Page 43 of Lucas (The Valeur Billionaires #2)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

AVA

“ I ’ll get it.” I stop Hugo, sidestep him, and open the door to the mansion.

“Hey!” I launch myself at Michelle, wrapping her in a tight hug.

She holds me at arm’s length, her eyes narrowing as they sweep over me from head to toe. “You look different. Why do you seem different?”

“Different good or different bad?” I ask, a hint of nervousness lacing my words.

“Good. You’re dressed differently, and you’re tanned, healthy. And those legs!” She whistles, her gaze lingering on my bare limbs.

I stretch out my legs, encased in tiny jean shorts. Beneath my tank top and shorts, I’m wearing the new royal blue bikini I bought.

“Different hot,” Michelle adds with a laugh, her eyes darting around, taking in the surroundings. “So this is where you live now? This is the famous Show-off Palace?”

I grin. I’ve told her plenty of stories about this place during the times I’ve wandered around alone and bored. “Yep. Valeur Manor Number Two.”

“Number Two?”

“I guess his dad’s place is considered the first.” I shrug. “Want a tour?”

“Definitely. Where’s your man?”

“Out.” I have no idea where he is. I woke up this morning, and he was gone.

I lead her to the kitchen, introducing her to Lilibeth and Hugo, then to the living room, the sunroom, the gym, and the home theater.

I open one door with a flourish.

Michelle squeals. “Bowling? He has a fucking bowling alley? Inside the house?”

“Yeah. And he doesn’t even use it. At least not that I’ve seen.” I close the door again. “I have no clue why it’s here.”

“Where’s your bedroom?”

I take her to Lucas’s sleeping quarters.

Michelle gasps as we step inside. “Okay, now this is what I call a bedroom.” She spins around, taking in the massive space, then flops onto the enormous canopy bed. The mattress bounces under her weight.

“Fuck.” She curses and leaps to her feet. “I forgot you guys do the nasty here. Eww.”

I laugh, but the truth is, we’ve never had sex in this bed. We sleep in the same bed now, but he’s careful not to touch me.

The fact is, he hasn’t touched me since that morning we drove to work together, and it’s not for lack of wanting on my part.

I’ve tried hinting, done everything short of jumping his bones.

I guess he’s lost interest, just like with all his other conquests.

Once he’s had them, he moves on. I knew that’s how it would be. I don’t know why I’m so disappointed.

“So, is he as good in the sack as he looks?” Michelle waggles her eyebrows at me.

This question, at least, I can answer without lying. “Yes. He knows how to use his equipment.”

“You go, girl.” Michelle holds up her hand for a high five. “So dish the deets. I’m in a dry spell, I need something to fantasize about.”

“Eww, no.”

“You’re always such a prude. I tell you everything.”

I shrug. “I don’t like talking about things that are supposed to be private.”

“Private schmivate, I’m your best friend. I’ve got nothing going on in my life. I wanna live through you.” She latches onto my arm, batting her lashes at me. “Give me something. Anything. Is he good with his tongue?”

I tilt my head back and groan. “Yes.”

“Well? You can give me a little more than that.”

“He pulled the car over on the way to work,” I say, not believing I’m telling her this.

“And?”

“And he laid me out on the hood and went down on me.”

“Fuck, girl, in the middle of the road? And you came?”

“Hardest I ever have,” I admit, a blush staining my cheeks.

“Oh my God. Now I’m horny. ”

I narrow my eyes. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t. So, ready to tan by the pool for a bit?”

“Definitely.”

As we approach, I notice Kaia lounging by the poolside. She sits up, shielding her eyes from the sun as we draw near.

“Kaia, hi,” I greet her with a smile. “This is my friend Michelle.”

“Hi there,” Kaia says, rising to her feet with a friendly wave. “I was just about to head in. Don't want to intrude on your time together.”

“You're not intruding at all,” I assure her. “Feel free to stay if you'd like.”

Kaia shakes her head, gathering her things. “Thanks, but I really should get going. I've got some packing to do. Lucas helped me find an apartment.”

“That's wonderful news,” I reply, genuinely pleased for her.

“It was nice to meet you, Michelle,” Kaia says with a parting smile before heading toward the house.

As soon as Kaia is out of earshot, Michelle leans in close. “Who is that?” she whispers, curiosity evident in her voice.

I sigh. “It's...a long story.” And not my story to tell. “She’s a friend.”

Thankfully, Michelle doesn’t press further.

In the side pool, the waterfall has already been turned on, and I notice two lounge chairs have been covered with towels for us, a stack of extra towels placed nearby. I still can’t get used to the fact that Hugo takes care of all these little details.

Michelle settles onto one chair. “Wow. This place is paradise. I can’t believe this is your home now. ”

“Me neither.” I sit down, put on my sunglasses, peel off my tank top and toss it onto the chair beside me.

