She grinned and shook her head.
‘I’m not sure I believe you. Every time I tell you to get dressed you don’t bother with underwear.’
‘It’s the rebel in me. I’m doing as asked but not all the way. My little act of defiance.’
He chuckled. ‘Yeah. That figures.’
Daniel had left all the files at the office to be brought over by his team so, other than his briefcase, he was unburdened on the walk. They called into the café and got coffee to go.
‘You don’t want food?’ Lucy asked.
‘Maybe later,’ he answered distractedly.
She swiped a banana from the bowl on the counter and added it to her purchase.
As they headed into lawyerville Lucy’s feeling of intimidation grew. Insecure, threatened, she thought she saw everyone looking her way. Conscious of her ancient jeans and less-than-fresh top, she had a needy moment. ‘They probably think I’m one of your clients.’
‘Probably,’ Daniel answered carelessly.
He stopped walking and turned to her, briefcase in one hand while the other lifted to her face. Then he combed his fingers through her hair, cupping the back of her head and pulling her close. The kiss was sweltering. Hot, hungry, open. No restraint. His briefcase hit the ground as his other hand slipped beneath the waistband of her jeans and curved around her bare buttock, squeezing gently. Just as suddenly it was over.
She snaked in a breath and wished they were miles away from here. Together, alone and naked.
Daniel grinned at her. ‘Now they don’t.’
She glanced around the group of lawyers. Saw them swapping stunned looks.
‘You’re a bad influence on me, Lucy.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘You have me liking to shock people.’
She handed him the banana. ‘To keep your energy up.’
He took it with a smile and went to join his team.
Not liking the way he fitted in so perfectly with them she turned and walked—fast, almost smacking straight into Sarah.
‘Hello, Lucy.’ She had a frozen smile pinned to her face and icicles in her eyes. Lucy knew she wasn’t cutting the mustard as far as Sarah was concerned. She knew Sarah had seen that shattering kiss. She’d looked shocked, though not half as shocked as Lucy.
The day passed in a haze. Lucy went to work in the early afternoon and did some more on her proposal—the one she’d give to Lara on her return. She had some ideas about taking the club to the next level and ached to be given the chance to do it. She liked nothing more than hanging out there. It was second only to the time in Daniel’s bed. She was filled with desires she’d never expected to experience. Wanting to work. Wanting to love.
Late afternoon and punters arrived. Isabel clocked on to help with the post-work rush. Lucy smiled at the regulars she was getting to know well. She was actually content.
Daniel appeared late in the evening. She’d been wondering how he’d got on, and worrying about the hours he worked. Hell. She was turning into his mother. He sat at the end of the bar—his usual seat—and ordered a whiskey. She felt his eyes on her, watching her every move as she poured the drink. She set it in front of him but said nothing, sensing his need for space. So she moved about the bar, serving patrons, chatting with Isabel, clearing glasses and all the while intensely aware of him as he sat and sipped and stared after her.
He looked wired. He should be home asleep. She wondered what was going on in that brain of his. She knew the trouble he had in shutting it down. Eventually she could take it no longer. Telling Isabel she was taking a break, she went to the end of the bar, took hold of his hand and pulled. He stood and let her lead him behind the bar to the back office. She closed and locked the door.
He went ahead and sat on the sofa, watching as she moved towards him, purpose explicit. His lips curled in anticipation. She slipped her panties off, leaving her skirt on, and unbuttoned her black satin blouse so her bra was revealed. She said nothing. Didn’t need to.
She straddled him, stroked his face with her fingertips, easing the hard planes of his jaw. He sat rapt. She leant forward to tease his lips with the tips of her nipples. Her breathing and pulse accelerated as his tongue darted.
His hand slid beneath her skirt. ‘I love it when you’re like this.’ His fingers teased her. ‘Can I…?’
‘You can do anything you want.’
Licence to thrill—her. And he soon had her spiralling out of control. She shook her head, breathless, close to climax. ‘I wasn’t meaning for this…’
His grin was lazy. ‘I like making you come. Watching you. Tasting you. Hearing you.’
But she wasn’t going to let it all be her. She pulled at his clothing—enough to get to him. Grasping, her hand rubbed in time to her own rhythm. Faster and harder as her body contracted.
‘Let me in.’ He groaned. ‘I need to be in now.’
His jaw was stubbled; his troubled eyes burnt into her. She slipped on the protection and slid him home, then set the pace. Slow to start, she watched him, waiting for the moment when his eyes went glassy and sensation took over, switching off his mind, making his body his master—only interested in and able to feel. Then she began to stoke the heat, pumping him harder, faster. Knew she was succeeding when every single one of those hundred or so muscles beneath her tautened and his breath came harsh. His arms came about her tighter. One hand twisting in her hair, the other at her waist, pulling her closer.
‘Lucy…’ He groaned her name as his hips jerked up towards her, faster and faster, and her head fell back as he pulled on her hair. He kissed her neck, nipping at it as he worked the pressure out in a frantic rhythm. And she delighted in it—satisfaction pouring through as they broke free of the tension together.
Finally she felt him relax. She whispered, ‘You should go home and sleep.’
‘No.’
‘You have a big day tomorrow.’
‘I’m not leaving here without you.’
They said nothing on the late walk home. He led her into the shower and then to his bed where they tumbled together in the cool cotton sheets. She lay beside him in the pre-dawn hours—awake but not unhappy. She studied his face in repose. It was a relief in a way not to have those penetrating eyes focused on her—trying to search out all her secrets while guarding his own.
His arm tightened around her, his brow furrowed. He jerked awake.
‘Hell.’ He stared at her, then stared at the digital clock. He swore more sharply. Casting her an amazed look, he slid from the bed. ‘I slept in!’
She glanced at the clock—ten past seven didn’t seem like that much of a sleep-in, but knowing Daniel he’d have been at the pool powering it out for an hour by now.
Daniel strode to work, breathing deeply to blow the webs out of his sleep-mussed head. The case was to resume at ten. Crazily, despite the fact he’d had more sleep than usual, he was tired. But he’d been tired before and knew adrenalin would get him through the day. It would make his mind crystal-clear.
What wasn’t at all clear was what was happening with him and that crazy woman. He thought of the other night. She’d been the one teasing off her clothes but he was the one who’d been stripped. She’d seized control and made him lose his. Pushing him, exposing him, until he’d reached out with both hands and taken her like a man possessed. Inner demons and deepest desires unleashed. Wanting her utterly. Holding her tight to him. And she had revelled in it, leading him to repeat the indulgence.
Time and time she welcomed him in with