Read Online His Absolute Proposal: An Illicit Billionaire Love Story (Elise, #3) by Cerys du Lys - Free Book Online

hadn't exactly had time to wash our hair, but the rest of our bodies had been soaped up and rinsed off.  It was still kind of a blur to me, because I'd been distracted, but I knew it had happened, and...
    Well, we needed to dry off, and I needed Lucent to trust me as much as I trusted him.
    "Of course," he said.  "I do.  I trust you completely."
    "Good," I said.  "Because I have a plan."
    "I'm all ears," Lucent said, smiling.
    ***
    M y plan was a simple one.  Since Jessika had let me borrow some of her clothes to change into, I no longer needed my dress.  It wasn't exactly ideal, but it worked well enough to dry us off, especially considering we only needed to dry our bodies.  Lucent's hair was more wet than mine, but it was shorter, so it worked out fine and dried a lot faster.
    When I asked him, Asher readily handed me my dress and Lucent and I did our best to dry as much of ourselves off as we could.  Then Asher gave us both our clothes.  I supposed maybe Lucent wouldn't mind changing in front of Asher, but I kind of did, because, um... because that was a little strange.  I didn't exactly want Jessika's husband to see me naked or anything.
    We changed behind the shower curtain, feet still wet from the dampness left on the bottom of the bathtub.  It was a little cramped in here, but we made do with the space we had.  Lucent put on his pants first, and I opted for the t-shirt I'd borrowed.  When I went to put on Jessika's old pair of jeans, Lucent reached into his pocket and offered me my panties.
    I almost laughed, but stopped myself before I did.  I didn't know how I would have explained a random fit of laughter to Asher.  Not that I needed to, but it seemed best to err on the side of caution, especially considering we weren't supposed to be here and random female laughter coming from the bathroom might arouse the suspicion of the police officer somewhere outside the bathroom.
    Lucent said he had a plan, and I trusted him, but I wasn't sure what this plan involved.  Bribing a police officer?  Somehow sneaking out of the bathroom without him noticing?  I hoped it didn't turn violent, but that seemed like a distinct possibility, too.  He refused to tell me.
    Also, I refused to accept my panties.  I grinned at him and shook my head.  I did take them, but only to stuff them back in his pocket.
    "Really now, Miss Tanner?" he asked me, sly smirk and hushed tone.
    "You keep them," I whispered.  "It's incentive."
    He lifted one brow, giving me a peculiar glance.  "Incentive for what exactly?"
    "Incentive to get us out of here safely, because once you do, and when we're alone together, all you need to do is convince me out of my pants, and..."
    I let the last of that idea linger.  I mean, it probably didn't need to linger.  I wasn't exactly subtle right then and there.  I just wanted to be flirty and silly and fun for a brief moment.  I wasn't sure how many moments like this we had left together, to be honest.  I hoped we had a lot more, so many more, but it seemed like maybe we should cherish the ones we had before we lost them.
    "You'll be safe," Lucent said.  "Always, Miss Tanner.  I would never hurt you.  I promise to protect you."
    "I love you, Lucent," I said.  We were dressed now.  I snuck up on tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss.
    "I love you, too, Elise," he said; my name, something special and important.  He returned my kiss with one of his own.
    His hands moved to my waist and he held me like that, pulling me closer to him, but not urgent or needy.  It was safe, comfortable, soft and sweet and nice.  It was love; it was us.
    It lasted a long time, but perhaps not long enough for my liking.  When we broke away, Lucent smiled down at me.
    "Shall we?" he asked.
    "If you think it's a good idea," I said.
    Lucent pushed aside the shower curtain, sliding it away with a flourish and revealing us to the outside world.  Or, at least revealing us to Asher, who was idly sitting on the turned down