“Okay, well Luc was either in detention or skiving. It was only by accident that we stumbled across each other a few years ago when the Dalton family accountant died on them.”
“Literally,” Lucas adds.
“Uh…explain please.”
“Dad and I were having our end of year meeting with him and he had a heart attack and died right in the middle of the meeting.”
“Oh my God. What did you do?” I ask in shock.
“Well, I got online to find another accountant and the first one I rang was Joe. Although I didn’t know that until we met later that week.”
“I didn’t mean about your accountant problem, you fool. I meant, what did you do with the dead one?”
“Well, we didn’t know he was dead at the time so we rang an ambulance like most people would. What did you think we would do?”
I shrug at him because I hadn’t really thought about it. I was just shocked by the situation.
We have a great night. It’s nice to see Lucas laughing with friends. I usually only see him when he’s in work mode, and that Lucas can’t always be that fun. I know he’s only doing his job but he can be a little uptight. Okay, a lot uptight.
When we get back to the hotel we get stopped by Catherine in the lobby.
“Lucas, can I borrow you for a few minutes?”
“Can’t it wait, Catherine?”
“No.”
Lucas turns to me, whispers that he’s sorry in my ear and tells me to wait for him upstairs.
I do as I’m told, although a huge part of me wants to go with him. I don’t trust Catherine as far as I could throw her. It’s obvious she wants him; she might as well be wearing a sign. I do trust Lucas though, so I head upstairs, just a little irritated that she’s interrupted our evening.
I go straight to the bedroom, smiling to myself when I realise Lucas must have set up his playlist ready because the music is soft and perfect for what I have in mind. I undo the strap of my dress that is knotted behind my neck and wiggle out of it. When I went shopping with Taylor I also headed for the underwear section, much to his delight and amusement.
“Oh, so the cotton ones aren’t cutting it now you’ve got a man then?” he said very loudly as we walked over to the fancy section. I turned around and glowered at him but it was too late—I was already beetroot red.
I leave my shoes on because Lucas seems to like that and I crawl on to his bed. I prop myself up against the headboard and wait.
Lucas
“What is it, Catherine?” I bark as I follow behind her towards her office. The extra swing she puts into her hips pisses me off. If she thinks that is going to entice me, then she’s got me very wrong.
“The system’s crashed. It’s double booked some of the rooms.”
“And I’m needed because?”
“I thought you might know what to do,” she says innocently.
I can’t believe she interrupted my night with Lilly for this bullshit.
“Just ring IT, have them fix it.”
“No one’s answering.”
“Well then, wait until the morning. No one will be checking in this time of night, and if they do, we have some empty rooms that are ready for the referb next week. Just use them if you have to.”
“You’re so smart,” she says as she runs her hand down my arm. Her act doesn’t fool me. I’ve known her too long. Catherine hasn’t always been the workaholic bitch that she is now and I feel partly to blame for it. When she first started working for me she was waiting tables. I saw something in her straight away and soon started moving her up through the ranks until she was managing one of our small hotels up north. She was dedicated but she also had empathy and consideration that’s now disappeared. Her life was turned upside down and she started on a downward spiral. She had months off work. When she came back she was more determined than ever and she latched on to me, I think it was because I’d kept her job for her and given her another chance. I should have said no when she tried it on with me, but I was young and horny. She’s made it clear ever since that she wants another chance but I’ve refused. She’s turned into an amazing manager but she’s ruthless. I think she’s so focused on not falling back into the person she was during her months away that work has taken over her entire life. It’s almost like she needs control more than I do.
“Are we done?” I snap. My blood is starting to boil.
“Do you fancy a drink, Luc?”
“No, thank you. I have company.”
“I saw. But don’t you want a real woman? Not just the cleaner.”
“Lilly isn’t just a cleaner, Catherine. Now do your job and leave me to do mine.” I push past her harshly and march out of her office. She might be good at her job but she is a serious pain in my arse.
I take the stairs instead of the lift to try to burn off some of my frustration before I get to Lilly. When I step through the door the first thing I hear is the music I set up earlier. I hate being in the quiet so there is always music playing in here. Something I’m surprised Lilly hasn’t asked me about. Being surrounded by silence brings back too many painful memories of my childhood.
Everything is quiet other than that. The thought of her waiting for me makes my cock twitch. I haven’t been with her for way too fucking long. I almost cancelled on Joe and Nat so that we could have the night alone, but I knew I’d get no end of grief for it. We’ve got the rest of the weekend to make up for lost time.
I step into the bedroom and immediately spot her on the bed. She’s wearing white lace underwear and she still has her pink heels on. My cock throbs for her; my mouth waters for a taste. The only problem is that she’s fast asleep.
I quickly strip down and climb on to the bed with her. She doesn’t stir. I really want to wake her but she looks so beautiful sleeping, so I reluctantly side her shoes off her feet and lift her gently so I can pull the covers over her. I slide in beside her and pull her into me. I breathe her in; she smells like apples.
