Hunting Lust (Orion the Hunter Part Three) (14 page)

The sound of running water made me open my eyes to find Lucas having a shower. 
How could anyone tire of looking at that view? 
He turned and gave me a cocky grin and I realized that he’d known I’d be ogling.  He finished washing and turned off the shower.  Naked and dripping wet, he sauntered over to me and sat on the side of the bath.  I expected a sarcastic comment but he looked at my face closely and frowned. “You look exhausted.  Let’s wash you and get you to bed.”

With unbelievable gentleness for a man his size, he washed my hair and my body and then wrapped me in a huge, soft towel.  He carefully dried my skin and then towel dried my hair.  Wrapping a dry towel around me, he instructed me to dry my hair and get ready for bed.  He disappeared into the hallway.  I quickly cleaned my teeth with the new toothbrush that I found next to Lucas’ and then tackled my tangled hair.

Just as I’d finished off blow-drying my unruly hair, Lucas returned carrying two tall mugs of hot chocolate.  He sat next to me on the chaise and passed me one.  He put his arm around me and I snuggled against his chest, my free hand tracing the outline of his firm abs.  It was good to be able to touch him like this but there was no denying that being restrained from touching him during sex was damn hot.

As soon as our drinks were finished, Lucas insisted on me getting some sleep.  I crawled into bed and was immediately gathered up in his arms.  As he kissed the top of my head and bade me goodnight, I sleepily realized that I could never remember feeling so safe and protected as I did at that moment. 

I woke the next morning, still in Lucas’ embrace as if neither of us had moved a muscle all night long.  As soon as
my eyes opened, his arms gave me a slow squeeze and he kissed my forehead.  “Good morning, gorgeous.”

I returned his hug and reached up to kiss him on the cheek.  “Good morning.  I feel fantastic.”

“You look fantastic too.  How about you show me just how fantastic you feel?” he murmured, before pulling me atop him properly.  The action took me by surprise and I gave a little shriek, before I realised that something very hard was pressing against my thigh.  I felt it twitch and caught Lucas’ accompanying smirk.  “All yours, baby.”

I raised an eyebrow.  “What – no cuffs or other kink?”

He grinned.  “You don’t always need equipment to be kinky.  When we’re in here, you do what you like.  When we’re in the other room, we do what I want.”

At his words, a tingling thrill ran along the length of my spine. 
So, in here I can take the lead.  I can touch him if I want to.  Genius! Now I can have my cake and eat it!

I adjusted my position so that his cock was between my thighs and then I began to tilt my hips, back and forth, so that it rubbed against my slit.  I kissed Lucas’ chest and trailed my nails down each side of his body.  As I half sat, I could see his eyes watching my breasts swinging slowly as I rocked, his pupils huge in those dark, sexy eyes.   My nipples responded to his study and I could feel myself getting wet.  Getting ready to take him. 

I straightened my back so that I was upright and astride him.  Lucas hands stroked up my thighs and over my hips to grip my ass firmly.  A slight adjustment and I had him exactly where I wanted him.  I paused and looked into his eyes as I began to lower myself slowly onto him. 
Oh lordy, that feels sooooo good!
  A low moan escaped from my lips as I took the full length of him.  I felt so full, so stretched and so gloriously hungry for him.  Lucas closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

I began to ride him slowly and deeply, clenching around him and savouring every moment.  Lucas caressed my breasts gently until my pace began to quicken and then he began to roll and tweak my nipples.  I arched my spine, throwing my head back as I rode him faster and harder. I heard him growl as he began to thrust his hips up to meet mine.  A long guttural moan forced its way from my lungs when Lucas sat up and held me, just in time for us to come together.  Our eyes locked and, at that moment, we were one.

He smiled and lay back, taking me with him so that I lay across his chest with him still inside me.  One hand lazily played with my hair while the other trailed up and down my spine.  “Well, that was a fabulous way to wake up, Miss Prince.”

“Mmmmmm,” was all I could manage in my euphoric state.

“Shall we hit the gym or would you like to go out for breakfast?”

What? Us – go out for breakfast – together? Well, damn!

I sat up sharply, forgetting that he was inside me, and caused him to wince.  My hands flew to my mouth.  “Oops, sorry!  Are you okay?  Do you mean we go out together to eat breakfast, in public?”

“Yes, if it’s what you want to do.”  His kind expression was tinged with reluctance and I knew it wasn’t what he wanted but it was too good an opportunity to miss. To show him that there was nothing to fear about socializing. 

“Then come on, let’s go,” I almost squealed with excitement.  I knew that this was a big deal for him.  If it went well, he might agree to socialize some more.  To live a normal life.  I slid off him and put my hand out which Lucas took.  I dragged him into the bathroom and into the shower.

Fifty minutes later we were washed, dried, dressed and groomed.  I almost skipped to the elevator.  “Where are we going? Do you even know where to go for breakfast?”

He rolled his eyes in mock annoyance as he pushed the call button.  “I’m sure I can find somewhere suitable.  If I am incapable of such a thing, then no doubt you can assist.”

I stuck my tongue out as we got into the elevator.  He walked me back against the wall and put his hands on it either side of me, leaning in close.  “Oh Miss Prince, please don’t tempt me to bite that tongue.  We won’t get as far as breakfast … although I could feast on you instead.  Now that is a tempting idea.” 

I stood on tiptoe and pecked his cheek meekly.  “I agree that it is tempting but nowhere near as tempting as going out for breakfast with the most handsome man in all of New York on my arm.”

