Arranged Marriage: The Lost Bet

Chapter Twenty three

Lucas woke up the next morning stiff from sleeping on the hard floor. He sat up, stretched, and groaned when he saw the clock read 5:30. He made his way upstairs to shower.

Entering the bedroom, he approached Arianna and smiled as he noticed she was clutching one of his shirts.

"Don't even think about climbing into bed, Lucas Christopher. You're still in deep trouble for what you did yesterday," she said, keeping her eyes closed.

Lucas smirked and leaned down to kiss her. He didn't care that she was still upset; he just wanted to feel her close. "I'm sorry, Ari. I missed you. We never sleep apart, and I don't like it," he said, kissing her cheek and trailing down to her neck. Her soft moan made him smile.

She opened her eyes and pushed him away. "No, Lucas. You're still in the doghouse," she said, struggling to suppress a smile.

Lucas dipped his head and kissed her neck again, eliciting a soft moan from her. He lifted her arms and held them above her head, his voice low and filled with desire. "Come on, love, I can feel your body heating up beneath mine. Look at the goosebumps my kisses are leaving on your soft, silky skin." He trailed his hand down her arm, along the curve of her breast, and down her side, leaving a path of goosebumps in his wake.

Arianna moaned as she watched his hands move over her belly and up toward her breasts. "I know you want me as much as I want you. I'll be gentle, I promise. I'll make it hard for you not to scream as I make your body mine. Let me take off your shirt. I need to feel your chest against mine," he whispered in her ear.

Arianna's breath hitched, and she arched into him as he placed his hands at the hem of her shirt, allowing him to lift it off her.

Tossing the shirt across the room, Lucas gazed down at her with hunger, licking his lips as he took in her fuller, firmer breasts. He gently ran his hand down her neck and cupped her right breast. Hearing her moan fueled his desire, and while he wanted to slam into her until she screamed, he forced himself to take it slow.

"I'm so mad at you," she moaned, yet she didn't push him away.

Lucas smiled and kissed her swollen lips. "I know, but You won't be once I make sweet, passionate love to you."

After another kiss, he pulled away to take off his shirt.

"Where are you going?" Arianna cried out, missing his body heat.

"Just taking my shirt off, love. I'm not going anywhere," he reassured her, tossing his shirt across the room.

Climbing back into the bed, Lucas grabbed her hands and placed them on his shoulders. "Touch me, I know you want to."

Arianna licked her lips and obeyed, feeling his hard, muscular body pressing down on her, driving her wild with desire. Slowly, she ran her hands over his shoulders and down his massive arms, a rush of wetness pooling between her legs at the contact. She loved every inch of his body, and the tattoos that adorned his arms and back only heightened her excitement. The feel of his muscles flexing beneath her fingers sent shocks of pleasure through her.

Lucas guided her hands to his chest, and without needing any further instruction, she explored his pecs and down his chiseled eight-pack. Reaching his jeans, she moved her hands to his sides and up his back, marveling at his strength. "So strong and gorgeous," she whispered, her fingers tracing the contours of his muscular back. She heard him inhale sharply and looked into his lust-filled eyes, feeling a thrill at the effect she had on him.

When her hands reached his shoulders again, she tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him down to her, craving the closeness.

Lucas was trying hard to maintain control as her hands roamed over his body, every touch igniting a fire within him. He was ready to take her hard, but he held back, captivated by the way she bit her lip in anticipation. When she pulled him down by his hair, he lost all restraint and smashed his lips against hers, the kiss igniting everything that had been building between them.