Page 3 of Courting Envy
“Lucien.”
That was it, no surname, just a first name, but damn, it was a sexy one and the way it rolled off his tongue made me want to kiss him.
“Nice to meet you, Lucien.” I offered my hand for him to shake, but instead he grasped my fingers and drew them to his lips, placing a scorching kiss on the back of my hand. He lingered there, his tongue flicking out to taste me better. My insides clenched as I imagined what else he could do with that tongue.
I didn’t need the drink. I’d take him home right now and fuck him senseless.
Then I remembered where we were, and knew that I couldn’t, not without at least consuming the drink the bartender had placed in front of me.
Lucien slid his card to the other man, never taking his eyes off me.
“You’re not going to join me?” I asked, indicating his nearly empty glass. The liquid was warm amber and I knew just how he would taste.
“I was hoping that when you finish your martini, you might leave with me.” His gaze locked to mine, and I was done playing games.
“Yes.” I picked up my drink and took a deep sip, enjoying the way the alcohol hit my throat. So much better than the insipid wine my patrons insisted we drink. I tilted the glass, letting the rest of it slide down, and as I placed the glass back on the counter, Lucien reached for my hand and drew me outside, into the night.
Chapter two
Rava
“Youhavethemostbeautiful voice that I’ve ever heard.” Lucien purred the words against my neck. I could see that his eyes were closed in the mirrored walls of the elevator, loved the way he seemed to worship me. He moved his lips up, nibbled at my earlobe, eliciting a groan of pleasure.
I had a feeling that he could do pleasure and pain just the way I liked. There was nothing passive about this man.
The elevator dinged, but the doors didn’t slide open like I expected. Lucien pulled away from me to flash his swipe card, and only then did the doors open. Right onto the penthouse apartment.
My mouth dropped open as he reached for my hand and drew me into the room.
Floor to ceiling windows lined this room and the glittering lights of the city shone through. I dropped my clutch on the hall table and walked across the dark wood floors, kicking off my heels as I reached a plush white rug. It felt delicious on my toes, but I didn’t stop there. I kept moving until I was right by the window. I pressed my hands to the glass, but they didn’t feel cold like I’d expected. Too luxurious for that.
I was getting used to nice things now, while my star was rising, but I’d come from nothing and I’d never been in a penthouse quite like this.
Lucien pressed in behind me, his body firm and warm.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he whispered, pushing aside my hair so that he could get to my neck.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen it like this before,” I admitted. I tilted my head to the side, giving him better access as he trailed hot kisses from my ear to my shoulder. “Do you stay here often?”
He hummed an affirmative, not taking his lips from my body, and I knew that this was what we were here for: carnal pleasure, not polite conversation.
I’d known it the moment he smiled at me in the bar, and I wanted him, but I wanted this too. Access to the kind of wealth that meant I could stay in the penthouse any time I was away from home.
“Would you like another drink?” he asked as he slid his hands from my waist to my stomach, and then lower.
“I can think of something else I’d rather have.” I turned in his arms, delighted by the way he cupped my ass, and pressed my lips to his, drinking him in. He tasted so damn good, and I wanted to feel the way other parts of his body tasted too.
I undid his buttons, yanking his shirt when they wouldn’t oblige. He did the same stroking my body until he found the zip and tugged it down. He shoved the straps of my dress from my shoulders, a grumble of pleasure purring from his throat as the dress slid down my body like butter.
“You are so fucking hot,” he said. “I knew it the moment you stepped on that stage. You’re a goddess, a queen in the making.”
His praise was everything and I basked in the attention he was giving me, the way his fingers stroked my body as he reached for my bra, the way his lips moved against a nipple the moment it was free from its confines.
I gasped, my own fingers seeking skin, pushing his shirt out of the way, but leaving the tie so that I could use it for my own purposes.
Lucien picked me up, firm hands against my ass. I wrapped my legs around him as he carried me toward the couch and placed me on it. He was still wearing too much clothing for my liking, but when I tried to reach his belt he pushed my hands away, forced me against the back of the couch. He reached for my panties and dragged them down over my hips, so slowly, his hot breath tickling my thighs.
I felt exposed in a way I’d never been before. Seen. His eyes were locked on mine as he tugged the flimsy fabric down, down, dragged it under my ass so that it tickled my thighs and left me with nothing to cover my most intimate parts.
