“There’s no one else, Evelyn. I’ve been single for quite some time.”
It was obvious by his tone and the set of his features no other questions were welcomed. He climbed out of the car the moment Dugan opened the door. She breathed a sigh of relief. After a few deep breaths, she followed.
They walked up to a set of Gothic French doors that opened before they crossed the top step. A young woman, wearing the same dove gray gown that housekeeping wore at the hotel, held the heavy wooden door as they stepped through.
“Good morning, Mr. Patras.”
Lucian removed Scout’s coat and heaped the heavy wool into the maid’s arms. “Good morning, Lucy. Have my guests arrived?”
“They’re in the library, sir. Breakfast will be served in the dining room. Would you like me to escort your guests there?”
He undid the large buttons of his coat. “That won’t be necessary. Please send coffee to the library. We’ll eat in a bit. Come on, Evelyn.”
Scout still held her apple wrapped in a napkin. She looked down and at the maid. She couldn’t ask her to take her half-eaten apple core. Holding it low by her hip, she hoped no one would notice and followed Lucian, keeping her eyes peeled for a trash can.
The house was like a museum. Every step echoed and she was very aware of her prattling steps in the wake of his much surer paces. There was a long winding staircase made of white marble, and shutters on the inside of the windows that lined the upper floor. It was like a courtyard, but inside. Vines and bright botanical plants filled corners, and mosaic vases topped random side tables.
They approached a set of pocket doors, and masculine voices boomed as Lucian slid them apart.
“Gentlemen.”
“Ah, here he is. Lucian, I was just telling Slade how I took you to the bank on the course the other day,” a man with startling green eyes, golden curls, and rosy skin announced.
His gaze fell on Scout and she looked down.
“My, my, who’s this?” He stepped in front of her and offered his hand. “Shamus Callahan. My friends call me James or Jamie.”
That was a mouthful. She took his proffered hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Scout.”
James smiled. “Scout? What a unique name.” He laughed pleasantly. “It takes a lot for a man named Shamus to say that.”
Lucian stepped to her side and placed his palm at her back. “This is Evelyn Keats. She’s a friend of mine from Patras Hotel.”
The dark-haired man standing behind Jamie made no attempt to introduce himself. He had blue eyes and striking skin. Darker than Lucian’s, his complexion was the color of warm caramel. His observant blue eyes studied her with such intensity that she fought the urge to cover herself.
“Slade, I see you made it out of the city in one piece,” Lucian said as Lucy returned with a tray of coffee.
“It isn’t good for my constitution to be this far out in the country.”
“This is hardly the country,” Lucian mumbled as he doctored up two mugs and handed her one. “And it never bothered you before. Time to get on with life, my friend.”
Cradling it close to her chest, Scout stepped back from the men. She wanted to slip away, but thought it would be rude to take a seat before everyone else.
The coffee was sweeter than she usually had it. She didn’t take her coffee a certain way though. When it was offered, she simply took.
“If I can’t spot a cab on every corner, I’ve left my comfort zone. Are you planning on feeding us?”
Lucian laughed. She hadn’t heard him laugh often and when he did, she savored it. She felt herself smiling beside him.
“Come on, James, I guess we better take this to the dining room before our fragile friend here faints from hunger.”
Everyone replaced their barely touched coffees on the silver tray and exited the room. It struck Scout as blatantly wasteful, but also gave her a chance to ditch her apple core.
The men walked ahead of her and talked quickly of people and things she had no clue about. When they reached the dining room a man, also in familiar Patras livery but without the nametag, pulled out a chair for her.
Plates of steaming eggs, bacon, and toast were brought out. A brightly colored bowl of fruit was placed at the corner of her placemat. There were bright green cuts of fruit, slices of something peach tinged with red, and bright pink berries. It was very exotic.
The men discussed business as she focused on her meal. She realized she had a problem with eating past the feeling of fullness, but it would be a shame to waste such fine food.
“Well, you can sure put away a meal,” Jamie commented with a grin and Scout blushed, aborting the last of her toast. “I can’t imagine where you’re hiding it. Such a little thing, you are.”
“Don’t be rude, James,” Slade grumbled. She turned and found his sharp blue eyes analyzing her again.
Scout frowned uncomfortably. He looked at her like he knew her, but that was impossible. She would have remembered.
“Do you want some more, Evelyn?” Lucian embarrassed her by asking.
“No, thank you, I’ve had more than I should’ve.”
“I like a woman who isn’t afraid to enjoy a good meal,” Jamie commented.
Breakfast was cleared and briefcases were popped open. Papers slid across the table as their conversation flowed. It soon seemed all very chaotic to her. Papers traded hands and more coffee was served. A phone was brought in so that Slade could make a call, while Lucian spoke on his cell and Jamie sent a text to his secretary.
“I know I had it,” Jamie said. “Nancy handed it to me just as I was packing my briefcase.”
“Maybe it got mixed up with the leases,” Slade said as they all rummaged through pages.
“Here, Scout, do me a favor and look through this stack for a page that says Cambridge Development on the top.” Jamie slid her a stack of papers and continued to sort through the stack in front of him.
