“You are very talented. Bec put the drawing in a frame and it’s sitting on her desk now.”
She beamed as he complimented her on her talent. He felt as though he’d been given a gift, but as they walked in silence, he couldn’t prevent asking more about her relationship with her parents.
“Do you miss them?”
She shook her head. “You can’t miss two people who were never around. I miss Colorado from time to time, but I like my life here in New York.”
“Do you ever talk to them?”
“I send them a note when I get around to it, updating them about changes in my life. They write back when they have time. I received a postcard last Christmas, and they mentioned that they might retire soon, but not much else.”
He couldn’t understand anyone who met Ellie not liking her. She was brilliant and funny, and she had a sense about people and liked to see the good in them. He understood how you could get wrapped up in your career, but neglecting your child and relegating them as the least important part of your life made no sense to him. Holding in his anger, he changed the subject.
“What about your friends—how did you meet them?”
They were so wrapped up in each other that the elderly couple who were talking, heads pressed together and laughing just ahead of them, took them by surprise. They watched as the older gentleman leaned down and whispered something to his wife that had them both laughing and clutching on to each another. Ellie smiled at the couple as they walked around them, and Lucian tucked Ellie closer to his side.
“That couple was sweet,” she whispered when they were a few yards away.
He nodded and smiled down at her. He knew of no other woman who would pay attention to an elderly couple who were in love, and enjoyed the fact that she was a romantic at heart.
They passed several joggers and bicyclists before Ellie answered the question.
“I met Nina and Ben when I started; we work at the same company. Nina’s a corporate lawyer and Ben, he’s great with computers, and happens to be the entire IT department for the agency. We get together every Friday and have dinner at my place because it’s central to where they both live. Despite working in the same building, we don’t see each other during the week.”
“Are they dating?”
Her brows drew down for a moment before she shook her head. She stopped, struck by an idea, and smiled at him when he turned to her. “I don’t think so, but I think that they would make a great couple. I think I’ll mention it to Nina when I see her.”
He chuckled. “Trust me, I mentioned it for purely selfish reasons.”
“You think Ben is interested in me?”
“Love, I think all men are interested in you. What did he think about you getting a date from Liaison?” he asked.
“Well, it was Nina’s idea. She had a friend who found a date through the agency, and gave her a recommendation. Ben kept quiet when we spoke about it, and he’s not shy about voicing his opinion.”
“Did you tell them about me?” he asked.
“I did.” She blushed and looked down.
“You told them about the kiss in the elevator?”
“I did, and Nina told me that I should go for it and see how it plays out between us.” She paused and caught his eye. “And I’ve decided that I want to do just that.”
Chapter Seven
Ellie tried and failed to unlock the door to her apartment. After several attempts, she’d given up, dropping her arms to her side and moaning aloud.
Lucian distracted her by tracing his lips around her neck. His expert touches sent waves of pleasure rushing through her; every nerve ending sparked as though they were exposed. She drew in a sharp breath as he nipped at her shoulder before he squeezed her tighter against him, and she could feel the definition of his hard chest against her back.
“I’m never going to be able to unlock the door if you keep touching me,” she whispered.
She felt his breath on her cheek as he laughed. She had never been so aware of a man before, but the more time she spent with Lucian, it was as though every part of her sparked to life for the first time. She was aware of each touch of his hands, his lips, and craved it like nothing else in her life. Her past boyfriends were shadows of the man touching her and who had consumed her thoughts since she’d met him.
He slipped the keys out of her hand and unlocked the door without difficulty. Awareness of his open hand on her back left her holding her breath, and when he added slight pressure to his touch, she walked into her apartment and turned to watch him lock the door. He shrugged out of his coat and stalked to where she stood stock-still, waiting to see what he would do. She fisted her hands against her side to prevent herself from reaching for him, stripping him, and having her way with him.
“Let’s get you out of this coat, love.”
She nodded and then smiled when he reached for her buttons and took his time, loosening each one. When he had unbuttoned the last one, she struggled out of her coat, breathing a sigh of relief when she draped it over the back of the couch. She turned toward him and her breath caught as his intense gaze met hers.
She had no idea who moved first, but she found herself in his arms, his expert mouth drawing sensations that traveled straight to her core.
He captured her moans as he explored her taste. He slid his hands to her waist and pulled her closer to his body, creating a delicious friction as she strove to get closer to him, wanting to feel his hot skin against her hands.
She gripped part of his gray pullover and jerked it up until her fingertips skimmed hot, smooth skin. She slid her hands across his taut back, and found that he was a bit ticklish when she ran her hands from his back to his chest. She smiled against his lips, and continued her exploration as her hands brushed against his flat stomach and hard, defined chest. With each pass of her hands, his groans grew louder. Each of his sounds of pleasure ran across her like a physical touch.
“Do you want me to take it off?” he asked.
“God, yes,” she breathed.
He reached behind him and grabbed a fistful of his sweater, and pulled it off in one swift movement. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from the defined muscles on his chest and the smattering of hair that led down to below the waistband of his jeans.
