When I'm With You Part V: When You Submit Read Free Page B

you’re so casually aware of the details of Lucien’s life.”
    Elise’s heart seemed to bound ahead of her feet. She almost faltered. “Why
wouldn’t
you believe that?”
    “Just an observation,” Francesca said. “There’s some pretty strong chemistry between the two of you.” She glanced aside and saw Elise’s open-mouthed look of incredulity. “He can’t take his eyes off you whenever you’re near. Ian has noticed it too.”
    “He . . . he has?”
Oh no
. Lucien was going to be so irritated.
    “Yeah. But it’s no big deal, is it?” Francesca asked when she noticed her stricken expression.
    “No, I just . . .we thought we’d been discreet.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” Francesca said confidentially. “I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s none of my business. But just so you know, I think it’s fantastic. He’s a wonderful man.” Francesca gave her a gleaming sideways glance. “And sooo gorgeous. And that
voice
 . . . the accent—so sexy. Well, you have the accent, too, so I guess you don’t think it’s as hot as we would here in the States, but—”
    “I think his voice is sexy,” Elise said before she could stop herself.
    Francesca grinned. “We’re in agreement, then. Are you going to speak to him? About your restaurant idea?” she urged.
    Elise bit her lip. “Maybe.”
    “Well, if you decide to do it, good luck. I know Lucien can seem a bit intimidating—I used to feel the same way about Ian. They’re alike in that way. But I happen to know Lucien is a very good guy.”
    “Thanks. And you’re right about the intimidating part. I think I need more nerve than luck,” she muttered under her breath.
    Especially because she wanted to be honest with Lucien about more than just her business idea. She wanted to take his advice and tell him how much she desired him . . . how much she wanted to submit to him. Putting such a fragile, vulnerable desire into words felt like one of the most daring, difficult challenges she’d ever faced.
    * * *
    That night she left Fusion before Lucien, as soon as she’d finished her duties. She was waiting for him when he entered the penthouse past midnight. She sat up, peering over the back of the couch, watching him as he walked into the living room. He was checking messages on his cell phone, a slight frown on his face. It took him a moment to notice her. Elise took advantage of the opportunity to study him at her leisure.
    She’d left his arms reluctantly that morning when the alarm sounded, all too aware of his solid warmth pressed against her backside as he spooned her with his long body. She’d risen from sensual dreams with his scent in her nose and the feeling of his heavy erection pressed against her bottom, a few layers of thin fabric the only thing separating them. It was a heaven almost too difficult to comprehend, the concept of waking up in Lucien’s arms every morning.
    He’d stirred when the alarm sounded but had fallen back into sleep when she’d shut it off. Once again, she’d had the vivid fantasy of touching him while he was vulnerable, taking his full cock into her hand, putting her mouth all over bulging muscle and smooth skin, kissing, licking, biting . . .
    It was precisely the type of thing her mother might do to take advantage of a man—seduce him while he was sleeping.
    He’d tightened his arm around her in an instinctive gesture after she’d shut off the alarm. Elise had had to use every ounce of her will to leave his embrace.
    Now here she was with him again and he was fully awake, and she was the one who experienced acute vulnerability.
    He looked up suddenly from his cell phone screen, pinning her with his light eyes. A small smile took the place of the scowl he’d been wearing.
    “What are you doing sitting back there watching me, quiet as a mouse,” he murmured, coming toward her.
    “I was waiting for you,” she said, feeling a strange mixture of contentment and anxiety at hearing his