ADELINE

 

I'M RIPPED OUT of a deep sleep by the sound of someone screaming.  It takes a moment to find the switch to the lamp next to me.  And by the time the light illuminates the room, Lucien's cries for help have intensified.

It's not the first time he's awoken me from a bad dream he'd had since I moved into his room, but he's never reacted this profoundly before.  His tortured cries freeze the blood running through my veins, and I can feel the tears gathering in my eyes as he murmurs, "Please, no.  Don't touch me.  Please.  It hurts!"

I've only garnered a little information about Lucien's past from what he's shared with me, but I know that he suffered immensely as a child, much more than he'll probably ever admit to me…or anyone.

If the nightmares are any indication of what he went through, I'm surprised he even made it through his childhood alive.

I know I probably shouldn't wake him, but his cries are too much to bear.  I can't watch him suffer through that real-life nightmare again.  I grab one of his arms thrashing in the air.  "Lucien!" I cry, hoping that my voice will break through the spell he's under.

He's fighting me now, and his arm wrenches out of my grip.  He's stuck in the nightmare, not realizing that I'm trying to help him, not harm him.

His head shakes back and forth quickly as he whispers in a small, shattered voice, "No, no, no," over and over again, breaking my heart all over again.

Feeling like I have no other choice, I straddle him on the bed and grab his arms, pinning them down on the mattress.  "Lucien!" I shout.

His eyes snap open, and the next thing I know, my world is turned upside down and I'm pinned underneath him.  His ragged, rapid breaths are the only sounds in the room as he stares down at me with a blank expression on his face.

"It's me," I tell him.  "It's me, Lucien.  You're safe."  I twist my right hand out of his tight grip and place my palm against his cheek.  "You're safe," I adamantly tell him again.  He's drenched in sweat, and I can practically hear his heart trying to beat its way out of his chest.  "I'm here, Luc.  I'm here."

Eventually, his eyes focus on me, and I can see the confusion and then the shame appear on his handsome face.  He suddenly shoves away from me and sits on the edge of the bed, facing away from me.  "I…I'm…I'm sorry Adeline," he says between pants, sucking in shuddering breaths as his muscular back shudders.  "I…I didn't hurt you…did I?"

"No," I tell him.  I might have a bruise or two from his strong grip, but nothing to worry him about now.  Besides, I wouldn't blame him for something completely out of his control.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he chants repeatedly, hanging his head in shame.  Abruptly, he stands and paces the floor beside the bed.  "Maybe we should move you back into your own room.  It's not safe with you here with me.  Not safe.  Too dangerous," he mutters rapidly.

I sit up on my knees and grab his hand, pulling him on top of me once more.  I put my hands on either side of his face and force him to meet my gaze.  "You're not getting rid of me that easily," I tell him with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.  Leaning up, I kiss his soft lips.

But he doesn't kiss me back.

When I lean back on the pillow, I can see the tormented expression on his face.  He's still thinking about what happened in the dream.  He's still thinking about who hurt him.

"I'm sorry that I'm so fucked up," he whispers, squeezing his eyes shut and grimacing as if he's in pain.

Gently, I push him to lie down beside me.  At first, he gives me a worried look, probably thinking that I'm pushing him away and that I'm going to leave.

But then I slowly strip out of my pajama top and shorts, and his eyes widen in surprise.  "Let's replace the bad with something good," I suggest to him as I straddle his muscular legs.  I reach into his boxers and pull out his heavy, flaccid cock.  Gently, I begin to run my fingertips over his soft skin, and it begins to harden from my touch.  He lets out a low moan and stares at me with trepidation.

"I want to make you forget, Lucien," I tell him.  "So if you ever think about that bad memory again, you have something new, something better to think about."

He groans as I begin to stroke him.  With my free hand resting on his muscular chest, I can feel the moment he starts to relax.  He's letting go…and he's letting me in.

We can face his demons together, and I will slay every one with my own bare hands if I have to.

His hand moves to my clit, stroking me lightly with his fingers to get me ready for him.  And when I'm practically a panting and quivering mess, I hover over him and grab his thick member, lining it up with my entrance.

Our eyes meet, and Lucien gives me no warning before he thrusts up inside of me.  It's such a good hurt, and I bite my lip to keep from crying out.

His hips piston up and down, thrusting his thick cock in and out of me while his fingertips brush against my sensitive, little nub, strumming me like a finely tuned instrument only he knows how to play.

I come undone time after time again, but he doesn't stop.  He never stops.  And I meet him thrust for thrust, pushing myself down as he drives his hips up to meet me.

Lucien groans louder than I've ever heard him, and it turns me on.  I lean down and sink my teeth into his lower lip like he has done to me so many times before, and he lets out a whimper and moan.

He pulls back and gazes up at me with a heated gaze as he stills his hips.  "Ride my fucking cock," he demands with a sharp slap to my ass.

I place my palms against his hard, chiseled abs, and I ride him, slow at first before speeding up and then slowing down once more.

He groans almost in agony, but he doesn't try to take control of the pace.  He's letting me be the one in power now.  And considering Lucien never relinquishes control over anything, this is a huge step for him…and for both of us.

His thumbs brush over my pebbled nipples before he begins to knead my breasts in his large hands and then tug and pinch my nipples.  Hard.

I'm gasping in need as I impale myself over and over again on his hard length, my body slamming down against his muscular thighs.

"I'm gonna…" I start, but I can't even finish before I'm crying out in ecstasy.

"Yes," he hisses.  "Come for me, Adeline.  Come all over my fucking cock."

I ride out wave after wave until I finally collapse forward against his chest.  Not skipping a beat, Lucien grabs my ass possessively and begins to thrust in and out of me faster and faster, dragging out my orgasm to new unprecedented heights.

I moan his name loudly, clutching him to me, never wanting to let him go.  "I love you," I whisper in his ear.  "I love you, Lucien."

His thrusts falter for a moment, but he continues to fuck me.  His hands grasp my face, and he forces me to look at him.  "Say it again," he growls.

"I love you, I love you, I love you!" I cry out.

"Fuck, Adeline."  He pumps into me a few more times before he shouts his release, spilling deep inside of me, as we both collapse in exhaustion.

I curl up against his chest and listen to his thundering heartbeat.  I didn't intend to tell Lucien how I really feel about him, but the moment just seemed right.  I know he didn't say it back, but I truly didn't expect him to.

After a few moments, I glance up at him.  My mouth meets his in a scorching kiss.

Then he suddenly pulls away, his dark eyes piercing mine under furrowed brows.  "You're mine, Adeline.  And I'm never letting you go," he says with stern possessiveness that makes me shiver.

It's not the three words I wanted to hear, but it might be as close as I'll ever get.  In his own way, Lucien just confessed his true feelings for me in those two sentences.

"Ditto," I breathe against his lips.