“Thank you,” he whispered back, baring her. “God, you’re beautiful.”
Verity arched her spine, pushing her breasts towards him. Her pulse pounded, and her body responded to the delicate brush of his fingers.
When he found her nipples, hard and aroused, he moaned as he slicked his tongue over them. “Delicious,” he muttered.
“Lucas...” She pulled his head away and leaned over, kissing him with enthusiasm.
“Damn it.” He stood, holding Verity in his arms.
“Lucas, you’ll hurt yourself.” She wriggled a little but found herself hampered by the fact that half her elegant ensemble was hanging off, and the other half of her was naked.
“Sssh,” he whispered, “just hold on.”
So she did, only letting go when he’d reached his room and tumbled the two of them onto his bed.
She laughed, watching him take his clothes off, his eyes glued to her face.
“I want you, Verity. I want all of you. Every single particle. And I want your brilliant ideas, your clever thoughts...” He paused, reaching for her skirts. “But I don’t wantthis. It’s in my way.”
He stripped her before she could catch her breath and paused for a moment. “If I could paint, I would paint you now, my darling. But even the most skilled artist would have a hard time capturing your skin, your hair, your body...”
“Lucas...”
“Yes?”
“Stop talking.”
*~~*~~*
This wasn’t her bed.
Verity slowly slithered into consciousness, fighting the urge to lie back down and snuggle against the warm body next to her.
Body. Next to her. In bed.
“Oh...”
Memories of their night together flooded back into her mind, and she sighed at the remembered pleasure. If she wasn’t careful, she could get used to this. Very used to this.
But this was Lucas Ashcombe—and he didn’t live in Arcvale. Sooner or later, he’d leave.
As that thought raced through her mind, she took a shuddering breath. Great coggles, how could she possibly lethim go? He was everything she’d never realised she wanted. And needed.
As if he heard her thinking, Lucas opened his eyes, smiled sleepily and reached for her, pulling her against his warmth.
“Good morning, Lady Verity.”
She grinned. “Good morning, Sir Lucas.”
“We’re a bit formal for two people who are lying naked next to each other in bed.”
“I like it,” she decided. “I like waking up next to you.”
“You do?” One eyebrow quirked upwards.
“I do,” she answered. “You’re nice and warm.”
“So that’s the only appeal?”
