The Mariano Effect

TITLE: "The Mariano Effect" - Chapter Five

NAME -Sandra aka Lukerules
E-MAIL -baumann1@yahoo.com
SPOILERS - Up to the scene in "Goodnight Gracie" where Jimmy runs out of the diner to avoid Luke (except he doesn't leave his wallet behind this time)
SUMMARY It’s chapter five – you KNOW what it’s about by now!! Yeah, I know, leave it to me to turn it into a L/L!
RATING - R
CONTENT - If you aren't a mature adult, then for Pete's sake, don't read it!
PAIRING OR CHARACTER - Lorelai/Jimmy Mariano - and LUKE?
DISCLAIMER -I don't own the characters (pout) -the WB, Amy Sherman- Palladino, everyone eloes.oes. And yes, Jimmy is definitely yummy (DILF), but I would never choose him over LUKE, my love!

Thank you Nate, Megan and Ann for your constructive comments and encouragement!

***************************************************************************
Recap:

"I'm so sorry, Luke, I didn't know," I said trying to hold back tears. A moment ago I was mad as hell at him, but now I just felt miserable. Like I betrayed him.

"Oh, Lorelai," he sighed, still covering his face with his hands, shaking his head. "I shouldn't have broken in here like I did, but when I found out it was Jimmy, I just couldn't stand it…the thought of him…touching…you…" he groaned the last few words, as if he could barely bring himself to say them out loud.

I put my hand gently on his shoulder. "I understand," I said to him gently, thinking that he was looking out for me, he didn't want me to go through the pain of what his sister went through. He just didn't want me to fall for Jimmy the way Liz did, only to get hurt.

"No, Lorelai, I don't think you understand at all," he said, finally taking his hands away from his face, turning to look me squarely in the eyes.

I searched his eyes for what he was talking about. God, he has gorgeous eyes. How come I've never really noticed how beautiful his eyes are? Maybe I just never bothered to really, really look at him? Suddenly I could hear Sookie's voice -- `just look at him, it's right there,' -- she's said that more than once, trying to convince me that Luke was in love with me. Was IT really there? "Make me understand, then, Luke," I said quietly.

Chapter Five

Luke’s P.O.V.

I always wondered what it would feel like to have a heart attack. You know, you see it portrayed on TV and just wonder what it must feel like to have your heart just stop, to experience it. Well, I don’t have to wonder, I think I know exactly what it feels like. First to hear that Lorelai is hooking up with some guy she just met. *thump*, to have Michel of all people (that putz) tell me that the guy is Jimmy Mariano *thump*, the adrenaline rush as I bounded up the stairs *thump*, busting through the door to see – God! The woman that I love more than life itself with HIM *thump*. I felt like the incredible Hulk bursting into the room, turned into a terrible, jealous, out-of-control monster. But now Jimmy is gone. My heart rate is returning to normal.

Lorelai is sitting next to me, wrapped in my flannel shirt. My heart is racing, but it’s only because of her proximity to me. She’s quiet, not her usual self. I think she was scared to death of me. God, I hope she didn’t think I would ever hurt her! I was ready and willing to kill Jimmy, though. I WAS really angry with her, for giving herself to HIM so easily. I’ve been standing by and waiting for her to see me for so long. To really SEE me. Jess said that I should to tell her how I feel, that I can’t wait around, hoping she’ll notice me and fall into my arms. Hell, Rachel said the same damn thing when she left me. But I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t find the words, I just chickened out every time. I wish that I could be smart like Max, he never had a problem expressing himself. Christ, even Jess seems to do a better job at it than I do. I’m so tired. I’m tired of waiting for her to love me. It was so easy for me to be in love with her, why can’t she see it?

I put my hands over my eyes, I’m trying to hold back the tears, the frustration, the emptiness I’m feeling, that I’m constantly feeling, that I’m constantly fighting.

She apologizes for not knowing it was Jimmy. I can’t even look at her. I apologize for bursting into the room. I’m sorry for so many things. She puts her hand on my shoulder and it burns into my flesh. She tells me she understands. But she doesn’t!! She sounds sympathetic.

I bet she thinks that my anger and this outburst are all about Liz and Jess. She’s so smart, but she is so blind! God! It has nothing to do with them! I can’t stand it anymore! Everyone but me! She wants everyone but me!

I groan and take my hands off of my face and finally look at her. She is staring at me, her head tilted, trying to figure me out. I can tell she is confused. "No, Lorelai, I don't think you understand at all." There, I said it. My adrenaline rush must have shut off the switch in my brain that always keeps me from confronting her, from saying what I WANT to say to her.

“Make me understand, then,” she says quietly. Her hand is still on my shoulder, melting me. Her eyes are staring into mine, melting me. Melting my resolve. Melting my ability to think straight, to rationalize what has happened tonigto bto be able to control my actions anymore.

The floodgates open up, the walls fall down, the release is finally here.

“Don’t you know that I love you?” I ask, even though it came out sounding more like a squeak than a declaration of love. But there, I said it. It’s out there.

I don’t wait for a response. My arms are around her waist, my lips press against hers. I feel her initially stiffen in shock, but then she relaxes. I feel her hands reach around my neck, pulling me closer to her. My brain is screaming **She isn’t pulling away - SHE WANTS ME!** My tongue begs for entry and she grants it, first licking my lower lip, sending chills all through me. I lower her onto the bed until I’m almost on top of her, savoring her lips with mine. She’s running her hands through my hair, then they move along my arms, to my chest. Lust overtakes me. But then she pushes against me, breaking our kiss.