Michelle shimmies out of her beach dress and stretches out next to me. We both close our eyes, letting the sun caress our skin.

“Mrs. Ava.”

I crack open one eye and shade my forehead with my hand. “Yes, Hugo?”

“Would you like something to drink?”

“Margarita,” Michelle requests. “Or a cosmopolitan.”

I shoot her a look. “I don’t know if Hugo knows how to make?—”

“No problem at all.” Hugo smiles at Michelle. “I’ll bring you a margarita. Mrs. Ava?”

“Just Ava is fine.” I correct him every time, and still, he insists on the honorific. “Same for me, please.”

He bows and leaves.

Michelle grabs my arm. “There are margaritas too. Fuck, Ava, you hit the jackpot. Lying by the pool sipping margaritas. What is this place?”

After Hugo brings us our drinks, I take a sip, then flip onto my stomach.

“I need to go into town for some errands, Mrs. Ava. Is there anything else you require before I leave?”

“No, thank you,” I say, and he departs.

We’re alone. Bliss.

I untie the top of my bikini to loosen it. I don’t want the tan lines.

I doze off in the warm sun, and Lucas’s face filters into my dream. I smile.

“Jesus. ”

The unfamiliar exclamation jolts me awake. I open one eye.

It’s not Lucas.

I look down at myself. While napping, I must have rolled onto my back without realizing it, and now my breasts are exposed to this stranger’s gaze.

“ Ahhh! ” I scream, snatch a towel from the pile and cover myself.

Michelle awakens too, sitting up, a bewildered expression on her face.

Lucas comes running. “What happened?” He looks between us all. “Why did you scream?”

“Who is that?” I point at the strange man who’s grinning and chuckling. “And why is he ogling me naked?”

“Ogling you naked?” Lucas’s jaw drops, and he rounds on the man. “Noah, you were staring at my wife nude?” He raises his hand and smacks him upside the head.

“Ow,” Noah yelps, rubbing his skull. “It’s not like I meant to. She was just lying there with her tits out. But it was only for a second. I swear, I barely saw anything.”

“Fuck,” Lucas curses. “Why are you sunbathing topless?” He waves his hands at me. “I’m going to have to kill you, Noah.”

“I didn’t know she’d be here, man,” Noah says, holding his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

“I thought we were alone,” I yell back. “Why are you bringing people here without telling me?” Anger and embarrassment war within me, heating my face.

“I’m not people,” the man says, extending his hand to me. “Noah Monroe. I’m a friend of Lucas’s. ”

I don’t shake his hand, crossing my arms over my chest instead, making sure the towel is secure.

His smile dims, but he offers his hand to Michelle, who’s looking at him with an expression I can only describe as starstruck. What the hell?

Lucas shakes his head. “We meet here sometimes, at the pool on weekends. I didn’t know you’d be out here. Otherwise, I would have given you a heads-up.”

“Who’s we?” I tilt my head, my brow furrowing.

“Me, Noah, and Kaleb.”

“So there’s another one of you?” Michelle smiles, her eyes not leaving Noah.

Oh boy.

“Yeah, but Kaleb couldn’t make it today.” Noah grins at her. “Lucky me.”

I rearrange my bikini under the towel, tying it and making sure everything is in place before I let the towel drop.

Lucas’s eyes widen, and he covers me with the towel again.

“What are you doing?” I rasp, batting his hands away.

“You’re not dressed.”

I shrug off the towel once more. “Now I am. I have a swimsuit on. And your friend here already saw me without it anyway.” I glare at Noah, who has the good grace to look abashed.

Lucas’s jaw clenches. “I’m gonna gouge his eyes out for that. And that’s not a swimsuit, it’s barely a scrap of fabric.” His gaze rakes over me, hot and possessive.

“The store would disagree, especially given how much I paid for this scrap of fabric. I’m going to swim for a bit. It’s gotten hot.” I turn to Michelle. “Wanna hit the water? ”

Michelle glances at me, then at Noah. “Want to join?” she asks him, a flirtatious lilt to her voice.

He nods and pulls off his shirt, revealing an inked, muscular chest.

Michelle grins at him, and they head to the pool steps together, already deep in conversation.

Lucas grasps my arm, stopping me. “Maybe you should stay here?”

“Why?”

“Give them some privacy. Looks like she’s into him.” He jerks his chin toward where Michelle and Noah are standing thigh-deep in the water, laughing at something.

Michelle is standing on the steps, getting used to the water while Noah splashes her. He’s definitely into her, and it seems mutual. But the pool is big enough that I won’t be in their way. Lucas is making excuses, so I won’t be near his friend .

I like that he’s jealous, it makes me feel like he cares.

I study his blue eyes, trying to find a hint of his thoughts. “Where did you go this morning?”

“For a ride. Remember, I told you I ride every weekend. I left earlier than usual because I wanted to talk to my dad too before Noah and Kaleb got here.”