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  “Do you like it?” Lucas’ much bigger hand reached over and covered hers. She hadn’t realized she was clutching her purse in a death grip and made herself loosen her hold.

  “It’s lovely.” That was an understatement. She didn’t think she’d ever been anywhere quite this nice before.

  “Not as lovely as you are, but then, I don’t think anything else could be.” Clasping her hand in his, he slowly raised it to his lips and kissed each of her knuckles.

  Candy was suddenly robbed of breath, not only by his compliment, but also by his actions. She couldn’t take her eyes off her hand as he held it so gently in his. The contrast of his darker, much larger one clasping her smaller, more fragile one was spellbinding. And when he licked one of her fingers, she almost moaned with pleasure.

  The sound of someone discreetly clearing his throat next to their table made her keenly aware once again of her surroundings. She tried to yank her hand away, but Lucas’ closed firmly around her fingers. And although he wasn’t hurting her, there was no way she could escape him. He placed one last kiss on her hand before slowly returning it to her lap. Then he turned to the waiter as if nothing had happened.

  Their waiter, obviously a man of great self-possession and discretion, greeted them and offered Lucas the wine list. With both men treating the whole incident as if it were nothing, she relaxed and began to enjoy her evening. Once the wine was ordered and sampled, they debated what to order for dinner. In the end, she chose the salmon in dill sauce with baby potatoes and glazed carrots while Lucas chose the evening special, halibut in a cream sauce.

  When the waiter was gone, Candy picked up her wineglass and took a sip of the rich red wine, rolling it around in her mouth before swallowing. “So,” she began.

  She could see the amusement in Lucas’ eyes as he took a sip of his own wine. “So?” he returned her words to her.

  “So tell me about yourself.” She reminded herself that she was a publicist, for heaven’s sake. She knew how to talk to people. The key was always asking the right questions.

  “Not much to tell.” His eyes warmed as he watched her. “I’d much rather talk about you.”

  “What about me?” Was it her, or was the restaurant suddenly very warm? Her dress felt confining suddenly as her breasts swelled under his appraisal. She could feel her nipples tightening and pushing against the fabric.

  “What secret fantasies do you have?”

  Candy could barely catch her breath. “I don’t have any fantasies.” Even as the words tumbled past her lips, she knew she was lying. Right now, she had a very detailed fantasy running through her head, one in which they were both naked and Lucas was fucking her senseless.

  “Now that’s a pity.” He leaned closer to her, his eyes and words seducing her. “I, on the other hand, have many fantasies. Shall I share one?”

  She nodded, unable to speak as heat flooded her veins.

  “I have a fantasy of you sitting here having supper with me wearing no panties. In fact, I want you to take off your panties and give them to me. I want to see what you wore for me, smell your arousal and feel your heat.” She couldn’t believe what he was saying to her, but he wasn’t anywhere near finished yet. “Then I want you to spread your legs wide so I can touch you and make sure you’re ready for what I have planned later.”

  Lucas broke off suddenly and sat back in his chair as the waiter arrived at their table with their dinner. Candy couldn’t even look at the man as he placed her plate in front of her, but she did manage to nod her thanks. The images that Lucas conjured up were almost more than she could handle. Her body felt as if it were on fire.

  As the waiter walked away, Lucas leaned forward again, his eyes intent. “Will you give me my fantasy, Candy?”

  She didn’t recognize the sultry voice that answered him. “Yes.”

  The desire in his eyes flared higher, but he said nothing as he sat back in his chair, picked up his wineglass and took a swallow. When she hesitated, he arched an eyebrow at her as if daring her to chicken out.

  More determined than ever, she grabbed her own glass and took a large gulp, needing the warmth of the wine in her stomach. Plunking the glass back down, she reached beneath the table. Taking care to make sure the linen tablecloth was covering her lap, she eased the fabric of her dress over her thighs.

