She didn’t know that, but she nodded anyway. When the actual end of their relationship came there was no telling how it would go.
He reached for her face and ran his fingers over the arch of her cheekbone. “I’m an asshole. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did yesterday. It’s just . . . I lost someone before. The thought of losing you, of anything happening to you, I . . . I can’t bear it.”
She knew very little about Monique, his ex. All she knew was that he shared her with Slade the scumbag, and now she was dead. He never talked about her. She didn’t know if he loved her. She didn’t know how often he dreamed of her or thought of her. She didn’t even know what the woman looked like or how she died. She only knew that for some reason Lucian felt responsible.
He pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry. Let’s forget about yesterday.”
They hugged for several long moments. His mouth slowly pressed kisses into her shoulder, her neck and down the center of her chest. Lifting her slightly, he undid the back clasp of her bra and slid the straps down her arms. He kissed over the swells of her breasts, down the valley in between. Undoing her pants and pressing them low on her thighs, he kissed over the sharp curve of her hips and to the top of her sex, but never once touched her nipples or her clit.
Evelyn arched toward his mouth, begging him for more with her body. “Lucian, please. I need you.”
“Shh.” He bit at her side, a soft reprimand for trying to take control. Finally, his tongue slowly licked over her needy sex. She moaned, her back bowing off the carpet. He slid his arm under her thighs, banding them together, pressing them to his chest as he licked again. Slow, long strokes of his tongue teased the sensitive bud.
Her fingers sifted through his soft hair, holding him to her and he bit her thigh. She squeaked.
“Hands above your head.” She groaned, but did as he asked.
The gentle torture continued and her skin glistened with sweat. The feel of her coarse jeans being yanked from her legs was like coming up for air after diving to the bottom of a swimming pool.
His mouth traveled slowly over her hip as he cradled her close. “Come to the bedroom,” he whispered.
She was putty in his hands. He scooped her up and carried her back to their bed. She nestled into his shoulder as he carried her, needing the reassurance that they were okay.
Taking his time, he covered her. His lips feasted on every sensual point of her body, licked at every sensitive curve.
She arched into him, wanting him inside of her, but Lucian remained in steady control as he slowly awakened every part of her soul. His warm breath heated the sensitive curve of her neck as he kissed her and fit himself between her legs.
She wrapped her limbs around him, holding tight as he gradually filled her. “Lucian,” she breathed, her lips pressing into his strong chest.
He held her to him. “I love you so much, Evelyn. I can’t imagine being without you.”
They made love, taking their time and savoring every gentle thrust and quiver. The steady build of desire finally broke and washed away all her remaining tension.
Wave after wave of intense pleasure assaulted her, blacking out all rational thought, taking her body to a place her mind couldn’t intrude. Time ceased to exist. All that mattered was Lucian. When he came, he did so on her torso, heat coating her rosy breasts, marking her with his scent. Her name fell from his lips and echoed off the walls. She never heard anything so beautiful in her life.
She loved him. God, she loved him. She hoped he truly meant what he said, because if he ever wanted her to leave she didn’t think her mind, or her soul, would survive. Her body would never be the same after belonging so completely to Lucian Patras. Unfortunately, neither would her heart.
Chapter 10
Reservations
By Thursday, Lucian still had not left the condo for more than an hour on his own. Evelyn was beginning to get offended. Every time he did run out, housekeeping conveniently came by. She was being babysat like a child.
She hadn’t heard any more talk about an apartment, but that was probably because she’d barely been able to use the bathroom alone all week. Tuesday night she lay awake beside him, a sickening thought playing in her head.
He’s renting an apartment for another woman.
He wanted it furnished. He wouldn’t be able to be in contact with this female for certain amounts of time. Once the thought entered her mind, she tried to discredit it, but the seed had been planted. Was he having an affair?