Page 73 of Lucas

We sit, and Lucas places his hand over mine on top of the table. I bite my lower lip, resisting the urge to yank my hand back when my whole body tingles from his touch as if every nerve ending has awoken in anticipation.

We order, and the server collects our menus.

Michelle smiles. “So, lovebird, how long were you hiding him from everyone? Because one day you’re single, and the next month you’re married? Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”

I let out a nervous laugh. It was easy to sell a few fake dates to the press. Lucas made the whole thing sound like we’d been seeing each other for a while and only went public once we got engaged. They ate it up and asked for more. But Michelle knows me, and we didn’t prepare a story. I should have thought of answers in advance.

“I–I…” I stammer.

Lucas flashes his panty-melting grin. “When you know, you know. Right? What’s the point of waiting when you’ve found the right person? And Ava’s not pregnant. Although I definitely intend to put a few babies in her soon. How many do you want, Wifey? Six? I certainly enjoy the process.”

I choke.

“Do you need some water?” Lucas offers me his glass, that smug smirk still plastered on his face.

I bite my tongue, lift my leg under the table, and jam my heel into his foot.

The grin vanishes, and his face contorts in pain.

Now it’s my turn to smile.

“Oh, are you okay?” Michelle looks at him with concern.

“He suffers from terrible gas.” I lower my voice. “It’s a difficult problem,” I whisper.

Lucas shoots me a scorching glare, then turns to Michelle. “Better than the snoring. Do you know how hard it is to fall asleep when she snores so loudly?”

Michelle giggles. “You two are adorable.” Sheglances between us. “I didn’t know you were already planning on kids.”

“We’re not,” I answer before Lucas can get in another terrible comment. “Lucas here is just joking. Right, babe?” I place my hand on his thigh and squeeze. Hard. “He has a crazy sense of humor.”

His thigh is so firm.And thick.

I swallow, my hand still resting on his leg.

He grunts. “Yeah, just kidding. I don’t want kids anytime soon. But Wifey here wants an entire basketball team, and she’ll get whatever she asks for because that’s the kind of man I am. A woman pleaser.”

“Yeah, a woman pleaser,” I mutter under my breath. He’s so good at these lies.

He places his hand over mine and tugs it toward him. My fingertips are now dangerously close to his cock. Close but not touching.

What is he doing? He’s not going to put my hand onit,is he?

He removes his hand from mine and I let out a breath.

I could pull my hand back, but I don’t. I could move my fingers a fraction and touch him. Is he hard because of me?

The server arrives with our food and I snatch my hand back, folding them on the table. What the hell am I doing?

Lucas chuckles.

He knows. I don’t know how, but he knows I was close, that I wanted to touch him.

“So, Lucas, do you have any siblings?” Michelle asks.

I’m grateful for the distraction. I need to think about something else besides his body pressed against mine.

“Yes. I have three —two brothers and a sister. Didn’t you see them at the wedding?”