She pursed her lips as her eyes darted away. That slight slip of her resolve had him swelling with the knowledge that she might come off as headstrong, but she still had that underlying vulnerability he remembered.
And that was the damn crux of the situation. He wanted to be the one to save her. Even after the ridiculous way things ended and all the time that had passed, he couldn’t deny the ego trip at the fact she’d come to him for help. Which only meant she’d been thinking of him.
At some point, he’d want answers about the past. Not that it would make any difference, nor did he want to relive everything, but he did wonder. And that bit about his dad going to her? Lucas wasn’t so sure that was the whole truth.
“Are you even going to ask what I want out of this?” Lucas couldn’t stop himself. He reached out and trailed his fingertip down her creamy cheek and along her jawline. “Or are you just going to trust me?”
She licked her lips as she continued to stare. “I...um. I assume you’ll tell me.”
Easing his thumb over her moist bottom lip, he smiled. “I want you in my bed. For as long as we’re married, we will be man and wife in every way. There’s no way I can live with you and not touch you, not want you. Not have you all to myself.”
Paisley’s eyes widened as she gasped. “You know I’m not staying forever. Why would you want to pretend this is real?”
Lucas was done playing games. He framed her face with both hands and covered her mouth. The bag she had on her arm bumped his abdomen, then fell with a thud to the floor.
Paisley let out a little squeak as he all but consumed her. She opened for him, just as she always had. Some things never changed. She’d never hesitated with her response to him and now was no different. She gripped his biceps as if she needed to hold on or hold him in place—either way was fine with him.
Damn. She tasted just as sweet as he remembered. Lucas threaded his fingers through her hair and tipped her head back. Paisley arched against him as he nipped at her lips and slowly pulled away.
“Was that you pretending?” he asked, his voice surprisingly stronger than he actually felt. “Because I just want to make sure I don’t get confused about what’s real or pretend.”
Paisley took a step back, then another, until she bumped into the curved staircase. Her shaky hand went to her lips and she closed her eyes.
Lucas was having a bit of a problem keeping himself in check. He wanted nothing more than to strip her bare and take her right here in his living room. But that was how they’d been when they were younger. They’d been all over each other. Young love had carried them so far, but ultimately, not far enough.
Still, having her in his home stirred something primal in him and he was positive he didn’t want her leaving. Call him selfish, but he wanted Paisley and he wanted her right here.
“Chemistry doesn’t mean anything,” she retorted.
If there had been any conviction in her tone, he might believe her. If she hadn’t arched that sweet, curvy body against his, he might think she didn’t want more. But he knew better. She’d come to him, pride aside.
She could have chosen anyone else to help her, but she wanted him. Despite everything that happened in their past, they still had a bond and he knew she trusted him with her case.
Lucas reached for her, sliding his hand across her cheek and up into her hair. “You want to end the marriage, I get that. Do you have an expiration date?”
Those hazel eyes never wavered from his. “If Sterling turns out to be my father and recognizes me, then I want out. I don’t want someone to take care of me forever. I want to stand on my own. But I’m not stupid enough to ignore the fact that I need help, because I won’t let my business suffer. It’s all I have left.”
So, it all came down to money. Most things in life did, he realized. Plus, he understood the need to protect something you’d built. Wasn’t that the reason he wanted a child to pass his business down to? All she wanted was to keep her shop running and live comfortably—which she could right here in his penthouse.
“Fine.” Lucas leaned down, brushed his lips over hers once more before stepping back. “You will be in my bed every night. Nonnegotiable. We’ll marry in Vegas, have our honeymoon and I’ll get to the bottom of the letter about your father.”