Read Online The Reluctant Duke by Carole Mortimer - Free Book Online

have a pick up line, Mr St Claire,’ she assured him coldly as she took the casserole from the oven. ‘And even if I did I certainly wouldn’t use it on you! ‘ she added derisively.
    Instantly she realised her mistake, as instead of lessening the tension between them it suddenly seemed to become thicker, almost palpable.
    Lucan’s eyes had narrowed to black slits. ‘Why not…?’
    Lexie swallowed hard, her eyes wide as she watched Lucan cross the kitchen with the slow grace of a jungle cat. ‘Why not what? ‘ she prompted distractedly.
    ‘Why not try a pick up line on me?’
    Lucan was standing so close now Lexie could feel the warmth of his breath stirring the loose tendrils of hair at her temple as he spoke.
    She flicked her tongue nervously across her lips before answering. ‘Well, for one thing I make it a rule never to become involved with the people I work for or with.’ She had meant the remark to be derisive, but instead she just sounded breathily expectant.
    ‘Is that an old rule or a new one?’
    ‘New. Very new,’ Lexie assured him pointedly.
    His brows rose speculatively. ‘I see…’
    ‘Do you?’
    ‘I believe so,’ Lucan murmured softly. ‘And does that rule still apply if that employer is only a temporary
temporary
one?’
    ‘Especially then.’ She nodded abruptly.
    Teasing Lexie had started out as a game to Lucan—a way of prodding at her outspoken and perky self-confidence. It had stopped being a game the moment she’d dismissed any interest in him so arbitrarily.
    Lucan hadn’t reached the age of thirty-six without knowing when a woman responded to him, and earlier this evening, outside on the steps up to the house, Lexie had been as physically aware of him as Lucan of her. Had been as receptive to his kiss as he to the idea of kissing her.
    His gaze dropped to the fullness of her mouth. Those plump and sensuous lips were slightly parted, and still slightly wet from that recent nervous flick of her tongue.
    Lucan’s breath caught in his throat as she repeated that nervous movement. Her tongue was a moist caress across those parted lips, awakening a hunger in Lucan to do the same.
    ‘Don’t!’ Lexie gasped, stepping back as she saw Lucan’s intention in the raw hunger of his dark gaze. That step brought her up abruptly against one of the kitchen units. ‘This is
so
not a good idea, Lucan!’ She put her hands up to stop him as he followed her, those hands becoming crushed between them as Lucan leaned his body into hers so that they were now touching from breast to thigh.
    Heatedly.
    Achingly.
    ‘It feels like a very good idea to me,’ Lucan said softly as he moved his arms either side of her, so that his hands could grip the worktop behind her, effectively trapping her as the heat of his body fitted against her much softer curves, his arousal hard against her thighs. ‘Doesn’t it feel like a good idea to you, Lexie?’ he prompted huskily.
    Lexie couldn’t breathe as she looked up, and instantly felt as if she were drowning in the warmth of those darkand mesmerizing eyes. In the longing she felt to know the touch of Lucan’s mouth against her own.
    Lucan St Claire’s mouth!
    Because that was who this man was, Lexie reminded herself desperately. Lucan St Claire. Her beloved Grandpa Alex’s eldest son and heir. The same man who, with the rest of his arrogant family, had shunned Lexie’s grandmother for so many years.
    Ice entered Lexie’s veins, and her eyes were glittering with that same cold anger as she straightened. ‘Get away from me, Lucan,’ she bit out icily, even as she pushed hard against his muscled chest.
    Lucan frowned as he easily resisted that push, still holding her captive in the circle of his arms as his hands tightened on the worktop behind her. ‘Your lips are saying one thing but your body is saying something else,’ he rasped harshly, and he glanced down pointedly at the fullness of her breasts, where the nipples showed hard and aroused