Beauty from Pain (Beauty, #1)(16)

One-on-one time is what I need to persuade her to accept, so tomorrow I will get the yes I so desire.





7

Laurelyn Prescott

Four screaming orgasms later, which is two more than I usually have, Lachlan and I slide into the backseat of his car. I only make it to the middle of the seat as I glide across, so our legs are touching when he gets in beside me. The only thing separating our skin is the fabric of his trousers, but his touch sends a thrill of excitement throughout my body.

Daniel peers at Lachlan through the rearview mirror. “Where to, sir?”

He surveys me for an answer. I think he’s hoping I’ll tell him I want to go home with him tonight, but I don’t. I haven’t agreed to this insanity yet.

“To Miss Beckett’s,” he tells Daniel.

I’m feeling the effects of my four cocktails. Liquid courage pulsates through my veins. I feel brave. And flirty. I put my hand on Lachlan’s thigh and use my fingertip to trace an imaginary infinity symbol. I feel the muscle in his thigh grow taut through his pants. “Mr. Henry, does Daniel have any idea what it is you do with the women you keep in your company?”

Without being asked, Daniel reaches for the control on the radio and increases the volume of the music in the front of the car. I hear “Talk Dirty To Me” for a brief second before he changes the station to classical. Or maybe opera. I’m too buzzed to tell. Either way, I don’t care for it.

I lean forward. “Daniel. Change it back to Poison.”

I see him eye his employer in the rearview mirror. Lachlan gives him a curt nod and I hear Bret Michaels singing again.

“I love this song.”

“I do too, but I’d like it much better if you were singing it to me instead of Poison.”

“I’ve been known to take requests.”

“Me too. I can talk dirty by request anytime.”

I become hypersensitive to everything about this man. His breathing sounds louder and his scent stronger, so masculine. I love the feel of his leg beneath my finger. “You didn’t answer me. Does Daniel know what you do with women?”

It’s dark and I can’t make out his expression. “I pay Daniel to be available when I need him. He isn’t my confidant, so we don’t discuss what I do with the women I date.”

“The women you date,” I whisper as I turn to stare out the window. The streetlights flash like strobes as we pass. If I say yes, I will be number thirteen. I can’t imagine that going well. Thirteen is always unlucky.

He puts his hand on my knee and heat radiates up my thigh. “I want to know what you’re thinking.”

His intimate gesture gains my full attention. “I would be number thirteen.”

I’m not certain, but I think he’s amused by my observation. “I suppose you would be.”

I’m superstitious. I always have been. “It’s an unlucky number.”

“I don’t think it is. I was born on the thirteenth.”

If I do this, something will go wrong and this man will hurt me. I know it as sure as I’m sitting here next to him feeling how much he makes me want to say yes. “How can you think it’s possible to have something this hot without one of us getting burned?”

I see him grin in the darkness. “You think this thing between us is hot?”

Daniel pulls to a stop in front of Ben’s apartment building. I don’t reply to Lachlan—it’s never wise to throw fuel on a fire already raging out of control.

Daniel opens the door and I get out of the car behind Lachlan. We walk up the sidewalk to the building’s entrance and he shocks me by reaching for my hand. It’s such a sweet and intimate thing to do. “Do you have your own bedroom?”

“No. Addison and I share the guest room.”

“Good.”

What? Did he think I was sharing a bed with Ben? What if I were? He didn’t have a claim on me. Yet. “Where did you think I was sleeping?”

“I had no idea since these apartments are so small. However, I do know your friend’s brother would like nothing better than to have you in his bed. Then again, so would I, so I don’t guess I have room to say much.”

There he goes again, saying whatever is on his mind. I’m not sure if I should appreciate his honesty or brace myself for whatever might come out of his mouth next. “Are you missing your filter, or is it an Aussie thing to blurt out every inappropriate thought you have?”

We’re standing at the entrance to the building and I sense what’s coming next. I feel it in my bones. And my groin. He’s going to kiss me. And I want him to. Badly.

But then that isn’t what he does.

He pushes me until my back is against the building. He pins me with his hips so I’m trapped. There’s no escape—not that I would try. His eyes dart from mine to my mouth, then back up to my eyes. “I say exactly what’s on my mind because I don’t have time for silly games. I told you I don’t do pretenses, and this is me showing you what I mean. I want you to know exactly what’s on my mind.”

It’s unnerving the way his eyes pierce mine. “And what’s on your mind right now?”

His mouth is so close to mine, I feel his warm breath on my lips. “Right now, all I’m thinking about is how I’m going to get you in my bed so I can show you all the ways I can make you come.”