33. Chapter 32
Ria
“Miss Stone.” Turning at the sound of someone calling my name as I exit the bathroom, I come face-to-face with the man who has had it in for my family for years.
Dale Lucas.
“Oh, sorry, I mean Mrs. Brent.” His tone has an edge to it and I straighten my spine. “Congratulations are in order.” He takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips, kissing the top, my whole body turning cold at the contact.
“Thank you, Mr. Lucas.” Snatching my hand away, I look over his shoulder, hoping Leo will appear. The need to have him close by builds as Dale’s smile widens and his eyes drop to my chest. Shifting my body, feeling exposed, I squeeze past him. “I best get going.”
“Wait.” His hand clasps around my wrist and pulls me into him, making me stumble. “Steady. I’ve got you.” His other hand rests on my hip, and I twist to give myself some space.
“What do you need, Mr. Lucas?”
“As I understand it, you and Ezra are in competition.”
“Currently we are, but why should that concern you?” My lip curls as I assess him.
“I think you know.” He crowds me and I back up against the wall. The sharp bite of the cool marble sends a shiver up my spine.
“Do I?”
“Yes.” He leans down, his hot breath making bile rise in my throat. “I know you now know who I am to Ezra.”
“Why keep it a secret?” Pushing at his shoulders, I try to regain my physical space, but he remains rooted to the spot.
“My ex-wife wanted to keep it a secret. Apparently it didn’t do anything for her image to have a stepson from an affair.
” He rolls his eyes. “But now she is out of my life. I can be the father Ezra deserves.” I huff out a laugh and shake my head.
“You and my boy were together for a long time. Shame it ended. It could have been you I would get to call my daughter-in-law.” His eyes darken, causing an ice-cold shiver to run through me.
“Yes, such a shame.” I push at his shoulder again, and this time he moves.
“Have a lovely evening, Mrs. Brent,” he says menacingly as I quicken my step to get away from him, rushing so quickly I don’t pay attention to where I’m going. All I know is I need to get away from Dale fucking Lucas.
“Ooff.” Colliding into a hard wall of muscle, I’m thrown off-balance.
“Hey.” Leo steadies me. “Where’s the fire?”
“Sorry.”
“Ria?” His eyes soften as he looks me over. “What happened?”
Scrunching my eyes closed, I try to rid myself of the way my skin crawled when Dale had his hands on me. “Can we leave?”
“Of course. But Ria, look at me.” Focusing my gaze on him, I know he can see right through me and sees my desperation. “Let’s get out of here.” Taking hold of my hand, he pulls me to tuck me under his arm. My shoulders relax, and the tension rolls off me just by having him wrapped around me.
We don’t speak the whole way to the suite. Not in the elevator when he kisses the top of my head tenderly or when he refuses to release his hold on me while he takes the ornate key to the suite out of his suit jacket, opens the door, and guides me to sit on the plush couch.
“Here.” Placing a generous glass of Macallen in my hand, he gives me a small smile before discarding his tux jacket and tie.
“Thanks.” I track his movements as he rolls his shirt sleeves up, showing me his tanned, toned forearms, and the tattoo he got in Vegas grabs my attention. “I still can’t believe we got those.” I point at his tattoo as he sits down next to me.
“I can’t believe you got one.” He traces his thumb over the delicate skin of my wrist. “Do you have any others?”
“No,” I whisper. “This is the only one.”
“It suits you.”
“Thank you.”
“Enough deflecting, Ri Ri. What has you so rattled?”
Sighing, I look down at my glass. “Dale Lucas.”
He tips my chin up with his finger, and his warm eyes connect with mine. He speaks calmly, but I feel his hand twitch in mine as he says, “What did he do?”
“He stopped me outside the ladies’ room and…”
“And what?” His grip on my hand tightens as I swallow the lump forming.
“He knows we know that he is Ezra’s dad.”
“Okay, we can cope with that. But that’s not what’s got you so upset.”
“He just made me feel really uncomfortable.” Slipping my hand out of his and swiping it down the fabric of my dress, I bunch the fabric up in my fist before releasing it.
“How?”
Taking a long drink, I put the glass down on the table in front of the sofa. “He crowded me and got in my space. I was blocked and pushed up against a wall; he just gave me the creeps.”
“He put his hands on you?” His nostrils flare as I nod. “Ri, I will ruin him if he hurt you.”
“He didn’t hurt me—just rattled me.” I rub my hands up his arms, and the muscles are coiled tight. “I’m okay.”
“I don’t want you alone with him again.”
“It was opportunistic.”
“Maybe, but if he tries to corner you again, you don’t hesitate. You just leave.”
“I will.”
“Good.”
“So this suite is pretty spectacular," I tease, trying to ease the tension. Flicking his eyes away from mine, he takes in the space, as if he is just registering where he is.
“It’s beautiful. Absolutely perfect for a honeymoon.”
