Page 71 of No Ordinary Love

"Speak for yourself." I raised an eyebrow, fighting a smile.

"Tesoro, I can smell how wet you are, and if I slipped a hand up your silky thighs and touched your pussy," he crooned, leaning back in his chair, his expression heated, "you'd come in seconds."

Hewasright about that. To cool myself down, I drank some water.

"We're driving each other a little nuts, aren't we?"

"Yeah, baby, we are, and it feels damn good…even if it is frustrating, and my hand is getting tired of jacking me off while I think of you on your knees."

The waiter brought our food: pumpkin ravioli with shaved truffles for me and pasta vongole for Lucas.

"So, tell me," I shifted gears, "what's your honest take on how the focus group went today?"

"You think I wasn't being honest when I said how amazing you were?" he shot back.

"I believe you. My question is centered around what you thought about thecontentof our discussion."

"The doctors had a lot of valuable insights, stuff that I haven't ever given much consideration to. Opened my eyes to the difficulties and challenges that they face on a daily basis, making it harder for them to take care of their patients."

"I agree. Based on the next two focus groups and the qualitative research we do, I think we'll be ready to run a survey next month," I told him. "Then we'll have all the data we need to start analyzing, which you know is my favorite part."

"I love how passionate you are about your work. It's one of the things I've always admired about you—you care so much about what you do. It's inspiring."

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks, but I kept my tone light. "Thanks, Lucas. It means a lot to hear you say that."

Our conversation flowed easily, moving from work to lighter topics—funny stories about our colleagues and little anecdotes from our day-to-day lives. There was no tension, no undercurrent of unresolved issues. It was just…us—not like we used to be, but…better. Much better!

Lucas told me about a project he was working on at LPC—a new initiative to introduce sustainable practices to some of their older operations.

His eyes lit up as he spoke, the passion in his voice reminding me of the man I'd fallen for, the one who could make even the most mundane topic sound fascinating.

"That sounds incredible." I was genuinely impressed. "I know sustainability has not been top of mind for you before."

"I know," he admitted. "But I was working to grow the company and didn't want to deal with the green agenda, so to speak. Now, I wish I'd started earlier. Our sustainability initiatives are going to only benefit the company."

"I'm proud of you, Lucas; I always have been."

He smiled a little sheepishly, and I realized how much I'd missed this—seeing him like this, open and genuine, without the walls we'd both put up over the past few months.

After dinner, when we stepped out into the cool Charleston night of early November, Lucas reached for my hand. His touch was warm and familiar, and I didn't want to let him go.

Chapter 26

Lucas

"What's wrong?" Amara asked me as I got ready for work.

It was a week before Thanksgiving, and we were holding the last LPC board meeting of the year. I felt anxious, and in the past, I wouldn't have let Amara see that. But now, we were more open with each other, starting to share our burdens in a way we hadn't before.

I was spending more and more nights at her place, though we were still sexually frustrating the hell out of each other. However, last night, I lost control and ate her pussy until she screamed my name. She'd given me a hand job for the ages, letting me come all over her gorgeous breasts. We were exploring each other's bodies without taking that final step.

As hungry as it made us, it was also highly erotic.

"Hugh is trying to get me ousted as CEO."

"What?" she screeched.

She was working from home for the day as she didn't have classes. She was in yoga pants and a loose sweater. Her hair was up in a loose bun and she looked adorable as hell.

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