“I thought you’d be far more difficult to please than this,” he murmured.
Alex straightened against the shiver working down her spine. “I will be. Keep going.”
Lucien chuckled then continued going over his changes, but after a few moments Alex didn’t really hear the words. Just the sound of his deep voice washing over her. It was so calming. She could listen to him forever.
“Alex.”
She jolted in her seat. “Yes?”
Lucien peered at her. “You seem… distracted.”
“I am. A little,” she admitted. Only then did she realize she was quite obviously staring at his mouth. Alex lifted her eyes to meet his gaze.
“Should we do this another time?”
“No, no,” she said hastily.
He rose one dark brow. “Then what is distracting you?”
Her heart beat faster at the amusement in his voice. Was he actuallyflirtingwith her?
There were any number of things she could have blamed her behavior on: the hour, hunger, the mountain of work that always needed to be done.
But Alex couldn’t muster the will to lie. For what would be the purpose? Better to have him reject her outright and put an end to her ridiculous hopes. So instead, she told the truth.
“You.”
As she whispered the word, she fully expected him to move back. To explain that she had misread the situation.
“Is that so?” he replied, still holding her gaze.
Alex then noticed the heat in his eyes flaring to life and forced herself to nod. It was too late to turn back now.
Lucien draped his arm across the back of her chair and leaned in closer, slow enough to give Alex time to stop him. To tell him this was a mistake. That it would only complicate their agreement. But Alex again found she lacked the will to stop. She was sotiredof thinking everything through a half dozen times. Of imagining every possible outcome. Of being the responsible one. The boring one. Everyone else in her life seemed to be at the mercy of their desires at all times. And just this once, she wanted to be too.
As the warmth of Lucien’s body enveloped her own, Alex closedher eyes and tilted her head back. Just as Freddie’s words muscled their way into her brain.
No one will believe he wants you.
Alex’s eyes flew open. Lucien’s face was an inch away from her own. His brows rose in question, but they simply stared at each other. The only sound Alex could hear was her own sharp, panting breaths. She still had the chance to save face. To explain this all away. But then her sister would win.
Well, to hell with Freddie.
Alex surged upward and pressed her mouth to his. Her sudden movement seemed to catch him by surprise, but Lucien quickly recovered and pulled her into his arms. As Alex came to her feet, Lucien immediately pressed her backside against the desk.
She kissed him with feverish, searching lips, unable to contain her eagerness as the need for him clawed up her belly, no longer held at bay. Lucien responded in kind, his hands cupping her jaw and adjusting the angle of her face to better suit them. His enticing mouth was soft and warm. She wanted to taste him. As Alex slipped her tongue past his lips, Lucien let out a sharp groan and pulled back.
“Jesus,” he panted by her ear as his chest heaved against her own.
She loved how he reacted to her. And Alex, who never had any trouble maintaining control, was suddenly overcome with greed. With theneedfor this man. She nuzzled his neck and caressed his chest. How hard his heart was beating. Then she met his eyes. He was still breathing hard, his eyes like two black orbs. Alex dragged a hand lower while still holding his gaze. Lucien made no move to stop her, even when she grazed his belly, even when she reached the front of his trousers.
She was just about to touch him when he inhaled sharply. Alex paused and shot him a questioning look. “Do you want me to stop?”
“No,” Lucien grunted.
Alex smiled. “Good.” Then she began to palm him through the cloth, taking stock of his length and girth.
“Quite impressive, Mr. Taylor,” she murmured with approval.
