Chapter Ten

Lucas watched the entire transaction between Amy and his father. He’d waited to see the same look of greed enter her eyes that women usually got when around his family. Surprisingly, what he saw on her face was only shock, mixed with gratitude.

Could she really not care how much money they were worth? He was going to find out. Lucas knew he was cynical when it came to women, but he’d yet to find one who didn’t prove him right. That’s why he didn’t date and certainly didn’t enter into relationships.

He only went out with women to satisfy his needs, and as he treated them well, he felt no guilt over it. They got what they wanted out of him: expensive jewelry, the occasional trip, and attendance to the highest publicized functions in town.

He was able to get his needs met and they were able to get five minutes of fame and expensive gifts. It worked for him, or at least it had been working before he met his assistant.

She seemed innocent, but he knew if they went to bed together, she’d turn, like all the other women did. He couldn’t understand his fascination with her. He got it, at first. She was new, seemingly untouchable, which was like a red flag to a bull. He wanted to conquer and stake his claim. Those feelings should’ve ebbed by now, not grown stronger. He was sobered by the thought that she could be the one woman who could bring him to his knees.

Pushing aside the ridiculous journey his mind had taken, he forced himself to concentrate. The sooner he got her settled, the faster he could get away before he did something stupid, like kiss her again.

“Come with me, Amy. I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping the next couple of nights,” he said as he took her arm.

As they stepped from the office and started walking down the long hallway to the back of the house, Lucas felt as if his fingers were seared. Only his stubborn determination to conquer his desire kept him gripping her arm. He wouldn’t let lust control him.

When they stepped outside and were hit by the cold night air, he took a deep breath, hoping the chilly wind would somehow cool him down. To his disappointment, it didn’t work.

By the time they arrived at the guest house, he was grateful she couldn’t read minds because in his, he was slowly undressing her, piece by piece, tugging her hair loose from the ponytail she had it in and spreading it across his pillow, gripping the silken strands in his fingers, pulling her head closer…

“Oh, this is beautiful,” Amy gasped, jerking him from his thoughts.

He looked at the small cottage surrounded by trees and flowers. A stone path led up to a small covered porch that had a couple of rocking chairs sitting near the wall.

He remembered spending hours running in and out of the cottage with his brothers as they played. One week they were Robin Hood and his Merry Men; the next, G.I. Joe, battling to save America. The cottage was either enemy territory or their refuge, depending on the game. They’d gotten in trouble more than once for scaring guests as they’d popped out of the bushes to ambush them.

Lucas almost smiled at the memory. He and his brothers hadn’t wanted to actually attack the guests; they’d just been pretending they were going to capture them. Some of the people didn’t see the humor of masked boys chasing after them.

Amy sighed, pulling him back from his visit with the past. He looked at her quizzically, but she refused to meet his eyes.

“Come in, Amy. I’ll show you where everything is. My parents had the kitchen stocked so you’ll have plenty of food. There’s fresh linen on the bed and clean towels in the bathroom. It’s a small place, so I don’t think you’ll get lost. Please help yourself to anything in the house. It’s for guests, after all,” he said, though he didn’t think she heard him. She was too busy wandering around.

He tried to see it through her eyes, noticing the fresh-cut flowers sitting on the small kitchen table, the variety of soaps and lotions lined up on the bathroom counter, and the oversized garden tub he could picture her crawling into.

With that last thought, Lucas knew it was time to go. He in no way needed the image in his mind of her covered in bubbles.

“I’ll get out of your way so you can relax,” he said before he made a quick escape out the front door. He stopped on the front porch and took a deep breath. If he hadn’t walked out that second, he would’ve caved in and thrown her on the bed, making love to her until they were both incapable of walking.

As he stood on the quiet porch, he decided maybe it was better if he just slept with her. He could make it work, he reasoned. He’d simply tell her up front that it was obvious they were highly attracted to each other, and it was the smart thing to do. She seemed reasonable, like she’d understand.

It was the only way he figured he’d get her out of his system. Once they had sex, his sanity would return to normal. If she hadn’t kept glancing at him with her own smoldering looks, then he might have been able to maintain a bit more control. Her face was an open book, though, only complicating the matter. Knowing how much she wanted him was fueling his desire.

