by Croft, Nina
Lia watched him walk away; she turned to stare at herself in the mirror, trying to clear the sensual haze induced by his kiss. Suddenly, she wanted the party over, wanted to be back here with Luc. Just get through the night, she told herself.
How hard could it be?
…
“I presume this is some sort of alien abduction scenario,” Kelly said. “You’re not really my friend Lia—you’ve just taken over her body.”
“Ha, ha,” Lia said.
Lia had spotted Kelly the moment she came in. Her friend stood inside the door, wide-eyed and in awe of the entire proceedings. Hardly surprising—their life in the village hadn’t prepared them for this sort of thing—although Kelly devoured society magazines voraciously so she should have known what to expect. She had managed to dress the part very well, considering the short notice Lia had given her, in a floor-length dress in her favorite fuchsia pink. Lia let out a sigh of relief at the sight of a familiar face and rushed over. She hugged Kelly, not knowing whether to be flattered or worried by the absolute shock on her friend’s face.
“No, really, Lia, you look…” Kelly paused as if searching for the correct words, “…well, totally un-Lia-like.” She stood back and examined her. “It’s quite scary.”
Lia reached forward and gave her another hug. “I’m so glad you could make it. I know it was short notice, but I couldn’t bear the thought of not knowing anybody here.”
“Yes, well, really it was difficult fitting it in to my extremely busy social life, and I was going to say no, but after all you are my best friend so I thought maybe I should make the effort. It’s bound to be a drag—swanky parties get sooo boring after the first dozen or so.”
“Well then, luckily you’ve still got eleven to go. Did you come on your own?”
“Actually, I came with Pete. We thought we could give each other a little moral support.”
“You did? That’s great.”
“He’s really cut up about this, Lia.”
Lia shifted uncomfortably. “You know there’s never been anything like that between the two of us.”
“I know that, you know that, unfortunately Pete’s always been a bit confused on the issue. But don’t worry—this is probably the best thing that could have happened to him. Maybe he’ll take his eyes off you now and look at someone else.”
Lia narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure it’s moral support you’re after here, Kel?”
Kelly grinned. “Let’s just say I’m hopeful. Now, where’s this mystery man of yours? I’m dying to see him. I couldn’t get any details out of Pete.”
Lia knew exactly where he was. Across the room, he stood talking to a small group of people. The side with the scar was away from her and he was perfection personified, his black silky hair brushing his collar. As if sensing her stare, he turned from the people to face her. He raised his glass, his eyes on hers, and a slow, sensual smile curved his lips. The party vanished.
“Earth calling Lia, earth to Lia.”
Kelly prodded Lia sharply in the side when she continued to ignore her.
Lia shook her head. “What?”
Kelly rolled her eyes. “Mystery man?”
“He’s there.” Lia waved a hand toward Luc. He’d turned back to the group and stood in profile. Kelly followed the gesture.
“Wow,” she muttered. “In fact double, triple wow. Well, it’s easy to see why poor Pete’s had his nose put well and truly out of joint. So how did you meet him?”
Lia studied her feet, avoiding Kelly’s gaze as she answered. “We ran into each other, and it was just like you said—a whirlwind. I couldn’t help myself. Neither could Luc.”
When she looked up, Kelly was scrutinizing her, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. She reached forward and lifted Lia’s hair to peek underneath. Lia winced.
“You’re lying,” Kelly said. “Your ears are bright red.”
Lia sighed. “Actually, they feel like they’re on fire. But I can’t tell you any more right now. Soon I hope.”
“Pete said you were getting engaged. Is it true?”
Lia shifted uneasily. “Sort of.”
“What does ‘sort of’ mean?”
Lia held out her hand, and Kelly grabbed hold of it and stared at the enormous sapphire ring on her finger. “At the risk of sounding repetitive,” Kelly said, “wow.” She inspected the hand more closely. “And look at that manicure, a bit better than my stick-ons.”
“Some friends of Luc came over and helped me get ready.”
“What sort of friends?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Oh yes, I do.”
“Hard luck, because I’m not telling.”
“You’re no fun.”
They both turned back to stare at Luc for a long moment. Kelly sighed dramatically. “He’s absolutely gorgeous, Lia, but do you know what you’re doing?”
“No.”
“Are you sure you aren’t in over your head?”
“No.”
She obviously sounded so mournful that Kelly laughed. “That’s okay then. As long as you’re quite aware that you’re in deep, deep trouble, there’s probably hope for you. Anyway, I plan to enjoy myself.” She looked around the party and shook her head. “This is out of this world. It’s just so…” she seemed at a loss for words.
“Out of this world?” Lia said.
“Well, it’s beyond anything I’ve ever seen. In real life, anyway. Look over there.” She grabbed Lia’s arm and pointed. “That woman, I don’t know who she is but I’m sure she was in last week’s Hello magazine. It’s like a fairy tale. Maybe not a fairy tale, but definitely like a spread out of a magazine.”
Lia glanced over at her friend with some amusement. She had never understood Kelly’s preoccupation with the lives of the rich and famous, but now she was going to make her day. “I think they might be here.”
