“Do you not trust this guy? Do you want me to check him out?”
“No, no, I’ve heard of him. He’s one of the more popular owners in New York, and he likes to give new artists a chance. I don’t do well with crowds, or being in the spotlight.”
He squeezed her closer. “I’ll be next to you the entire night, but I know that people will love your work. Are you putting them up for sale?”
She nodded. “I was going to tell you if he gave me a show, but if this works out the way I’m hoping, then I can paint and sell my work. I was also thinking about opening my own graphic design business on the side. What do you think?”
“I think it’ll make you happy, to have control over what projects you choose to concentrate on, and you’ll have time to paint. I will support you in whatever you want to do, love.”
“Promise?” she choked out.
He caught her eye and nodded, choked with emotion that she thought of him as she contemplated a change in her career.
A sudden need to comfort her, and maybe even himself, had his mouth seeking hers for reassurance. The kiss blossomed into an all-consuming need to taste her, and within a few moments of their lips touching, he started to unbutton her blouse.
“I need you. I need to show you how much I will always want you,” he groaned.
Her blouse fluttered to the floor of the kitchen, soon followed by her bra, before he brushed his lips against her breasts. He slid his tongue against her distended nipple and licked her once, and again, before he drew her into his mouth. The slight suction caused her hips to shoot forward, and she clutched his hips against hers.
“Lucian, more—I need more.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, pressed her against his primed body and he headed for the bedroom. He dipped his mouth to the sensitive area where her neck met her shoulder and licked the top of her collarbone, while he absorbed her shivers into his body. As his knees hit the foot of the bed, he lowered both of them, his mouth still exploring her soft skin.
“You’re mine, love, all mine,” he growled.
She gasped as he moved his mouth up to the hollow of her neck, and with a need driving him to mark her as his, he latched onto her neck and used enough suction to mark her unblemished skin. Her body arched toward his as she cried out at the feeling of his mouth.
“Yes, yours, Lucian.”
His hands dropped to her slacks, and after a quick flick of his fingers, he’d opened the button; without loosening the rest, he yanked her pants down and off her. His movements stopped when he glanced at her lacy white panties, groaning at the sight of them covering her tanned skin. The contrast was incredible.
“I’ll buy you a new pair,” he managed to say.
With a small amount of force, the panties tore and he launched them over his head without a second glance. He opened his hands and caressed her bare skin, starting with her soft belly, down to her full hips, before they traveled up the contour of her waist, savoring each inch of skin. When his thumbs drifted below her breasts, and moved to smooth over her rigid nipples, he heard her sharp intake of breath and needed to draw more sensations from her body, but she had other ideas.
“I have to feel your skin,” she moaned as she reached for the hem of his sweater.
He sucked in a breath as she pressed her cold hands against his stomach, but it did nothing to take the edge off the desire that had been with him since she’d come into his life. He pressed his hands over hers, holding her steady against his chest while her hands warmed.
“I love it when you touch me,” he declared.
A bright smile lit her face.
He knew what she was thinking, but he shook her head, unable to control himself if she put her mouth on him. “I need to be inside you.”
“You never deny me when I want to taste you.” She sounded hurt.
Reaching for the back of his sweater, he yanked it over his head before he rolled onto his back, right next to her. He pushed off his jeans, boxer briefs, and socks, before he reached for her. His hands slid around her waist and lifted her onto his lap. He opened his mouth, trying to convince her that she was all he could ever want in a woman, but she reached between their bodies and clasped his cock.
“Oh, God.”
For a few seconds, he waited for her to sink onto him, but she held herself over him, a scant few inches from paradise. His hooded eyes met hers in a questioning look, and what he saw drove up his desire for her. She was a goddess. Her long hair draped over one shoulder, exposing one breast to his view, and her eyes were clouded with anticipation. Her body flushed with need as her chest rose and fell with deep, concentrated breaths, and yet she waited. Understanding dawned; she wanted to know why he’d denied her.
“There is a possessive beast inside my chest, and it’s screaming for me to claim you, to drive deep inside, until neither of us can tell where I stop and you begin. I need you, love, and I always will. Maybe in time, this driving need will wane, but I doubt it.”
Without a word, she sank onto him in one downward stroke, until he was surrounded by her wet, tight heat. He could feel her rapid pulse beat against his chest, and he pulled her closer to him, unable to breathe without her near him.
His mouth found the sensitive spot near the hollow of her throat and nuzzled against her, as she found a rhythm that drove them closer to the edge. His hands slid up her back, and as one hand cupped the back of her neck, he brought his mouth up to meet hers. He captured her moan in his mouth and the small sound sent a surge of hunger through him.
Cradled close to his body, he flipped them until she lay on her back, her legs wrapped around his waist.
Unable to control his movements, he pulled back before surging inside her, over and over, until they were both breathless.
Her hands roamed across his chest, and every once in a while, gripped his ass to urge him to go faster and deeper.