Her hands trembled as she gently slid the papers closer. With extreme care she flipped one page then another.
Sweat moistened the skin beneath her arms and she forced herself to breathe steadily.
“Here it is.” The page she was holding was torn from her hands. “She was staring right at it,” Slade said in a huff as he slid the paper to James.
“Thank you, Scout.” James smiled apologetically at her then turned to glare at Slade.
“What kind of name is Scout, anyway?” Slade asked as he continued to loom over her.
Lucian came back into the room. She didn’t recall him leaving. “Did you find it?”
With undue credit, Slade announced, “Scout found it.”
Lucian frowned at his friend then glanced at her. “Evelyn, you okay?”
She nodded and distracted herself with stacking the papers still in front of her in a neat pile. Jamie picked up the discussion they’d been having before, and everyone’s attention was eventually directed back to the business at hand. Everyone’s except Lucian’s.
He stood behind her chair, gently resting a large hand on her shoulder as they continued their business. She was very aware of him and he seemed to intentionally stick by her side. She wasn’t sure if the action was to comfort her or to make a statement to the other men.
An hour later their business had concluded, and Slade was the first to go. He took a great deal of her tension with him. Lucian and Jamie settled into their chairs and let go of a bit of their professionalism.
“Wow, it’s noon already,” Jamie said. “How about a drink?”
Lucian nodded at Lucy, who was idling at the edge of the room. She nodded back with understanding and left only to return moments later with a tray.
“That will be all, Lucy.”
The maid left and quietly slid the pocket doors closed. Jamie poured himself a drink and raised an eyebrow in her direction.
>
“No, thank you,” Scout said, appreciating the offer anyway.
Once they each had their drinks they eased back in their chairs and sighed. “Slade was in a mood today,” Jamie commented. “Do you think it’s Monique?”
“He’s always in a mood.” Lucian rolled back his sleeves and tossed his jacket onto an empty chair. She liked seeing him like this, rumpled and relaxed.
“So, Scout, how is it you managed to charm Lucian?”
Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She looked to Lucian and he grinned. He took a long sip of his drink then placed it on the table. Propping his arms behind his head he said, “Don’t worry, Evelyn. Jamie and I have been friends since we were in diapers. We have no secrets from each other.” He faced Jamie. “She works for me.”
Jamie nodded. “What do you do?”
Before she could answer, Lucian said, “She pleases me.”
James laughed. “I see. Do you find Mr. Patras difficult to please, Scout? I’m much easier to content than my friend here, you should know.”
Heat rose under her cheeks. Lucian chuckled and grinned at her. “Come here, Evelyn.”
She hesitated. The look in Lucian’s eye was patient, yet indomitable. Slowly she rose on shaky legs and walked around the table until she was standing beside Lucian. She was very aware of Jamie’s smiling gaze on her.
“Don’t be shy,” Lucian said as he took her hand and pulled her to sit on his knee.
His fingers pulled at the collar of her sweater, exposing a slight bit of skin. Her spine stiffened as his lips press there.
“Relax,” he whispered against her neck. His mouth kissed up to her shoulder and to the curve of her neck.
She looked into Jamie’s green eyes. They were no longer creased with laughter. He watched her carefully under lowered lashes, his hands folded over his chest. He was completely undisturbed by Lucian’s show of affection.
Lucian’s arm banded around her hips and she was pulled farther onto his lap. “I like being watched, Evelyn. Does that bother you?”
His fingers lazily traveled up and down the sweater covering her tummy. Her heart began to race. Watched doing what exactly?
“Jamie is a voyeur. Do you know what that means?”
When she didn’t reply he said, “It means he does well with an exhibitionist as his friend.”
Her lips parted as Lucian’s fingers gently lifted her sweater. Jamie’s gaze smoldered as he watched his friend’s hand slip under her top. Lucian didn’t expose her skin, but his touch was obvious. Her sweater pulled tight over his hand as it continued to draw circles on her belly. His touch was hot over her skin.
Easing her back to his chest, his knees pressed between hers. He separated his legs, drawing her denim-clad thighs apart. His left hand moved over her hip and stopped at the apex of her thighs as his right hand landed softly over her lace-covered breast. She gasped.
“Shh, he won’t see anything beneath your clothes. I’m just going to make you come.”
Her body tensed as his palm pressed down over her jeans and he rocked his fingers back and forth, applying pressure, kneading the area between her legs.
Scout tried to draw her legs together, but he used his own legs to stay her. His touch grew firm, surer. Jamie quietly groaned, but her eyes remained averted from his intense stare.
Lucian’s mouth continued to kiss her throat. “It feels good, doesn’t it, Evelyn. You like having my hands on you, don’t you?”
Her heart raced as a mixture of arousal and humiliation clogged her veins. Overwhelmed, she struggled to break his grasp, but his hold only tightened.
“Stay still.”
Why was he doing this in front of someone she just met? Was he purposely trying to embarrass her? Punish her for something?
Tears prickled her eyes and she blinked. His fingers molded over her sex, spiking the pleasure that warred with her modesty. It was easier to give in than to fight him. Something told her if she said stop he would, but for some reason he wanted this and some twisted part of her wanted to prove she could give it to him, no matter the mixed emotions rioting in her head.
