He squeezed his eyes shut and moaned. “God, when you talk like that…”
But the rest of his words were lost as Alex leaned forward and gently licked his earlobe. She had never done such a thing before. Had never eventhoughtto do such a thing. But in this moment it felt essential. Like she would go mad if she didn’t do it. Lucien let out another strangled moan and turned his face toward her, capturing her mouth in a deep kiss that seemed to melt into another and then another, until it was endless. When Alex regained slightly more of her sense, she stroked him even harder and his hips began to jerk upward, as if seeking more of her touch. She was determined to satisfy him and had just resolved to unbutton his trousers when Lucien grunted a curse as his whole body stiffened. It took her a moment to realize what had happened. Alex blinked and looked up, bewildered.
Lucien stepped back, looking absolutely mortified as he covered his face with his hands. “I—I’m sorry.”
He had spent in his trousers. He had wanted her so much that he couldn’t control himself. Alex supposed she should be disappointed, but she only felt a kind of power surging through her.
“Don’t apologize,” she murmured. “It’s fine.”
He let out a hoarse laugh and pulled a frustrated hand through his mussed hair. “It’s really not.”
“I’m told it can happen,” she began matter-of-factly. “Especiallyif one has not indulged in some time.” A straightforward approach seemed the best way to minimize his embarrassment.
But Lucien just scoffed. “Or never,” he muttered as he walked around the desk and fetched his satchel.
Alex stared after him, then cocked her head. No. He couldn’t possibly mean…
“You—are you saying you’re a virgin?”
“Try not to sound so surprised,” Lucien said sarcastically as he picked up his satchel.
“But, the earring,” she sputtered. “The tattoo.Paris.”
He shot her a challenging look. “Well? What of it?” Then he stilled as another thought seemed to occur to him. “Areyounot a virgin?”
Alex lifted her chin. “No.” The idea that a woman could be ruined by the very same activity that men were applauded for had always irked her. She certainly didn’t shout it from the rooftops, but she wouldn’t be shamed by him either. “Does that bother you?”
Lucien stared at her for a moment before shaking his head. “It bothers you, though.”
“Nonsense,” Alex said firmly. “I’m just surprised.”
Lucien’s shoulders tightened. “Because of my age.”
“Well, no. You aren’t that old.”
“And yet, most men would have already bedded adozenwomen.”
“I can’t speak to that figure,” Alex demurred, trying not to laugh as this was clearly a sensitive subject for him. “But I was under the impression that you had an affair with Madame Deveraux, your business partner’s paramour.”
Lucien’s mouth dropped open in shock. “How on earth didyouhear about that?”
“I hired a private investigator based in Paris look into you,” Alex said simply. “Just like I would anyone I planned to partner with.”
“A private investigator?” Lucien stared at her hotly. “Don’t you think that was a touch excessive?”
Alex shrugged. “It’s good business.”
“But you could have justaskedme.”
“I wouldn’t have known if you were telling me the truth.”
“Right,” he scoffed. “You had no choice but to invade my privacy because simplytrustingme was out of the question,” Lucien bit off as he picked up his satchel. “It isn’t true, by the way. Though I suppose you’ve pieced that together yourself.”
“Lucien—”
“I can’t believe I ever thought you—” Then he paused.
“What?” Alex demanded as she came around the desk. “What were you going to say?”