His mouth continued to possess hers, as he reached between their slicked bodies and flicked his finger over her clit. She strained to get closer, to drive him deeper, until he felt her body clamp down on his cock and her hot wetness wash over him. He tore his mouth from hers, and with two thrusts, his body exploded inside her.
He shivered as his hips pressed her into the mattress, helpless to sever their connection. Each time they made love, it was if they both discovered new nerve endings that cried out to be explored. Making love to her was as close to heaven on earth as he could imagine.
As he pulled out of her and rolled to his side, bringing her with him, he told her some of the emotions swirling around his chest.
“The luckiest day of my life was the one where we met.”
She lifted her head from his chest, and he clutched her leg that was bent near his waist, not wanting to be separated from her, even an inch. Her hand caressed his chest before she squeezed him. She looked him in the eye to try to see the churning emotions he wasn’t able to hide.
“It scares me how much I want you in my life.”
Her simple statement stopped his heart.
“I will never be like your parents.” He paused for that to sink in. “I will never treat you as if you don’t matter in my life, because, love, you are the reason for my happiness. Work is just that—work. Before you came along, I was content with my life, but with you sharing it with me, I see everything in a different way and I’ve changed, because of you.”
Silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
“Rebecca told me that she’d never met any of your girlfriends before…”
“Because I knew that nothing serious would come from any of those relationships.”
“Would I have met her, or Gabriel, if we’d met under different circumstances?” she asked.
He placed a kiss on her forehead before he lifted her chin with gentle fingers.
“Of course you would have. Bec is thrilled when I talk to her about our relationship, and she knows how happy I am because of you.”
“This
is so new to me…”
“I know, love.” He edged to the corner of the bed, reaching for the pocket of his jeans that he discarded on the floor. When his fingers wrapped around the box, he blew out a breath and lay back in bed before he settled her against him once again.
“When you’re ready, I will propose in a way that is memorable and far more romantic than this, but for now, I would like for you to wear my ring. I know words are just that, but if you give me time, I will prove to you that I’m not going anywhere.”
He watched as her eyes filled with moisture. As one tear slid from the corner of her eye, he moved to catch it with his lips. He wrapped her closer and waited to see how she would respond. Tension gripped his body as he held his breath.
“I would love to wear your ring.”
With quick movements, he removed the ring from the box. He slid the ring on her finger and brought her mouth to his in a slow, drugging kiss.
Minutes passed, and when they were both breathless, she opened her eyes and stared at the ring. He had found the creative design with relative ease and thought that it matched Ellie to a T. The band had an engraved scroll pattern with a round diamond at its center. It had come with a wedding band that would be added when they wed.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.
He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the ring, before he turned her hand in his, and kissed her palm. There were no words that could describe the happiness when she accepted the possibilities that were between them, and he would prove to her, in big ways and small, that he would never hurt her.
Chapter Seventeen
Ellie glanced around to make sure that no one had been watching before she slipped away from the crowd and headed toward the back of the gallery where she had scoped out a hiding spot in advance if the show became overwhelming. But the night turned out better than expected. She needed a small break as things wound down, happy that nothing had gone wrong.
When she had arrived on Lucian’s arm, the gallery owner, Drake Thompson, had introduced her to the other artists. They had each been warm and welcoming, making her feel better about accepting the show in the first place. She hadn’t told Lucian, but she felt a little like a fraud because she’d never been trained or schooled in the art. She painted and drew whatever came to her, based on her emotions. But the comments on the gallery’s web site, and the comments from her fellow artists, soon made her relax and she had enjoyed the night.
Lucian had kept his word, as she knew he would, and stuck by her the entire night. She’d noticed that many women would try to start up a conversation with him, or blatantly flirt with him, but he ignored them, keeping his focus on her instead. She smiled as she remembered how he would bring attention to her beautiful engagement ring, letting others know she was taken, and laughed out loud when she remembered how he wielded it against women who wouldn’t take no for an answer. She thought that jealousy would flare when other women gaped at him, but the man she had come to know would never go out of his way to be deceitful and hurt her. When he told her how he felt about her, she believed him, and it gave her the confidence to believe he would never cheat on her or hurt her.
“Hey, love, are you okay?”
She glanced up from the champagne flute she’d been staring at in her hand, and smiled as her eyes perused him in his fitted suit.
She watched, eyes wide, as he unbuttoned his jacket and whipped off his tie, shoving it in a back pocket, as he stalked toward her. He loosened the top two buttons of his black dress shirt, which exposed the bronzed skin on his neck, and she licked her lips, knowing how his skin would taste.
She wanted to get him alone and explore every inch of him.
Before he could reach her side, she interlaced their fingers and pulled him closer until his chest touched hers. As she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, she kicked off her shiny pearl high heels and lifted herself closer to him. Her lips explored the open spot on his neck, before her tongue traced the same route, smiling against his skin when he sucked in a deep breath.
“I love you in a suit,” she whispered against his ear.
