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Was that why Felix had pledged him to her?
There were a dozen other women would have been logical choices. More logical, really. Europe was filled with princesses and countesses whose families would have jumped at the chance to add Lucas’s impeccable list of titles to theirs.
You could broaden the field, too. The Americas were home to heiresses whose fathers were eager for titles that would give old-world luster to their fortunes.
He’d met many of those women. American, European…they were all pretty and prettily spoiled, and every last one of them knew how to smile and flirt and please a man.
Tired as he was, Lucas had smiled.
Alyssa didn’t seem to know how to do either. She was too strong, too independent. He couldn’t think of another woman who’d have stood up to him the way she did.
Was that what Felix had thought would entice him? Her strength? Her independence?
Her virginity?
Felix had mentioned it but Lucas didn’t believe it. Virgins were about as common as hen’s teeth. Besides, virginity was overrated.
He wasn’t from the old school. If men weren’t held to standards of innocence, why should women be?
And, Lucas had suddenly asked himself, what in hell was he doing here, an intruder in Alyssa’s bedroom? It was just that he was so damned tired. His room had seemed filled with shadows but this one—
This one seemed filled with Lyssa.
That was when he’d whispered her name. She’d awakened instantly and it was only then he’d realized she might scream or, at least, tell him to get the hell out…
Instead she’d asked about Felix in a soft, caring voice. And when she opened her arms, it had seemed the most natural thing in the world to lie down beside her, gather her close, hold her to his heart and let her bring him the blessed comfort of sleep.
Lucas shifted his weight.
But he was awake now. Wide-awake, as far from sleep as a man could be, and he was incredibly aware of the woman in the bed with him, warm and sweet-smelling and all but sleeping on top of him.
He felt the stirrings of desire.
Bastard that he was, what he wanted from her now had nothing to do with comfort. In a heartbeat, he had an erection so hard and full it was almost painful.
How simple it would be to ease that discomfort.
A soft kiss, while she slept. A purposeful caress. By the time she was completely awake, he’d be inside her…
Madre de Dios. What kind of man would even contemplate such a thing?
Carefully Lucas slid his arm from beneath her shoulders.
“Lucas?”
Her whisper stilled him but the swift hiss of her breath as she realized how intimately they were entwined only gave him more reason to want her.
“Lucas. How did we…What are you…?”
He rolled over, lay next to her with his head raised just enough so he could see her face.
“It’s all right, amada,” he said softly. “We took a siesta. Nothing more.”
He could see her trying to reconstruct what had led to this just as he had done a few minutes ago. Finally she nodded.
“I remember.”
“Gracias, Lyssa.”