  She kept her eyes on Lucas as she pushed her hands higher, grasped the thin strings on the side of her hips and tugged. His face looked as if it had been carved from stone, and as she watched, she could see a muscle in the side of his jaw twitch. Mr. Squires wasn’t as unaffected as he pretended to be.

  That knowledge gave her the courage to lift herself as discreetly as she could and pull. Slipping her panties over her legs, she pushed them over her knees, letting them fall to her ankles. Carefully, she unhooked the garment from one foot before leaning down slightly so she could reach them with one hand. Quickly she pulled them off her other ankle and sat up straight once again.

  “Give them to me.” His voice was almost a guttural snarl as he held out his hand. Candy hesitated briefly before pressing the small wad of fabric into his palm. His fingers closed over it immediately.

  As she watched, he raised his closed fist to his nose and sniffed before lowering it to his lap. “You smell delicious.”

  She felt her cheeks flush with heat. Trying to act nonchalant, she picked up her fork and took a bite of her salmon. After all, her dress and the tablecloth covered her completely so no one could see her. But that didn’t seem to matter— she still felt totally exposed. It was embarrassing and arousing at the same time.

  Lucas lowered his hand back to his lap and slowly opened it, rubbing his thumb across the silky material. Candy almost choked on her food, the action was so erotic. Finally, he slipped her panties into his jacket pocket and began to eat his own meal.

  She’d just swallowed another mouthful when he casually leaned over and pushed the tablecloth away from her lap. “Are you wet for me?”

  It was all she could do not to whimper aloud. “Yes.” She could feel the cream seeping from her slit.

  “Hmmm.” He nodded as he eased his hand into her lap, sliding it under the fabric of her dress. His fingers sifted through her pubic hair and straight between her swollen labia. He didn’t stop, slipping his finger into her core and pushing it deep.

  Candy gasped and grabbed the edge of the table, her gaze sweeping around the room. Surely people knew what they were doing. But the tables around them were filled with people chatting and eating. Nobody was paying them the least amount of attention. It was instinct that made her try to close her legs, but Lucas pressed his thumb against her clit and rubbed it. “Keep your legs open, sugar. I want you soaked in your own juices by the time I take you back to my place for dessert.”

  The man was diabolical. Casually, he picked up his own fork and enjoyed a few mouthfuls of his meal. At the same time, with his other hand, he pushed another finger inside her to join the first, stretching her even more. “Lucas,” she gasped, almost panting for breath. “Please.” At this point she wasn’t sure if she was asking him to stop or to give her more.

  His eyes smoldered and the smile that turned up the edges of his mouth was wicked. “Oh, I aim to please you, Candy. And I will, over and over, all night long.” But he withdrew his fingers, stroking over her sensitive skin one final time before resuming eating.

  Candy focused on just trying to breathe. All around them people were laughing, talking and enjoying themselves. Lucas made casual conversation as he enjoyed his dinner. She managed to respond to several of his questions with what she hoped were intelligent responses, but for the most part she just nodded when appropriate. She could feel Lucas’ eyes on her, watching her intently as she picked at the food on her plate.

  Candy no longer had an appetite, at least not for food. Her needs were much more primal and basic. She couldn’t stand the waiting. Placing her fork across her plate, she finally met his gaze. “I don’t want to be here anymor
e.”

  Lucas frowned and glanced at her plate. She shuddered when he reached under the table and smoothed the skirt of her dress back over her legs. His frown deepened as he skimmed his thumb across her full bottom lip. “You hardly ate anything. I didn’t mean to make you so uncomfortable you couldn’t eat. This is all about pleasure and it seems I’ve made you feel anything but that.” Leaning forward, he kissed her lips ever so gently. Her insides clenched tight. “I’m sorry, sugar.”

  Not feel any pleasure! Was the man insane? If she felt any more pleasure, she was going to have an orgasm right in the middle of the restaurant.

  “I’ll take you home.” He raised his hand to signal to the waiter that he wanted the check.

