Claimed by the Sicilian Tycoon (Criminal Seduction #3)(10)

When they paused between their starters and main, she looked over at one of the other tables, and nodded. “I was reading about his exploits last week.”

Andros followed her gaze to a well-known Member of Parliament. “You and the rest of the world.”

“His poor wife,” Lyra said, but she was grinning.

“Her situation amuses you?”

Her grin widened. “I don’t know what she’d expect being married to him. Just take a close look and it would have been so obvious exactly what sort of things he likes to get up to.”

Despite himself, Andros was intrigued. “You can tell just by looking at a man that he likes to be spanked by a woman dressed as his mother?”

She laughed. It was a delightful sound. Andros found himself smiling right along with her. “I can tell that he likes it kinky. He’s too uptight, and he’s blue blood, right?”

“And?”

“They’re all weird. I mean they can’t help it. I think it might be due to the boarding schools. Just weird situations all round.”

“Indeed.”

A few moments later and Andros was not surprised when Lyra dug into the course placed in front of her. He watched her some more, intrigued and aroused, and just all round perplexed by the situation. Every so often, she paused and looked up at him, her very long lashes fanning her face, her eyes twinkling. He itched to run his fingers along her skin, to watch those eyes flutter closed as she sighed her pleasure…

Dinner was followed quickly by dessert. Lyra pointed out a few other patrons, giving him the rundown on exactly what she suspected they did in their private lives. He had to agree with more than a few of her assessments.

It was, Andros thought as he poured them another glass of wine, one of the strangest seductions he’d ever undertaken, and yet already it felt like it had to be, that nothing else but this would work between them.

“Would you like coffee?” he asked as the last of their meal was taken away.

Lyra took a sip of her wine, then shook her head. “I think I’ve had enough.”

“You’re done?”

She nodded. “That was lovely but coffee would tip me over the edge and…” She paused and shot him a look over the top of her glass, “…we don’t want that, do we?”

The atmosphere between them shifted in an instant. From strained and perplexing to thick and pulsing. It was like being back at the bar, the moment he’d grabbed her wrists and felt the heat shoot between them. It had simmered whilst they ate, whilst she talked and laughed, but now it was back, and Andros almost groaned.

“Then let’s get down to the reason we’re here,” he said, unable to wait any longer.

“Okay.”

“We’ve eaten, we’ve drunk and we’ve talked. We’ve…how shall we say? We’ve danced around all the little rituals.”

“Rituals?”

He nodded. “Yes, the things women and men do before they do what they want to do.”

“And what is it you want to do, Andros?”

Bend you over and f*ck you senseless, he thought, but didn’t say. It would be far more satisfying to just do it. “You know the answer to that. You knew it in Club Belmont.”

“Perhaps I would like to hear you say it?”

“I want you.”

She dipped her finger in her glass and placed it in her mouth. His cock thickened to the point where he worried it might explode.

“So blunt.”

“Do you need flowery words, Rossa?” Andros asked. “Like you needed all of this?” He waved a hand around the room, but she shook her head.

“I thought this would be nice,” she said. “Let the tension simmer a little before we give into it.”

“So we are going to give into it?”

“Of course we are, and I never need flowery words. I can’t stand men who lie and bullshit. Honesty is always my motto. I’d much rather you tell me as it is.”

He splayed his hands wide. “Then that is how it is. I want you. I wanted you the moment I turned around and saw you in the club. You are very sexy, unbelievably beautiful.”


“You want to take me home with you? Tonight?”

Want? He smiled, the anticipation clawing at him. There was no want about it. He would have her. Still, perhaps before he ran in dick first he should find out exactly how she felt, what she expected. That would be the smart thing to do and now was the time to do it. If he left it any longer…

“I do,” he stated, “and now, Lyra, it is time that you tell me exactly what it is that you want.”





Chapter Five



Lyra ran her finger along the edge of her wine glass. She’d never tasted wine quite like it, so rich and fruity. It was like a little taste of Andros’ world and already she wanted more. Wanted him.

And he wants you.

She smiled inwardly at that thought, and couldn’t stop her mind from skipping ahead to imagine exactly how that might unravel. But she hadn’t made all her moves yet, and she’d promised herself, hadn’t she?

Honesty.

Play it straight and see if he plays with.

So show time. Only she was nervous, more so than she had expected. After all, so much rested on the next few moments. Not just her family’s plans but hers also. So really, taking that into consideration, was it any wonder that her stomach was flipping, and her head spinning?