I lie there with her in my arms for the longest time. She’s touched a part of me I didn’t know I had, and that excites and scares me in equal measures. She’s too good for me. Too beautiful, too kind, too caring for an arsehole like me but I’m too selfish to walk away from her. I know I’m going to hurt her. It’s what I do. But I can’t stay away. I’m addicted, which isn’t a good thing.
Eventually, I pull myself away from her and head into the living room. I can’t sleep. There’s too much stuff going around my head. I want to say it’s work like it usually is. But it’s not—it’s her.
In an attempt to distract myself, I open my laptop and start replying to some emails. The referb of the hotel has started and I’ve had a million and one questions from the builder and architect already.
I lose track of how long I’m sat staring at the screen but at some point, movement from my bedroom catches my attention. When I turn to look, I find Lilly stood in the doorway of my bedroom. She must have turned the lamp on as there is light behind her. It makes her look like an angel.
My heart thuds in my chest. Fuck, she’s beautiful. Her blue eyes are bright and her full pink lips are parted with her slow breaths. Her skin is creamy white and her small but perfect tits are covered in lace along with her pussy. As pretty as they are though, I want to rip them from her body to reveal what is beneath. I run my eyes down her stomach and linger over her scar. I know she’s self-conscious of it but it’s a part of her and I wouldn’t change it for the world. She’s perfect as she is. I’m curious as fuck to know how she got it, mind you. I’m hoping one day soon she’ll be brave enough to tell me. The fear of that coinciding with me talking about my past isn’t far from my mind. It’s going to make her walk away, I know it will, and I would like to put that off happening for a long as possible. I can only hope she will begin to like me enough to be able to deal with my past.
All thoughts of what I was doing completely vanish when she starts walking towards me. She disappears from sight and I almost turn around
to see where she is when I feel her hands on my shoulders before running down my chest and onto my stomach.
“Come to bed,” she whispers in my ear. Why the fuck I got up when she was in my bed I have no idea.
“Okay.”
When her fingers reach the waistband of my boxers she bends them and starts running her nails back up. My cock, already hard, turns painful and strains against the fabric.
“I’ve got a better idea,” I mutter before practically throwing the laptop on to the table and pulling her over the back of the sofa so she’s sat astride my lap. “Perfect.”
I go to kiss her put she pulls away and puts her hand over her face. I see her glance over at the clock before whispering, “Middle of the night breath,” behind her fingers.
I don’t have time for her to start faffing around with brushing her teeth so instead of going for her mouth I turn my attention elsewhere.
I pull the straps of her bra down her arms, which causes the flimsy fabric containing her tits to fall as well. I cup them both in my hands and gently squeeze. I lean forward and take one nipple in my mouth while pinching the other one. I’m rewarded by a moan of approval from Lilly as she starts grinding down on me.
“Fuck, Lilly.”
I lift my hips enough so I can pull my boxers over my arse and let my cock spring free. Before I know what’s going on, Lilly is off my lap and on her knees in front of me. She doesn’t waste any time. She immediately reaches forward and wraps her delicate hand around me. It feels incredible but nothing compared to when she lowers her mouth on me and sucks gently.
“Fuck,” I groan as my head falls back against the sofa.
She continues to suck me gently and it feels like it’s going to go on forever but she suddenly stops. My eyes fly open to see what’s going on but I’m greeted with the sight of her wiggling her knickers over her hips. I watch, enthralled, as they drop to the floor and she steps out of them. Her bra follows so she is stood in front of me completely bare. What is it about this woman? Nothing is enough; no amount of time is enough. I need more. I need forever, and that is a seriously scary thought. I haven’t ever wanted anything as much as I do right now since I was a kid. I learnt very quickly though that wishing and praying for something you wanted was pointless so I soon gave up and tried to deal with the shit I’d been dealt.
Lilly is different. She seems to want this as well. She wants me. Fuck knows why.
The feeling of her soft skin against mine pulls me from my depressing thoughts and back to the here and now. Her thighs encase mine and her hands come up to my shoulders. I take the hint and position myself so she can sink down on me. She waits a few seconds while she looks into my eyes. There are so many things I can see reflected back at me and it knocks me for six slightly. There’s anticipation and excitement but I’m sure I can also see some fear. I’ve no idea what she has to be scared about; I rationalise that it’s probably just my own feelings making me see things.
She blinks, breaking our contact, before slowly moving down and taking me inside her. Her eyes lock onto mine again but this time all I see is pleasure. I grab on to her hips to help her move and eventually her eyes start to shut as the sensations take over. I want to tell her to open them but I’m afraid of what she’ll see in mine if I do. I’m scared she’ll she how much I want her, how much she already means to me after only this short amount of time. I’m not sure I want to know all that myself, let alone have her know it too.
“Was everything okay?” she asks when we’re both curled up in bed again.
“It was incredible, Lilly,” I reply, thinking back to our little session on the sofa.
“I didn’t mean that, you fool,” she says with a laugh and a playful slap to the shoulder. “I meant with Catherine.”
I want to groan at the sound of her name and the fact she’s even gets to be a part of this. “Yes, it was nothing.”
“She wants you, you know.”
