He was the most enigmatic man she'd ever met. On the one hand he was a Thor-like sex warrior, perfectly at home slinking around the debaucherous outposts of his commercial empire, and on the other hand he was a man who craved his solitude and privacy and loved this rare and extra-ordinary setting. It was a heady combination, and it left Sophie wanting very much to know the roots of this man who existed between the two extremes.

"And this is the jacuzzi."

Lucien's words broke her reverie, and she refocused on the wrap-around deck that surrounded the cabin. They were at the back of the lodge now, facing directly out over the lake and distant mountains. A large, steaming hot tub squatted square in front of her, and a smile of pure bliss touched her lips at the idea of climbing into the warm bubbles and looking out at that view. Lucien splayed his hands to the side, obviously especially proud of this extra special touch.

"Fancy a dip?" she asked, saucily echoing the question he'd asked her back in the Gateway Club.

"Maybe later."

"Touché."

Sophie trailed her fingers in the warm water.

"I can't anyway. I didn't bring a bikini."

Lucien rolled his eyes. "As if I’d let you wear one." He pressed a button and the jacuzzi stopped bubbling. "Until tonight." The sudden silence on the deck was deafening.  "Let's go inside." Lucien took her still damp hand in his own warm one. "There's something we need to do."

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Back in the lounge, Sophie was gladdened to see the freshly laid fire crackling in the fireplace. The air outside held a wintry nip, and she kicked off her shoes and moved to stand in front of the flames to warm her bottom. Lucien shrugged out of his jacket and crossed to stand in front of her to unwind her scarf, then unbuttoned her coat and eased it down her arms. Despite the loss of a layer, Sophie felt warmer rather than chilled, a combination of the effect of the fire and the heat of desire that always found her when she looked at this man.

"The staff have all gone home." He stroked a fingertip over her collarbone.

The meaning behind his words was clear. We're alone here, we can do whatever we like. The fire that warmed her backside was nothing to the blaze his words sparked in her belly. Lucien's eyes slid over her shoulder, and without turning around she knew what he was looking at. The acorn. His eyes moved back to hers, a glint of amusement in them as he ran a hand behind her and fondled her bottom.

"Now strip off and bend over."

Sophie's eyes widened in alarm, but Lucien shook his head.

"I'm joking, Sophie." His hand still stroked her denim-clad backside. "Haven't you learned yet to trust me?" His other hand moved to play with the top button of her blouse. "By the time we get around to using that acorn, you'll be begging for it."

Sophie's gaze lingered on his mouth. She didn't doubt him for a second. His lips parted a little, and she leaned in close. Nose to nose, breath to breath, until she watched his eyelids drift down a second before his mouth touched hers.

Desire coursed through her as he took his own sweet time with the kiss, his hands stroking her body as his tongue danced a slow tango with hers. Sophie felt her nipples peak as his palms brushed her breasts, and she reached for her buttons to remove the barriers of clothing. She wanted his hands on her skin.

"Too warm, Ms. Black?"

Lucien helped her off with her blouse and shed his shirt too, then paused to run a finger down the strap of her lace bra. "Shall I take this off too?" Sophie got the distinct impression that the question did not require much of an answer, but she played along.

"I am still rather hot," she supplied, and all but batted her eyelids.

Lucien unsnapped it in one assured flick.

"Better?" He slid the straps down her arms, leaving her naked from the waist up.

"I've decided you can keep the blushing," Lucien said. "You’re more like a ripe peach than ever. Creamy flesh..." his fingers drifted down her throat and arrived at her nipple. "And rose pink just here." He circled his thumb around it. "And here." His other hand touched her other nipple, and he played with them delicately.

Sophie watched him, getting a kick out of the carnal pleasure in his eyes as he looked at her body.  And then her eyes roved down the cords of his neck, over the beautiful definition of his shoulders and the granite contours of his abdominal muscles, and it was her turn to be seduced. He was eye-wateringly sexy, and her fingers found the top button of his jeans all of their own accord.

She flicked her eyes back to his face and saw him appraise the situation, then he reached for her jeans and mirrored her action.

She freed his second metal stud from its buttonhole, and Lucien did the same with the slightest flick of his eyebrows.

When she popped the third she knew what to expect, and seconds later they helped each other out of their jeans. Lucien went the whole way and shed his underwear at the same time, and even though she'd seen it before, Sophie swallowed hard at the sight of his cock. He was rigid and ready, as she'd known he would be. Was he ever anything else?

She left only her little black knickers on, as much for the thrill of having Lucien remove them as out of modesty.

"Do you need a little help with these?" Lucien's thumbs slid under the sides of them.

Sophie nodded and chewed her lip.

"I think I might."

He ran his hands over the material, smooth over her bottom, exploring between her legs. Sophie closed her eyes and willed him to take them off, yet he seemed in no hurry. Her eyes flew open in surprise when he placed one arm behind her knees and the other behind her back and swept her off her feet into his arms. It was so entirely primeval, and so entirely sexy to find herself held against his chest, that she looped her arms around his neck and clung on.

He held her as if she weighed nothing but air, and for a second she felt every inch the damsel in distress being rescued from disaster or the jaws of a dragon. Except no disaster movie she'd ever seen featured the hero stark naked with the head of his erection skimming the damsel's backside.

His mouth was a temptation, right there and ripe when she tilted her face up. She tightened her arms around his neck and pulled his kiss to her, a gentle, slow graze of his mouth that left her wanting, a languid hint of tongue that sent her reeling. Her fingers crept into his hair and held his mouth to hers, and she shifted in his arms to feel his cock rub against her bottom a little more. It was a prelude, and already he had her gagging for the main event.

He eased down onto his knees and laid her on the huge sheepskin rug in front of the fireplace. She wriggled her back against the soft sensation.