Page 23 of The Rebel Billionaire

It was a Pilsner. I must have made a face, because Lucas said, "Not a beerdrinker?"

"I am, but I like IPAs better," Iadmitted.

"Fancy," he said with a raisedeyebrow.

"Not really. Lots of people drink IPAs these days." I took a long sip to prove it wasn't a problem. The beer wasn't that bad. Not my first choice, but notawful.

"I meant what I said before," Lucas saidcryptically.

"Which part?" I asked, my hand over my mouth to cover my obviouschewing.

"You don't fuck anyone else while we'refucking."

I bit my lip to cover the laugh that wanted to bubble out. If he had any idea how long it had been since I'd slept with anyone, he wouldn't have worried about warning me offothermen.

"So you want monogamy, but not a relationship,"Isaid.

"I don't share," he said, his eyes meeting mine with a straightforward gaze that offered no excuses. He'd said what he wanted, and it was up to me to agree or walk away fromthedeal.

Like I was going to do that. I'd never had an orgasm like that in my entire life, and now lawnmower hottie was offering me the security of monogamy without the responsibility of a relationship. Iwasin.

"I can do that," I said, "as long as the same applies to you. When either of us is ready to move on, we have to let the other know andit'llend."

"I think you just described the perfectrelationship."

"I do have a condition,"Isaid.

"Strings already? That didn'ttakelong."

I couldn't tell if he was messing with me. It didn't matter. I was serious about my condition. If he couldn't do this one small thing for me, we'd have aproblem.

"Stop calling me Charlotte," I said. His eyebrows raised. "Outside of the office, everyone calls me Charlie. The only two people who've ever called me Charlotte are Elizabeth and my father. Elizabeth is a raging bitch, and I really don't want you to remind me of myfather."

"Elizabeth, your brother's ex-wife?" Lucas asked, taking another piece ofpizza.

I nodded. I didn't want to talk about Elizabeth, but I was the one who'd broughtherup.

"We don't get along. She's a bitch and she doesn't like me. I think she resented being stuck with the rebellious teenager when she married Aiden. Aiden thought she could help him raise me, but Elizabeth isn't the maternal type. I always liked being called Charlotte before Elizabeth. Only my dad called me Charlotte, and it was special, but after years of hearing Elizabeth shriek at me, it just gives me the shivers. And not in agoodway."

Lucas chewed his pizza and appeared to be thinking over what I'd said. He swallowed and took a sip of beer before hespoke.

"I can call you Charlie. But if there were ever a woman who shouldn't be called by a man's name,it'syou."

"I think that's a compliment," I said. I hoped it was a compliment. Lucas didn't answer, just grinned at me with a hungry look in his eyes. "Well, consider me a study in contradiction, because I only answer toCharlie."

"Charlie it is," he agreed. "Do you want any morepizza?"

I shook my head. I had a moment to wonder if he was going to leave before he tossed the pizza box on the floor, set his empty beer bottle beside it, and pulled mine from my fingers to dothesame.

Then I was flat on my back, his long body looming over mine, a devilish grin on his face. He had my shirt off in a whisk of fabric, his eyes scanning my bare body as if he was trying to decide where he wanted tostart.

I was open to suggestion. So far, he hadn't done a single thing I didn't love. While he was thinking, I ran my hands down his chest, tracing the ridges of his muscles until I reached hishipbones.

Lucas Jackson was built on a large scale, every inch of him beautifully formed. Even his scars. Both of my hands moved in from his hips, following the lines of that oh, so sexy V that pointed straight down to his thick,hardcock.

I wasn't completely sure what I was doing with Lucas. I'd done some reckless things lately, but getting involved with my unknown tattooed neighbor was at the top ofthelist.

All I knew for sure was that I wanted more of him. I definitely wanted more of that cock. Lucas shuddered in my grip. Bracing his weight on one arm, he reached down to pull my handsoffhim.