Page 34 of Devilish

“Okay.”

I leaned back in the lounger, finally relaxing after a full day of travel, and noticed an ice bucket with bottled water between us.

“Can I?”

“It’s for you. If you want something else I’m happy to make it, but?—”

“Water is great.” I took the cap off the bottle and took a long sip. “I don’t really—well, ever—drink alcohol.”

“I figured. Do you mind that I am?”

“No, you should drink whatever you like.” Then it occurred to me that this was the first time I’d actually seen him with anything other than water. “Have younotbeen drinking because of me?”

“I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it. I wanted to make sure you felt comfortable around me, and?—”

“Lucien, I’ve never felt more comfortable around anyone than I do you.” I eyed his glass and offered a shy smile. “Enjoy your drink.”

“I will…now.”

A warm flush swept through my body, and the idea that he’d changed his behavior to make me feel more at ease made my chest tighten and my heart thump a little harder.

We settled into a comfortable silence there under the Monaco sun, and as a light breeze drifted up from the sea below, I shifted onto my side and let my eyes wander over Lucien.

He wasdevastatinglyhandsome. It was hard to believe he didn’t have a line of men knocking on his door demanding his attention. That instead of spending his nights wining and dining potential dates, he’d chosen to spend the last couple of weeks with me.

“Something on your mind, Kai?”

I rolled to my back, mortified he’d felt my attention on him. “No, I?—”

Lucien turned his head, but I couldn’t see his eyes behind those dark lenses. “You…?”

I paused for a second, and then thought,When in Monaco… “I was just looking at you.”

Lucien pulled off his glasses, revealing his dark eyes, and for the first time in a long time, my cock began to throb.

“And do you like what you see?”

I swallowed. “Yes. I like it a whole lot.”

“Well then.” He winked and put his sunglasses back on, then slipped his hands up behind his head. “Don’t let me stop you.”

His confidence and charm was so damn sexy, but at the same time immediately put me at ease, and a chuckle bubbled out of me. I rolled onto my side to continue my perusal, and just when I didn’t think he could get any more outlandish, Lucien said, “Would you like me to take my shirt off?”

Before I could even answer, he did just that, and I decided right then that Lucien was right. This was indeed a little slice of paradise.

13

LUCIEN

THE ONSITE CHEF prepared an exquisite meal, giving Kai his first taste of barbagiuan. To say the ricotta and chard pastry was a hit was an understatement, and I asked the chef afterward for a repeat before we headed back to the States.

“These might be my new favorites. Lots of room for all the amazing food here,” Kai said, snapping the elastic waist of the loose linen pants he wore before falling onto the couch.

“I’m glad you like them.” I lowered my eyes over the way the cream material sat low on his hips, offering up a sliver of skin beneath his navel. “You wear them well.”

He turned his head on the cushion, and I did nothing to hide my perusal. The way he’d watched me earlier told me something had shifted here, and I welcomed his curiosity—and interest, if it came to that.

One side of his lips curved up slowly as he met my stare.“See something you like?” he teased, throwing back my words from earlier.

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