He kissed the tip of my nose and whispered, “Nice save.”

We crossed the entrance lobby and walked towards the security desk.  I couldn’t help smiling when Clarke looked up and did a double take when he saw Lucas Hunter walking towards him.  To my utter astonishment, Lucas reached down and clasped my hand in his before cheerfully wishing Clarke good morning.  I just smiled at the poor man’s bemused face, not trusting myself to speak.  I decided not to ask Lucas why he’d done it in case he reconsidered his decision to go out for breakfast. 

I showed Lucas where I often had breakfast with Angel and he agreed to eat there.  He ordered muffins with smoked salmon and cream cheese and I ordered blueberry pancakes.  We sat to await our food and I couldn’t help but notice how normal Lucas seemed.  Part of me had expected him to freak out or something but he was confident and comfortable, chatty and charming.

I hadn’t realized that the band, Denial, was going to be playing their first festival the following weekend.  I could only imagine how excited and nervous they were.  Of course, they were the lowliest support act, tagged on the end thanks to Lucas’ string pulling.  As we ate, he talked me through the arrangements that he’d made so far.  Then, to my delight, he invited me along.  I knew that Angel would be thrilled!

After a delicious breakfast, we walked back to the Orion Building, again hand in hand.  We discussed the progress he’d made with planning consent for Mini Dakota and I agreed to a meeting later in the week with Lucas and Jenson, the architect.  We used his private elevator that brought me almost to the door of my office.

I passed on lunch, knowing that Angel would want an update but I agreed to meet up with him at the end of the day.  No sooner had I unlocked my door and sat down than my cell rang – Angel!  I agreed to meet her for lunch and managed to get some work done.

When I met Angel in the deli, she demanded to know what had happened the night before.  I brought her up to speed, leaving out the finer details of my sexual relationship with Lucas, and managed to turn the subject over to the band’s upcoming festival appearance.  She told me how the boys were totally pumped about it and how Lucas had sorted all the transport and other details at no cost to the boys.  They weren’t getting paid for their short set – they were there to get some exposure.  All part of Lucas’ master plan apparently.

We began to plan what we would wear to the festival as we walked back to the Orion Building.  Then I spent the afternoon contacting suppliers for samples and catalogues.  I was just putting the finishing touches to the design for master bedroom of the largest apartment at Mini Dakota when Lucas put his head around the door and asked if I was ready.  I glanced at my watch, shocked that it was 6pm already.  I’d been so engrossed in my work that I hadn’t realized the time.

I’d honestly thought that Lucas would order food up to his apartment as he usually did, so I was pleasantly surprised when he selected the basement garage when we got in the elevator.  He drove us to a very nice French restaurant that I’d not seen before.  The food was divine and, once again, Lucas seemed relaxed and at ease in a busy restaurant.  The question of why he’d not socialized when he was clearly capable began to niggle at the back of my mind.  I decided to broach the subject.

“Lucas, why don’t you like socializing? I don’t understand.  You seem so relaxed and confident. It doesn’t make sense.”

For a split second, a cloud passed over his face, and then it was gone.  He shrugged. “Nobody to socialize with, perhaps. Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yes, yes of course I am.  I just …”

“What Issy?  You just what?” he sounded irritated.

“Well, it’s unusual for someone with your looks and wealth to shun the limelight.  Women would flock to you in droves-“

“I don’t like women throwing themselves at me just because I happen to have been born with a decent face,” he muttered uncomfortably.

“And a great body,” I grinned. “Besides the fact that you’re a business mogul who is loaded.  Photographs of you and your latest model girlfriend, should be gracing front pages every week.”

“That’s exactly why I don’t do it!” he snapped.  “I don’t want my life to be a public concern.  I like my privacy – the thought that there are people who would follow me everywhere and broadcast my every action to anyone who might be remotely interested leaves me cold.”

Oh really?  He doesn’t want his face in the news!

“Okay, okay. You’ve made your point!” I said, holding my hands up.

Again, a look of discomfort or possibly fear flitted over his features before it cleared and he smiled uncertainly.

“Sorry, it’s just something that I feel strongly about. That’s all.”

“It’s your choice, Lucas. I don’t see what the big deal is but it is your concern.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Issy, would you like to see yourself on the front of the gossip magazines? Is that what this is about?”

“God no!” I cried, trying to keep my voice down. “That isn’t what I meant at all!”

I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. “Oh, but don’t you think we’d look good.  Come on, Issy, we’re an attractive couple.  We could totally rock those gossip magazines. In fact …”

“What?”

“Oh nothing.  If we’re out and about in New York and we get recognised and snapped, it’s no big deal, is it?”

I felt dizzy.  A few minutes before, he was vehemently against it!  I shook my head. “Whatever. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest.”

Lucas asked me to stay over with him again. On the way back from the restaurant, we detoured to my apartment so that I could pick up my outfit for work the next day.  Angel wasn’t home but she’d said that the boys were rehearsing at every spare moment so I wasn’t surprised.  I collected my things, remembering to grab a hair brush so that I didn’t have to fight with Lucas’ comb.

As soon as the elevator doors opened into his apartment, Lucas’ demeanour changed. He assumed the persona of the dominant/phantom that I’d previously witnessed. He instructed me to go into the
other
bedroom, take off my clothes and lie face down on the bed. His tone forbade any non-compliance and those harsh black eyes hinted at the consequences that would ensue if I disobeyed.  He took my overnight things, presumably to put them in his bedroom.  I hurried into the bedroom and did as he asked.