He pushed her against the sturdy wall, and for several excruciating moments, leaned into her but still managed to hold most of his body away from her. She wanted to feel his chest against hers, the weight of his hard body against hers, but no matter how hard she pulled, he wouldn’t budge. She growled out in frustration.
“Touch me,” she begged.
His mouth pressed against the back of her ear, before he bit her lobe, soothing it with his tongue. A strangled gasp stuck in her throat and she shivered against him.
“I can’t wait to take you home, love, and strip this dress off you. You are the loveliest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, and this dress would tempt a saint.”
Deciding to go bold for her first showing, she had purchased a lavender embroidered lace gown that had been detailed with violet flowers and purple accents. She had left her hair down in a mass of curly waves; the highlights in her hair and dress brought out the blue of her eyes. When she had walked out of the bedroom to show him, the heat in his eyes almost had her retreating to the bedroom. He had kissed her in a blaze of heat that left her breathless and shaking.
As she shook off the memories from earlier in the evening, her eyes met his, and she could see hesitation in his pinched face and the thin set of his lips. At first, she thought it was something she had done that had warranted the look, but she had gotten to know him well enough to know that something else bothered him.
“But?” she asked.
“You have two guests who just arrived.”
She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his chest. He pulled her closer, his protective arms surrounding her, and with his strength; she blew out a breath and nodded, ready for whoever came to her show.
He gripped her hand and they walked out, side by side, to the already fading crowd.
“You should have allowed me to hang the painting you gave us, but I can’t part with it.” A soft voice came from her left.
Ellie turned with a huge smile on her face, and squealed as she spotted Rebecca, beautiful as ever, standing with a very regal Gabriel. She had to admit, although to herself, that he looked great in a suit, but Lucian had him beat.
She reached for the pregnant woman, who seemed to grow bigger each time she saw her, but hesitated. “Is it okay to give you a hug?”
Rebecca didn’t even answer as she swept her into a hug that brought tears to her eyes. She allowed herself to enjoy the enthusiastic hug before she pulled back and smiled at the couple. Again, to her surprise, Gabriel swept her into a bear hug that left her momentarily breathless. When she heard Lucian’s low growl of protest, she stepped out of his arms, and turned, giving Lucian a smile of reassurance before she laced her fingers with his.
“Thank you so much for coming. I’m so happy you received the invitation.” She glanced back at the couple who were coming to mean a great deal to her.
Rebecca looked up and caught her husband’s gaze, and smiled at him. “We’re your biggest fans—well, apart from my brother—and we wouldn’t miss this for the world. I’m finally over my morning sickness, so my husband doesn’t worry so much about me.”
Gabriel’s snort was short, and to the point. He would always worry about his wife, whether she was pregnant or not.
Lucian slid his hand to cup her waist and pulled her into his side. Rebecca told her about her latest doctor’s appointment, and she couldn’t help but smile at the soon-to-be new mother’s enthusiasm. She could tell that Gabriel was excited by their new addition but he worried over her. He’d moved the group over to one of the plush couches so that Rebecca could relax.
Ellie was awed by the other couple and the love they had for each other. She couldn’t help but glance at Lucian, and knew that if she had a chance to love him, she would do it wholeheartedly and for the rest of her life.
He squeezed her hand, as if he knew what she’d been thinking.
>
As the two couples sat around, talking and laughing, Ellie could feel her body relax, and with her friends with her, the night was turning into a very memorable one.
She was having a great time until she felt Lucian’s body tense against her. Her arm tightened over his waist, asking a silent question, but his eyes were narrowed at a couple who had walked in the door.
Ellie almost groaned aloud when Tim and Amanda spotted them. Amanda wore a startling low-cut dress that showed her ample assets, and when she started toward them, she could see the slit that stopped close to her hip. When Ellie glanced at Tim, he had a look of surprise on his face as he allowed his fiancée to drag him closer. The four of them stood as the new couple approached, and Ellie instinctively stepped in front of Rebecca, to protect her from any venom that Amanda might spew, and smiled up at Lucian as he stepped with her.
“Congratulations on your show, Ellie. We’re so proud of you. You look very nice.” Amanda’s compliment came out as a sneer.
Ellie had no idea how to respond to Amanda, but knew that the woman had no power to hurt her anymore. She couldn’t remember ever liking the woman; they’d become roommates because Amanda needed a place to stay, and Tim had talked her into it. At the moment, she couldn’t even say whether she had ever been attracted to Tim, but it didn’t matter anymore. Lucian wanted her, and she would never take their relationship for granted, nor would she believe there was an end date to it. She believed that she was his, and he was hers, and everything else didn’t matter.
“Thank you,” Ellie said.
Amanda dropped Tim’s arm and started toward Lucian with her arms open, but he held out his hand, stopping her in her tracks.
“Don’t…touch…me,” he growled at the other woman.
The other woman’s eyes widened and she took a step back. Tim gave her a harsh glare, and Ellie wondered whether he was starting to realize the type of woman he agreed to marry.
The Mistaken Escort's Pleasure: A Liaison Novel Page 11
