Page 44 of Is This Real or Just Pretend?

S he was dazzling.

The persistent thought would not leave Lucien’s addled mind and mirrored the rhythm of his racing heartbeat.

Alex’s cool command in bed had been intoxicating to watch and made the moment she fell apart all the more satisfying.

Though Lucien knew he owed a great deal to her explicit instructions, he still couldn’t help feeling absurdly proud that she had found such pleasure in his body.

He gave her one last squeeze, reveling in the sensation of their sweat-slick skin pressing together, then released her.

“Oh God,” she said with a start and scrambled off him. “Have I hurt you?”

“No, not at all.”

She watched him closely and Lucien basked in the concern in her dark eyes. “You’re certain?”

He cupped her flushed cheek. “Entirely.” Then he slowly dragged his fingertips down her jaw and the column of her throat, lingering along the lines of her collarbone. “In fact,” he began, “we could do that again very soon.”

Her eyes went wide. “Already?”

“Oh, yes,” he assured her as he continued to drag his fingertips along the silky skin of her shoulder. Alex shivered under his touch and his cock began to stiffen. “I’m quite certain I was made to do nothing but pleasure you.”

Alex let out a surprised laugh and smiled. “I’m sure you have a few other uses.”

“Well, I’m not interested in finding out.”

“Come here,” Alex murmured as she pulled him closer.

This kiss was slower and more deliberate, but no less arousing.

Lucien sank his hand into her thick mass of hair and cupped the back of her head, pulling her even closer, until there was no space between them.

Her lips parted on a gasp and he thrust his tongue into her mouth, which she accepted with an eagerness that shot straight to his cock.

This woman was a marvel. A wonder. All that cool control she presented to the public hid a veritable fire just below the surface. And Lucien wanted nothing more than to watch her burn. How he loved that this side of her was a secret only he knew.

Chisolm was either a liar, an idiot, or both for ever letting her go. He should have been on his knees begging her to stay, willing to make any concession to keep her. But his fumble was Lucien’s gain.

“Alex,” he panted by her ear. “I want you again.”

“Yes,” she said with a furious nod and began to move onto her side, but Lucien stopped her.

“No. I want you under me this time.”

Her brow furrowed with worry. “You’re sure?”

“It will be fine. And I’ll stop if it isn’t.” Then he cupped her breast and sucked her rosy nipple into his mouth.

Alex arched beneath him and parted her thighs, as if she was helpless to resist. Though Lucien very well knew this woman did absolutely nothing she did not want to do, that made her submission that much sweeter.

He continued to lavish each breast with his tongue until Alex’s hips were thrusting against him, and he was certain she was on the brink.

“Lucien,” she panted.

He smiled down at her and took a moment to enjoy the sight of Alexandra Atkinson completely undone for him.

Her cheeks and chest had flushed a deep pink, while her hair was splayed across the pillow like a tangled halo.

She dragged a hand through his hair and stared up at him with eyes so dark they were nearly black.

“ Please .”

Though technically she was the one begging for him, Lucien was completely at her mercy. He fit his aching cock to her entrance and nearly spent himself when he felt her warm, wet heat. He gritted his teeth and began to ease slowly into her. Somehow she managed to feel even tighter in this position.

Lucien had to shut his eyes, lest he become overwhelmed too soon.

“Yes, that’s it,” she murmured and pressed her palms against his backside, urging him on faster, and Lucien let out a startled gasp as he slid fully inside her.

“Oh God,” she panted weakly and he forced his eyes open.

Lucien took in a shaky breath and began to thrust into her.

“Harder,” Alex commanded after a moment and her fingertips dug into his flesh.

“Yes, Miss Atkinson,” he replied.

Alex let out a throaty laugh that turned into a cry of pleasure as he obeyed.

She raised her hips and he felt her smooth legs wrap around his back. The sensation nearly overwhelmed him. Lucien tried to shut his eyes again in a bid to last a little longer, but she was too beautiful, too alluring, and he simply couldn’t look away.

“Touch yourself,” he rasped in between ragged thrusts. “I want to watch you come beneath me.”

Alex’s hand immediately snaked between them and he watched in rapture as she brought herself to pleasure in just a few strokes.

