Chapter Twelve
Lia
There has been little time to think in the last week with both Lucian and I battling the flu. When he and Sam dropped me at home this morning, it had suddenly hit me; my court date is coming up, and I had completely forgotten it. The happy bubble I have been existing in is effectively pierced.
It’s obvious this morning that Lucian was still troubled by what had happened during the night. He checked the bump on my head again, and I assured him it didn’t hurt. I wanted to ask him about the dream, but I didn’t know how. The sound of him choking was bad enough, but his words last night had been even worse. He sounded so scared, so horrified; I knew these weren’t just random dreams. How long had this been going on? I can’t imagine waking up like that every night. I have had nightmares about my stepfather on and off, but nothing of that magnitude. He had given me a brief kiss and told me he would call when I stepped from the car earlier. I wanted to act like a teenager and demand to know when, but I just smiled instead and waved at him through the glass as the car pulled away. I felt a childish urge to cry and had no idea why.
It has been eight days since I’ve seen Lucian. He texted me a couple times to ask how I am doing, saying he has some things going on at work that are keeping him busy. Regardless of what he says, I know this is about the nightmare and his need to pull away from me because of it. I go about my life, and I continue to show up at his apartment on my usual schedule, but he is never there. Only the dirty clothes and unmade bed show me he is indeed coming home at some point. I try not to let it show, but the loss of his presence in my life is taking a toll on me. I miss him so damn much. I alternate between wanting to send him a nasty text and begging to see him again. Not stalking his office is one of the hardest things I’d ever done.
Rose has tried to question me about it, but she finally backed off when I snapped her head off one time too many. I also have my court appearance coming up at the end of the week, and I am a bundle of nerves at the thought of seeing my stepfather and my mother. I feel lonely and depressed as I walk down the hallway to Lucian’s apartment. As I open the door and step over the threshold, I freeze. Even with no visual proof, I know he’s here. The smell of coffee is heavy in the air and as I stand quietly, the sound of someone moving around in the kitchen can be heard.
I set my keys and purse on the entryway table and walk slowly in the direction of the sound. Lucian is standing at the island with his back to me. He’s dressed casually in jeans and a polo shirt. His hair is damp, indicating a recent shower. I stand drinking him in, my eyes roaming over him hungrily. God, I have missed him so much. I see the moment he becomes aware of my presence; his body straightens, and his breath seems to catch. When he spins around, we both just look at each other. Finally, he gives me a lopsided grin, saying, “Hey, baby, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Hi,” I manage to croak out. He called me baby. Does that mean things are okay between us? Do I care? Shouldn’t I be pissed off at him? I mean, I know we aren’t in a formal relationship, but don’t I deserve some kind of explanation for his disappearance? Shit, now I sound like all the other girls I knew who ended up complete basket cases over a man. When he walks over and pulls me into his arms, I am rigid, unsure of what we’re doing.
I am completely floored when he puts his forehead against mine and simply stays there for a moment. “I’m sorry, baby.” I know he’s referring to the disappearing act he has pulled on me for the last week.
“Did I do something?” I cringe, knowing the question makes me sound like an unsophisticated child, but I really need to know if I have done something to make him pull away.
He pulls back to kiss the tip of my nose before pulling me fully into his arms. “No, Lia,” he murmurs against the curve of my neck. “I just…lost it when I hurt you that night. It’s been a long time since I’ve had those dreams, and that was one of the worst I can remember. I could have really hurt you, and it scared the hell out of me.”
“Luc, it was nothing. I barely bumped my head. I should have known better than to startle someone who was clearly dreaming. If anything, it was my fault.”
He leans down, kissing me lightly, his gaze roaming my face. “We just need to be more careful,” he says lightly. “I…have some sleeping pills I can take at night that help if it continues to happen. Just get up and leave me the next time, baby. Please don’t run the risk of touching me. Eventually, I’ll wake myself up; I always do.”
“What are the dreams about? You’ve obviously been having them off and on for a while. Are they…memories of something happening to you?”
He stares at some point past my shoulder for a moment, and just when I think he’s going to ignore my question, he says, “It’s something that happened a long time ago.” He pulls back and motions toward his cup. “Coffee?” I know the subject is closed as far as he’s concerned. I let it go because even with the secrets between us, I’m thrilled to see him and don’t want to do anything to change that. I’ve only known Lucian a short while, and it’s way too early in whatever kind of relationship we have to demand all his secrets.
I walk over to where he is pouring my cup of coffee and lean against his muscular back. I just need a few more minutes of physical contact after days of being deprived of his warmth. When he turns to pull me back into his arms, the look he gives me tells me he feels the same way. Whatever this thing is between us, one thing is clear: I’m not the only one who has suffered the last week. “I missed you,” I admit against his chest.