Forcing herself to surrender, she quietly breathed. Her body tightened and twitched in places she wasn’t used to twitching. Her bottom clenched against his muscled thigh and his fingers moved faster.
“You’re close. I can sense it.” His voice and touch gentled her struggles.
Lucian Patras had some sort of horse-whisperer hold over her she couldn’t figure out. He changed her in ways no one else seemed capable of. It made her hate him and like him a little bit more. There was no black and white here, only shadows of innuendos and seedy intentions she was too inexperienced to navigate through.
The lace was pulled away from her breast as his warm palm cupped her in its place. His thumb touched the tip of her nipple and her spine trembled. A frightened rush filled her blood as she stared at Jamie staring back at her. Lucian was breathing hard and his body was rigid beneath her.
She cried out as he suddenly pinched her. His moist lips pressed into the flesh just below her ear. “Shh, feel the pain transcend into a slow burn. Are you ready to come now?” His hand slipped out from under her sweater and he sucked two fingers into his mouth. The hand at the crotch of her jeans lifted and quickly undid the snap at her waist.
Lucian’s wet fingers slipped beneath the waistband of her pants and pressed into an extremely sensitive place. A startled gasp escaped her as he rubbed over her bare flesh fast and hard. She reflexively jerked.
He held her down, pressed tightly to him, as she struggled with the intense sensations taking over her body. The hand under her shirt pinched her other nipple. His breath echoed over the shell of her ear and just before he bit down on her tender lobe, he whispered, “Come.”
Her cry filled the room as her muscles locked. Moisture flooded her panties and her knees forcefully pulled together, locking Lucian’s fingers between her legs. Her body throbbed and pulsed as her heartbeat filled her ears and Lucian’s mouth sucked hard on her neck.
Scout didn’t remember shutting her eyes, but when she opened them, Jamie’s gaze locked with hers. His chest rose and fell beneath his dress shirt and he looked nothing like the good-humored man she’d met that morning. His eyes set in a narrow stare that made Scout all too aware of how vulnerable she was at the moment. Jamie suddenly seemed very much like Lucian. She recognized the predator hiding behind a friendly smile, a smile that had been replaced with parted lips. His expression was covetous.
Lucian’s hand slowly pulled from between her legs. His fingers were glazed with moisture from her body. He brought them to his mouth and moaned. “Delicious, Evelyn, very sweet.” He righted her clothes and briefly hugged her.
Embarrassed, she turned in his lap and pressed her face into his shoulder. He held her and kissed her temple. She was grateful her hair was down, for it created a much-needed barricade around her.
She heard Jamie stand. “Lucian, as always, it’s been a pleasure. Scout, I look forward to seeing you again.” The door slowly slid open and shut.
They were alone again.
Chapter 14
Safe Word
Lucian’s hands eased Scout back from his chest and sifted through her hair until he found her face. Tipping up her chin, he asked, “You okay?”
She couldn’t look at him. “Why did you do that?”
“Did you not enjoy it?” His gaze moved over her face, taking in her upset. Softly, as if realizing how unprepared she had been for anything like that, he whispered, “I don’t know. I’m sorry, Evelyn. We haven’t reached that stage yet. I shouldn’t have put you in that position.”
Lucian Patras was not the kind of man who apologized easily. Somehow she knew that. She looked into his eyes and found nothing but sincerity. He was sorry. However, the part of his apology about not reaching that stage yet, dis
turbed her. She had grown up in places where people fulfilled their bodily urges with no regard to their audience. She expected more from the upper class.
Nevertheless, there was something erotic in the act, something that created that reaction in her body. This worried her, worried her about the effect he was already having on her. She had the urge to sever any emotional link that may have stimulated such an emotionally charged result, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Did there have to be an essential connection for her body to react that way?
Lucian kissed her cheek and eased her off his lap. “I have to make some calls in the library. Why don’t you go freshen up and then join me there.” His words were confident, but she detected concern in his gaze. She nodded and went to use the bathroom.
Two hours later she was sitting on a cushioned chair, watching Lucian as he made phone call after phone call. He was like a fascinating storm she knew she should avoid, but couldn’t. He moved quickly and made fast finite decisions that changed the world around him.
She analyzed his appearance. His power made him seem older than he was. He seemed much older than her, but in reality, she’d be surprised if he was over thirty-five. She thought of Jamie. He looked like he was in his thirties. If they’d been friends since they were babies, then that made Lucian about the same. How did someone that age get so much power?
Just from hearing these men work today, she’d learned that Patras was more than a local commodity. There were also Patras hotels in Europe. And she now knew Lucian did more than own a chain of hotels. He developed properties and did things with the stock market and worked on a slew of committees.
He hung up the phone and the room was suddenly quiet. “I’m sorry this has taken so much of my time today. I didn’t expect to be held up here so long.”
Scout closed the garden magazine she had been looking at. “That’s okay. I didn’t have plans,” she teased.
He eased his leather chair away from his desk and lounged back, watching her. “What is it about you, Evelyn, that makes me want to go out of my way to make you smile? See, like that. When you smile you light up a room.”