Lucien(25)

But one day, Elise thought to herself, he would realize that Lucy wasn’t a delicate wilting flower. Then he would see for himself that fairy tale princesses possessed a rare and special kind of backbone of steel that may bend some when pushed, but didn’t break. And there wasn’t a doubt in Elise’s mind that Lucy’s wasn’t broken. Bent, yes, but broken? Oh no, far from it.



But until Luc was ready for that particular lesson in fairy tale lore, she’d let him off the hook. “At eight. When are you meeting Raven and Ben for the bachelor party?”



He paused in the act of drinking to glance at his watch. “Around nine.” He handed her the bottle, then leaned back on a step, putting all his weight on one elbow. “Who planned the party?”



“Lucy took care of the food. Moonbeam and Eleanor arranged the entertainment. Cindi is taking care of your grandfather.” She took a sip, then recapped the bottle and set it behind them on the porch.



There was a long stretch of silence as they watched a couple walk a dog down the street. “Did they hire a stripper?” he asked.



Elise brushed her hands on her jeans. “I… probably. Did they hire one for your party?”



“No. We’re probably going to a strip club.”



“Oh.”



“Does that bother you?” He picked up her left hand and idly played with her engagement ring.



“Should it?” she asked shakily. It did bother her a little, but she wouldn’t tell him that—especially not when his touch was making her toes tingle and jumbling her thoughts. It was hard enough to deny him as it was. Luc didn’t need any encouragement.



“Probably not.” He laced their fingers together and the corner of his mouth quirked up into a smile. “But it’d be nice.”



Elise suppressed a smile. He wanted her to be jealous. “Does the possibility of a stripper at my party bother you?”



He didn’t look at her as he answered, “I’m not exactly comfortable with it.”



“I see.” Hope blossomed inside her like a spring flower and she decided it wouldn’t be all disastrous if she were to give him a little encouragement. “I may be bothered a little.”



That got his attention and his head came up, a slow grin crinkling the corners of his eyes. “Oh yeah?”



“Yeah.”



“Would it make you feel better if I said that I’d rather spend tonight with you?”



“Maybe,” she answered, feeling suddenly shy.



He raised her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, then murmured against her skin, “And you could share some of your magic by doing a strip tease for me?”



“Lucien,” she cried on a laugh and attempted to reclaim her hand.



“What?” He pulled her closer. “I’d promise not touch. I’ll even slip money into your—”



“You are horrible.” She shook her head, smirking. “Incorrigible. All you think about—”



Luc tugged on her hand and one second she was sitting on the step, the next she was draped across his lap, trapped in his arms. “All I think about is this.” Then his mouth slanted across hers and she experienced a complete meltdown. Her entire body tingled and… ached by the time he pulled back. “I brought you a present.” His voice was rough and ragged.



She blinked, trying to clear her mind and find a rational train of thought to latch onto. “A present?”



He nodded, his eyes glowing with heat. “It’s in the truck.”



“It is?”



“Yeah. It is.” Luc looked like he would kiss her again, but he eased her off his lap and pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll get it.”



Elise licked her lips as she watched him walk down the sidewalk. She wondered if he knew just how badly she wanted to shred his t-shirt and rake her nails down his broad chest. If she thought he looked good in dress shirts and trousers that hung in all the right places, he was positively scrumptious in jeans and a muscle hugging black shirt.



Luc returned before she had a chance to finish undressing him with her mind’s eye. He handed her a small gift wrapped box, then sat down next to her. “Go on. Open it,” he said when she hesitated.



Elise shredded the paper and her eyes widened. Inside was a small jewelry box made of dark wood, its lid delicately etched with ivy and flowers. “It’s beautiful. Oh, but you—”



“Open it.” Luc watched her for her reaction.



Elise eased the lid open and released a silent ‘Oh’ as she recognized the melody emanating from the velvet lined box—Beethoven’s Fur Elise.