“It really is.” The lighting is low and subtle with lamps situated randomly on different surfaces giving the room a romantic glow, as light bounces off the chandelier which is hung low above us.
On the ornate table in front of us, a giant bouquet of fresh peonies overflows from a crystal vase, filling the suite with a faint sweet scent.
From our position on the luxurious cream couch, I can see the ice bucket with champagne resting next to the sunken hot tub overlooking the enchanting hidden gardens of the hotel.
Standing, I move to get a better view and place my hand on the glass of the large window.
“How have they managed to create this tranquil spot in the chaos of the city?” Warmth envelops me as Leo brushes his chest against my back.
“The two go together.”
“What do you mean?” Tilting my head up, I catch his gaze.
“Chaos and tranquility—sometimes they need each other.”
“I guess you’re right.” I smile up at him before I turn back to the view.
The bright lights of London sparkle in the background, framing the wonderful calm of the gardens.
Images flood my mind of me strolling through the bright flowers and hidden alcoves and the peace I could find among the petals and scents.
“We can walk through them in the morning.”
“Huh?”
“The gardens.” He slides my hair off my shoulder and brushes his lips against my exposed skin. “We can walk through them in the morning.” I sink into his embrace, leaning my head against his chest. The way he knew exactly what I was thinking causes my heart to thunder against my rib cage.
“I’d love that.” His arms come around me, cocooning me.
The warmth travels through my body at his contact and settles in my core.
The normality of the act knocks me off guard, but I fall deeper into him as his nose glides along my jaw.
My breath catches in my throat as he kisses a sensitive spot behind my ear, and my body takes over as my mind switches off and my hips roll.
He continues to pepper kisses along my heated skin, and I get lost in the sensation.
“You’re breathtaking,” he mumbles between kisses, and his grip on my hips tightens.
“Leo…I…” My words get cut off as he lightly nips at the delicate skin between my neck and collarbone. My stomach flips as my heart continues to beat wildly in my chest.
“Close your eyes, Ri.” His velvet tone has me following his command, and one of his hands bunches the material of my dress. “Tell me what you want.”
“I…I…” I struggle to form words as he doesn’t stop gliding his lips against my heated skin.
“Tell me. Let me help you let go.” He sucks softly at my flesh, causing a moan to fall from my lips.
“I want you to touch me.”
“Where?” Silently, I cover his hand that's gripping the fabric of my dress. His stuttering breaths and the way he’s pressed against me make me feel brave as I guide him to gather the fabric, further revealing my thigh.
I hold the material as he smooths his palm against the exposed skin of my leg.
Heat burns in my core as the tips of his fingers brush against the hem of my panties, and my eyes open, catching his in the reflection.
“If you want this, keep those eyes closed.” Goose bumps scatter across my skin, my body arching as his fingertips skate across the thin fabric.
Painfully slowly, he continues to tease at my entrance through my panties.
My head falls against his chest, my eyes falling shut.
“That’s it, baby. Let go.” The sound of my moan is swallowed when his lips capture mine.
He is in full control, his tongue gliding and dancing with mine as he strokes me.
His thumb catches my clit, causing sparks to ignite inside my core.
“More,” I beg. My body calls out for him to take this further, and I snake my hand between us to feel him, but he circles his hand around my wrist.
“This is for you, baby.”
Shivering at him calling me baby, I relent and grasp the skirt of my dress, pulling it up to allow him more access. “Then please give me more.”
Growling, he nips at my lips before pulling my panties to the side. “You’re soaked, baby.” His tone is one of awe as the tips of his fingers glide through my wetness.
Forcing my eyes to remain closed, I spread my legs farther, and he pushes one finger into my pussy and I clench around him.
“Fuck, you’re so tight.” His words sound strained as he slides his finger in and out.
I roll my hips in time with his thrusts, begging for more, and he rewards me by adding another finger, curling them both until he hits my G-spot with incredible accuracy.
My legs shake, and I have to release my dress and curl my hand around his neck to remain upright.
“I’ve got you.” His free arm locks around my waist, and his thumb brushes against my clit as he continues to stroke my walls, causing my arousal to pool.
The sounds of him pushing inside me fills the room, and my walls start to spasm, gripping his fingers tightly.
“Don’t fight it. Let go, baby. I’ve got you.
” His words trigger my orgasm and I give in.
Pleasure rolls through me as my body shakes, but he keeps me upright, stroking me through the most intense orgasm I’ve ever had.
My eyes remain closed as I ride it out, and he keeps kissing my heated flesh and mumbling his praise as my body quivers in his hold.
When he removes his fingers from me, I wince slightly and instantly feel empty as he covers my pussy and gently places his hands back on my hips. Finally, I open my eyes, transfixed by the vision captured in the reflection. My chest is heaving as I try to calm my racing heartbeat.
“What was that?”
Kissing my shoulder, he lets out a ragged breath. “Losing control.”