  She was stunned. Take her home? Reaching over, she grabbed his hand. His concerned gaze flew back to her. “I don’t want to go home. I want dessert.”

  The frown on his face faded, replaced by a look of such fierce desire that Candy almost cried out. No man had ever looked at her with such naked need in his eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest as he nodded. “I want that too.”

  The waiter arrived with the bill and Lucas quickly took care of it, collected their coats and hustled her out of the restaurant and into the cold winter’s night.

  Chapter Nine

  The apartment door closed with a solid thunk. Although she wanted this to happen, Candy was nervous. The ride back to Lucas’ place hadn’t helped any, as both of them were quiet, wrapped up in their own thoughts. She jumped slightly when his hands clasped her shoulders.

  “Relax, sugar. All I want to do is take your coat.”

  Now she felt like a complete idiot. Really, she had to get a hold of herself. She unbuttoned her long coat and allowed him to slip it off her shoulders. While he was hanging up her coat and removing his own, she looked around his home, interested to see what kind of a place he lived in. She knew it was a new apartment, built at the same time the store was being renovated two stories below, but she still hoped to learn more about the man beside her by his surroundings.

  He’d flicked on the dim light in the foyer as soon as he’d opened the front door. She was surprised to see that it opened directly into a large room, which was shrouded in shadows.

  “Would you like a tour?”

  “I’d love one.” She was undeniably curious about him and wasn’t about to turn down the opportunity to see his home.

  With his hand on the small of her back, he led her into the room. He stopped by a large support beam and touched a few switches. The room came alive, bathed in soft, muted lighting. Her breath caught in her throat as she stepped away from him, slowly turning in a circle as she tried to take in the magnificence of the room all at once. “This is gorgeous.”

  “Thank you.” She could hear the pride in his voice. No wonder, she thought as she drank it all in.

  The living area was painted a pale yellow, making it feel warm and inviting. The furniture was large and masculine. The sofa and two loveseats, covered in a rich chocolate brown fabric and grouped into an intimate seating area, looked incredibly comfortable. She could all too easily imagine the two of them curled up on a cold winter’s evening. A huge oak cabinet with doors dominated the wall across from the sofa and she’d bet good money that his electronic equipment was housed there. A large, patterned area rug completed the sitting area.

  “It really is lovely, Lucas.”

  “There’s more.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked across the floor. Her shoes sounded loud against the hardwood. Floor-to-ceiling drapes in a chocolate brown that matched the sofa practically covered the far wall. Lucas left her standing in front of them and then tugged them open. The view was breathtaking.

  “Oh, Lucas.” She really didn’t know what else to say. The lights of the city gleamed in the darkened skyline, making both the moment and the view seem magical and beautiful.

  “Yeah, I know.” He stood behind her, slipping his forearm around her waist and pulling her back against his hard body. “I put in a stairway that leads to the roof and I plan to put in a rooftop patio this summer so I can sit out on hot summer nights and enjoy it.”

  Candy just nodded. She could picture it in her mind, filled with plants and comfortable furniture and maybe even a barbecue. But she was surprised by just how sad it made her feel. By the time summer arrived, their business association would have ended, and she was realistic enough to know that the likelihood of her ever seeing the rooftop patio was remote at best.

  She’d gone into this relationship with her eyes wide open and she didn’t expect it to last. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t enjoy every single moment that they had together. Shaking off her melancholy, she turned in his arms and smiled at him. “Show me more.”

  His lips grazed the sensitive outer shell of her ear as he nuzzled her neck. “It gets better.”

  She didn’t know how that was possible, but he turned her toward the dining area. A large wood trestle table sat in splendor atop a sumptuous area rug. Two huge wooden chairs dominated the ends while long, high-backed benches flanked the sides of the table. It looked very old and very solid, and Candy loved it on sight. She didn’t realize she’d slipped out of Lucas’ grasp and hurried forward to stroke her hands over the backs of the benches before reaching out to tentatively touch the table until he laughed. Like a guilty child, she pulled her hands away and tucked them behind her back.

