Page 76 of A Win-Win Situation
"Do you want to know how funny I actually find you?" he teases, his smile morphing into a seductive smirk and his eyes taking on a darker intensity.
Yes, please tell me.
My mind races with anticipation as I nod, unable to resist the allure of his charming gaze. Before I can even process what's happening, he’s leaning in so his lips are tantalizingly close to mine, paralyzing me.
"I think"—he slowly moves to my ear—"you're so funny that I want to turn that laughter of yours into screams as I bend you over my knees," he whispers, sending shivers down my spine. My mind goes blank—the intensity of his words leaving me breathless and my body aching with desire. Would he really do that? Is spanking something he's into? I’ve never done anything like that. My one and only partner liked it simple—at least with me. However, the mere thought of Lucas touching me, let alone spanking me, ignites a fire deep within me, and I feel the heat pooling between my legs.
"Wh-what?" I manage to stammer, feeling both aroused and intimidated by his boldness.
He grins in victory, as if he knows precisely what effect he's having on me. Before I can say anything else, he stands up and starts walking away. I catch him looking back at me with thoseinfuriatingly charming eyes as he says, "Don't underestimate me, sweetheart. Go pack your bag."
I roll my eyes at him but as I sit here, alone and turned on, I know two things for sure: one, I'm definitely going to be in trouble in Paris, and two, I need to get back at him.
TWENTY-SEVEN
LUCAS
Thomas picked us up from the airport with a loud,"Welcome to Paris, lovebirds."He was all smiles as he gave us hugs.
That smile is still plastered on his face as we all sit together in their living room, with him and Amélie on one sofa, and Leora and I on the other.
"I can’t believe Lucas has a wife. Never in a million years did I think he would settle down. Right, my love? Didn’t I tell you that Lucas always seems too focused on work and was no fun?" Thomas turns toward Amélie and points between Leora and I.
"Oh stop it, Thomas, you’ve been in shock for the past month. Can’t you see that he finally found the right woman?" The last part is said with a soft smile in Leora's direction.
Amélie and Thomas have been married for five years, but the three of us have been friends since university. That’s where we met; we bonded over our dislike for our Strategic Management professor, whose lectures could put anyone to sleep faster than a lullaby, but we all managed to get through the class together.
"So, tell us. How did he propose?" She aims her question at Leora.
"Oh yes! It’s a wonderful story." Leora looks at me with a smirk that promises mischief. Why she does that, I don’t know,because we already have a story where I proposed under the starlit sky—manly and romantic.
"He came over to my place just three months after we started talking. We were already head over heels for each other, but can you blame me?" she says, taking hold of my chin affectionately, "Just look at him. That evening, he decided to take me to a stunning rooftop terrace so we could look at the moon together."
"Oh, good job, brother," Thomas says, giving me a thumbs up.
"Yes, it was truly beautiful, but it gets better."
I glance at her, silently pleading with her to stick to the script. But she just smirks and continues, "As I get up to the terrace, I’m met by a live band that plays an acoustic version of ‘Marry You’ by Bruno Mars, and Lucas, who’s standing next to them, is wearing a white suit."
Thomas shifts his gaze to me, and the look on his face is making me want to scream. He’s looking at me as if he doesn't recognize me. I’ve stated once before that I would never be caught dead in a white suit. I only wear them in black, gray, or dark blue.
Just when I think the situation can't get any worse, Leora starts talking again, and I can feel every nerve in my body telling me to make her stop.
Leora looks at me with a sly smile before turning back to Amélie, who's leaning forward in her seat with anticipation. "So, Lucas walks towards me slowly, and hands me a large box with a blue bow on top."
Amélie's eyes widen as she asks, "What was inside the box?"
Leora's grin grows wider as she continues, "Inside the box was a teddy bear, dressed in a matching white suit, holding another small box. Inside that box was a beautiful ring, and when I looked up, Lucas was down on one knee, a tear runningdown his cheek, holding a love letter that he read to me. It said?—"
"It said, 'Will you marry me? Yes or no?'" I interject, hoping to put an end to her ridiculous story. "She said yes, and that's the end of it."
Thomas burst out laughing and I can feel my face turning bright red.
"A teddy bear in a matching suit," he echoes as he wipes the tears from his eyes. "Who are you, and what have you done with my friend?"
"I think it’s sweet!" Amélie says, slapping Thomas’s shoulder.
"Can I see your ring, Leora?"
