Page 63 of Out of Control

Six weeks later

Ihurried into the kitchen, pausing only for coffee. I pulled my favorite travel coffee mug out of the cabinet, hurrying over to where the coffeemaker burbled on the counter.

“In such a rush this morning,” Lucastskedfrom his place at the kitchen table. “Relax, baby.”

“It’s my first day,” I explained as if I hadn’t already emphasized the same thing fourteen times. I carefully measured out the sugar and added it to the thermos. “I want to make a good impression.”

He stood and rounded the table to grab the creamer from the fridge for me. “I know you do. And you will. But if you don’t slow down, you’re going to spill coffee all over that sexy little outfit.”

I rolled my eyes as he used the opportunity to cop a feel, cupping my breast through the baby blue blouse I wore. My blazer was gently folded over my purse on the counter, ready for me to slip on when I walked out the door rather than on my body, giving him plenty of room to work with. My exasperated eye roll morphed into something else when he cupped the other breast as well, thumbs rubbing gently over my nipples. I let him go on for a couple seconds, his lips finding their way over to the base of my neck, before I spoke again.

“We don’t have time for this, Lucas, but we can pick it up again later.” I gave him a wink when I stepped back, reaching for the matching lid to my travel mug, screwing it place after Lucas poured the right amount of creamer in my drink. When a man knows how you take your coffee you know he’s a keeper. I placed a hand on his chest, smiling up at him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he smiled back. His eyes were so very full of affection it nearly made my heart burst. I didn’t expect to feel so loved and important to anyone ever again after my mom died.

I shifted the hand on his chest, grabbing hold of his tie and pulling him down for a quick kiss. Then a longer one.

I pulled back before I got too distracted.

“This is a nice tie,” I commented, smoothing out the soft material. “Is it new?”

“Yes,” he said, but the way his features locked told me he was hiding something. What was it? Why?

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Something.”

“Nothing important enough to delay your first day at the new job.”

“But something important enough to delay it if today wasn’t day one?”

“No, it’s something meant to be discussedafteryour first day, not before.”

Interesting. I ran my fingers along the material again. Was that silk? “Now you’ve got me curious, baby. Give me just a little bit more here.”

“I can’t. I don’t want to make you late. You’re starting something new today.” More than just a new job, I was going into a new field: I wasn’t working in criminal defense anymore. I managed to secure a job at the D.A.’s office, working with guys like Lucas, not against him. “Have I mentioned yet how proud of you I am?”

“You have.” Probably about sixty times in the previous twenty-four hours. It was cute. “Don’t change the subject.”

“Do you have time for this?”

No. “I’ll make time.”

He raised an eyebrow, debating. His eyes flicked to the time displayed across the stovetop and back to me. His trademark grin began taking over his expression, but he still didn’t tell me.

I twisted my hand until the tie was wrapped around my wrist, gripping it to pull him down closer to me. “What’s going on?”

“You really want to know?” That raised eyebrow was taunting me, but it was the smirk that made me shift, sliding my thighs together. What was happening here? Why was he giving me that saucy look?

He unbuttoned the cuffs on his button up, slowly rolling up the sleeves. Whatever was going on, it was about to get serious. He kept his gaze on me the whole time, eyes darkening.

Then he put his arm around my waist and took another several steps forward, guiding me backwards until he had me pinned against the wall, his other hand on the back of my head so I didn’t hit it hard. I licked my lips. What was going on? I glanced around, wondering if I was missing something.

“Hey,” he said, putting a hand under my chin and lifting my face until my eyes met his. “I’m talking to you.”

“Ummm. Okay.” I was more than just a little flustered.

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