The man was perfection.
Her fingers itched to reach out for him, but as an artist, her eyes roamed over him for several minutes as she appreciated how he was built.
“I love it when you look at me like that,” he groaned.
Her gaze haltingly moved from his firm stomach to his defined pectorals, taking time to appreciate the veins that stood out on his arms and biceps, before she reached his face. His deep-green eyes shone with need, for her. She wanted to reach toward him, but she had little experience with men. She wanted her touch to elicit pleasure, but doubts swamped her and her body froze in place.
“Ellie, love, what’s wrong?” he asked.
“I don’t…I want to…I don’t know how,” she finished.
“All you have to do is touch me.” He closed the distance between them.
When he reached her several torturous seconds later, although it felt like minutes, her breathing became stilted and rushed. He grasped her wrists and raised her hands to his chest. At the first touch of her skin on his, he closed his eyes and groaned, sending the sound shivering over her body. He held himself still as she grew bolder, opening her hands and exploring the rigid muscles of his chest and stomach. She moaned, unable to hold the sound inside, as her fantasy became reality.
In the next moment, his mouth crashed down upon hers, stealing her breath. She opened for him, all the while aware of her hands caressing his naked back and her body pressing closer to his, begging for relief. He pulled away before he buried his face in her neck; his hot, deep breaths reassured her that he was as affected by their attraction as she was.
He clutched her waist and walked both of them backward until he dropped onto the couch. He peered up at her, his hands tig
htening on her waist, giving her a split second warning before he pulled her onto his lap.
As she fell, her hands shot out and landed on his chest for balance and her knees landed on the outside of his hips. She locked her legs, preventing her from full contact, but his hands glided over her back and urged her forward until the distance between them disappeared.
“More—I need your mouth.”
She tilted her head and molded her mouth to his, this time using her tongue to explore him. He tasted of citrus and mint, and his deep kiss sent a flare of heat through her. Unable to control her need for him, she relaxed her legs and pressed her hips against his, feeling his erection against her core. Her fingers ran through his hair, holding him close, aching to get closer, while her mouth tangled with his.
His hands slipped around her back, one hand holding her neck as the other caressed her back, and in a rush, her back was pressed into the couch and his large body loomed over her. He wasn’t touching her, other than his mouth on hers. Of their own volition, her hips shot up, striving to feel his hardness against her again, but he held his body away from her. She growled into his mouth, letting him know of her frustration.
He pulled back, their breathing deep and harsh in the silence of her apartment. Her brows drew down in confusion, wondering why he stopped, but as she opened her mouth to ask him, he placed a quick, hard kiss against her lips and levered himself off the couch. There was a pinch in her chest—a small, innocuous thing, but it was there all the same.
She smoothed down her clothing as she sat up, her eyes downcast, not understanding why he stopped.
“Fuck,” he breathed.
“It wasn’t that bad,” she whispered.
In a split second, she was on her feet after he’d gripped her arms and lifted her until she was level with his gaze. He looked angry, but his face relaxed and he pulled her into his chest, her cheek resting on his heart. She could hear the staccato beat of his heart and wrapped her arms around him, content to be close to this man who made her feel wanted with just a kiss.
“I didn’t come over to get you into bed.”
“I know.”
“But once I kiss you, I can’t stop. You taste so sweet, and you’re so responsive, that I took it too far.”
“I know. I wanted you too, and if you didn’t stop, I wouldn’t have been able to.”
The growl that erupted from his chest rumbled through her body, and the heat that never dissipated flared hotter. She closed her eyes and took and deep breath, trying to get her body under some semblance of control. She didn’t want to push him too far and didn’t have enough experience to ask whether she could explore him further, with her mouth and hands. His arms tightened as a tremor ran through her body at the direction of her thoughts.
“We have all the time in the world,” he said.
She nodded, relief washing through her at his words.
He dropped his arms and she stepped back. Her eyes searched his to see whether there was any doubt in his words, but his smile and direct gaze told her that he was a man of his word. He had shown her that he kept his word, and so she relaxed as he went in search of his sweater. She almost groaned aloud as he covered his magnificent chest.
He stayed for another hour as they went back to their usual banter, talking about anything and everything that came to mind.
She couldn’t stop touching him. She traced circles on his hand, caressing his cheek, pressing brief kisses to his mouth, and wrapping her arms around him to feel him close, to feel his body against hers. With each touch, he didn’t take it further; he sat back and allowed her to explore.
He asked about her week, and she remembered the meeting scheduled for Monday morning with a new client.
“I might be a little busy this week. We have a new client, and they always need a little hand-holding.”
He nodded, understanding. “We’re working on a new software rollout for the middle of next month. I would like to see you, though.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
She walked him to the door, and she paused, not knowing what to do or say. He cupped her cheeks in both of his hands, and the kiss that came after was sweet. He brushed his lips over hers, first kissing one corner before moving to the opposite side. He licked her bottom lip and when she opened for him, his kisses weren’t rushed. Instead, he explored her as though they were kissing for the first time. Her knees felt weak, so she wrapped her arms around his waist and held on as each stroke of his tongue drew out different sensations. When they pulled back several minutes later, her breathing came out stuttered.