“Uh huh,” is the only response I give, because I am all too aware of what Catherine wants, but I have no intention of Lilly knowing the truth.
“Oh my God. You have, haven’t you?” Oh, too late then!
“It was a long time ago, Lilly. And it was a huge mistake.” The look she gives me in return makes me feel like the biggest arsehole on the planet. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past, Lilly. None of which I’m proud of. What happened with Catherine is a drop in the ocean compared to most things. I know most people see me as this posh hotel owner, but be under no illusion that that is who I am. I know you’ve already figured out that it’s just a front. Yes, I love what I do. I love the challenge. I especially love making money, because once upon a time I had nothing. But dressing up in a swanky suit every day, looking like I belong, isn’t a part of it I enjoy.”
“Why can’t you just be yourself then? Why put on the front?” she asks innocently, like it’s the simplest thing in the world.
“When my dad trusted me to do this, I was at my lowest point, Lilly. Fair play to him giving me the chance, because I’m pretty sure if the tables were turned I wouldn’t have. To say I was a mess would be putting it lightly. I needed to leave all that behind me, so the day before I started I went out and bought everything I thought I needed for my new life. It worked so far as I’ve been incredibly successful, but it will never take away where I came from.”
“It’s not how you dress, Luc, that’s made you successful. That’s you. That comes from inside here,” she says, laying her hand over my chest. And she’s right, I guess. But no one wants their boss to look like a homeless tramp.
Chapter Ten
Lilly
I think my words struck some sort of cord with Lucas because after my comment about how he dresses, he held me tight and we both drifted off to sleep. Well, I did anyway. I could see the storm cloud descending in his eyes before mine shut so I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that he didn’t get a lot of sleep. Especially when I realise that I’m waking up alone in his bed.
When I sit up I see the bedroom door is ajar and I hear the soft sounds of music playing as always. I find one of Lucas’ shirts to put on before I make use of the bathroom. I check each room but he’s nowhere to be found.
I sit myself down on the sofa and wonder what to do. Do I just pack up and leave, or is he expecting me to wait? Whatever it is, I can’t do anything until I’ve had at least one cup of tea.
I’m just pouring the milk in when I hear the door click shut. I look around the corner to see Lucas walking in, looking a little like the morning after we first slept together. I swear my girly parts do a little dance at the sight of him.
He just unzips his hoodie before he looks up and spots me. His eyes shine with what I hope is excitement as they run down my body, which is covered in his perfect white shirt.
I do the exact same thing as I run my eyes over every inch of the sexy bad boy in front of me. He’s wearing a pair of low slung jogging bottoms with the waistband of his boxers showing. His black hoodie is undone, showing off the glistening sculpted perfection underneath. He has his hood up, making him look like the bad boy you should never talk to, let alone get close to.
I watch, amazed, as he reaches up and knocks the hood off his head. He runs his hands through his hair, making it stick out in all directions.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asks with a smirk.
“Guys in suits with perfect hair aren’t really my thing. This though,” I say as I start walking towards him. “This is spot on.” I run my hands up his chest and over his shoulders, giving his hoodie the push it needs to fall down his arms.
I squeal in surprise when I’m suddenly thrown over his shoulder.
“Lucas, what are you doing?” I shout as he walks us to the bathroom and straight to the walk-in shower. He doesn’t answer, just turns its on, and we are both blasted with ice cold water.
“Lucas,” I squeal again as I wriggle in his tight hold to try to get away. I have no hope though; he’s too strong.
“Wh
at? Didn’t you want a shower?” he asks with an amused glint in his eye.
This is the Lucas I like: the rough-looking, demanding, slightly arrogant bad boy. Who needs a guy in a suit when you can have one of these?
I’m none too gently manhandled so I’m chest to chest with him before I’m forced back against the tiled wall with a thud.
“I don’t think I said you could wear my shirt,” he says before I hear a rip and then buttons pinging everywhere as he tears in from my body.
“Lucas, that must have cost you a fortune.”
“Don’t give a fuck. I want these,” he says as he pins me to the wall with his hips and brings his hands up to my tits.
I’m grateful we’re in the hotel and not my flat, because the water would have gone cold a long time before we were ready to get out.
Lucas is leaning back against the vanity unit with a towel around his waist as he watches me wring out my hair and wrap it up in a towel with a bemused look on his face.
“I’ve always wondered how women got that to stay on their heads,” he comments when I tuck the corner under by my neck.
“Something you often think about, is it?” I ask with a laugh as I walk past him and into the bedroom to find some clothes. “Do you like living in a hotel?” I ask over my shoulder, because I don’t actually expect an answer to my first question.
“Uh…I like that there are always people around.”
“I never see you talking to any of them. You only talk to the staff, and when you do that you’re barking orders.”
“If you want something done right, Lilly, then—”
I raise my eyebrow at him and he immediately stops talking. “Really? There are other ways to go about it, Luc. Anyway,” I say, changing the subject slightly. After all, who am I to criticise his skills as a hotel manager? “Why don’t you live away from it all? Get some peace?”
Lilly (Angel Series Book 3) Page 11