Married in Name Only

He slid his free hand to the other side of her waist and pulled her closer until their torsos aligned. Even rumpled and haggard, Lucas Ford was the sexiest man she’d ever seen.

Sexy wasn’t going to win her heart over, though. But that pain in his eyes, a look that she’d never experienced, and the pleading were doing a damn good job of getting her attention.

So much for being made of steel and making him grovel.

“I went and saw my real dad,” she told him. “He’s...sick.”

“I know, but I’m glad you’re getting time together now.”

Paisley closed her eyes and pulled in a deep breath. “I can’t be with you if I can’t trust you.”

“I know that, too,” he countered. “But I plan on spending every day for the rest of our lives making you see that I love you more than anything.”

Paisley’s heart clenched. “What?”

“I love you,” he repeated.

He dipped his head and captured her mouth, gently at first, then he coaxed her lips apart. Paisley arched against him and opened, her body instantly responding to his touch. All warning flags dropped. She didn’t want to focus on the negative. She only wanted to focus on the fact Lucas had come because she was hurting—and to tell her he loved her.

His hands slid around the silky robe and beneath the hem to her bare backside.

“Damn, Tart,” he muttered against her mouth. “You’re naked.”

“I was going to get in the shower,” she whispered. “I didn’t plan on company.”

He rested his forehead against hers. “Let me in,” he commanded. “Your neighbors are getting a show.”

Totally caught up in the moment, in the man, she’d forgotten they were standing in her doorway for the whole street and anyone walking by to see.

Paisley gripped his shirtfront and tugged him into her foyer. He dove right back in, devouring her mouth as his hands went to the tie on her robe. The material parted and his hands were on her. Finally.

“I’ve missed you,” he growled against her mouth. “I need you so much.”

Yeah, she had some pretty desperate needs of her own.

Lucas gripped her ass and lifted her against him. Paisley wrapped her legs around his waist, then held on as he turned and sat her on the accent table at the base of the staircase. He immediately stepped between her spread legs and yanked the robe down to her elbows, trapping her arms against her sides.

“Tell me you want this,” he demanded. “I want to hear you say it.”

Paisley nodded, trying to form a sentence when her body was aching. “I want you, Lucas. Now.”

He released the robe and palmed her breasts as she laced her fingers through his hair. She scooted forward on the cool tabletop and locked her ankles behind his back.

His hands fell away and she felt him fidgeting between her legs followed by the sound of his zipper. He circled her waist with his large, strong hands and stared into her eyes as he joined their bodies.

Paisley cried out as her body arched, her head dropping back. Lucas slid a hand around to the small of her back for support as he pumped his hips and murmured something she couldn’t make out.

His lips grazed over her breasts, along her neck, and she tipped her head back so he could take her lips. Her fingertips dug into his shoulders and she gripped the fabric of his shirt, wishing he would’ve removed it so she could fully touch him.

“Paisley,” he murmured.

Hearing her name on his lips, seeing that tightening of his jaw as if he was barely holding on to his control, had her body spiraling out of control. She tightened all around him and let the moment consume her.

Seconds later, Lucas tightened his hold on her waist and dropped his head to the crook in her neck. Paisley ran her hands over his shoulders, to his neck, and into his hair, cradling him as his pleasure took hold.

After several moments, when their bodies settled, only their breathing filled the space. Paisley wondered if she’d made a mistake letting him in so soon. She hadn’t made him grovel too much and she was pretty sure she hadn’t even made him use the four and a half minutes.

She’d always been weak where Lucas was concerned, but now she had to figure out how to handle this. Yes, she wanted him, but she had to trust him.