Blackmailed by the Italian Billionaire(27)

“Probably.”

Gary considered him for a moment. “Don’t take this wrong, but Harley reckons you’re thinking with your dick and not your head.”

Anger flashed through him, but he pushed it down. Gary was genuinely concerned. He might not have been around, but he knew the havoc Jimmy Brent had caused in his life. “You’ve spoken to Harley?”

“When I was preparing the report.”

“But you came up with nothing to suggest that she’s in contact with Jimmy?”

“Maybe not. All I’m saying is—don’t lose sight of who she is, and who her father is. Don’t trust her.”

Luc swallowed the last of his drink. Wasn’t he here to forget about Lia? And her father. He held up his empty glass. “Aren’t we supposed to be drinking?”

Gary grinned. “Hell, yeah. As you said, the night is still young.”

…



“Stupid machine!” Lia snarled, staring at the coffee machine in disgust. She couldn’t even work out how to turn it on.#p#分页标题#e#

It had taken her ages to fall asleep last night. She’d lain with the feel of Luc’s lips on her own, the taste of him filling her mouth, despite the fact that she had scrubbed her teeth for five minutes. When she had finally dropped off it was to her usual dreams, and she’d tossed and turned all night.



Something had awoken her in the early hours of the morning, and she’d lain in the extremely comfortable bed wondering what to do. She couldn’t go back to sleep and eventually, at six thirty, the need for coffee had driven her from her room. Coffee was an absolute necessity for her first thing in the morning. Not an option.

She stared at the machine disconsolately, then left the kitchen and wandered back into the huge living area. There was no sign of Luc, but a sound from above made her glance up. The door to the rooftop conservatory was open, and she tiptoed up the spiral staircase and peered out. For a moment, all seemed quiet, then the splash of water broke the silence. Lia froze. She edged through the doorway.

Luc’s long body sliced through the water, his movements swift and economical. He moved easily, fluid and graceful, and Lia was filled with the same awe she’d always felt in the past when watching a beautiful horse move. Well, she acknowledged honestly, not quite the same feeling.

Luc came to a halt at the end closest to where she hovered, shuffling from foot to foot. Lia knew she should go but was quite unable to make herself do it. She told herself it was cowardly to run, that she had to get used to Luc if she was going to have any peace over the next few days or however long it took before he realized her father was a no-show. Mind you, she didn’t think she would ever get used to Luc looking like this, the water gleaming on the golden skin of his shoulders and chest.



He wiped the water from his eyes. “Join me.”

Lia shook her head. “I don’t have a suit.”

“Neither do I,” he drawled.

Definitely time to walk away, but again, she couldn’t bring herself to move. She stood glued to the spot as he pulled himself out of the water in one smooth motion, the muscles rippling under his honey-gold flesh.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she stood there mesmerized, unable to glance away. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. And he was naked. Absolutely, unashamedly naked.

He stood, almost seeming to pose for her, stretching his long, lean body sinuously, running his hands across his chest then through his dark, wet hair. She risked a glance at his face to find him watching her from deceptively sleepy eyes, a small smile playing across his lips. It was obvious he knew exactly how much she wanted him.

Her gaze dropped over his broad, golden chest, sleek muscle under satin skin, down his flat belly, lightly furred with dark silky hair. She blinked as she rapidly skimmed over where that silky hair flared out to form a nest for his manhood. He was stirring in that dark nest of curls, thickening, and her eyes widened before she squeezed them tightly shut. Her whole body reacted to the knowledge that he was becoming aroused—tightening, melting. She shifted and only reopened her eyes when she was sure they were pointed firmly at the ground. She stared at his feet; even his toes were beautiful—long and tanned and perfectly manicured.



He had no right to be so perfect.

“I need a cup of coffee,” she said, her eyes back to his face, but carefully bypassing the bit in the middle.

“The machine’s in the kitchen,” he said soothingly. “There was no need for you to come out here.”

She didn’t want to be soothed. “I don’t know how to turn it on.”

He sighed, but picked up a towel from a nearby chair and rubbed it roughly over his hair leaving it tousled, then blotted the water from his body before securing it around his lean hips, the white of the towel contrasting with his dark golden skin. Lia watched through narrowed eyes.