Married in Name Only

He was driving her out of her ever loving mind and she wouldn’t trade this for anything.

Lucas’s eyes came up to meet hers as his hands grazed up to her thighs. There it was again—that naughty grin that had her squirming at his silent promise.

“You’re going awfully slow tonight,” she complained.

Those thumbs moved up again, closer to her core where she ached the most. He was enjoying this bout of torture.

“Have I ever left you hanging?” he asked, sliding one finger into her.

Paisley’s hips bucked as she gripped handfuls of the duvet. A moan was her only reply. Did he actually expect her to talk?

“That’s what I thought,” he murmured before he replaced that finger with his mouth.

Paisley thought she heard him mutter something about needing her, but she was too lost to comprehend anything but his touch.

Lucas grabbed hold of her hips as he pleasured her in a way he’d never done before. Paisley went between glancing down to him to tossing her head back and shutting her eyes to lock in the moment.

Her body responded in no time and she spiraled completely out of control. Lucas never let up as he continued meeting her every need and making love to her in a way that took their intimacy to a different level.

Finally, her body settled, the tremors ceased and Paisley was positive she’d never move again.

But Lucas crept up her body, placing kisses on her abdomen and massaging her breasts.

“Sorry about that,” he muttered between kisses. “I was trying to give you a body massage and got sidetracked.”

Paisley dropped onto her back and flung an arm over her eyes. “I’ve never had a massage quite like that.”

He eventually came all the way up and pressed her deeper into the mattress with his weight. His arms rested on either side of her head as he smiled down at her.

“I’ll be the only one giving you massages,” he told her. “This body is all for me.”

Paisley thrust her fingers through his coarse hair and shifted her body to turn them over. Lucas went onto his back, and she straddled him. Her hair curtained them both as she looked down onto his surprised face.

“I think it’s my turn to massage something,” she warned. “Plus, I need to show you my thanks for the dinner, the candy and for working so hard on my case.”

Lucas curled his fingers into her backside and urged her exactly where she wanted to be. The second she sank down onto him, every needy, achy emotion came rushing back.

“Do your thing, Tart.” He smiled as he moved her hips with his. “I do love to be rewarded.”

Paisley proceeded to show him just how grateful she was...and she tried to tell herself that falling for him again was a huge mistake.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

Twelve

“And if you want to remove the veil from the headpiece for the reception, that’s always an option.”

Paisley assisted the bride and showed her the transformation, which earned a gasp from the bride’s mother and best friend who sat next to the stage and curved mirrors.

“You have to get it,” the beaming friend said with a dramatic clap of her hands. “You look like royalty.”

It was true. Paisley loved each of her customers and reveled in watching their dream wedding unfold before her eyes. Part of Paisley should be bitter for having been robbed of her special day, but that was all on her. She could’ve said no. She could’ve figured out another way.

But part of her still wanted Lucas after all these years. She’d never wanted to end things with him in the first place. If his father hadn’t intervened and caught a naive young Paisley off guard, there was no doubt in her mind they’d be married...for the right reasons.

Perhaps even by this time they would have little baby Fords running around, probably even in school.

Even though they’d been separated, she had to admit being married to him was working out much better than she ever would’ve thought. She never felt used or like she was a burden to him. In fact, she’d swear that he had feelings for her, but she just couldn’t bring that up.

Not when the case was hovering over them and he had made it quite clear he wanted her to have his child.

She’d first thought that idea was preposterous, but now...if she could clear out all the mess surrounding them and they could start with a solid foundation, Paisley would jump at the chance to start a family with Lucas.