God, he wanted her, he was hard as a rock and growing desperate. More than anything he could remember, he wanted her. And he made a vow to himself, the instant before he released her. He was going to have her.
And soon.
“Lucas,” she panted. “Just...Lucas...”
It took him a moment or two to reassemble his thoughts back into recognisable language. “Are you...did I...”
“Yes, and no,” she answered, getting her breath back. “Yes, I’m all right, and no you didn’t hurt me.”
“All right then.” His head was still spinning as he took her hand and together, they began to walk through the darkened streets, Lucas hoping his arousal would ease before he exploded.
The air had cooled, the stars were twinkling and all things considered, it was a beautiful night. Few people took notice of the young couple holding hands and walking quietly side-by-side. Even those who looked more closely wouldn’t have seen anything more than a pretty woman and her beau heading home after an evening out.
Finally—after more than a few minutes passed—he plucked up enough courage to break the silence. “I...”
She pulled on his arm. “Don’t youdareapologise.” The emotions were there and told their own story. She wasn’t cross, or hysterical, or any of the things she might have been.
“I wasn’t going to,” he said quietly. “I wanted to tell you that sometime, soon, I don’t know when or where, but soon...it will be you and I, alone, for longer than a few minutes.”
She was silent for a little while, then she squeezed his hand.
He glanced down and saw the sparkle of her teeth as she smiled.
“Let’s not use a wall next time? I’d rather something more comfortable...”
Chapter Twelve
To say that Lucas slept poorly that night would be a massive understatement.
He tossed, he turned, he thumped his pillow until feathers flew out of it, grunted, groaned, and finally, after maybe an hour or so of sleep, he gave up.
He sincerely hoped Verity was doing the same thing, since it was all her fault.
Well, all right. Some of it was his. He probably shouldn’t have kissed her in the first place, but there was something there between them, some...connection that transcended anything he’d experience with other women.
She was brilliant, without question. Her abilities to grasp the principles of his financial system had astounded him. And her gentle curves, soft skin, and grey eyes...they’d enchanted him.
Which conclusion did him no good at all.
However, since the sun was rising, he decided to put the matter to one side for the moment. He didn’t plan on going anywhere until their investigations had concluded. Thus he had some time yet before decisions were required, and during that time he could evaluate whether his reactions to Verity were those of a typical male in close contact with a desirable female, or something else.
His practical mind nodded at that sensible conclusion. The rest of him slumped in one corner, helpless with laughter.
Sighing, Lucas slid out of bed, and as if waiting for the sound of his feet to hit the floor, Edgar tapped on the door and peered around it, then trundled in with a tray bearing a hot cup of tea.
“Good morning, Mr Lucas. Lovely day today. Sun’s shining, birds are singing...” He put his burden down on Lucas’s bedside table.
“What the hell’s gotten into you?” Lucas stared.
“Nothing, sir, just the pleasure of a delightful morning. A harbinger, if you will, of the day ahead.” Edgar carefully poured a dash of milk into the cup and presented it to his master. “Here we are, then, sir. Just as you like it. A little cream, no sugar.”
Lucas took the cup, eyeing his tickerkin suspiciously. “Thank you.” He sipped and nodded. “It’s good. So tell me, Edgar, what did you do?”
If a cast bronze tickerkin shaped like an eagle could possibly raise his eyebrows, then Edgar did just that. “Me? I did nothing, sir. Nothing at all.”
“You are unreasonably cheerful this morning. What’s going on?”
“Why nothing at all, sir. I just assumed...”