She tightened around him and began to cry out but the rest of the moment was lost to him as he followed her into bliss.

His release seemed endless, even greater than before, and he shuddered above her, leaning on his forearms to keep from crushing her.

But then her hands smoothed up his back and pressed him down upon her lush, welcoming body.

Lucien didn’t know how long they lay together like that. Her panting breaths fanned out across his neck and shoulders and her heart thundered beneath his own.

It couldn’t have been like this with anyone else. It could only be like this between the two of them. He was certain of it.

Eventually their heartbeats slowed and Lucien moved off her.

They said nothing, just stared into each other’s eyes. Did he look as limpid and lovesick as she? He most certainly felt that way. He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips and turned away to adjust the pillow behind him. Then he felt her fingers tracing a spot on his right shoulder.

His tattoo.

“When did you get this?”

Lucien lay back down on his stomach to give her a better look. He liked the feel of her nimble fingers skating over his skin.

“A couple of years ago. One of my cousins was getting married so we all went out and got roaring drunk. Then we ended the night in a tattoo parlor.”

“You didn’t!”

He smiled at her scandalized tone. “Oh, we did. But I was one of the lucky ones. The parlor also specialized in piercings and another cousin left with a gold ring through the tip of his penis.”

Alex sat up with a start and Lucien rolled over onto his back with a grin. She looked properly appalled. “That’s terrible!”

Lucien shrugged and folded his hands behind his head. “He claims his wife likes it, so I suppose it was worth it.”

Alex let out a surprised laugh as she pulled up her knees and wrapped her arms around them. “My goodness, men are stupid creatures.”

“I won’t argue with that.” The position made her look younger, more vulnerable, and Lucien felt a surge of protectiveness for her.

Then she rested the side of her head against her knees. “What does your tattoo mean?”

“It was something my mother used to call me. A French term of endearment. It literally means ‘My little cabbage.’”

“That’s very sweet,” she said with a smile that made his heart feel like it might burst in his chest.

“I was teased mercilessly for it for weeks afterward,” he admitted. “But it was the only thing I could imagine wanting to have on my body for the rest of my life.”

“You made a good choice,” she murmured, still watching him with those dark doe eyes. Then she lifted her head and scanned his torso. “You feel all right?”

“A little sore, I’ll admit. But it was worth it.”

She blushed and glanced away but he could see her fighting a smile. “You shouldn’t sleep here. The maids will see you in the morning,” she added unnecessarily.

“Right.” It was the most sensible course of action. As no matter how independent Alex was, it wasn’t good form to bed the daughter of his host. And yet, Lucien still felt disappointed. He threw back the covers and rose.

Alex pulled on her wrapper and helped him find his discarded clothes. Then he dressed.

“We will need to talk about this tomorrow,” he said with as much authority as he could muster.

Alex nodded and met his gaze straight on. “We will.” Then, before he could think twice, he wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a deep, thorough kiss. Alex sank against him as if she had lost her ability to stand, and Lucien took that as a good sign.

When he finally pulled back, she blinked up at him in a daze. “Sleep well,” he murmured.

She nodded slowly. “You too.” Then she leaned against the door frame as Lucien shuffled down the darkened hallway.

He looked back when he reached his room and she was still there, watching him. He gave a little wave and she smiled before shutting her door.

Given the length and strenuousness of their bedsport, Alex should have slept soundly that night.

But instead she lay awake for hours going over every detail of their encounter.

She had not known it could be like that between a man and a woman—no, that she could be like that.

But Lucien brought out a playful tenderness she had not indulged in for years.

And the more Alex ruminated, the more the pit in her stomach grew and the louder her doubts sounded.

Sometime close to dawn she finally drifted off into a fitful, restless sleep that provided little relief from her thoughts.

Hours later she awoke with a start on the edge of a dream in which Lucien’s lean form hovered above her while he whispered filthy things into her ear.

Alex sat up and shook her head in a bid to strike the appealing image from her mind, but that did nothing for the warmth still pumping through her veins.

The very real happiness she felt. She threw back the covers and rang the bellpull as she stalked to the en suite bathroom.