He slowly walked back up to the big house to speak with his father. He took his time going inside, not wanting his father to see him until his body was under control. It took much longer than was acceptable for him to cool down.

Finally, he walked inside, finding his dad sitting in the den with a glass of whiskey in his hand. That looked like an excellent idea.

“Did you get Amy settled in?” Joseph asked.

“Yes, Dad. She loves the place,” he answered, while striding over to the liquor cabinet. He poured himself a triple shot of bourbon and downed it in one gulp. He felt his nerves start to calm as the fire burned down his throat and his eyes watered. The pain of the drink was well worth it, though, if it could calm his frayed nerves.

He tipped the bottle again and poured a smaller amount into his glass before turning around and walking to the seating area. After sitting down, he forced himself to sip the drink, instead of guzzling it. He didn’t need a buzz on top of everything else.

Lucas didn’t see the knowing grin on Joseph’s face. If he had, he might have been more prepared for the upcoming conversation. He had no clue what lengths his father would go to in order to have grandkids and ensure his boys weren’t alone the rest of their lives.

“Where did you find Ms. Harper, Dad?”

“We had a job fair at her college a few months ago, and I got her résumé then. I did some research on her and knew she was perfect for the job. You know, it takes someone special to work for the president of our company,” Joseph said.

“Yes, she’s working out much better than I thought she would. She’s a little mouthy, but I’m sure she’ll settle down the longer she’s with us.”

“A little mouthy? Did you honestly just say that?” Joseph asked, surprising Lucas. He gazed at his father, puzzled. Slowly, he realized what he’d said. His lips turned up in a smile. Well, he was just calling it like he saw it.

“I’ve heard Mom talk about some of the things you’ve said yourself, old man,” Lucas said, the smile on his face taking any sting from the words.

“I grew up, boy, and so should you. You aren’t getting any younger, you know.”

“I’m only thirty. It’s not like I have one foot in the grave,” Lucas said, exasperated.

“By the time I was thirty, I had two boys already, and another just around the corner,” Joseph countered.

“Are you kidding me? You think I should get married?” Lucas said married as if it were a foul word.

“You’re the oldest, Lucas, the one who should be setting an example for your younger brothers to follow. You know, your mother and I aren’t getting any younger. We may only have a few years left…” Joseph trailed off, slumping a bit in his seat.

“Oh, please, Dad. You’re one of the strongest men I’ve ever known. Don’t even think acting frail will make me feel guilty that I’m not knocking women up left and right so you can have grandchildren. Besides, you don’t have a foot in the grave, either. You and Mom still go skydiving,” Lucas said as he threw his hands up in frustration.

“You never know what could happen tomorrow. I have a great girl I think you should meet. She’s the daughter of a dear friend of mine and I think you’d hit it off.”

“I’m stopping you right there, Dad. I don’t need for you to set me up on dates. Contrary to what you may believe, I have no problem finding my own women. If you really want to do some matchmaking, you should be focusing on Mark. Out of all of us, he’s most likely to settle down and give you a brood of grandchildren,” Lucas said as he glared at his father.

His dad had started grumbling about grandkids a couple of years ago, but Lucas hadn’t been worried. If Joseph were going to try and set up blind dates for him, he’d go into panic mode. He had no desire to walk down the aisle — not ever.

“I’ll drop it for now, but you need to start thinking about your future,” Joseph said as if he were doing Lucas a favor. Lucas decided it was best if he just let it go.

The two of them chatted for a while longer about business and Lucas started to relax. His day had been long and he was ready for bed, though he hated cutting his time short with his dad.

“I need to go home, Dad. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

“That’s fine, I’m getting a bit tired, myself,” Joseph said as he turned. “Hold up, Lucas, Amy forgot to take her papers. Can you run them down to her before you leave?”

Lucas’s stomach clenched at the thought of seeing her again that night, but he didn’t have a good excuse not to do it. Maybe luck would be with him and she’d be asleep and he could just leave the papers by her front door.

“Sure, Dad. Tell Mom I love her, and I’ll see her tomorrow.” He gave his dad a quick hug and left.

