Page 44 of Lucas (The Valeur Billionaires #2)

“And did you?”

“No, he wasn’t home. I’ll have to find another chance.”

“Something important?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

There he goes again, shutting me out. “What’s wrong?”

“Why do you think something’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because you’ve been acting weird lately?” Did he get more threats? Is he in danger? Fear floods me, cold and clammy .

“I’m not.”

I purse my lips. “I’m going for a swim.”

“I’m coming with you.” He strips off his shirt.

I shrug and head to the pool, Lucas trailing behind me.

I enter the cool water, gasping as the chill hits me, my nipples pebbling against the thin fabric of my top.

Lucas looks almost angry as he watches me wade in, and then he dives into the pool, swimming underwater to the opposite side.

I follow the shadow of his form. He emerges in one smooth motion and runs a hand through his hair, slicking it back. The muscles of his arm look almost delicious, glistening with water droplets.

Damn, my stomach clenches in response. I had no problem going a year without sex, and now barely a week since that morning on the car, and I’m horny and can’t control myself? What is it about this man that drives me out of my mind?

I look away, propping my arms on the edge of the pool. My shoulders sting a little. I guess falling asleep in the sun wasn’t the best idea.

Michelle swims over to me. “I need you to play along with me here, okay?”

I turn my head, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I want to go out with Noah.”

“So, ask him out.” I kick my feet, floating on my stomach.

“I don’t want to seem desperate.”

“What do you want from me?”

“I’m going to tell you about this amazing party I’m throwing at my place tomorrow, and you and Lucas are coming, of course. ”

“We’re what now?”

“Say you’re coming because you love my parties, and then I’ll casually throw out to Noah, ‘Hey, wanna come too?’”

“And how is that different from just asking him?”

“Because it’s not a date, it’s a party. I’m inviting everyone, not just him. And you’ll be there. He’ll feel comfortable showing up.” She turns and leans her back against the pool wall. “Come on, be a friend and help me out here.”

“I think he’d say yes even if you just asked. He’s clearly into you, you two haven’t left each other’s side since he got here fifteen minutes ago.”

“Ava,” she scolds, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Fine, fine, invite me to the party. But I’m not sure Lucas will want to come. He probably already has plans.” I hope he has plans or some other excuse to get me out of going. I’m not thrilled at the prospect of being with her friends again.

“What plans are more important than you? You’re his wife, aren’t you?” She smiles and waves her hand, signaling Noah and Lucas to come over.

The men approach us, and Noah grins, his attention fixed on Michelle.

He’s a very handsome man, no doubt about it.

Lucas stands behind me and wraps his arm around my waist, tugging me back against his chest. My whole body softens against him, molding to his shape.

Michelle shoots me a pointed look. “You’re coming to my party tomorrow, right?”

“Of course.” I paste on a fake smile. “I wouldn’t miss one of your parties.”

Lucas looks thoughtful. “I didn’t know there was a party. I already made plans. ”

“Am I invited too?” Noah asks Michelle with a charming smile.

“Sure.” Michelle beams at him, then flicks her gaze to me.

“See? I told you.” I mouth the words to her silently.

Lucas’s grip on me tightens, his fingers digging into my hip. “Okay, we’ll be there.”

Wait, what? “I thought you had plans, baby.” I turn my head and smile at him sweetly, trying to hint that I want to bail, but he doesn’t take the bait.

“I’ll cancel them,” he says, his tone brooking no argument. “I don’t want to miss a party thrown by your friend.”

I deflate. Everything was all set. Noah already agreed to go to her party, and I could have gotten out of seeing her annoying friends again, but no, Lucas always has to do the right thing, and now I have to endure another evening of them laughing at me behind my back.

I climb out of the pool and wrap a towel around myself, chilled despite the warm sun.

Lucas follows me out. He doesn’t bother toweling off, and water pools at his feet. Rivulets run down his chest, tracing the ridges of his abs, and I can’t tear my eyes away.

“...to the party tomorrow?” His voice penetrates the fog of lust hazing my brain.

“What?” I snap my head up to find him grinning. I guess I got caught staring, but I can’t bring myself to care. I’m turned on, desire thrumming through my veins.

“I asked if you want me to book the limo to go to the party tomorrow,” he repeats, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Umm... yeah,” I mumble, then place my hand on a drop of water on his chest, tracing its path down his sternum, over the sexy dip between his abs, to the waistband of his swim trunks with my fingertip.

Fuck. I’m wet, and not from the pool.

“What are you doing, Ava?” His voice is low, gravelly, plucking at my nerve endings.

“What do you think I’m doing?” I raise my eyes to meet his, the blue almost eclipsed by the black of his pupils.

“Don’t start something you don’t intend to finish,” he warns, but there’s a trace of hope beneath the words, a question.

“Who says I don’t intend to finish?” My fingers toy with the drawstring of his trunks, brushing against the warm skin of his lower stomach. His muscles jump under my touch.

He wraps his fingers around my wrist, stilling my hand. For a moment we just stand there, locked in a heated stare, the air crackling with tension. Then, in the next instant, he’s pulling me inside the house, almost at a run.

