Lucien(38)
“That’s all right,” she replied. “There’s a pizza place not too far away who’ll deliver. I’ll even let you pick the toppings if you promise not to add onions or anchovies.”
Six and a half hours later, Elise stifled a yawn and picked up an empty pizza box. She stuffed the cardboard into a trashcan the cleaning crew would find tomorrow—since they had already been by two hours ago—and headed back into the barren office.
Luc and Ben were steadily pouring over papers. They worked well together, she decided. They complimented each other. Thought along the same wavelength. Trying to keep two steps ahead of Luc was hard enough, but ahead of both of them? Nigh on impossible. She was exhausted and rapidly turning into a pumpkin.
Elise glanced at her watch and amended her musings. She had twenty-four more minutes before she officially turned into a pumpkin. She rubbed her eyes and dropped down onto the couch next to Luc.
He glanced at her when she laid her head against his shoulder. “We’ll leave soon.”
“Okay. I’m just gonna rest my… eyes.”
Luc moved his arm and, lifting it around her, settled her more comfortably against him. He pulled his jacket down from the back of the couch and draped it around her. “Better?”
“Mmm-hmm,” she murmured and, kicking her shoes off, tucked her legs up on the couch.
She closed her eyes and sighed with pleasure as Luc combed her hair with his fingers. “That feels too good.” She yawned. “Don’t stop,” she whispered.
Five minutes later, Elise was fast asleep against her husband’s chest with the steady thudding of his heart lulling her into the best sleep she’d had since the first day of meeting Lucien Masters.
Luc’s eyes burned with exhaustion, but he refused to call it a night. It wasn’t that he was determined to find the group of purchase orders from the month of February. He didn’t want to disturb Elise and if he took her home now, he’d end up sleeping alone. Again, dammit.
He sifted his hand through her hair and marveled at the silky softness of it. Her perfume surrounded him in a euphoric cloud and he inhaled deeply. Sweet jasmine. Luc doubted he’d ever be indifferent to that particular flower again. He caught himself before he lifted her long hair and buried his face in it.
Elise sighed and shifted, sliding her hand across his stomach to hug his waist. Damn, but he wanted her. He ached and throbbed. Damn his conscience. He should have sweet talked her into his bed weeks ago. Hell, months ago.
Ben groaned and stretched. “I’m beat.” He tossed the stack of papers in his hand onto the desk and flexed his shoulders. “Take her home, Luc.”
Luc hesitated to answer and Ben said, “Take her home and sleep in late tomorrow.” He pushed back his chair and stood up. “Damn, if I’m going to come in at eight.”
Luc set aside the orders he’d been staring at but not reading. “Does anyone use this office during the day?”
“Nope.” Ben closed his briefcase and clicked it shut. “No one but the cleaning crew comes in here.”
Luc nodded and slid out from underneath Elise.
“Poor little thing,” Ben murmured. “She’s exhausted.”
Elise moaned a sweet protest at being shifted and something in Luc’s chest tightened, squeezing his heart with tenderness. He couldn’t bear to wake her up.
“Don’t worry about your stuff, Luc. It’ll be safe.”
Luc tucked his jacket around her, then eased Elise up and into his arms. Her head settled in the crook of his neck and she sighed contentedly. “Grab my keys. They’re inside the briefcase.”
Ben snatched them up, then opened the door wider. “Is she as light as she looks?”
Luc chuckled and carried her easily towards the elevator. “Light as a feather.”
Ben pressed the button, calling the elevator. “And she doesn’t snore. You’re a lucky man, Luc. You could have ended up with a real bitch of a wife.”
The doors opened and Luc stepped inside with his precious cargo. “Don’t remind me.”
Elise stirred sleepily and lifted her arms, draping them over his shoulder and around his neck. “We going home now?”
“Yes. Go back to sleep, darlin’. We’ll be home soon.”
“Okay,” she murmured sleepily, dropping her head to his shoulder.
Ben swore softly. “You’re starting to make me jealous.”
Luc’s smile was grim. “Don’t be. This is all the affection I’m going to get tonight.” The doors opened on the ground floor and he stepped off the elevator.