Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

“Paige!”

“It’s fine, Lucas. You made your point.”

I rushed up the steps after her.

“You look beautiful. I just meant, maybe you might want to tone it down.”

She turned to face me. Her face contorted with confusion. “I look beautiful? Are you afraid you hurt my feelings and now you’re trying to make me feel better? Well, please, don’t let your guilt eat away at you.”

“That’s not it at all,” I said, reaching for her arm.

“Let me go, Lucas. I need to go dress down apparently.”

I closed my eyes. “I told you I didn’t mean it that way.”

She pulled her arm, trying to get away from me. I let her go, then stood in front of her door, blocking her from going in.

“All I meant was every guy in the damn bar will be staring at you, Paige. Is that what you want? A bunch of men undressing you with their eyes? Because that is what will happen if you show up dressed like that.”

Paige lifted her chin. “Maybe that is exactly what I want, Lucas. A man’s attention. His hands on my body, making me feel things I haven’t felt in a very, very long time.”

My body heated, and I took a step toward her. I couldn’t have stopped myself if I tried. Hearing her say she wanted a man’s hands on her, that she hadn’t felt that in a long time? Yeah, those words were my kryptonite. “Is that what you want, Paige? A man to touch you?”

She swallowed hard but kept her expression void of anything. “And more. I could use a good orgasm from a man who actually wants to touch me and will remember it the next day.”

That made my stomach lurch, and my heart drop. “A man like…Milo?”

Paige shrugged. “If he was interested, yes.”

Full-on rage pulsed through my veins as I took another step toward her, making her back up against the wall opposite her bedroom door.

“You’re playing with fire, Paige.”

She let out a humorless laugh. “How so? I’m a single, young woman who hasn’t had sex in a very long time. If I want to have some fun, why shouldn’t I? Men can have one-night stands, why can’t a woman?”

“You forgot attractive.”

Her eyebrows pulled in tight. “What?”

“You’re a single, young, and very attractive woman.”

Her mouth opened to say something, then she quickly closed it.

“So, you want a one-night stand.”

“Maybe,” she softly said.

“Anyone in particular? Maybe Milo? My best friend?”

“Your old high school best friend? Is there some sort of law against that?”

“As a matter of fact, yes, there is.”

She laughed and went to push past me when I caged her against the wall with my arms.

My eyes searched her face and fell to her mouth, and she pressed those luscious lips into a tight line.

“Do you want me to touch you, Paige? Give you that long-overdue orgasm?”

“Wh-what?”

“It’s a simple question. And the answer involves you, me, and an orgasm…or three. I can help you with that, you know.”

Her eyes flashed with something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Determination. Pure fucking determination. I just wasn’t sure what in the hell she was determined to get, and I instantly worried I was pushing her away.

“Please move, Lucas. I need to change. As you pointed out, I’m not dressed appropriately.”

My eyes dropped to the exposed area of her breasts. Her body had had the starring role in a number of my dreams over the years. Even when I had been with Bianca, it was frequently Paige. A fact which at the time had filled me with guilt. Dreaming of another woman when one was sleeping next to you was a douche move indeed. But I couldn’t forget this woman no matter how hard I tried.

I pulled in a quick breath as I ran my finger along the edge of her dress, lightly touching her skin. Paige’s breath hitched at the touch, as well.

“Did you also hear me say you look beautiful?”

Her eyes watched as my fingers moved over her skin, and it only made my dick grow harder. Hell on wheels, this woman could always make my cock rock solid just by watching me touch her. It was one of the hottest things I’d ever experienced with a woman. I moved my hand down the side of her dress, feeling every sexy curve on her body until I touched the bare skin of her upper leg.

Paige opened her mouth and drew in a shaky voice as she asked, “What are you doing, Lucas?”

“I know what you like. I know how to make you come within seconds. Do you remember that?”

Her tongue darted out to lick her lips. My hand moved under her dress, and I loved that I could feel her body tremble. I loved it even more that she wasn’t pushing me away.

“Are you drunk again, Lucas?”