Chapter 289

After a brief silence, Lucille looked up at Spencer and asked a little embarrassedly, "Does it hurt?"

Her voice was lowered, but it did nothing to hide the allure and tenderness in it. When she spoke, her breath fanned over his Adam's apple, making his heart tingle. His Adam's apple bobbed subconsciously.

Lucille panicked a little at his silence. She was about to get up to check on his back—she was sure she'd heard him grunt—but as soon as she moved, he tightened his grip on her waist, keeping her in place.

Then, he said, "Don't move. I'm fine. Let's talk like this."

"Are you really okay?" She reached out to feel his back as she spoke.

Spencer's temples throbbed. She was doing this on purpose, wasn't she? He suppressed the desire burning within him and kept his expression icy. "Have you developed an addiction to lying to me, Mrs. Layton?"

When she'd yelped earlier, he'd genuinely thought she was unwell. He didn't expect Lucille, who was always cool and composed, to pull such a sn