Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

Lucas let out a gruff laugh. “Ha! Trust me, any man who knew a woman’s underwear contained an opening like that took full advantage of it. I know I would.”

I looked at him, heat hitting my cheeks as I pictured him doing just that. To me.

Ugh. Paige, you are taking it slow, just as friends, don’t go there.

An evil smile spread over his face. “Want to try them on?”

Slapping him on the chest, I cried out, “Lucas Foster! That is gross!”

He raised a brow. “Why is that gross?”

“It just is! Those are your grandmother’s, or great-grandmother’s undergarments.”

He snarled. “There goes that image in my mind. Thanks a lot for that cock block.”

Laughing, I shut the drawer and pulled open the next one. It contained stockings.

The next drawer was empty, and the bottom contained a few journals, some books, a feather pen, and an empty jar of what had most likely been ink.

Lucas stood and looked down at the trunk. “If this was Grams’, where did she take it? When did she use it? Or maybe it was her mother’s and that’s why they didn’t want us touching it?”

I looked over some of the jewelry. “I think you need to have this all looked at, Lucas. For sure, show your father. These are family heirlooms.”

“They’re half yours.”

With a quick glance at him, I shook my head. “No. They are not. They’re yours.”

Lucas looked at me and something passed over his face. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but the way he stared made my insides go all crazy again as my stomach flipped.

“Do you have any idea what an incredible person you are?”

I stood and grinned. “I do. I’m a rare one, for sure.”

His expression softened even more as he placed his hand on my cheek and smiled. “You most certainly are.”

Lucas

PAIGE AND I stood in front of the old trunk staring at one another. I wanted to kiss her again. Tell her I thought she was the most magnificent creature ever. Here she was, half owner to some pretty expensive-looking jewelry, and she was telling me it was mine. Most women wouldn’t have reacted that way.

I closed my eyes and cursed. God, I wanted her so fucking badly. Snapping my eyes back open, I gave her one last look before I dropped my hand and looked about the attic.

“While this is all fun, looking in the forbidden wardrobe of crotchless bloomers, we need to find the chest.”

“You don’t find this so crazy, learning all these things about your family?”

With a shrug, I looked around the area where we were standing. There was so much shit in this attic, it would take us weeks to go through it.

“Sure, loads of fun, but I’m on a mission.”

I heard Paige chuckle behind me.

“Well, I for one find it fascinating.”

“Of course, you would. You’re a woman.”

“Psh, that has nothing to do with it, Lucas. This is your family’s history up here. Who knows what else we’ll find!”

“Earlier you were afraid to look.”

Paige walked up next to me and looked down at an old sofa. “That was before we found what very well might be a ruby necklace in a vintage wardrobe trunk.” She pulled the white sheet that was half-covering the sofa. “Do you remember this sofa?”

I smiled as I looked down at it. “Hell yes, I remember it. It was where I first kissed you.”

Paige ran her fingers over the fabric and smiled. “I was so nervous.” She looked up at me. “Were you nervous to kiss me that first time?”

“Yes,” I answered honestly. “Mostly because I thought we would get caught making out and Grams would never leave us up here alone again.”

She laughed and sat down on the sofa.

“Do you want me to kiss you again? For old time’s sake?” I asked in a deep voice.

Her mouth parted, and her tongue darted out to wet her lips. If that wasn’t a yes, I didn’t know what was. I sat down next to her.

“A peck?” she asked, a smirk on her face.

Quickly grabbing her, I pulled her onto my lap so that she straddled me. If she sat down, her heat would be pressed on my ever-growing dick.

“Lucas.”

My name on her mouth almost sounded pleading. I wasn’t sure if she was asking me to not kiss her, or begging for me to kiss her. Either way, I was going with the best-case scenario.

I cupped her face in my hands and gently brought her mouth to mine. And we kissed.

Holy mother of all kisses. Paige deepened the kiss as she sank down, pressing herself against my cock.

Grabbing her hips, I lifted up, needing more contact. Her fingers jammed into my hair, and she gave it a tug, causing me to suck on her tongue and pull her closer to me.

“Yes,” she whispered while she rocked against my hard-on.