Page 54 of Prettiest Little Thief
“Hold on.” With quick movements, I kicked off my heels, and a sigh of relief left me at the release of tension on my feet.
Lucas chuckled. “Better?”
“God, yes.” I strode toward the kitchen, with my husband hot on my trail, the intensity of his presence pressed into my spine.
Lucas pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit before walking to the fridge. When he stepped back, a personal sized angel food cake with extra strawberries was in his hands. He popped open the lid and pulled a fork out from the nearby drawer. When he stepped into my space again, he was closer. The tension within me snapped tighter, sending a rush of energythrough me again. If his close proximity had my body reacting this way, how would it be if he took me to bed tonight?
“How are you so smooth?” I asked.
“Years and years of practice, little thief.” His lips twitched, his gaze raking over my face.
A fake gasp left me. “Are you telling me, my husband is a player?”
“Playeris a strong word. Relationships were always pushed to the side, my responsibilities being put first. Casual sex was just easier.”
“Shocker,” I replied with a smirk.
Lucas stabbed the tines through the cloud-like cake, taking care to include a large slice of strawberry. When he held out the utensil for me to eat from, I faltered. “You don’t have to—”
“This is tradition.” Lucas was really going out of his way to make this day special.
I leaned forward and wrapped my mouth around the heavenly soft angel food cake. A low hum of approval came from my chest, and Lucas watched me with eyes full of hunger. His gaze locked onto my mouth, and I tried not to feel self-conscious.
“What about you?” His pupils blew wider.
“What about me?” I licked my lips.
“You and anyone over the years?” Still, Lucas’s eyes remained on my mouth as he fed me another bite.
I swallowed before I answered. “There really hasn’t been time for me to get into a relationship. With school and then my mom. That was never a priority. Frankie and I—"
“Fucked?” Lucas finished with a growl.
“Down boy.” I patted his chest. “That’s all it ever was. Aside from being friends.” The jealousy Lucas displayed sent a sweepof giddiness through me. It was nice that he cared, even if our marriage was fake.
“But,” I continued with a sigh. “I’m not sure I can say that anymore.”
“Good. He doesn’t deserve you.” He leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine. Arctic blue eyes invaded my vision, and his breath danced across my skin. I licked my dry lips, wanting nothing more than to taste him again.
“How do you figure? I’m no better than him. I’m a thief and a coward. A joke of a person.” Tears threatened to fall. The reality of my life was so messed up.
Lucas pulled back and stared down at me. “You are nothing like Frankie.” He kissed the top of my head, and warmth spread through my chest at the sweet contact. “You’re nothing I would’ve have expected you to be. You’re… more. Better.”
A fake laugh escaped me as I sniffled. “You don’t have to lie to kick it, Lucas.”
“I’m serious. You’re smart, motivated, fearless. I mean, shit, you stole my fucking car.”
A true laugh bubbled from me then, the urge to cry receding. “That’s not a good thing. I never aspired to be a car thief. It just happened.”
“It takes some big balls to steal a car from me. And then the key from the museum.”
“About that, if they take a look at the security footage, they may be able to recognize Evie and me. Even with wigs.”
“That’s been handled already,” he said with a smug grin.
“What? How?”
“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”
