Free The Mistaken Escort's Pleasure: A Liaison Novel by Valerie Ullmer

stalled in his chest.
    She had loosened her braid and brushed her hair, the beautiful mass cascading around her shoulders.   She had changed into flannel pajama shorts and a white tank, similar to the one she wore when he had woken her up, and he clenched his hands to stop himself from reaching for her.
    “Lucian?”
    “You’re very…”
    “So are you,” she breathed.
    “Come here,” he demanded.
    She moved to him without hesitation, and he reached for her hands, placing them on his naked chest.   She moaned at the first contact, and he smiled as his mouth sought hers.   In the back of his mind, he knew she was tired, so instead of deepening the kiss, he lifted her in his arms and laid her on the bed.   Without breaking contact, he slid in next to her and pulled her head against his chest.   Their legs became intertwined and his heart beat faster as she absently caressed his chest.   He rubbed her back with languid strokes, breathing in her light scent, as she settled against him.
    “Good-night, Lucian.”
    “Night, love.”
    A few minutes later, her breathing evened out and her body relaxed against his.   It took several minutes for his body to relax and enjoy her touch, but as she mumbled something in her sleep and burrowed her head farther into his side, the heat flared and he grew hard.   He resolved to ignore it, and with thoughts on the woman at his side, fell into a restless sleep.

Chapter Nine

    In the five years she had lived in New York, Ellie had never been inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.   But as she walked down the front steps of the building, hand in hand with Lucian, she was grateful that she had waited.
    Experiencing it with Lucian was both exhilarating and deeply satisfying.
    He stood next to her as she explored almost every inch of the museum.   His strong, steady hand enveloped hers as she pulled him from room to room.   She spoke in hushed whispers, as if the statues and paintings would be disturbed by her if she spoke in her normal voice, and he responded the same way.   It was a brilliant day that she was able to share with the man who had come to mean much more to her than she could even explain to herself.   It was perfect.
    “Wanna grab some dinner?” he asked.
    “Thank you, Lucian,” she whispered as she turned to face him.   She slipped her arms around his shoulders, and right there on the busy sidewalk, she kissed him with all the passion that they had built from day one.
    He wound his arms around her waist and lifted her into his arms, until her chest was flush to his, and he proceeded to kiss her until her body grew hot and achy.   She wanted to be alone with him, to explore this heat between them, but she was shaken from her fantasy when someone called her name.
    “El?”
    Lucian lowered her to her feet, and she smoothed out her clothing, not taking her eyes off him.   Her body vibrated from the devastating kiss, but when she peeked up at him, the fierce expression on his face made her pause.   He was scowling at someone, and when she turned to see who it was, she jerked back when she spotted Tim and Amanda standing so close to them.   Lucian hauled her close, a protective arm around her shoulders, and she relaxed into him.
    “Hi, Tim, Amanda,” she said.
    “Hey, El, I thought that was you,” Tim said.
    She flinched at the nickname she hated, but the smiling man took no notice.   When she looked at the couple in front of her, she found that there were no lingering feelings for him.
    Because of them, she was with Lucian, who made her feel beautiful and comfortable in her own skin.   Tim was embarrassed from the way she dressed to the way she styled her hair, and although image didn’t matter that much to her, it became a big obstacle in their relationship.
    Amanda was perfect for him because she fit the mold of what he wanted.   Tall, blonde, stunning, and dressed the part.
    As her eyes shifted to Amanda, Ellie noticed that the other woman