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“Give them to me.” His voice was almost a guttural snarl as he held out his hand. Candy hesitated briefly before pressing the small wad of fabric into his palm. His fingers closed over it immediately.

As she watched, he raised his closed fist to his nose and sniffed before lowering it to his lap. “You smell delicious.”

She felt her cheeks flush with heat. Trying to act nonchalant, she picked up her fork and took a bite of her salmon. After all, her dress and the tablecloth covered her completely so no one could see her. But that didn’t seem to matter— she still felt totally exposed. It was embarrassing and arousing at the same time.

Lucas lowered his hand back to his lap and slowly opened it, rubbing his thumb across the silky material. Candy almost choked on her food, the action was so erotic. Finally, he slipped her panties into his jacket pocket and began to eat his own meal.

She’d just swallowed another mouthful when he casually leaned over and pushed the tablecloth away from her lap. “Are you wet for me?”

It was all she could do not to whimper aloud. “Yes.” She could feel the cream seeping from her slit.

“Hmmm.” He nodded as he eased his hand into her lap, sliding it under the fabric of her dress. His fingers sifted through her pubic hair and straight between her swollen labia. He didn’t stop, slipping his finger into her core and pushing it deep.

Candy gasped and grabbed the edge of the table, her gaze sweeping around the room. Surely people knew what they were doing. But the tables around them were filled with people chatting and eating. Nobody was paying them the least amount of attention. It was instinct that made her try to close her legs, but Lucas pressed his thumb against her clit and rubbed it. “Keep your legs open, sugar. I want you soaked in your own juices by the time I take you back to my place for dessert.”

The man was diabolical. Casually, he picked up his own fork and enjoyed a few mouthfuls of his meal. At the same time, with his other hand, he pushed another finger inside her to join the first, stretching her even more. “Lucas,” she gasped, almost panting for breath. “Please.” At this point she wasn’t sure if she was asking him to stop or to give her more.

His eyes smoldered and the smile that turned up the edges of his mouth was wicked. “Oh, I aim to please you, Candy. And I will, over and over, all night long.” But he withdrew his fingers, stroking over her sensitive skin one final time before resuming eating.

Candy focused on just trying to breathe. All around them people were laughing, talking and enjoying themselves. Lucas made casual conversation as he enjoyed his dinner. She managed to respond to several of his questions with what she hoped were intelligent responses, but for the most part she just nodded when appropriate. She could feel Lucas’ eyes on her, watching her intently as she picked at the food on her plate.

Candy no longer had an appetite, at least not for food. Her needs were much more primal and basic. She couldn’t stand the waiting. Placing her fork across her plate, she finally met his gaze. “I don’t want to be here anymore.”

Lucas frowned and glanced at her plate. She shuddered when he reached under the table and smoothed the skirt of her dress back over her legs. His frown deepened as he skimmed his thumb across her full bottom lip. “You hardly ate anything. I didn’t mean to make you so uncomfortable you couldn’t eat. This is all about pleasure and it seems I’ve made you feel anything but that.” Leaning forward, he kissed her lips ever so gently. Her insides clenched tight. “I’m sorry, sugar.”

Not feel any pleasure! Was the man insane? If she felt any more pleasure, she was going to have an orgasm right in the middle of the restaurant.

“I’ll take you home.” He raised his hand to signal to the waiter that he wanted the check.

She was stunned. Take her home? Reaching over, she grabbed his hand. His concerned gaze flew back to her. “I don’t want to go home. I want dessert.”

The frown on his face faded, replaced by a look of such fierce desire that Candy almost cried out. No man had ever looked at her with such naked need in his eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest as he nodded. “I want that too.”

The waiter arrived with the bill and Lucas quickly took care of it, collected their coats and hustled her out of the restaurant and into the cold winter’s night.

Chapter Nine

The apartment door closed with a solid thunk. Although she wanted this to happen, Candy was nervous. The ride back to Lucas’ place hadn’t helped any, as both of them were quiet, wrapped up in their own thoughts. She jumped slightly when his hands clasped her shoulders.

“Relax, sugar. All I want to do is take your coat.”

Now she felt like a complete idiot. Really, she had to get a hold of herself. She unbuttoned her long coat and allowed him to slip it off her shoulders. While he was hanging up her coat and removing his own, she looked around his home, interested to see what kind of a place he lived in. She knew it was a new apartment, built at the same time the store was being renovated two stories below, but she still hoped to learn more about the man beside her by his surroundings.

He’d flicked on the dim light in the foyer as soon as he’d opened the front door. She was surprised to see that it opened directly into a large room, which was shrouded in shadows.

“Would you like a tour?”

“I’d love one.” She was undeniably curious about him and wasn’t about to turn down the opportunity to see his home.

With his hand on the small of her back, he led her into the room. He stopped by a large support beam and touched a few switches. The room came alive, bathed in soft, muted lighting. Her breath caught in her throat as she stepped away from him, slowly turning in a circle as she tried to take in the magnificence of the room all at once. “This is gorgeous.”

“Thank you.” She could hear the pride in his voice. No wonder, she thought as she drank it all in.

The living area was painted a pale yellow, making it feel warm and inviting. The furniture was large and masculine. The sofa and two loveseats, covered in a rich chocolate brown fabric and grouped into an intimate seating area, looked incredibly comfortable. She could all too easily imagine the two of them curled up on a cold winter’s evening. A huge oak cabinet with doors dominated the wall across from the sofa and she’d bet good money that his electronic equipment was housed there. A large, patterned area rug completed the sitting area.

“It really is lovely, Lucas.”

“There’s more.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked across the floor. Her shoes sounded loud against the hardwood. Floor-to-ceiling drapes in a chocolate brown that matched the sofa practically covered the far wall. Lucas left her standing in front of them and then tugged them open. The view was breathtaking.

“Oh, Lucas.” She really didn’t know what else to say. The lights of the city gleamed in the darkened skyline, making both the moment and the view seem magical and beautiful.

“Yeah, I know.” He stood behind her, slipping his forearm around her waist and pulling her back against his hard body. “I put in a stairway that leads to the roof and I plan to put in a rooftop patio this summer so I can sit out on hot summer nights and enjoy it.”

Candy just nodded. She could picture it in her mind, filled with plants and comfortable furniture and maybe even a barbecue. But she was surprised by just how sad it made her feel. By the time summer arrived, their business association would have ended, and she was realistic enough to know that the likelihood of her ever seeing the rooftop patio was remote at best.

She’d gone into this relationship with her eyes wide open and she didn’t expect it to last. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t enjoy every single moment that they had together. Shaking off her melancholy, she turned in his arms and smiled at him. “Show me more.”