FIVE
CLAIRE SAT IN THE SEAT beside Luke, trying not to think about the way her father had looked at her on his way out of the church and failing. It was like losing him over and over, and it hurt like hell. In a way, it was like what happened to him each time he was clear enough to realize that her mother was gone.
She knew her parents loved each other. She’d always known it. Their love was a palpable force in their home. She grew up surrounded by it. And watching her father and Maria talking about the loves they’d had and lost, there was no doubt in her mind that even faced with the overwhelming heartache, they’d both say it was worth it
Pete dying was such a waste, even more because nothing about it made any sense. She still couldn’t think of any possible reason for him to be near the window openings on six. But even with all that, she couldn’t help but see the legacy of the life he and Maria built together. He was gone and it was hard and horrible, but he left behind a big loving family who would take care of each other. They’d take the love Pete and Maria shared with each other and them and spread it out into the world, passing it onto their kids.
It was exactly what Claire wanted. She adored her father, but it had been lonely since it was just the two of them. She wanted a husband and a house full of kids, a big noisy family to love and be loved by.
She glanced over at Luke as he pulled the car into the underground garage. In his black suit with the crisp white shirt he was walking sex, but he wasn’t husband material. She didn’t think he was normally even up for an actual relationship. Although when they’d made love the night Pete died, she could have sworn he felt more than just sex. When he’d cradled her against him, it felt like he loved her even if he didn’t say the words.
She gave her head a little shake. Those were dangerous thoughts and ones she couldn’t afford if she had any chance of keeping her heart safe. She was already in way too deep.
He slid the Jag into the empty space next to the Veyron and turned to face her, running the back of his fingers down her cheek.
“There’s an awful lot going on in that gorgeous head of yours. I know that had to be hard on you. Are you okay?”
She nodded, touched by his tenderness. “I never get used to seeing him like that, but I trust Becky. I know she’ll take care of him.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the home?”
“No. Having me around just makes it worse.” She closed her eyes for a moment against the truth of her words.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go upstairs, and I’ll make you forget about all of it.”
Before she could decide if forgetting was what she wanted to do, he was helping her out of the car, his hand resting strong and warm on the small of her back. Her entire focus shifted to the way his fingertips traced the bumps of her spine through the silk of her blouse. She was a smart capable woman who had accomplished many things, so why did he always seem to be able to reduce her to simply her body’s reaction to him? He touched her and everything else faded away.
He led her onto his private elevator, barely waiting for the door to slide closed before he hauled her against him and kissed her long enough for her to forget how to breathe. His hand tangled in her hair, tugging against the pins holding the French twist in place and forcing her head back so he could reach her neck. Laying a trail of kisses along her jaw, he worked his way down her throat to scrape his teeth over the sensitive skin above her collar bone.
Her nipples tightened and every nerve in the path of his mouth zinged to life. He reached for the top button on her blouse as the elevator door slid open. Not taking his hands off of her, he moved her to the door of his penthouse and fobbed them inside. He kicked the door closed behind them and had her up against the wall before she realized they’d moved. Everything about his touch was hot, demanding and completely irresistible. He wasn’t tender or loving. He was hungry and her body responded, desire coiling with molten heat low in her belly as her panties got wet in anticipation.
Hooking his hand behind her knee, he hauled her leg around his waist, hiking up her skirt and opening her to him. She sucked in a breath as he fitted his long hard cock to the hot V of her body, pressing up on her toes to get closer. In heels she could almost get him where she wanted. She ground against him and felt his breath hot on her neck as he exhaled with a groan.
“Bed, Claire. Now. I’m not going to fuck you up against a wall when I could have you spread out naked in my bed like a feast for me to devour.”
She fought the whimper bubbling up from her throat at his words, but she didn’t fight him when he took her hand and led her down the hall to his bedroom. As soon as she was through the door, he pulled her into him, and she landed against his chest. Reaching for the collar of her blouse with both hands, he yanked, ripping the black silk open and sending buttons flying. She felt her skin flush at the savageness of his gesture. The need in his eyes. Standing in front of him in her ruined blouse and black lace bra she knew she’d do anything he wanted her to.
He trailed a finger down her throat, following the path the buttons had taken, the warm pad of his fingertip running down the center of her chest between her breasts. The controlled touch was so at odds with what he’d just done; she froze uncertain, waiting to see what came next. He stroked past her ribcage, pausing to dip the tip of his finger into the hollow of her belly button.
Sliding his finger under the waistband of her skirt, he traced his way to the zipper at her hip leaving her skin pebbled in his wake. He undid the zipper and let her skirt fall to the floor, making an appreciative noise deep in his throat as his gaze rested on her stockings and garters. She’d started wearing them just for him, and it was worth it every time to see his reaction. Hooking his fingers in her panties he pushed them over her hips and steadied her while she stepped out of them and her skirt.
“Fuck, Claire. You’re gorgeous.” He breathed in, nostrils flaring and she felt like prey being scented by a predator. He reached past her, grabbing the corner of the duvet and tossing it to the floor. “Up on the bed, sweetheart, and leave the heels on.”
With as much grace as she could manage in the four inch black fuck me heels, she climbed onto the bed and crawled toward the headboard. Leaning back against the pillows, she met Luke’s gaze as she slowly and deliberately let her legs fall open. His hand froze where he’d been loosening his tie.
“Really?” he asked, arching a brow before giving the tie a tug and pulling it free of his collar with the swish of silk against cotton.
Keeping the tie wrapped around his hand, he unfastened his belt and yanked it through the loops with a snap. He folded the belt, stalking toward her as she struggled to keep from closing her legs. She felt like she’d poked a tiger. Every time she thought she had a handle on what they were doing he turned the tables on her.
“Lean back,” he commanded, and she complied, settling deeper into the pillows piled against the headboard.
But she couldn’t close her eyes, she kept her gaze locked on his face, trying to anticipate what he’d planned for her. He toed off his shoes before climbing onto the bed and kneeling between her spread legs. Laying the belt across the tender skin of her inner thigh, he hooked his hand behind her knee, raising it up and out, spreading her open for him.
She reached down to touch his hand, needing some kind of connection, and he caught her wrist, bringing her hand to his mouth and pressing a kiss to the center of her palm before positioning her fingers on her knee. He pulled the belt free, the thick leather sliding over her skin sending a wave of delicious anticipation through her body. With quick efficient movements, he wrapped his belt around her forearm and thigh, cinching it tight enough for her to feel the small bite of pain.
“I…” She opened her mouth to speak not sure what she intended to say, but he cut her off, pressing his finger to her bottom lip.
“Hush, sweetheart. I’ve got this. All you have to do is feel. That’s all,” he said, dipping his fingertip into her mouth to touch the tip of her tongue.
