When I'm With You Part IV by Beth Kery Page B

where we met at the market the other day.” He located a plastic bag and walked over to the closet, where he began scooping up loads of designer shoes and shoving them into it.
    â€œThat’s a very nice area. But . . .”
    â€œWhat?” he asked, his irritation growing when she continued to stand there, frozen.
    Naked.
    Lovely.
    He raised his eyebrows in impatient expectancy when she didn’t immediately reply.
    â€œWell . . . don’t you want to . . . finish?” she asked, staring at the bed and then down to his heavy cock.
    His body leapt into full, throbbing readiness once again as he stared at her naked beauty and experienced the graphic fantasy of him laying her on that sagging bed and sinking into the glory of her. It was because of her uncertainty—what he could only call shyness—that he found his strength. How could such a flagrant wild child seem so naïve at times?
    â€œI will not make love to you for the first time in this hellhole, but on my terms and in my place of choosing,” he stated simply.
    He saw her throat convulse as she swallowed.
    â€œAnd Elise? The time
will
be of my choosing. Never think otherwise.”
    Rebellion flashed in her eyes, but she quickly cast her gaze downward, hiding it. Much to his surprise, she contained her pique sufficiently not to reply. She dressed fleetly before helping him pack up her belongings.
    * * *
    His condominium was everything Elise expected it to be, given it was Lucien’s lair—sensual, rich, masculine décor set within the ideal backdrop of the lake facing the east, and the labyrinth of sparkling high-rises to the north and the west. Of course, since it was Lucien, he was on the top floor of the building, occupying the premier penthouse.
    When they first arrived in the hushed, luxurious residence perched high above the city, Lucien took the suitcase she’d been rolling along with the one he’d been carrying. “Why don’t you relax for a moment here in the living room,” he said, nodding toward the large, breathtaking expanse of space before floor-to-ceiling windows. “I’m going to get your room ready for you.”
    â€œ
My
room?” Elise said, startled.
    He studied her from beneath hooded eyelids. “I told you, we will do this at my pace. Are you willing to accept that?”
    She bit her lower lip, trying hard to disguise her disappointment. She’d been hoping to lie next to Lucien’s body, absorb his heat, his strength, tease him until he couldn’t deny her the delicious explosion of his male power. She longed to be taken, to be claimed. She craved having her fill of him—of letting him take his fill of her—of falling into an exhausted sleep only to awaken and begin all over again. . . .
    She’d never been so
hungry
, so starved for a man in her life.
    When she noticed he waited, his eyebrows raised, she nodded reluctantly. Apparently, Lucien had different ideas as to how he wanted things to proceed.
    â€œSay you accept that we’ll do this at my pace,” he said, and she realized he expected her to put the promise into words.
    She vanquished her frown. “I accept.”
    â€œGood. Just give me a moment to get things set for you.”
    She murmured with pleasure a few minutes later when he led her into a large bedroom suite decorated with toasty brown shining antiques, beige walls, and decadently soft-looking ivory bed coverings and furniture. Silk and fine wool curtains draped elegantly from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
    â€œIt’s a far cry from the Cedar Home Hotel,” she murmured teasingly as she tossed her purse on the luxurious four-poster bed.
    â€œI should hope so.” She glanced up curiously when he paused a few feet away from her. What would he do now?
    â€œThere are fresh towels in the bathroom. My maid comes on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. If you have any special