  “No, don’t stop. Go ahead and touch it.” Picking up her hands with his, he laid them back on the table, covering them with his own. “I did the exact same thing the first time I saw it. I knew it had to be mine.”

  She could certainly understand that feeling. She’d love to own something like this. It spoke of history and permanence and felt almost alive beneath her fingers. In the quiet of the room, she’d almost swear she could hear the sounds of people who’d sat at it over the past several hundred years. “It’s amazing, Lucas.” A large antique sideboard dominated another wall, its construction simple but the quality obvious.

  “But there’s still more.”

  She was loath to leave the table behind, but allowed him to lead her to the kitchen. A three-foot-wide granite countertop jutted out at a right angle from the wall separating the kitchen and dining area. About eight feet long, the countertop was actually at two different levels. The lower section had two comfortable stools pushed up next to it on the dining room side, making it a cozy breakfast nook. The slate floor was almost too beautiful to walk on and the appliances were obviously high quality and gleamed even though the light was dim. The amount of counter space was incredible, but it was surprisingly uncluttered, everything tucked neatly away in the vast expanse of oak cabinets that filled the area.

  “Wow.” She didn’t know what else to say. Her own apartment had a postage stamp-sized kitchenette and she didn’t cook very much, but this looked like a cook’s dream straight out of a fancy decorating magazine.

  Lucas chuckled as he tugged her into the kitchen behind him. Turning her, he backed her up against the lower section of the counter. His hands were warm as they stroked down the length of her bare back before coming to rest at her waist. Wrapping his fingers around her, he lifted her and perched her on the edge of the counter.

  Candy licked her lips in anticipation as he leaned toward her. When their mouths met, she sighed deeply. This was what she wanted. What she needed. His hands came up to frame the sides of her face and she could feel the roughness of his fingers against her cheeks. The contrast was highly arousing. There was no doubt that Lucas was strong and tough, but his touch was always gentle, always restrained, as if he were well aware of his strength and didn’t want to hurt her. It made her feel special and cherished, but it also made her want to strip away his control and have him be as wild for her as she was for him.

  His tongue stroked along the seam of her lips and she parted them eagerly. But instead of plunging inside, he barely flicked the inside of her mouth before withdrawing again. Her hands gripped his shou
lders for support, digging into the muscled expanse beneath his suit. Over and over, he tasted the inside of her lips but went no farther into her mouth. It was intoxicating and it was maddening.

  Finally, unable to take it any longer, she sifted her fingers through his short hair, gripped his skull in her hands and pulled him tighter. Plunging her tongue into his mouth, she took what she wanted. She stroked his tongue with hers, reveling in his deep groan of pleasure as he responded to her. His tongue played with hers before he tilted her head for a better angle and began to plunder her mouth.

  Heat rushed over her skin. Her clothing felt tight and confining and when his hands left her face to spread her thighs wide open, she eagerly complied, almost whimpering when he shoved the skirt of her dress high on her thighs and pushed his way between them. His hands slid over her hips, pulling her close, angling her so she could feel the outline of his erection pressing against her slit. She could feel his cock pulsing through the fabric of his pants and her sex throbbing heavily in response.

  Lucas tore his mouth away from hers, gasping for breath. “Dessert. I promised you dessert.” Stepping away, he removed his suit jacket and tossed it over the end of the counter. His tie quickly followed.

  “Dessert.” Her mind was muddled with desire. She wanted him now. No more waiting.

  He smiled at her as he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside. The large expanse of male flesh distracted her. She hadn’t gotten a good look at it that day in the storage room. It had been too dark to see much. She knew his chest was impressive by feel alone, but that was nothing compared to actually seeing it. His shoulders looked about a yard wide and his chest was thick with muscle as it tapered down to his waist. She’d never seen an abdomen like his before outside a magazine. His abs were clearly defined and rock-hard.