Page 59 of Devilish

“It would be a bad look if they didn’t show up.” Lucien cocked his head as he looked in the direction of the stage. “Though I suppose being the future head of the monarchy weighs pretty heavily.”

I considered that, but then a rush of cars rounded the curve of the track, stealing all my focus. This whole race—or circuit, whatever it was called—was so stressful, just lap after lap after lap on narrow roads that didn’t leave much room for them to get past each other. The first three flew by, but the fourth clipped the wall and spun out suddenly.

“No way.” I jumped to my feet and held up the binoculars to get a good look at the car smoking on the side of the track. “I’m glad I didn’t actually place a bet. That was my guy.”

“Oh yeah? I thought I was your guy?” Lucien teased.

And just like that, the race was forgotten.

I grinned at Lucien, who provided a much better view than anything going on around us. When he drew a leg off his lounger to make room for me, I knelt.

“Trust me, there’s no comparison.” I trailed my fingers up his pants leg, and he caught them in his grip and pulled me on top of him, wrapping his arms around my waist. Last night had been intense, but in the best way, and seeing Lucien’s dominant side had been an unbelievable turn-on. Not only had he been attentive during what he called “the scene,” but afterward he’d made sure that I felt safe and cared for. It seemed to come second nature to him, which only made him more attractive.

“Don’t make me claim you right here in front of everyone.” He lowered his sunglasses and smirked. “The royals are watching.”

It was an empty threat, but my stomach flipped anyway. Not because I didn’t want him to do it, but because…well, what if hedid?

A question that’d popped into my mind last night re-emerged, and I had to ask.

“Um.” I started to bite the inside of my cheek but then caught myself. There was no reason to hesitate in asking. He’d be honest with me and wouldn’t take offense. “Is that on your list of things you enjoy? To have people…watching?”

He moved his sunglasses up on top of his head to look me in the eye. “I’ll answer your question, but I’m curious if you already know what I’ll say.”

I didn’t have to think too long or hard about it, not when it was so obvious to anyone who met Lucien. He was confident to the extreme, not shy at all when it came to sex, and?—

The cars racing by were so loud that they made it hard to think, and I waited until they passed again to answer.

“I think you like it,” I said, fingering the button of his open collared shirt. “I can’t imagine anyone who owns sex clubs being shy about that kind of thing. You’ve told me not to be embarrassed about pleasure and what I like, and not only that…”

“Yes?”

“You’re like a…sexual magnet or something.”

Whatever he’d been expecting to come out of my mouth, it obviously wasn’t that, and I had to pat myself on the back at the surprise in his dark eyes. He was usually so immovable that catching him off guard felt like a win.

“A sexual magnet,” he said, rolling the words around his tongue in amusement.

I shook my head and pushed against his chest playfully. “You know you are. I mean, look at you. Who wouldn’t fall over themselves to get to you? Or watch you? Or anything that gets them close to you? And you don’t ever seem to mind it, even when we’re just walking down the street. Last night, I don’t think you would’ve told anyone to go away if they’d shown up on the deck while we were there.”

“Have I told you how incredible you are at stroking…my ego?”

I laughed and went to push against him again, but he caught my hand.

“You’re right,” he said. “I don’t mind at all. Sometimes I even get off on it.”

“Sometimes?”

“It depends on the situation and if it’s something my submissive also enjoys.”

Oh, right.After everything he’d told me about dom/sub relationships, that made sense. He deferred to his partner, always.

As I contemplated whether that was something I’d be open to, I stared down at the way his large hand swallowed mine. I didn’t think I’d ever get over how strong and warm Lucien’s hand was when he was holding me. Maybe that would seem silly to anyone else, but it was something I noticed whenever it happened. Mine looked so small inside his sure, firm grip, and when he laced our fingers together, it felt intimate. Like I was his and he was mine, even though we hadn’t necessarily put it in those terms. Did we even have to after last night?

“How do you feel about that?” Lucien said, bringing my attention back to the conversation at hand.

“For you? I get it completely. For me? I’d…have to think about it.”

“There’s no pressure for you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. Remember that. And in the same vein, if there’s anything you’re curious about?—”

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