Page 37 of Secret Baby for Dr. Grump

“It’s the one talent Riley didn’t inherit from me.”

“What about art? Did she inherit that from you?”

I look up, surprised that he remembers me mentioning it years ago. I shake my head. “It’s too early to tell. But so far, she’s not interested in doodling.”

“I see. Do you still draw? Or paint?”

“Sometimes. When I’m stressed or when there’s time.”

“Are you stressed lately?”

I nod. “Yeah, but I don’t have time to draw or paint.”

“Too bad. I would have liked to see your work.”

Right. He doesn’t know that my work is available to the public—or at least, samples are available online, as well as some finished works for people to purchase or check out should they want to commission me. I debate telling him about it, but my decision is waylaid when one of his hands leaves my waist and takes my hand.

“Luke?”

“You’ve got callouses. I never noticed. This is an artist’s hand.”

I suck in a breath when he caresses my fingertips, specifically the callouses on them. It’s supposed to be nothing but an observation—except the way he’s observing me is sending pinpricks of heat all over my body.

“Luke…”

“You must be working so hard. Or it must be such a big passion to earn these callouses. So, either you did a lot of artwork as an extra income for Riley or just for yourself.”

I swear he can read me like a book sometimes. The income in my online display is for Riley’s future savings, though there’s no denying that that’s not the only reason.

“I’m doing it for myself. Not recently, as I said, but…yeah. To relieve stress.”

He sighs. He draws me even closer, letting go of my hand in the process.

“Do you still need to relieve stress?”

I gulp. “Sometimes.”

“Do you want me to show you another way to relieve stress?”

Just like that, the atmosphere shifts as we enter into dangerous territory.

Lust spears into my system. His mouth nuzzles my ear while his hands return to my waist, urging my hips to continue swaying to the beat that’s become reminiscent of something more sensual…primal. My breath hitches.

It would be so easy to say yes—to let this man guide me to what I assume would be his gigantic bedroom with a gigantic bed, where I know he will take his time. It’s been so long since I’ve had the pleasure of someone exploring my body that way. He’ll do it so well, his cock inside me a surety in making me feel good.

The temptation makes me drunk as his mouth cruises to my cheek, his hot breath stirring my senses. His voice is like gravel, low, and as aroused as I am.

“Liv…”

Giving in to it a bit, I turn my head so our lips can brush. It’s the only touch Luke needs to kiss me fully, sinking so deeply into my mouth as he pours out all the passion he feels. Desire rages in my system, mirroring his hunger, and the soft groan he emits sends my stomach tumbling, prompting a moan to escape my lips.

The soft murmur beside us is like a bomb dropped, pulling us apart in an instant. My breath heaves as I glance at Riley, who stirs but goes right back to sleep. Then I look at Luke, his breath also not steady and his eyes are smoldering with desire.

He’s temptation personified, the kind of man I can easily get lost in. But there will be consequences.

And I’m not brave enough to face them yet.

“We should go. It’s getting late.”

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