Lucas Thorn. Damn it. I was full-naming him in my head because I had no choice but to accept the full name of the man who had captured my heart, who was so perfect for me that it made my head hurt.
He crooked his finger, signaling me to turn around.
His hands grazed my back, his fingers running down the zipper—and then he slowly inched up my tight dress past my thighs and whispered, “I improvised.”
“I see that,” I hissed as cold air hit the back of my legs, and then his hands moved to my hips as he slowly brought my body back against his.
Shivering, I leaned my head back and tilted my chin up, accepting his hungry kiss as his hands moved down the front of my dress. It was almost more erotic than being naked, his hands roaming across the sleek fabric as it pressed against my skin.
My body ached for him in a way that terrified me—because it wasn’t just this physical attraction. It was so much more, more than I could have possibly imagined, with a man I used to hate—a man who, for all intents and purposes, deserved that hate.
“Promise me,” I whispered as his hands slid past my ribs and cupped my breasts. I let out a moan as he massaged and teased, the evidence of his arousal pressed against my back. I wanted him. With serious desperation. But I needed the words.
“Anything.”
“I get all of the days.” I said it in a rush.
His hands dropped.
Rejection slammed into me.
And then those same hands flipped me around, bracing my body while I hung my head in shame. I had done the unthinkable.
I’d gone and fallen in love with Lucas Thorn.
Stupid.
Idiot.
“Look at me,” he whispered.
I shook my head no.
“Avery Bug.” He trailed a finger down my jaw. “I’ve wanted you for years. Do you really think I’d toss all of this between us aside, for a Molly Monday or a Flight Attendant Tuesday?”
“Yes.” I sighed. “No.” My shoulders slumped. “Maybe.”
“You don’t trust me yet,” he acknowledged. “And since I owe you honesty—I don’t completely trust myself either. Do us both a favor.”
His eyes were so clear, the prominent cleft in his chin made his mouth so much more tempting. Why couldn’t it be easy?
Just sex?
“What’s this favor?”
He pressed his hand to my chest. “Keep this—until you know, without a doubt, it’s safe in my hands.”
I frowned and looked down; his hand was placed over my heart.
Understanding dawned. “What if it’s not all mine anymore?”
Silence.
“Lucas—”
His lips met mine softly and then more aggressively as he lifted me into his arms, our bodies grinding together.
I reached for the button of his pants, my hands greedily tearing at whatever I could find to get there faster.
“Damn it, Avery.” He kissed me harder. “What have you done to me?”
His pants were free. I glanced up at him and saw such a raw intensity I almost backed away and ran out of the room.
The real Lucas Thorn was staring at me, not the cheater, not the one who told me he couldn’t be trusted. The real thing.
And he was mine.
I reached out, grazing his abdomen with my knuckles. His sharp intake of breath quickened my heart. I gripped his thick erection and moved my hand slowly up and down, squeezing gently.
He cursed and bit down on my bottom lip, then lifted me onto the dresser. A feral gleam lit his eyes as he parted my legs and our bodies joined, and he claimed me with one abrupt thrust, stealing my breath.
He kissed away my whimper.
He covered my mouth when I screamed out his name. The tension built, hard and fast, as he pumped and I bucked. The room filled with a musky scent that made me even hotter.
The hot pressure at my center became unbearable just as he stiffened and drove himself into me in a ragged rhythm. He swallowed my helpless cries with a deep kiss. And as we both floated on the devastation of our release, I knew it was too late.
He had me.
He’d always owned me.
I just didn’t know it until now.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
LUCAS
I loved her.
I still didn’t trust myself not to hurt her—but I loved her. The last thing in this world I wanted was to make Avery Black cry, again, because of me.
When she was done biting the hell out of my shoulder, she jerked back, her eyes filled with horror. “How loud were we?”
“Quiet,” I lied. “Like church mice.” I coughed.
Her eyes narrowed. “I think it’s best we leave the nice polite church mice out of this scenario, Thorn.”
I flashed her a smile and helped her off the dresser, then made sure my shirt was tucked in again while she shimmied her dress back down her thighs.
It was no use.
Our clothes looked fine.
But our faces told a completely different story. She was biting her lip and trying not to smile; her cheeks were flushed, and her mouth was red.
Her hair looked like I’d used it as a harness and held on for dear life while I screwed her.
“You look fine,” I said quickly. “And nobody heard.” I was pretty sure that even the neighbors at the end of the street had heard. “Just act normal.” Which would be hard, considering it was Avery we were talking about.
“If you weren’t so pretty to look at, I’d punch you for all of those lies.” She pointed at me, then jabbed me in the chest. “I’m just going to hold my head high and get another glass of wine.”