She felt Ian come up behind her and looked over her shoulder. He had this strange expression on his face as he stepped closer, the wine glass in his hand half full. He set it down beside where she’d put hers, and moved to stand beside her. The heat of his body and the scent of his cologne slammed into her, having her shiver with awareness. She was aroused, but the situation was tricky, awkward even. It didn’t matter that she’d spent the whole week with Ian, that they were learning new things about each other every day, that in all senses of the word this marriage was fake.
But even if she didn’t love him, even if she didn’t know what the future held, she was still human, lonely for affection, and wanted him in the worst kind of way. Or maybe it was the best kind of way.
She turned and looked at him, staring at his profile as he stared out at the cityscape. His jaw was square, masculine. He had a days’ worth of stubble covering his cheeks and chin, and her fingers itched to touch his flesh, to see if the hairs on his face were soft or coarse.
The gown she wore was something they’d picked up earlier today when he took her shopping in the city. It was formfitting, hugging her curves and showing off every part of herself that she’d tried to hide her entire life. But the way he looked at her, watched her, made Lucy feel beautiful, sexy.
He turned his head and looked right at her, this glazed-over expression on his face. The longer they stared at each other, the hotter the air became, thicker, suffocating. Her nipples beaded up, her body feeling like it was on fire.
“Lucy.” He said her name softly, the heat in his voice tangible. He shifted so he was fully facing her now and lifted his hands to cup her cheeks. The feeling of his skin on her face was warm, inviting.
He stroked his thumbs under her eyes, her heart racing, her blood rushing through her veins. And then he leaned in and kissed her, pressing his lips to hers softly, gently. She couldn’t help the moan that left her, or how her mouth opened on its own, just enough for him to slip his tongue inside. She tilted her head and opened wider, letting him kiss her until she was breathless, until her knees were shaking and her body was rigid. She was excited, so ready for this. She wanted to feel his body on hers, their flesh sweaty, sticky.
She pulled back. “Take me to bed,” Lucy said, staring into his eyes, knowing this was what she wanted, what she needed.
He leaned in and kissed her softly. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, not trusting her voice. “Yes, I’m very sure.” And she was. Whether this was a mistake or not, she wanted to feel Ian in all ways. She wanted to be his tonight.
7
In all of his years of being with women, Ian couldn’t recall a single time that he’d actually been nervous about this. Taking a woman to bed was an art form to him. Lucy wasn’t just any other woman, though.
She was his wife.
In that moment it didn’t matter to him the reason why he’d married her, but that she was his wife. They had yet to consummate their marriage, so this would cement their union. There would be no turning back, no annulment, only divorce. They had an iron-clad prenuptial agreement in place, so if anything went sour between them, he’d get possession of their kids, and she’d leave with nothing.
Yes, he was that much of an asshole to have made sure she didn’t have a choice.
Some women wouldn’t care, but his gut told him Lucy would.
Taking her hand, he pulled her close, and kissed the pulse on the inside of her wrist. Teasing his tongue across her flesh, he heard her indrawn breath, and the sound went straight to his cock.
He wanted her so badly, to thrust deep inside and claim her for himself. The ache and need was so intense that it made him stumble just a little in his kisses.
No matter where he was or who he was with, he kept in constant control. No one got under his skin.
Lucy’s different.
She made him want to be a better man, and even though it was so fucking cliché, it was in fact the truth.
He cupped her hip, drawing her close to him.
“I don’t make love,” he said. “When you come to my bedroom, Lucy, you’ll be mine. I’ll make you scream in pleasure but you have to know, I will also test your limits.”
Her eyes dilated and rather than looking scared, she looked excited.
“You won’t hurt me?” she asked. Her teeth sank into her lip, which only served to make him want to kiss her.