Chapter Six
LUCIUS STIFLED HIS smile when Tassy stepped out of the ladies' looking flustered. The kiss-swollen state of her lips had obviously been a surprise, and she was now doing her best to avoid meeting anyone's gaze as she made her way back to him.
"Everything alright?" he asked mildly.
"Everything's fine." Tassy had made her choice earlier, and she was determined to stick to it. Since Xylan had painfully proven the fact that time was not a factor in how long a relationship would last, there was nothing to stop her from giving everything she had to make things work between her and Lucius.
If people thought theirs was a whirlwind romance—-they weren't going to get any argument from her.
And if people thought she was only with him for the money? That was fine, too.
This was a free world they all lived in, and that was why Tassy had also decided to embrace her real self now that she was with Lucius.
For better or for worse.
And no matter how embarrassing it would prove to be at the start.
Like now.
Tassy could feel her cheeks turning red at being the first one to reach for Lucius' hand as they started walking. She was hoping he would take the hint, but when she felt him push her hand away instead—-
How dare he?
Her indignant gaze flew up to his, and of course that was when she saw his eyes gleaming in a terribly familiar way.
"You bully—- "
Lucius only chuckled when she hit his shoulder with a fist, and he only grabbed her hand to yank her back when she tried walking away.
"You have it wrong, Tassina."
Tassy bit back a groan when merely hearing him say her name had her whole body tingling again.
"What you've turned me into is a sadist."
Any woman would have run away at such words—-so why did she have this desire to throw herself back into his arms instead?
I'm doomed.
And when she saw the smirk that unfolded over his beautiful lips—-
So doomed.
"You know already, don't you? How you're looking—-"
Tassy automatically covered her ears. "I can't hear you—-"
But of course, this only had the billionaire gently pulling her hands away even as he smirked down at her.
"Am I really that irresistible?"
"No!"
"Funny how your lips say one thing," he mused, "while your eyes adoringly—-"
His Tassina made a gagging sound, and unbelievably as this might be, it was this sound she made, and the reaction she gave, that had Lucius no longer able to hold himself back.
Tassy could only squeak in surprise when Lucius suddenly had her pressed against a wall, and even with so many other passengers walking past them—-
Aaaah!
Her fingers curled into fists against his chest, but it was like trying to make a brick wall move. His mouth latched to the sensitive skin of her neck, and wetness pooled between her thighs even as her cheeks started to burn.
Kiss-swollen lips only took minutes to fade, but this?
When he finally lifted his head and slowly stepped away, the first thing she saw was people hurriedly hiding their phones and acting as if they hadn't just taken photos of Lucius and her.
"Does it bother you?"
His tone of quiet concern didn't have her so easily fooled this time, and seeing Tassy make a face had Lucius dropping his act as his lips curved into another smirk.
Sheesh.
"You really are a sadist," Tassy exclaimed in exasperation.
"Only with you, baby girl."
"I'm starting to believe that." While the paps had been nothing but religious in covering Lucius' social life, the only photos they had were of Lucius and his date having dinner or Lucius helping his date in or out of his limo. Photos, however, that caught Lucius engaged in public displays of affection?
The billionaire cupped her chin. "Tell me what's on your mind."
"What if I don't want to tell you?"
"Then tell me to mind my own business so you can find out."
The way his coppery eyes glinted had Tassy shivering despite herself. "I thought you were joking when you told me you were demanding."
"I don't make a habit of lying, and I suggest you don't either...for your own good."
Since she was no liar herself, the threat left her unimpressed, and Tassy crossed her arms over her chest, deciding it was her turn to do a little teasing.
"Does this mean you were telling the truth when you said you're just like me?"
"Of course."
"So you also get jealous easily?"
Lucius' gaze bored through hers. "I'm not an idiot, Tassina. I will never give you an excuse to spend time with another man. I am the type to get jealous, and you can just take my fucking word for it."
"You got me there," she said with a sigh. "But...what about being clingy? Can you see yourself wanting me more than anything else?"
"Yes."
"So much so that you can't bear to be apart from me?"
"Yes ."
"Mm."
The sound had Lucius gritting his teeth without knowing why. "Is that supposed to insinuate something?"
"I was just wondering if you've also noticed..."
"Just get to the point—-"
Lucius broke off when Tassy suddenly clutched his shoulders as she raised herself on her toes in order to whisper in his ear.
"You're way past the halfway point as well, Mr. Young. I think you're more than a little in love with me yourself."