He quickly made his way to the cottage, seeing only a dim light shining through the front window. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer, so he checked the knob. It was still unlocked. He would have to speak to her about that. He stepped inside and was about to call Amy’s name when she turned the corner.

Lucas stood frozen in place as his eyes consumed her. She was standing before him with nothing on but a small towel barely covering her body. He could see all the way from her toes to the tops of her creamy white thighs. The top of the towel was dipping so low the swells of her ample breasts were calling to him. As if her barely clad body wasn’t enough to push him over the edge, her entire body was still glistening from her bath.

Her sweet fragrance drifted over to him, filling his nostrils with some sort of spice, like cinnamon. Whatever it was, it made him want to take a few bites out of her. One more inch of movement in either direction and he’d be able to see all of her secrets.

Lucas told himself to turn around and walk out the front door. Logically he knew that’s what he needed to do, but he couldn’t get his feet to obey. He began moving in her direction, suddenly standing in front of her with his arms wrapping around her waist.

He pulled her damp, nearly naked body against his own, and then he was devouring her lips. He felt her stiffen for less than a second before she was grabbing him back just as hungrily. He’d never wanted a woman so badly, to the point he felt he’d die if he didn’t take her.

For half a second his brain tried to regain control, but when he heard a soft moan escape her lips, his restraint completely snapped. If she had pushed him away or told him no, he would’ve somehow been able to release her, but she was straining closer to him, moaning as he tangled his tongue with hers. She squirmed in his arms, neither of them seeming able to get close enough together.

With one swift movement, he ripped the towel away, allowing his hands to run freely up and down her body. He caressed her curves, relishing the smooth feel of her skin as his hand drifted over the curve of her hip, then upward to the side of her breast. Without breaking their kiss, he picked her up and walked the short distance to the bedroom. Gently laying her on the bed, he stripped his own clothes off, feeling a void in the few seconds apart from her.

His gaze was drawn to the beauty of her body, causing his arousal to swell even more, blood rushing through him, focusing on one area, urging him to take her.

Lucas saw Amy’s eyes round in excitement and awe as she gazed at his naked body. He was suddenly afraid that she’d change her mind if he gave her too much time to think about what they were doing. He was sure he’d implode. Although taking his clothes off took no longer than half a minute, he was already aching to touch her again.

He joined her on the bed, his body covering hers. She leaned toward him, her mouth seeking his. He gladly accommodated, biting her bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth, urged on by the sounds of desire coming from her throat. Finally, he broke away to move his lips downward. He gently and, ever so slowly, licked a path down her neck, before slightly nipping at the sensitive skin, causing another moan to escape deep within her throat.

As he explored her delicious body, he banished all remaining doubts and lost himself in the intense pleasure of touching her. She began moving beneath him, spreading her legs in invitation for him to thrust deep inside her.

Lucas could feel Amy’s body begging for completion, but he refused to make her his until he knew she was ready. He knew he wouldn’t last much longer, especially with her rubbing against him, but he’d regret it if they ended too quickly. Even though he was doing this to get her out of his system once and for all, he still needed her to feel the same pleasure and satisfaction as he did to make the night complete.

When his hands slid over her rounded breasts, his thumbs pulling and elongating her nipples, her back arched off the bed, her body shaking. She wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him back to her, her eyes unfocused as desire consumed her. Grabbing a fistful of her hair at the base of her head, he crushed his lips to hers, sinking his tongue deep inside her mouth. He couldn’t get enough of her: her taste, her scent, her sound. Everything about her turned him on like nothing before. The more his tongue stroked the contours of her mouth, the more she twisted with need.

He ended the kiss to explore the rest of her body, causing her to cry out in frustration. His own body was begging him to end the torture he was bestowing on them both. He was going to sink deep inside her and make her his own.

He tasted the soft silky skin of her stomach, feeling it quivering beneath his mouth. As he moved his head lower and ran his tongue along her inner thigh, her entire body trembled. He’d never been with such a responsive woman before, and he was finding it impossible to maintain even a semblance of control.

