“Matteo’s digging his heels in,” he says without preamble. “He’s refusing to approve the sale.”
Lucien’s expression doesn’t change, but the tone of the room seems to darken. “Of course he is.”
I lean against the counter, cradling my glass of wine. “Is this about the property we had a meeting for the other day?”
Stephen nods. “Moretti Global has majority shares of the prime real estate, but Matteo’s little slice of the pie means he can stall us if he wants. And apparently, he wants to do exactly that.”
Lucien’s eyes narrow on me as he thinks. “He’s playing games.”
I swallow a sip of wine, hesitating before I speak. “It’s me, isn’t it? Now that he knows I’m working for you, he’s playing hardball to get at me through you. Letting me know he’s still pulling strings.”
Stephen looks at me, then away. Lucien pins me with that sharp, unflinching gaze. “Why would you think that?”
“Because…” I set my glass down, my fingers tightening around the stem. “He hates that I work for you. That I’m tied to Moretti Global. If he can’t control me directly anymore, maybe this is his way of…making a point?”
Stephen exhales, rubbing a hand over his face. “Wouldn’t put it past him. The guy’s a control freak, always has been. But no one knows you’re here, Briar, so it doesn’t make sense that Matteo would be consumed with jealousy.”
Lucien leans on the counter, hands braced, watching me like he’s piecing together a puzzle. “He’s using his leverage to rattle you. He may not know everything that’s happening in your life, but he’s jumping to his own conclusions.”
“And what conclusions are true?” Stephen asks, looking between us both.
I don’t say anything, but I look to Lucien who merely smirks. “Those conclusions are none of your business just like they’re none of Matteo Romero’s business either.”
Stephen sighs, seemingly giving up his fight of inquiry. “I’ll keep pushing for a deal. Maybe we can persuade him somehow to see our way of thinking is the right way.”
Lucien nods once, sharp. “Do what you can and keep me updated.”
Stephen grabs his jacket and heads for the door. “Will do.”
When the door clicks shut behind him, the silence stretches. I can feel Lucien’s mood shift slightly, not as carefree as he was when we first arrived back at his loft. I set my glass down and cross to him, placing a hand lightly on his arm. “Hey,” I say softly. “Matteo may try and rattle me, but I’m safe here and he can’t hurt me while I’m working for you. I’m sure in time he’ll find someone new to obsess over and I’ll be free of him. I’m sorry to put all this trouble on you. The divorce was years ago. I thought he’d be over it by now.”
Not that I truly thought that. Matteo was anything but forgiving, still perhaps moving back to New York, working for a company that had a history with Matteo was a bad idea. Had I just worked elsewhere, perhaps he would never have gotten wind I was back in the city. But I thought I’d be safe here.
Lucien’s gaze lifts to mine, and there’s something unreadable there, something that makes my breath catch. “I don’t like him using you against me,” he says, voice low. “I don’t like that you’re even part of his calculations, if that’s what he’s doing.”
I shake my head, sliding closer until my hip brushes him. “He doesn’t get to control me, Lucien. Not anymore.”
Something shifts in his expression, something hungry and dark, and before I can react, his hand slides to my waist, pulling me flush against him. The kiss he gives me is rough, heated, and steals my wits and makes me forget all about the dinner cooking on the stove. It steals my breath, his fingers threading into my hair as he backs me against the counter.
I gasp against his mouth, clutching at his shirt as the tension of the entire night — hell, the entire day — coils between us, sharp and undeniable. I ache to have him, to feel him in me again, giving me what I crave.
“Lucien,” I whisper, and he groans softly at the sound of his name on my lips.
In one smooth motion, he scoops me up, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. The wineglass clinks softly as it settles somewhere on the counter behind us. His mouth trails down my throat, teeth grazing skin, sending tremors racing under my heated flesh. Every nerve in my body feels strung tight and alive.
He picks me up as if I weigh nothing but a feather and carries me down the hallway to his bedroom. I’ve not slept in here before and my heart hammers hard in my chest. He kicksthe door closed, it’s shutting hard behind us, closing us off to the world and all the troubles that follow us there.
His kiss steals my breath. I’m so wet, achingly ready for whatever he wants to do to me. I’d let him do anything he wants, even knowing him the short amount of time that I do. A crazy yet honest admission.
He sets me down on the edge of the bed, his eyes dark with want, with possession and need I’d never thought I’d see from anyone. I thought only such burning hunger was what was written in romance novels, but to see it here and now, in the flesh and directed at me, sends my pulse sky rocking. He kneels before me, his hands slide up my thighs and our mouths collide again.
“Lucien…” The ravenousness in my voice is not something I can hide. He pulls my panties down and I scramble onto the bed farther. He follows me, his muscular, warm, so-fucking-hot body pressing against mine. I wrap my legs about his waist, and he reaches between us, ripping open his pants. His cock springs frees and he rubs it against my cunt. He grinds himself where I want him most, and I moan. I can’t wait. I need him in me.
Now.
“Lucien…” I’m not past begging at this stage.
He thrusts into me and we both groan. He’s large, hard, and doesn’t hold back. He pushes into me, clasping my leg to tip my hip up to make him go deeper. God, he feels good.
