Cruel Fortune (Cruel #2)(44)

Lewis snorted. “You’ve got me there.”

“I mean, she deserves it. But it seems like not a wise choice. He knows that she’s marrying him for the money. He said tonight that her dad ate her trust fund. Whatever that means. And he still doesn’t care?”

“Ah. That is a little known secret,” Lewis confided. “Most people don’t know how broke Katherine is. Her trust fund should have been safe from the IRS. But, before her father transferred it to her, he made a huge withdrawal—in the hundreds of millions—to try to cover his ass. Then, everything went under before he could replace the money.”

My mouth hung open. “Shit. How does she still live the life she’s living?”

“She already had the apartment, and there’s been enough money in there to manage, but it’s almost gone.”

“Hence, Camden,” I muttered.

It all made sense now. I had known that Katherine was in a tight spot with money, but I hadn’t known the specifics other than her father’s securities fraud. No wonder she was desperate to tie the knot. Though it still didn’t explain Camden. I had no idea what he was getting out of it.

“Yep.” Lewis drained the last of his wine and then set it down on the glass coffee table. Then, he moved closer to me, reaching for my hand and lacing our fingers together. “But all that really matters to me is that you’re okay.”

“I’m fine,” I told him. “Just…tired. Drained.”

And while I was utterly exhausted, Lewis seemed different. Almost keyed up from the ordeal. I didn’t know if it was the adrenaline still racing through him or what.

“You don’t seem tired,” I said on a laugh.

He grinned wider and brought my hand to his lips. He set lazy kisses across my hand and around my wrist before drawing the tip of my thumb into his mouth and nipping it. “I’m not.”

“I’m surprised that you’re so happy after everything that happened.” It was one thing not to blame me. Another thing entirely to be practically giddy after all that.

He ran his tongue along the pad of my thumb. All the while, his eyes were locked on mine. Offering everything without words and making me squirm in my seat.

“You came home with me,” he said.

I tilted my head. “Why wouldn’t I have?”

He arched one eyebrow. His other hand slipping to my bare thigh. Teasing the flesh on the inside of my knee. “I know what Penn meant to you. I wasn’t looking forward to that first interaction between you two. He’s a smooth bastard.”

“You thought I’d fall all over myself for him?” I asked in disbelief.

“You wouldn’t be the first.”

“I’m not a simpering idiot.” I pulled back, offended that he’d thought I’d be so thoughtless. “I haven’t forgotten what he did to me.”

“I don’t think you’re a simpering idiot. But I know Penn, and I know how women react to him. That the first time you saw him would be difficult. But see, you’re still here with me.” He released our joined hands and tipped my chin to look into his eyes. “After all that.”

Seeing it from that point of view, I understood why he was happy. Some part of him must have been preparing himself to lose me. Yes, I was attracted to Penn, and we had history. But I hadn’t fallen for his words. And the look Lewis was giving me then said everything else. I’d passed some sort of test. And now, he wanted more. He wanted me. Just me. All of me.

He tugged my leg over his own, sliding us closer and closer together. His hand fell into my silver locks, and then his lips were on mine. Tasting, testing, caressing. He was delving into me, taking all I would give him. And it was easy to give in. To let tonight slip away and be in the moment with this sexy man.

“Natalie,” he groaned against my lips. His hand ran from my knee up my leg, sliding under the material of my black dress and caressing my inner thigh. Up, up, up.

“Yes,” I breathed.

I trembled at the lightest brush of his knuckle against the thin material of my thong. The feel of a finger running along the outline where my skin met the underwear. He skipped over my hot core to trace the other side. I bucked against him, kissing him that much harder, deeper, needier as my body thrummed to life.

When I thought I would combust from anticipation, he hooked his finger under the material and tugged my panties over my hips before tossing them to the ground.

“Oh god,” I moaned at the first touch of his finger against my clit.

Desire flared through me, molten hot and unyielding. I released his lips and tipped my head back. My eyes closed in surrender as he slicked a finger through my already-wet center and then caressed me in slow, agonizing circles.

He slipped me down, so I was lying flat on the sofa, spreading me wide for better access. All conscious thought fled the second he inserted a finger into me. And then another. He stroked me from the inside, warming up my primed body. Then, he curled his long fingers into me, reaching depths that made me shake. It had been a long time since I felt anything besides the feel of my own fingers. And, oh dear god, this was infinitely better.

“Fuck,” I breathed desperately.

I was seeing stars when I felt the first kiss on the inside of my knee. My eyes flew open. He was just grinning at me as he placed a second kiss higher on my leg and higher. My pulse quickened. Thumped loudly in my ears as I watched his ascent.