Lucien(15)

“For the dress,” he replied softly. His gaze dropped to her mouth.



Her tongue darted out, moistening her lips. “What dress?”



“The wedding dress,” he whispered. “Do that again.”



“Do what?” A slow ache of tension built in the pit of her stomach. Her arms grew heavy and her knees threatened to buckle. Her breathing quickened and her fingers twitched to touch him.



“Lick your lips.” His voice turned husky, rasping deliciously against her skin.



She complied and he moved closer.



“Touch me,” he ordered raggedly.



“Luc, I—”



“Touch me.”



Her hands lifted and she cautiously slid her fingers up his chest to wide, powerful shoulders. She was trembling with excitement, fear, and anticipation.



“No more scenes, Elise.” One hand skimmed down then up her side while the other moved across her shoulder, sifting through her hair and caressing her neck. His hand, strong and warm, cupped her face and his attention flickered to her mouth then back to her eyes. “No more scenes.”



Her hands flexed on his shoulders, her nails digging into the cotton fabric of his shirt. “It was just an embellishment,” she breathed as he drew closer.



Her lashes drifted shut and she shivered as his lips tentatively touched hers. Lights exploded in her mind as his tongue danced across her bottom lip, tasting and teasing her into opening for him. She sighed and leaned in towards him. His fingers dug into her hair, tilting her head to the side, and he kissed her. His lips moved against hers, his tongue dueled with hers. He devoured her, demanding everything she had and she gave him all.



She felt him groan and his hand moved down to catch her waist, pulling her up hard against him. Her insides turned to liquid and poured into the center of her body. Her body was awake and tingling. Everywhere. Her breasts were crushed against his hard chest and they ached. She gripped the shoulders of his shirt, wanting nothing more than to rip the crisp, white cotton off him.



Never in her life had anyone kissed her like this. Kissed her with such hunger and need and… urgency. She was starving and couldn’t get enough. Blood roared in her ears and her heart felt as if it would pound out of her chest. Her palms grew sweaty, her knees buckled, and Luc was there to catch her. His arm came around her waist, pulling her harder against him until she could feel his body’s response pressing into her stomach.



Thunder echoed in the distance and muffled whistles shrilled in the background. She whimpered and moved her hands around his neck, threading her fingers through the soft hair brushing the collar of his shirt. All too soon she felt Luc draw back, ending the kiss as breathless as her. His eyes burned and she knew the heat in his gaze was reflected in hers. She’d never wanted any man the way she wanted him at this very moment.



“Luc,” she whispered, slightly confused and disoriented.



He pressed her cheek to his chest and rested his chin on the crown of her head. “The next time you start to seduce me make sure the blinds are closed. The whole damn office saw us.”



Elise groaned and tried to burrow closer. “I did not start to seduce you, Lucien. You’re always trying to seduce me.”



“Darlin’, if I’d started to seduce you, I’d have made damn sure the blinds were closed. I’ll be glad when this job is over with.” His fingers massaged her waist, urging her closer.



“When do we leave?”



“The day after the wedding.”



Before she could stop herself, she said, “You still have time to find someone else.”



“After that kiss? Hell no. I’m looking forward to the wedding night.” He pulled back and grinned wolfishly down at her. “You could invite me over to your place tonight and—”



She yanked on his hair and he grunted. “Forget it, Lucien. In case you don’t remember, you’re old-fashioned and you refuse to sully your love by seducing me without the benefit of marriage.”



“Gaia help me if I ever fall for a sweet, little liar like you. You weave the most demented tales I’ve ever heard.” He gave her a small shake. “Do you honestly believe that, without my grandfather’s ultimatum, I would have asked you to marry me in order to get into your bed?”



Elise pulled back and lifted her chin, infused with a healthy dose of pride and dignity. “My mother may subscribe to the philosophy of free love and be ecstatic over having short lived, passionate affairs with whomever may strike her fancy, but I do not.” She unwound her arms from his neck. “You may not be old-fashioned, but I am. I do not give my favors lightly or without a price and you, Lucien, will do well to remember that.” She removed his hands from her waist and walked across the room on shaky legs. She sank down on the sofa and lifted the laptop onto her thighs. “Get back to work. We have a project to finish before Saturday.”