Page 55 of All Mixed Up

To my shock, somebody yanked open the door. “Well, look what the cat dragged over.”

“Gigi?”

My gorgeous friend hauled me into a generous hug. “That’s my name, baby; don’t wear it out. While you’re at it, come on in.”

I let her take my hand and lead me inside. Immediately, we were surrounded by a beehive of construction activity. “Come on in…where?” There were fresh wood planks everywhere, along with carpet and tile sample books…

And pallets of soundproof studio foam.

“What…the…hell?”

Gigi had a turn at her own double-take, but it didn’t diminish the intensity of her gawk. She finally flashed a glance at her brother. “You really didn’t tell her?”

Milo puffed out his chest. “Managed to get her here without a word.”

“Without a word about what?” I cut in.

“Nice.” Gigi fist-bumped him.

“Without a word about what?”

Well, sometimes small miracles did happen—because fate let me get out the whole question before I was stripped of the ability to speak anymore.

As my answer unfolded before me.

Starting with Lucien’s appearance from somewhere in the back of the building.

Looking more godlike than I ever, ever thought possible.

No…seriously.

What the man did for a business suit, he rocked twice as hard in a basic black V-neck tee and jeans. The way the cotton and denim clung to him, accentuating every virile inch of his lean, corded muscles…

Holy God…

But even the splendor of all that wasn’t what paralyzed me.

That feat belonged to the perfection of his stare.

The onyx depths of it…still there for me.

His passionate craving…still for me.

Those vast midnight skies…still loving me.

How I hoped.

How I prayed…

And had those prayers answered, as soon as he rushed for me. Or maybe it was me, lunging for him. It didn’t matter. The second our bodies crashed, I was back in the strong, safe envelope of his arms again. Surrounded by the perfect, powerful force of him again. Drowning in the decadent, brilliant certainty of him again.

I clung to him like a spider monkey on a banyan, holding on for as long as he’d let me. I breathed him in, savoring his bergamot and cedar scent, though now noticed his cologne was joined with other masculine shit, like sawdust and wood stain. The intoxicating scent shot through me like an arrow of arousal. At once, I was wet for him in all the right places—and instantly noticed he was hard for me in all the same spots.

Yes. Yesss.

Mix me up, Lucien. Don’t ever stop. Please.

“Bonsoir, mademoiselle.” There was a welcoming smile in his whisper, but even without it, my answer was already set.