Lucy curled her fingers around the stem of the wine glass and brought it to her lips, taking a long sip of the red liquid. This was her second glass, and although she should’ve probably stopped at one, she wanted another refill to go with the incredible meal she’d just eaten.

She stared at Ian from across the table, the city lights of Barcelona illuminated in the distance. It was gorgeous, like nothing she’d ever seen before. Hell, anything other than the city was wondrous to her.

The balcony doors were open, the sheer white drapes billowing in and out as the wind picked up. Lucy couldn’t even describe what she’d had for dinner, aside from meat, vegetables, and this incredible cream sauce that had nearly made her moan in pleasure. Never in a million years did she think she’d ever be in this situation, sitting in a private all but mansion in Barcelona, her husband making sure she was tended to, waited on so that her every whim was seen to.

She was just a girl from the city, living above a pizza parlor, surviving on the little savings she had until she found a new job. But she’d been happy, living life the way she wanted to, and not having to answer to anybody. Her life had done a total one-eighty, and now she was living in some kind of fantasy world, one where she’d never envisioned herself being.

“How was dinner?” Ian leaned back in the chair, bringing his wine glass to his lips and taking a long drink from it.

He watched her over the rim, his gaze heavy-lidded, intense almost. The sexual chemistry between them was insane, thickening, suffocating. There was no denying Ian was an attractive man, big and strong, with muscles defined in stark clarity.

She’d been thinking about him in the pool, his body nude, so hard and powerful. In fact, that was all she’d been able to think about, all she’d been able to picture. And as she thought about him naked, she couldn’t help but imagine his erection, how it had been long and thick, hard and ready for her.

She felt her face heat and crossed her legs, feeling herself become wet, her erogenous zones tingling. Lucy could still feel his body pressed against hers, his hard cock nudging between her thighs, only the thin barrier of her bathing suit stopping any penetration.

Lucy stood and smiled at Ian as she made her way to the balcony. She knew he was a hard man to get along with, had experienced it first hand. She also knew she was an idiot for marrying him, for not being smarter and just walking away. But there was another part of her that liked his presence. It was as if standing up to him had broken down a wall he always had around himself. It was like she’d shown him she wouldn’t be weak, wouldn’t take his shit.

She sipped at her wine and leaned against the stone wall that separated her from the city below. The wind moved the strands of her hair around and she closed her eyes, inhaling the air, letting it wash over her. God, was this real? Was this her actual life now?

She opened her eyes and stared at the city, at the lights, the sounds of life below. It was a fantastic feeling being this high up, knowing that things had changed drastically. Although she didn’t know if she’d stay married to Ian, didn’t know if a man like him could change, she did know that she wasn’t quite ready to call it quits, maybe even if she should.

She felt Ian come up behind her and looked over her shoulder. He had this strange expression on his face as he stepped closer, the wine glass in his hand half full. He set it down beside where she’d put hers, and moved to stand beside her. The heat of his body and the scent of his cologne slammed into her, having her shiver with awareness. She was aroused, but the situation was tricky, awkward even. It didn’t matter that she’d spent the whole week with Ian, that they were learning new things about each other every day, that in all senses of the word this marriage was fake.

But even if she didn’t love him, even if she didn’t know what the future held, she was still human, lonely for affection, and wanted him in the worst kind of way. Or maybe it was the best kind of way.

She turned and looked at him, staring at his profile as he stared out at the cityscape. His jaw was square, masculine. He had a days’ worth of stubble covering his cheeks and chin, and her fingers itched to touch his flesh, to see if the hairs on his face were soft or coarse.

The gown she wore was something they’d picked up earlier today when he took her shopping in the city. It was formfitting, hugging her curves and showing off every part of herself that she’d tried to hide her entire life. But the way he looked at her, watched her, made Lucy feel beautiful, sexy.

He turned his head and looked right at her, this glazed-over expression on his face. The longer they stared at each other, the hotter the air became, thicker, suffocating. Her nipples beaded up, her body feeling like it was on fire.

“Lucy.” He said her name softly, the heat in his voice tangible. He shifted so he was fully facing her now and lifted his hands to cup her cheeks. The feeling of his skin on her face was warm, inviting.

He stroked his thumbs under her eyes, her heart racing, her blood rushing through her veins. And then he leaned in and kissed her, pressing his lips to hers softly, gently. She couldn’t help the moan that left her, or how her mouth opened on its own, just enough for him to slip his tongue inside. She tilted her head and opened wider, letting him kiss her until she was breathless, until her knees were shaking and her body was rigid. She was excited, so ready for this. She wanted to feel his body on hers, their flesh sweaty, sticky.

She pulled back. “Take me to bed,” Lucy said, staring into his eyes, knowing this was what she wanted, what she needed.

He leaned in and kissed her softly. “Are you sure?”

She nodded, not trusting her voice. “Yes, I’m very sure.” And she was. Whether this was a mistake or not, she wanted to feel Ian in all ways. She wanted to be his tonight.