“I’ll see you soon, love,” he promised.
She nodded, unable to find her voice. He dropped a quick kiss on her forehead and opened the door. He winked at her a split second before he closed the door, and she found herself alone in her quiet apartment.
Chapter Eight
Lucian typed the last line of code for the accounting software project, one of the many projects he and his team were working on, and blew out a breath. When the beta testers had sent feedback, there were significant changes that had to be made. It had made for a long week, and by the time he e-mailed the updates to the rest of his team and shut down his laptop, he was relieved the week was over. It was the first time other matters took precedence since he started the company. There would be tweaks that would be needed to be completed later in the process, but for now, he was done.
He glanced at his watch and shot to his feet. He was going to be late for dinner with Ellie and her friends.
He walked to the bathroom attached to his office, and after taking a look in the mirror, decided to take a quick shower. Her friends were important in her life, and he didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot before he even walked in the door. His hand ran through the stubble on his chin. He thought about taking the time to shave, but dismissed it.
He hadn’t seen Ellie the entire week, and after what happened in her apartment last weekend, five days was excruciatingly long to spend without being able to touch her, kiss her. They had spoken on the phone several times over the week, but they were hurried conversations that left him wanting. She had spoken to him about a new client who found fault with every idea she and her team had come up with, along with details of her daily life. He found himself awed that she would share her life with him, even if it was over the phone.
That was why he planned to surprise her with a catered dinner for four, remembering that she had a standing dinner with her friends every Friday, and it was the least he could do.
He was curious about her friends.
Ellie hadn’t answered his question about her friend last weekend, and he’d become distracted by her and never pursued an answer to his question. But tonight he would see how her friend acted toward Ellie.
He dressed in a dark-green hooded knit pullover that covered a white tee, a pair of comfortable jeans, before sliding on a pair of his favorite sneakers and running his hand through his hair. With one more look in the mirror, he grabbed his wallet and keys, and headed out.
The Friday night traffic was heavy, but he was able to flag down a taxi at the corner of Wall Street and Broad, and relaxed back in his seat as they turned on FDR Drive. Before long, the driver pulled up to Ellie’s place. He peeled off some bills for the driver as he exited the cab, and strode through the door as the doorman opened it for a couple who were on their way out. He darted around the perfumed couple and made a beeline for the elevator. As he pressed the button, he found himself tapping his foot as he waited for the elevator to her fourth-floor apartment.
The elevator ride felt like hours, but he took a deep breath as he stood outside her door. He couldn’t help the smile as he heard her laugh, and he knocked, a little harder than he intended.
When she opened the door, his world had righted, because she was standing in front of him. Her hair was up in a severe knot, and she wore a business suit that hid the vivacious woman he’d gotten to know. He wanted to rip the pins out of her hair and
run his fingers through it, but he settled on her beautiful face as a smile bloomed there.
She breathed his name a split second before she launched herself in his arms. He caught her with ease, wrapping his arms around her and bringing her flush against his body, before he kissed her breathless. He couldn’t remember who initiated the kiss, and at the moment, couldn’t bring himself to care. She was in his arms, where she belonged.
He pulled back and buried his face in her neck, breathing her in. His body hardened at her familiar scent. He was amazed how much he missed her soft fragrance, her laugh. He tightened his arms, reluctant to release her, even after he heard someone inside her apartment clear their throat. He pulled back and smiled down at her, and she conveyed how much she missed him when she relaxed in his arms. He growled when he spotted the flare of desire in her eyes.
“I think you can put her down now,” came a man’s voice, clipped and strained.
Without skipping a beat, she muttered, “I kinda like it up here.”
The smile on his face grew, and he leaned toward her to press his lips against her forehead. He put her on the ground and raised a brow in surprise when she interlaced their fingers before she pulled him into her apartment. He didn’t care where they were headed, as long as she kept touching him.
As soon as he crossed the threshold, a strong hand gripped his forearm and whipped him around. A woman, beautiful but somewhat severe, smiled at him as her finger tapped on her chin.
“Hmmmm.”
Ellie stepped to his side and he slipped an arm around her waist, squeezing her. He caught her eye, and hoped that he conveyed that his lone interest was in his arms.
“Nina, this is Lucian. Lucian, one of my best friends, Nina.”
Ellie eyed the two of them for a long moment, and it struck him that she kept silent because she wanted to see his reaction to her friend. Ellie had played second tier to her friend at times, but this time, it was her turn for attention. He nodded at Nina, and turned his focus on the man who glared at both of them from the across the kitchen island. They stared each other down as Lucian sized him up. The man was shorter than him by several inches, but the look on his face was of pure fury. His look was laid-back, but Lucian knew that the other man had no problem attracting women, as long as it wasn’t Ellie. She was his.
The Mistaken Escort's Pleasure: A Liaison Novel Page 5