“Luke…wait…” she says, panting and trying to catch her breath. I feel my heart sinking a little. She’s stopping. No! She doesn’t want me. She’s going to run away and our friendship is going to be ruined. My god, what was I thinking? She doesn’t want me, she’ll never want me, I’m going to be alone for the rest of my life. I can’t breathe. I won’t be able to live without her in my arms now that this has happened. I can’t believe I’m internally ranting – I almost sound like her!

She caresses my cheek with her hand. I hold my breath. I’m afraid. I don’t think I’ve ever been as scared as I am right now. I’m vulnerable. She has to know that she has the ability to completely crush me, to break my heart, in an instant. The blood rushing through my ears sounds like Niagra Falls.

“Luke, I’m sorry I never saw it,” she says in a whisper.

“Saw what?” I ask her. I’m confused. She isn’t running away, though, so that’s a good thing.

“Everyone saw it. Everyone told me. But I could never see it. I told them they were crazy. I told them that you didn’t have a thing for me, that you weren’t in love with me…but it was true the whole time.” She continued to stroke my cheek.

I let out my breath. I felt like I was going to pass out from holding it in, waiting to be crushed. “Yeah, it’s true,” was my only response.

Her eyes started to water a little. “Promise you won’t ever leave me, okay?” she choked out.

“I’ll never leave you, Lorelai,” I said quietly, and I meant it.

“I love you, Luke,” she stated simply. I closed my eyes when I heard it. I couldn’t believe she was actually saying it.e lae laid back and pulled me to her for a kiss. My mind was swimming. She loves me! She loves me! I felt as giddy as a schoolgirl. We broke the kiss and I smiled at her, a huge smile, which she matched with her smile. That beautiful smile that always made me lightheaded, even though it was usually not directed to me. But today it was all for me.

I kissed her again and again. My lips moved down along her neck as I pulled away at the flannel shirt which was still loosely covering her. I kissed along her collarbone and she threw her head back against the pillow and moaned. I opened the shirt a little more to get access to the soft skin above her breast. She realized what I was doing and wiggled out of the shirt completely, exposing her beautiful body to me. I kissed her lips again, letting all of the passion I was feeling be expressed in my actions. Other than my flannel shirt, I was still fully clothed, and Lorelai lay before me in just her panties.

She playfully pushed me away from her. “No fair!” she teased, pulling my t-shirt out from my jeans. I sat up and took the shirt off, giving her an amused smile.

“Better?” I asked, with a smirk.

“Not yet,” she answered with a sly smile, pushing me back onto the bed, straddling me. She unbuckled my belt and unfastened my jeans, her eyes wide - acutely aware of my rock hard cock which was straining against my jeans, begging to be set free.. She shimmied down to the bottom of the bed and stood up, pulling my boots off, then my socks, then my jeans. She quickly took off her panties, sending them flying across the room from the end of her foot, followed by a giggle. I was a little embarrassed by the sight before me. Although she was completely naked and beautiful in front of me, here I am lying on the bed, my huge hard-on straining against my jockey shorts, making the phrase ‘pitching a tent’ seem very real.

She seductively climbed back on top of me, brushing her breasts against my cock before sliding her slender fingers into the waistband, never breaking eye contact.

Panic overtook me. Jesus Christ! I don’t have a condom! Oh, jeez, talk about slamming the brakes on our first time together. I put my hands on her arms to stop her. “Lorelai…” She looked up at me concerned. “I don’t have a condom, um…” I wasn’t sure what to say.

“It’s okay – I’m on the pill, Luke, relax,” she reassured me. I smiled. Whew. I lifted up a little as she pulled my boxers down, my cock springing out like a jack-in-the-box. Lorelai looked pleased.

“Come here,” I motiowithwith my finger. She climbed up on me and I wrapped my arms around here in a long, sensuous kiss. It was heaven, our bodies pressed against each other, skin against skin. I playfully rolled her over and straddled her. She giggled but her eyes were lust-filled as he stroked my cheeks with her hands.

“I want you, Luke,” she said huskily, her hands leaving my face. I positioned myself and slowly entered her, stopping to enjoy the sensation and the chills that were running through me. Lorelai ran her nails down my back, escalating the sensation. I didn’t want this to end, but as I increased my rhythm, Lorelai’s moans were increasing in both volume and intensity. I didn’t think I could hold on much longer and my involuntary grunts were also increasing.

“Oh GOD!” I groaned as I climaxed. We were both bathed in sweat and panting. I slowly eased out of her and she moaned in protest. I lay beside her, the woman I have loved for years, she’s finally mine.

Lorelai chuckled to herself. “What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her, enjoying the sight of her glowing face and mussed hair.

“Does this mean I get free coffee?” she said with a small smile.

“Yeah, I guess it does,” I smiled back. Today started out pretty bad, but turned out pretty good.


****************************************************************************


Later That Night…

They lay together in total bliss. Exhausted, exhilarated, content. Neither was thinking about...Jimmy. Or Nicole. Or Alex. Or Rory. Or Jess. Or Max. Or Christopher. Or Rachel. Dealing with them will have to wait until tomorrow. No, they lay there in total satisfaction. That things turn out the way they do for a reason. Call it fate. Call it karma. But life is good. And they are together. Luke and Lorelai. And it's going to stay that way...


THE END (or is it just the beginning?)

Please review – let me know if you liked it!