“Who?”
“Hello magazine.”
Kelly went still. “You’re kidding me?”
“No. So perhaps you should go and station yourself next to someone you recognize, and you might find yourself immortalized on film.”
“I’m on to it. You coming?”
“No, there’s someone I want to talk to. I’ll see you later.”
…
“Thanks for sending the girls. They were great.” Lia flashed her fingernails with their French manicure.
Maggie smiled. “The dress is perfect.”
“That’s entirely thanks to you.” Lia smoothed the dark blue silk down over her hips. Glancing across the room, she saw Luc watching her. She couldn’t help but stare back. Out of all the glittering gorgeous people, he was by far the most beautiful. She tried to tell herself that that was all it was—she was blinded by his beauty. He put down his glass and walked toward her; her heart started to thump inside her rib cage.
“Are you avoiding me, cara?” he asked as he came to a halt in front of her.
She shook her head.
“Can I get you a drink, champagne?”
“Coffee?” she asked hopefully.
He slipped an arm around her waist and smiled. “Come with me.”
“So who are all these people?” she asked as he led her through the ballroom.
Luc lifted one elegant shoulder. “Some colleagues, some acquaintances, a few friends.”
“Family?”
He shook his head. “No, my family all live in Italy now. My mother doesn’t come back here much. England does not have happy memories for her.”
“You’re half English, so what about your father?”
“My father’s dead. He was an orphan and had no family.”
“You said colleagues. Any masterminds of the criminal fraternity?”
He smiled. “One or two, perhaps, but they’ve promised to be on their best behavior. And there’s one of them.”
Across the room, Harley Watson lounged against a wall, his enormous frame elegantly dressed in what had to be a custom-made tuxed
o. A slender, handsome man stood at his side. Harley raised a hand at Lia and smiled.
Luc spoke to a few people briefly, but they eventually broke free of the press into the cool, relative quiet of the hallway. He led her across the tiled floor, through a door, and she found herself in a small comfortable sitting room. Luc picked up a phone and spoke briefly. “There,” he said to Lia, “coffee is on its way.”
“You seem to know this place well,” she said. “Have you been here before?”
He gave her an odd look.
“It’s a fabulous house, though,” she continued. “How did you find it? It must be costing a fortune to rent.”
“Rent? It’s mine, cara.”
“Yours?”
He nodded. “Shellwood is my house.”
Lia sank down into the chair conveniently behind her and stared at him. The house was a mansion; people didn’t live in houses like this anymore. He was either a very good crook or he got his money somewhere else. She really, really hoped it was somewhere else. The thought brought her up short. When had she started caring what Luc Severino did?
She tried to remember exactly what the house had looked like from the outside. A chauffeur had driven them here in a limousine. She hadn’t paid much attention to where they were going; she had been too conscious of Luc at her side, resplendent in his evening suit. Too conscious of the heavy ring on her finger.
Luc watched her closely, a slight smile curling the corners of his mouth, warming those stunning eyes. Tonight he seemed a different man from the cold-eyed stranger who had used blackmail to get his way. And from the friendly guy who had taken her little brother for a ride in his car. Which one was the real Luc?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door, and one of the uniformed waitresses entered with a tray of coffee. She put it on one of the small tables and left the room. Luc poured the coffee, added cream and sugar, and handed the cup to Lia. She swallowed quickly, burning her lips, and put the cup down. She picked it up again, needing something to keep her occupied. She couldn’t believe how nervous she felt alone with him here, which was crazy when she had been living with him for nearly a week
“You look stunning in that dress,” he said.
“Well, that’s really all thanks to Maggie and her great taste. I would never have chosen it on my own.”
She took another swallow of coffee before putting the cup down, wishing in a way she hadn’t come in here with him. But she couldn’t deny she was fizzing with excitement; it stirred her blood like champagne running through her system.
“Do you know what I’ve wanted to do since I first saw you tonight?”
“Not really, but I’m guessing the same thing I’ve wanted.”
“Come here, Lia.”
She didn’t hesitate, just lifted her hand so he could take it in his own. His palm was cool. With a slight tug, he pulled her to her feet. She came to a stop mere inches from his body and looked up into his eyes. They were dark, half-closed, and he stared down at her while he reached out with his other hand and stroked his thumb along her lower lip. Prickles of sensation rippled out from his touch, and her heart started to race.
“Actually,” he said, “it’s not entirely true. I haven’t been wanting this since I saw you tonight. I’ve been wanting it every time I’ve seen you for the last week. Isn’t it about time you gave me what I want, cara?”
Releasing her hand, he cupped her face. Lia realized that she, too, had wanted this for so long. Reaching up, she slid her hands around his neck, pulling him down, standing on tiptoe so she could reach his mouth. The kiss was gentle at first, then his hands tightened around her and he kissed her hard. The feel of his lips was incredible. Lia opened her mouth beneath his almost instinctively, and his hot tongue slipped inside. Her body remembered the taste of him and reacted by moving closer, needing to feel him against her. One hard hand slid down from where it cradled her face, stroking over her throat, across her shoulder, to slip beneath the low silk back of the dress and settle against the bare skin inches above the curve of her bottom. For a moment, it lingered there, and then he pulled her toward him, deepening the kiss. She moved her hands to his broad shoulders, and she clung to him, pulling him closer.
