Luc wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the desk. He jerked his shirt off, sending the rest of the buttons popping and scattering across the hardwood floor. The sight of that bare chest, the familiar tattoo and a smattering of chest hair had her heart beating in double time and her body aching.
He stepped between her thighs, encircled her torso with his arms and jerked her to the edge.
“Wrap your legs around me.”
His husky demand had her obeying in an instant. What was it about this man that could have her throwing all common sense aside and practically bowing to his every wish?
Love. That’s all it boiled down to. If she didn’t love him, if she hadn’t been in love with him for some time, she never would’ve allowed herself to be put in this vulnerable position.
Luc managed to work off her bra and panties with a quick, clever snap and torn material. The fact he was so eager sent warmth spreading through her. She’d made him this reckless, this out of control.
And that right there told her she had the upper hand.
Squeezing her legs tighter against his narrow hips, Kate gripped his head and pulled him down to her mouth. Instantly, he opened, groaning against her. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once. How else could she explain all the shivers, the rippling, the tingling?
“Lean back,” he muttered against her lips.
Kate leaned back on the smooth desk, resting her weight on her elbows. When his eyes locked onto hers, the moment he joined them, Kate couldn’t help the burn in her throat, the instant tears pricking her eyes. Even though their bond may have started off with a lie, it didn’t diminish the fact she loved him. He cared for her more than he let on, too, or they wouldn’t be here right now.
Kate shoved aside all worry, all thoughts, and reveled in the moment. Luc was here, with her. He was making love to her in a slow, passionate way that was polar opposite to the frantic way he’d stripped them both moments ago. Did she dare hope he wanted more from her?
Luc leaned over her, kissed her softly and rested his forehead against hers. With Luc’s hands gripping her waist, she held on to his shoulders and kept her gaze on him.
Within moments, her body climbed, tightened. Luc muttered something she didn’t quite understand. Between the Portuguese and the low whisper, his words were lost. But then his own body stiffened against hers as he squeezed his eyes shut.
Once the tremors ceased, Luc picked her up and carried her to his bed, draped in gold-and-white sheers. He laid her down and slid in beside her, pulling her body against his.
“Sleep.” His hands immediately went to her stomach. “Rest for our baby.”
Kate closed her eyes, wondering if this blossom of hope in her chest would still be there come morning. Wondering if the man she’d fallen in love with was actually starting to love her back.
Sixteen
Nausea hit her hard. Kate prayed that if she just lay still the queasiness would pass. Until now, she’d had no symptoms of pregnancy, save for the missed period and being tired. Those things she could handle.
As for the man who had put her in this situation in the first place, well, that was another story.
Kate tried to focus on the fact she’d spent the night in Luc’s bed, this time with him fully aware of who she was and why she was there. Surely that meant something. Surely they’d crossed some major barrier and things would only get better from here.
Kate wasn’t naive, but she was hopeful. She had to be.
But the bed next to her was empty, cool. She sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest. That abrupt movement had her stomach roiling. Bad idea. She closed her eyes and waited for the dizziness to pass before she risked scanning the oversize bedroom for Luc.
He stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, sipping a cup of coffee. His bare back, with bronze skin and dark ink, stared back at her. She didn’t want this to be awkward, but she had no idea what to say, how to act. She’d selfishly given in to her desires last night, not thinking of consequences. Well, she had thought of them, but she’d chosen to weigh heavily on the side of optimism.
Her legs shifted beneath the warm satin sheets. Luc glanced over his shoulder at the sound, then focused his attention back on the sunrise. She had to admit the orange sky glowing with radiant beauty was a sight to behold, but was he not going to say anything?
Please, please don’t let this be awkward.
Kate eased back against the headboard and tucked the sheet beneath her arms to stay fully covered. Not that he hadn’t seen all of her multiple times, but she was getting a vibe that this wasn’t going to be a good morning, and the last thing she wanted to do was go into battle fully naked.
“I’ve been trying to figure out what the hell to do here.”
His words sliced right through the beauty of the morning, killing any hope she’d built. His tone wasn’t promising. If anything, it was angry, confused.
“I watched you sleep,” he went on, still not looking at her. Damn it, why wouldn’t he turn around? “I even tried to rest, but there are so many thoughts going around in my mind that I don’t even know where to start or what’s real.”
“Everything that happened in this room last night was real.” If nothing else, she wanted, needed, him to realize that. “Did you only bring me here for sex, Luc?”
Speaking her fear aloud had her heart cracking. She wanted to be strong, she truly did, but there was only so much a woman could take.
“I wanted you.” Luc turned to face her, but made no move to cross the room. “I’ve fought this urge since you came to work for me. I got engaged to another woman knowing full well I wanted you physically. Even after that engagement ended, I still had this ache for you, even though I knew I couldn’t act on it.”
Kate clutched the sheet as he went on.
“I wasn’t in a good spot when we were at the beach house,” he continued. “I was an emotional wreck, and I never should’ve had you come with me, not when I knew just how much I wanted you.”
Her eyes darted back to his. “You were angry with me,” she reminded him. “Before the accident, you kissed me—”
“I kissed you because I couldn’t keep fighting the attraction. I kissed you out of anger toward myself, and then I was even angrier. I was rough with you, so I stomped off like a child.”
And then he’d been injured and forgotten everything.
Kate licked her dry lips. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Honestly, I don’t, either.” Luc slowly walked toward the bed, coming to stand at the end of it and holding her gaze. “There’s part of me that wants to be able to trust you again, but you hurt me, Kate. I never thought that was possible. And that’s what had me up all night.”
Kate cringed at his harsh words. What could she say? He was right.
“I thought we were going to move past that,” she stated, praying the possibility even existed. “You said we’d move on, that we’d have a professional relationship.”
Luc’s arms stretched wide as he eyed the bed. “Is this professional? I sure as hell don’t feel like your boss right now, Kate. You’re having my child, the next heir to the throne after me.”
“And is that all I am, then? The mother to the next heir?” She needed more. Even after her lies, she deserved to know. “Are you using my feelings against me? You know how I feel, and you got so jealous last night. Was that all to stroke your ego or to puff your chest out because you’re in control?”
Luc propped his hands on his narrow hips as he stared down at her. He’d put on his black tuxedo pants, but hadn’t buttoned them. It was hard to sit here and discuss all of this with him half-dressed and her wearing a sheet, but Kate had her pride, and she refused to give in to her body’s needs. She didn’t need Luc; she wanted him. Yes, it hurt to know he didn’t feel the same, but she wasn’t going to beg...ever.
His silence was deafening. Kate shook her hair away from her face. The nausea hadn’t lessened; if anything, she felt worse. She placed a hand beside her hip on the bed, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Kate?”
The mattress dipped beside her. When Luc grabbed her hand, she pulled back. “No.” She met his worried gaze. “I’m not playing the pregnancy card for your sympathy and attention. You don’t get to pick and choose when it’s convenient to show affection.”
“You’re pale. Are you all right?”
If only he would have cared first thing this morning instead of starting this day with voicing his doubts and crushing her hopes.
“I’m dizzy. It’s to be expected.” She shifted, scooting a bit farther away from him. “I’m not going to be pulled in different directions depending on your moods, either. You either want me, on a personal level and not just for sex, or you don’t. If my dancing with some guy bothers you, then maybe you need to reevaluate your feelings. But don’t come to me again unless you’re sure I’m more than just a warm body to you.”
Slowly, Luc came to his feet and nodded. “I plan on having you, Kate. I plan on marrying you, actually. You’ll become my wife before my birthday. I’ll secure the title and you’ll get to live out whatever fantasy you had when you wanted to play the engaged couple.”