Revenge. That was the key component of his focus.
And the warmth of Paisley. He had to stay in this frame of mind because she took him to a place that he wanted to stay...if only that wasn’t some unrealistic fantasy.
Lucas shifted his body fully over hers, dropping her leg and flattening his palms on either side of her head as he lifted slightly. Thankfully her eyes were shut. She arched and tipped her head as she locked her ankles around his back.
Yes. This was what he wanted. Physical connections were something he could most definitely handle, but the emotional ones had no place here.
Paisley curled her fingers around his shoulders, her fingertips digging into his skin. She let out another sultry moan and tightened all around him. Lucas gritted his teeth, following her as his body shuddered and he slipped into a euphoria only Paisley could give him.
He cradled her face with his hands, tucked his head against the crook of her neck and waited until their bodies settled. Then he rolled to his side, taking her with him, and wondered what the hell he was going to do when she wanted to call this quits.
Because he never wanted to let her go again.
Seven
“We need proof,” Lucas stated as he loaded the dishwasher.
Paisley propped her feet up on the kitchen chair he’d vacated moments ago. She sipped her wine and admired the fine specimen that was her husband. Shirtless, cotton pants hanging low on his narrow hips, hair messed from their lovemaking.
Damn if this wasn’t the sexiest thing she’d ever seen. A half-naked man cleaning the kitchen. Yeah, put images like this in a calendar and label it Domestic Men and watch them fly off the shelves. She’d hang one in every room.
“Paisley?”
She blinked and set her glass on the table. “I’m listening.”
His brows drew in. “You’re staring and I’m starting to feel like a piece of meat.”
“Well, this marriage was your idea and from the way you parade around, I’m pretty sure you like me staring at your meat.”
His eyes raked over her as she sat there in his shirt. They’d come back into the kitchen and eaten their cold dinner. Not that she was complaining. He’d come home with some pertinent information regarding her mother. At least they had a starting point, and she desperately clung to the hope that Lucas had provided.
“How can we get proof?” she asked, circling back to the main reason she’d gone to him in the first place. “I can’t just ask the man if he’s my father. I doubt he would even know how many love children he has running around.”
Lucas slammed a plate into the dishwasher a little harder than she thought necessary. “Sterling has always been a bastard. Wouldn’t surprise me a bit if he had more kids he ditched or women he lied to.”
Why was he so irritated? Did it matter to Lucas if Sterling Perry was her father or not? Had Sterling done something to Lucas as well? Lucas was powerful in his own way, but Sterling was smarmy and vindictive.
“It’s not like we can just go to the prison and ask,” she muttered, thinking out loud.
“You’re not going near that prison or that jerk,” Lucas demanded. He started the dishwasher, then leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “He’s exactly where he belongs and I’ll find the proof you need. That’s why you came to me.”
The conviction in his tone left no room for doubt. She knew Lucas was the best at his job and she knew he’d stop at nothing to find the truth for her. He was that kind of guy. His reputation didn’t surprise her. The man was known for seeking justice and putting his clients’ needs at the top of his list. She had to assume he’d do the same for his wife.
But still, Paisley wished there was something she could do. She could always call Melinda. She was not only a friend, she also happened to be one of Sterling’s daughters. Perhaps Paisley could casually ask if Melinda remembered Lynette. If Paisley could put her mom and Sterling together around the time of the pregnancy, then that would help in getting the proof they needed.
At some point, she’d have to go to Sterling, but she wasn’t about to tell Lucas that. He wouldn’t like her take-charge attitude, but she also didn’t plan on sitting back and playing the dutiful little wife like he expected.