Lucien’s gaze warmed so much that Alex felt the urge to look away. She did not deserve his esteem for simply speaking the truth. “You must miss her very much.”
He nodded and glanced away. “Every day, even after all this time. But Paris helped with the grief.” Then his eyes fixed on her again and she was bewildered to find his gaze even more intense than before. “I suppose I owe you my thanks for your encouragement that night all those years ago. I’m not sure I would have left without it.”
“I’m sure you would have,” she said readily.
He cocked his head and smiled. “You’re too modest.”
As her heart began to flutter, she had the most disconcerting realization: Alex wasn’t bewildered. She wasnervousagain. But that was impossible. She had known Lucien since he was in short pants. She had seen him cry at least a dozen times. Once over a sandwich he had dropped on the ground. No. It was ridiculous that such a person could makeherfeel like this.
“Did you enjoy Paris?” she asked, attempting to direct the conversation toward safer waters.
He nodded. “Very much. It was an education in… life.”
“I’m sure. You must have learned a great deal about cooking,” she added, relaxing a little. There. Cooking. A much safer topic. No doubt he could speak forhourson the subject.
But Lucien paused a moment before answering. “Among other things,” he said in a low, suggestive tone as he slowly moved around the desk toward her.
Alex arched a brow. Was he actuallytryingto fluster her now?She was a little offended he thought it would be that easy. Ignoring the ripple of warning moving through her, Alex tilted her head. “Is that so? Do tell.”
Alex had never backed down from a challenge before, especially one issued by a man. Like hell would she start now.
But Lucien’s eyes only sparkled. “I may be a virgin,” he began as he stopped directly in front of her. “But Paris isn’t exactly a nunnery.”
She nodded, as if this were a perfectly normal thing to say. “Right.”
“And while I may lack experience, I’m not without an imagination. And, I confess, I have spent quite a lot of time lately imagining you.”
“Have you, now.” She tried to sound stern. In control. But even she couldn’t hide the tremble in her voice.
Slowly, Lucien placed a palm on either side of her until she was boxed in between him and the desk. Then he leaned closer and lowered his voice.
“Would you like me to show you?” As he held her gaze, his eyes warmed with something that went beyond mere desire. It was a kind of knowing, like she was being seen,trulyseen, for the very first time. She forgot that this had started as something of a challenge for her. Lucien was completely serious.
“Just say the word, Alex. Yes or no. This is entirely your choice.”
She had no doubt that he would stop if she asked. At any point. And that knowledge made the last of her nerves fade away.
“Yes,” she gasped, suddenly breathless. “Yes.”
Oh, the things he would do to make her sayyesagain.
And again and again.
Lucien straightened while keeping his gaze firmly on her face. He had learned that Alex’s expressions were subtle and fleeting, but they were there all the same. One only had to watch. And lately Lucien had been watching her a great deal.
The duke’s advice echoed in his head:
The most important thing to do is pay attention. As closely as you can.
He would make up for his lack of experience with consideration. His hands encircled her waist and she inhaled a sharp breath as he drew her to her feet. Alex dressed for the office like a particularly dowdy schoolmarm, yet it fanned his desire far higher than the scantily dressed dancers in the most notorious corners of Paris ever had. He flexed his fingers against the fine fabric of her skirt.
She began to take off her spectacles, but Lucien caught her wrist.
“No. Leave them on.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve been imaginingthoseas well,” she said archly.
Lucien grinned. “Is that so unbelievable?”
