Married in Name Only

They’d been intimate every single day since they’d married and the need to be with him continued to grow. Being physical was easy. The hard part was all the emotions that were going to hold her hostage in this marriage.

Paisley stepped out of the gown and stood before Lucas completely bare. Once again, he raked that hungry gaze over her and she couldn’t begin to say who was actually in charge here. She may have him spellbound by being naked, but all he had to do was give her that heavy-lidded look or a crook of his finger and she turned into a puddle of desire.

“Do you ever wear anything under your clothes?” He took a step toward her. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“Are you implying I’m not ladylike?” she retorted. “I love my teddies beneath my dresses. They’re comfortable and keep all my rolls smoothed out, which works out well because I love candy, as you well know.”

Lucas laughed as his hands circled her waist. “Your rolls are sexy, the teddies are sexy, though I realize you use them for other reasons than to drive me crazy.”

“You feed me dinner every night, surprise me with my favorite candy, call my extra pounds sexy... Better watch it, Lucas. I might not want to end this marriage, after all.”

Something shifted in his eyes, something she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Did he truly want to stay married to her? What if she did remain in this marriage? What if they had children like they’d once dreamed? She wanted to know his thoughts on her, on the marriage. Could he see a real future here?

Just because their lives had changed drastically, did that mean their original goals when they’d been young had to change as well? Perhaps that twentysomething couple had been smarter than she gave them credit for. They’d had it all figured out...until she’d walked away.

“Maybe we can come to an agreement that works for both of us,” he countered.

Before she could reply, Lucas leaned down and slid his lips over hers. The slow, easy way he made love to her mouth only added to the ever-growing anticipation and arousal. They’d typically been so hot for each other, their clothes were removed in a frantic flurry.

But right now, with his delicate touch, the way he seemed to explore her kiss as if for the first time, Paisley wondered what had overcome him. It was almost like he was getting to know her all over again.

In a move she didn’t expect, Lucas removed his lips from hers and swept her up into his arms. She smiled as she looped her arms around his neck and threaded her fingers through his hair.

She thought he would take a few steps to the couch since they always just went with the closest surface, but he carried her down the hall toward their master suite.

The man was full of romance tonight and he was spoiling her for any type of a future without him.

Lucas set her down on her feet next to the side of the bed. With gentle hands, he forced her to lie down before he stepped back and started undressing. His gaze never wavered as he slowly exposed himself in all his magnificent, naked glory.

Lucas Ford was a stunning man. With his sculpted muscles in all the right places and that wicked grin, Paisley couldn’t ignore the lust that slammed into her. But her attraction went beyond lust and she was well aware that love had entered back into the mix.

That was something she certainly would not be sharing with him. They had more pressing things to tend to than her emotions...which she doubted he reciprocated.

Lucas dropped to his knees before her and Paisley rose up on her elbows, eager to watch whatever he was about to do. He took one of her feet in hand and began massaging it. Not the body part she thought he was going for, but she certainly wasn’t complaining.

His thumb slid over her arch and Paisley nearly groaned from the sensation. Nobody had ever given her a foot massage.

Oh, mercy, those hands were talented.

He thoroughly gave attention to one foot before releasing it and moving to the other. As she stared down at the top of his head, she couldn’t believe this was the position she was in. Not literally this moment, but the marriage to Lucas, the fact that she wanted it to keep going and see if they could build on this shaky foundation.

Paisley’s eyes nearly rolled back in her head when Lucas slid his hands up her calves and continued this amazing massage. Then he traveled up to the knee, where he placed a gentle kiss on the inside of each one.