He picked her up by the waist, held her tight against him, and backed toward the sofa with her still in his arms. Sinking down into the cushions, he dragged her onto his lap, his mouth never leaving hers, his tongue stroking her lips, the roof of her mouth, sliding erotically against her own, while his hands slid over the naked flesh of her back, then skimmed over her silk-covered breasts, leaving trails of fire. It wasn’t enough; she writhed against him, needing to get closer, and he laughed softly against her mouth. The sound brought her back to herself, and she pulled back slightly to stare at him. He reached out and stroked a finger around the neckline of her dress. It was so sinfully erotic, his dark, long fingers stroking her pale flesh. As she watched, he slipped one hand inside and cupped her small breast in his palm. Lia gasped as he stroked his thumb over the engorged nipple. The sensation was exquisite, and her head fell back against the cushions.
“I want to taste you here, cara,” he murmured, his thumb rasping across the peak. “I want to see if you taste as sweet as I remember.”
There was no way she was going to object. His other hand went to the back of her neck, where the halter of the dress fastened, and flicked open the button. Lia was incapable of moving as he peeled the material from her breasts.
A knock sounded at the door, and she jumped at the intrusive noise. Luc swore under his breath.
“Wait a moment,” he called out, and his tone was not one that was going to be disobeyed. He acted immediately, pulling up the bodice of her dress and refastening the catch. Lia was dazed as he lifted her from his lap and placed her on the sofa. He got to his feet, crossed the room, and opened the door slightly.
“Yes?”
Lia heard a murmured conversation, but she was beyond being able to take in the words. Glancing down at herself, she saw her nipples clearly visible under the thin silk, and she crossed her arms. She almost had her breathing back under control by the time Luc came back.
He stood, staring down at her a slightly rueful expression in his eyes. “Unfortunately, we need to return to the party. I have to give a speech.”
“Oh. What about?”
“I told you, this is for charity and most people here tonight have handed over a lot for their tickets. I need to tell them what that money will pay for. But we will continue our…conversation later.”
“We will?”
“Oh yes, Lia.”
A wave of heat washed over her at the words. Pushing herself onto unsteady legs, she peered down—her nipples were still pressed against the dress; she couldn’t go out there like this.
“I think I’ll just wait here for a minute,” she said.
When she looked back up, his gaze was intent on her breasts, lingering on the taut peaks pushing insistently against the material. She was sure he was going to kiss her again, and she almost swayed toward him. He shook his head as if to clear it, then he walked away.
At the door, he paused. “I’ll see you out there.”
Lia nodded, and he was gone. She stared at the closed door then sank back down onto the sofa behind her, her legs no longer capable of supporting her. Her head fell back against the cushions, and her hand almost without thought lightly touched the sensitive swell of her breasts. For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine Luc’s hand where her own lay; she shivered at the sensation that rippled through her. He obviously meant for them to continue this later.
Chapter Twelve
Closing her eyes, Lia finally admitted to herself that she wanted him desperately. Oh, she had no illusions that this was going to have a happy ever after, and in some ways that thought comforted her. She didn’t believe in happy ever after, but should she deny herself this? After all, it wasn’t as if it was the first time. She wasn’t doing anything she hadn’t done already.
Her mind was flooded with memories of that night, the feel of him on her, inside her. She shook herself; this was not doing any good. And she didn’t want to miss Luc’s speech—she’d never known anybody who gave speeches before.
When she entered the ballroom, the band was quiet and everyone’s attention was focused on a raised podium at one end of the room. As she slipped through the crowd, there was a ripple of applause, and Luc took his place behind the microphone.
She was finding it hard to believe she’d been kissing him only minutes before. It wasn’t only his looks; he had a presence that had everyone glued to his every word. He glanced across and caught her eyes, held them for a moment.
“Before I move on to my prepared speech,” he spoke into the microphone, “I want to make a very special announcement. I recently asked someone to marry me, and she accepted. So I would like to introduce you all to my fiancée, Olivia Brent.” He paused and held out a hand. All the eyes in the room turned toward her. Lia wanted to sink into the floor, but she forced herself to walk slowly forward and take Luc’s hand. She gripped it tight in her own and saw his flicker of surprise. He urged her up onto the podium, and Lia stood by his side. The room erupted into applause and calls of congratulations. She caught sight of Maggie’s troubled face below and Pete’s stony expression.
Luc had gone into his speech, but he still held her hand, and she was fixed firmly at his side. She didn’t take in much of what he was saying, just listened to his voice, allowed it to caress her ears. Before she knew it he was thanking everybody for their donations to the charity he was supporting, and finally, it was over, and he stepped down to another rousing round of applause.
She moved forward automatically, but they were surrounded by groups of people congratulating them, wanting to shake his hand, kiss her on the cheek. She felt like an absolute fraud, and at the first opportunity she slipped away; it was Luc they all wanted anyway.