker, making me jump.

Is he breaking up with us on speakerphone?

I hurried out of the bathroom and joined the others as they walked out towards a stretched black car with tinted windows. 

I stared at the beautiful villas along the street. It was the evening of New Years' and we were the loudest on the block. I felt grateful, thankful, for being able to experience this.

"Chad, why do you have a speaker in the bathroom?" I asked him, turning around to see where he'd gone.

"Why wouldn't I?" he answered, herding everyone like sheep.

I can think of so many reasons...

I stepped into the car, sliding onto a seat in the middle row. I noticed Cearra and Austin sitting together in the back and tried not to make a big deal about it.

If tonight went as Cearra planned, she and Austin would be a new couple by January 1st. I couldn't wait to see it happen tonight.

"It's a twenty-minute drive before we reach the venue," Chad said, slamming his car door shut, "so we need a DJ and a bartender. Who's volunteering?"

A/N: I have seen a BAJILLION requests for more 'intimate moments' so I really hope all of you are VOTING on this chapter!!

Do you want to decide what happens next?? Check out my Instagram post to cast your vote!

To all authors – tomorrow (Wednesday) will be the last day to join my giveaway. I'm giving 3 authors a shoutout on my IG and Wattpad profiles. I know how difficult it is to get new stories read, so I wanted to help out! The giveaway is on my Instagram

Natalie