“Where are we going?” I ask, stumbling after him, my heart pounding.

“To finish this.” His voice is a dark promise that sends shivers skating down my spine.

Oh fuck.

He stops at the first door in the hallway and opens it, tugging me inside after him.

A pool table dominates the center of the room, a large bar occupies one corner, and a massive marble fireplace fills another.

Lucas locks the door behind him without releasing my wrist and strides over to the table.

My breaths are shallow and rapid, and the spot between my thighs throbs .

He pushes me against the table, then lifts me up and sets me on the edge. His hands spread my knees wide. “Is this what you want, Wifey?”

His fingers dig into my flesh and find my swollen clit beneath the thin fabric of my swimsuit.

I moan, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

“You want to come, Wifey?” He grips my throat and tilts my head back, forcing me to meet his heated gaze.

“Yes.” The word is a whisper, but it rings with need, with desperation.

He crashes his lips to mine, devouring me, consuming me.

“Fuck yes. I missed your taste,” he growls into my mouth, nipping at my bottom lip.

I tangle my fingers in his hair and yank him closer, deeper. I want him inside me. I need to feel him stretching me, filling me. I drop my hands to his swim trunks and shove them down, freeing his hard length.

I don’t want games or foreplay. Now. Hard.

I grip him in my hand and guide him to my entrance, the tip of him nudging against my slick folds.

Lucas groans as he breaches me, the thick head of his cock pushing past my initial resistance. “Wait.”

I don’t let him pause. With a tilt of my hips, I take him inside, crying out at the sweet sting of it.

“Fuck,” Lucas curses, his fingers digging bruises into my hips.

I let my head fall back, reveling in the feeling of fullness, the delicious ache of his size stretching me wide.

“Give me a second, or this will be over in less than a minute,” he grits out, stilling the restless movements of my hips and taking a deep breath. “What’s gotten into you today?”

“Nothing’s gotten into me. We have an arrangement, don’t we? Physical gratification without complications. It was your suggestion, as I recall,” I remind him, clenching my inner muscles around him and making us both gasp.

“Yeah.” He pulls out, the drag of him making my toes curl, then meets my eyes. “We have an arrangement.”

He thrusts back in, and my eyes roll back in my head. He feels so good, so right.

“Are you interested in Noah? Is that why the sudden horniness?” He grips my waist and holds me in place as he drives into me, setting a punishing rhythm. We’re both panting, the wet sounds of our coupling filling the air.

“What? Of course not! Why would you think that? I’m not interested in him.”

Only you. Always you.

“I’m going to gouge that fucker’s eyes out.” He picks up the pace, slamming into me over and over until the heavy table creaks across the floor with the force of it.

“He’s into Michelle. Not me. And I think it’s mutual,” I mumble, but my mind is fuzzy, my thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.

The knot low in my belly winds tighter, the telltale tingles of an impending climax sparking along my nerve endings. “Is that why you wanted to come with me tomorrow? You’re worried I’ll do something with Noah?”

“No,” he grits out, then leans over me, changing the angle so he’s rubbing against that spot inside me that makes me see stars.

I gasp, writhing beneath him as the external pressure somehow translates to an internal caress. It’s like he’s stroking himself over that perfect place, that hidden treasury of sensation that?—

Oh God.

I’m going to shatter.

“Yes, Wifey,” he growls, grinding against me in tight circles that match the pistoning of his hips.

And I do, my body seizing and convulsing around him as wave after wave of ecstasy crashes over me. My eyes are screwed shut, and I see stars, galaxies exploding behind my lids.

“Yes, God, yes!” I scream, over and over, as he keeps thrusting, keeps rubbing, wringing every drop of pleasure from my shaking form.

Lucas hooks my legs over his shoulders and wraps his arms around my thighs to hold me in place. The new position allows him to go deeper, and he sets a relentless, inhuman pace that has me keening, my second climax building on the heels of the first.

I think I black out for a second because the next thing I know, he’s letting out a deep, guttural groan, and his cock is pulsing inside me, painting my walls with his release.

He jerks against me a few more times, erratic, uncontrolled, and then collapses on top of me, his sweaty forehead pressed to my shoulder as he gulps for air.

“I don’t want you going to parties like that alone. I told you last time. If you want to go, you go with me,” he says between heaving breaths, his voice raw, almost angry.

My chest constricts at his words, something sharp and hot lodging beneath my breastbone.

I’m not even upset at the high-handed comment. How fucked up is that? I want him with me. I want his protective presence by my side always.

I want him.

Not just his body. Not just the mind-blowing sex and toe-curling orgasms.

I want all of him. His heart, his soul, his love.

I want a real marriage, not this sham, this business arrangement masquerading as a relationship.

I want forever with him.

Oh God. I’m in love with him. Bone-deep, soul-consuming, utterly terrifying love.

When did that happen? How did that happen?

I squeeze my eyes shut, despair a leaden weight in my gut. I’m an idiot. I’m drowning in a fantasy of my making, one that has no bearing on reality.

When this contract ends, he’ll toss me aside without a backward glance. I’ll be left with nothing but memories and a broken heart.

Such a fool. Such a na?ve, hopeful fool.