His mouth followed her thigh up to her most secret place, finally tasting her, causing her hips to arch off the bed as she cried out in pleasure. Her moans gave him the strength to keep going. He tasted her sweetness, feeling her tremble beneath him. She suddenly tensed, and then her entire body jerked and she cried out as a powerful release overtook her. She was shaking beneath his skilled mouth as he flicked his tongue against her moist heat one last time before slowly making his way back up her body.

She was slightly limp in his arms as he began kissing his way up her stomach. He felt like he could worship her body the rest of the night. He trailed his tongue up her swollen breasts and gently took one of her tight buds into his mouth.

She began trembling again as her body stirred back to life. He took his time moving from one sensitive peak to the other until she cried out for him again. The deep cry of pleasure snapped the last bit of control he had left. He quickly moved his body over hers, pressing the tip of his solid erection against her opening.

His mouth took hers again as his hand slid down to make sure she was ready. Easily sliding his fingers over her swollen womanhood, he slipped them inside. Her entire body arched off the bed, pressing into him as she groaned in pleasure.

“Please!” she cried. She was more than ready.

“Open your eyes. I want to see into them when I make you mine,” he whispered. Slowly, as if weights were holding them down, her eyes lifted halfway open.

In one thrust, he buried himself deep inside her. He almost exploded with the first contact of her tight heat gripping him. He felt her body stiffen, and a sound of pain escaped her lips as she adjusted to him. Her eyes snapped wide open, while her mouth formed a look of shock.

Lucas’s entire body stiffened as he realized she was a virgin. How did a woman, especially one as attractive and sexually alluring as Amy, reach the age of twenty-four still a virgin?

The shock was bringing back some of his lost control. He had to stop. He didn’t sleep with women who didn’t know the score. He wasn’t a happily ever after kind of guy, which meant virgins were strictly off limits.

He started to pull out of her when her face relaxed, and she sighed in ecstasy as her body adjusted to his.

He knew he should do the right thing and stop, but when her hips moved up, gripping him even tighter, he ignored his better judgment. Moving in a steady rhythm, her breathing became heavier. As he felt her body quivering around him, he couldn’t take any more and started thrusting quickly. Her hips pushed up to meet him, and she tightened in pleasure. As she cried out and her body began shuddering around him, he flew over the edge, spilling inside her, shaking with the power of his release.

He lay on top of her, not moving for several moments as his breathing became more regular. Realizing he was most likely crushing her, he turned, taking her with him. He didn’t know what to say, so he remained silent. He just stayed still while rubbing her back until he heard her steady breathing, indicating she’d fallen asleep.

He remained where he was for an hour, watching her sleep peacefully in his arms. In sleep, she couldn’t get close enough to him. Her leg was wrapped around his lower body, and her head rested on his chest. She was the most stunning woman he’d ever seen, and she was now his.

Suddenly, Lucas’s head snapped up. He’d been about ready to fall asleep when the realization that he hadn’t used protection hit him. What had he been thinking? He’d never had sex with a woman without wearing a condom. He wasn’t so stupid as to get caught in the baby trap.

His thoughts sped in a million different directions. He knew there was no way she could’ve planned the unprotected sex. How could she have known he was coming back to the cottage that night?

There was also no possible way she could’ve faked her intense reaction to him. He’d been with women who’d simply gone through the motions, pretending to be into the sex. He’d figured it out quickly and walked away. He wanted a woman to be hot and willing when she was in his bed, not acting as if she were performing a chore.

He was angry with himself, but he turned that anger on her. He in no way wanted to be forced into marriage, but if their night of passion led to a child, he’d never walk away. Family was everything to him, and a child wasn’t a mistake — ever.

He glared at Amy, suddenly feeling trapped. He’d been determined to purge her from his system, but it could end up costing him everything. She’d be the first woman who’d managed to catch him off guard.

As he slipped from the bed and got dressed, his eyes kept returning to her, such innocence on her face as she slept, a small smile playing across her lips. She shifted, her arm reaching out as her body moved toward the center of the bed. The blanket slipped, exposing one beautiful breast, and his body instantly reacted.

With illicit frustration at himself for still desiring her, he quickly and quietly left the cottage, rushing down the entry steps. What he wanted to do was go back inside and climb into the bed next to her. He had to get out of there and cool down, figure out what he was going to do next. He felt completely lost for the first time.