Page 23 of Midnight Secrets

“Lucrezia, could you organise more drinks for our guests?” Papa asked, before returning to puffing his cigar.

For years, I did everything Papa asked because his word was law. He was the only parent we had and my sisters and I had loved him completely and unconditionally. There was no reason for his suggestion to bug me today, only it did.

“Drinks cabinet is in the library, guys. Ice is in the kitchen.” Papa’s attention zeroed in on me as if I’d committed the greatest sin and a flash of lightning was currently heading in my direction to smite me down.

Ash’s lips twitched in amusement, his head coming up to stare at me.

“Lucrezia!” It was the tone that should have sent me scurrying to carry out his command, but the little demon on my shoulder had bound and gagged the angel and was now fully in control.

“Yes, Papa?” I gave him the vacant expression that the men at the functions seemed to appreciate. The one that said I was only a silly woman who didn’t understand the conversation. Boarding school had taught me more than just the curriculum.

“It’s fine, Lucas.” Jordan grinned and winked at me. “We’re big boys and know how to open a bottle. Lucy is busy sorting out our dinner, she’s not a slave.”

Jordan had been the closest thing we had to a big brother. He was the first one to jump to our defence and the last one out of a fight because he didn’t leave until every last problem was dealt with. Sometimes family wasn’t blood, it was a connection.

“You need a hand?” Jordan asked.

“Nope. Madison and I have nearly finished. Your brownies are in the oven now.” His smile told me he was pleased without the words. Jordan had an incredibly sweet tooth even though he would pass as a model with his looks and figure. The man must spend ten hours a day at the gym.

“You better have ice cream,” he replied with mock severity.

“The extra calories will make you fat.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Guess I’ll have to work them off later.”

I shook my head at him as I moved back into the house, but it was the tightening of Ash’s jaw that made me nearly stumble over my feet.

Madison had created another platter with cheeses and sliced fruits on it in my absence. “You spoil Papa,” I chided her.

“He gave me and Francis a home when we lost ours,” she replied. “Setting up a barbeque for him isn’t strenuous.”

She was our housekeeper, but Papa had always treated her as part of the family. It was his way. He picked up the lost and lonely and gave them a home. I took the cookies and brownies out of the oven and set them on the cooling tray before leaving the kitchen.

Food was the last thing on my mind right now. One stupid day with Ash in London and all the teenage infatuation that I had buried deep inside had re-emerged with a vengeance. Jordan was gorgeous as well, but he never had this effect on me. I was just going to have to put my trainers on and run my ass off on the treadmill to get my head straight.

A strong arm grabbed me around the waist, a hand covering my mouth just as I was about to scream in shock.

“Since you had your little tantrum, maybe you’d like to discuss your business like adults.” Holy moly. Ash’s voice made my stomach flip as his breath fanned my ear.

My little demon was working overtime right now and definitely needed to be muzzled, because instead of stamping on Ash’s foot and slapping his face for manhandling me, I licked his hand. His body stiffened behind mine, but the arm around my waist tightened.

“Did you just lick me?”

I used the tip of my tongue to trace a circle in the middle of his palm before flicking it against where the middle would be.

“Fuck,” he hissed behind me.

He made my brain malfunction every time he was close. The aloof ice princess melted and became a depraved, wanton hussy who wanted to wrap herself around him.

My head spun as he swung me around and my back hit the wall. Those blue eyes bored into mine and everything vanished from my head in a heartbeat. All that remained was that magnetic pull that existed every time he was close to me.

“You need to stop playing with fire,” he warned.

My tongue swept across my lips and his gaze moved to my mouth for a moment. “You need to stop ignoring me.”

His hands grasped my wrists and pinned them to the wall at either side of my head. “Do I look like I’m ignoring you?”

I stared at him without speaking. He wasn’t ignoring me, but I didn’t know what this was, either.

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