His arms tighten around me, one hand tangling in my hair. “Me too, baby, too fucking much. Spend the day with me?”
I think fleetingly of my school and his work. I have just gotten caught up on everything I missed when I was out for a few days with the flu. I don’t give a damn, though. If he is willing to play hooky today, then I’m more than happy to join him. “Really? What do you have in mind, handsome?” He chuckles against me, knowing I’m teasing him.
“I thought we could drive out to my house. I haven’t been there in a few weeks, and I need to check on things. There’s an indoor pool, so we can go for a swim, if you like. Just have a lazy day doing whatever we want.”
Grinning, I say, “That sounds perfect, but I don’t have a swimsuit with me. Could we drop by my apartment on the way?”
He pulls away, swatting my ass lightly. “Absolutely not. No clothes allowed in the pool. I’d just have to take them off to fuck you, so what sense would that make?”
He makes the statement so nonchalantly; I just shrug and say, “Good point. I’m ready when you are.” In a few moments, we are in the parking garage, and he is leading me toward the Range Rover. I cover my mouth dramatically, saying, “Oh, wow! Lucian Quinn is going to drive today. Is Sam busy?”
He backs me up against the car, running a hand down between my legs to cup me through the material of my pants. “Maybe Sam doesn’t want to see me touching your sweet pussy today.”
I moan, shamelessly riding his hand. “Good point,” I croak out, making him laugh. I want to object when he releases me but manage to swallow my protest; it’s enough right now just to be with him again. For the first time in eight days, my world is bright, and it’s all because of the man sitting beside me. When he reaches over to take my hand before setting them both on his thigh, I sigh in contentment.
Twenty minutes later, we are pulling through an impressive set of stone pillars, down a well-manicured driveway, and pulling to a stop in front of an equally impressive home. The bottom is made of stone and the top a shingle-type siding; it seems to sprawl out in every direction. Large picture windows gleam in the sunshine, and the circular drive in the front is lined on both sides with flowers. Even though the house must be worth a small fortune, I am surprised at how unassuming it seems.
Lucian walks around and opens my door, kissing me briefly on the lips before shutting it behind me. “Welcome to Casa Quinn, baby.”
“Why, thank you. It’s really beautiful here.” I look around, seeing no other houses in the distance. “I’m surprised you have this much privacy here. Most of the houses seemed pretty close together on the way in.”
“My parents purchased several lots to build on. They loved the area but didn’t want close neighbors. Come on, I want to say hello to Fae before she leaves.” I assume Fae must be the caretaker; a house this size probably requires several people to keep it in such great condition.
I’m surprised when instead of using a key to enter his home Lucian rings the bell. The door is pulled open almost immediately and an attractive woman in blue scrubs stands there beaming at us. “Luc! Honey, I’m so happy to see you. Why in the heck do you insist on ringing the doorbell, though? You do know you own the place, right?” Before he can answer, she throws her arms around his neck and without hesitation, he returns the embrace. When she releases him, he turns to me, taking my hand to pull me closer.
“I want you to meet Lia. Lia, this is my Aunt Fae. She raised me after my parents died. She was my dad’s sister.” The woman studying me in something akin to shock looks far too young to be Lucian’s aunt. Her long, dark hair is pulled up in a ponytail and even through her scrubs; her figure is fit and trim. Her face is unlined, and she could pass easily for his sister.
I extend a hand to her, saying, “It’s great to meet you.” Since Lucian has never mentioned her, I have no other pleasantries to add, and a moment of silence ensues.
Finally, the other woman takes my hand, giving me a genuine but curious smile. “It’s a pleasure, sweetie. Sorry to zone out on you there, but my boy here hasn’t brought a woman home since…well, you know, in a long time, so this is a bit of a surprise.” A look passes between Lucian and his aunt so fast I’m not sure if I have imagined the whole thing. “Anyway, you two come on in. I have some coffee in the kitchen. I was just straightening up before I left for work.” Lucian explains that his aunt works at the memorial hospital downtown as a nursing supervisor.
I follow Fae through a large foyer with Lucian trailing behind us. The house has an open floor plan with high ceilings and tan-colored walls. We make our way past a curving staircase and into a bright, airy kitchen. The cabinets are antique-distressed, and the granite is a matching light color. Fae walks straight to the coffee pot and fills her mug. A grin spreads across my face at the caption on the cup: ‘Nurses do it for twelve hours straight.’ Judging by the house, Lucian comes from money, so his aunt is a bit of a surprise. “How’s the new groundskeeper working out?” Lucian asks.
Fae takes a sip of her coffee before answering. “He seems okay. I walked him through everything, but you might want to talk to him while you’re here today. I saw his truck come in a few minutes ago, so he should be out at the barn.”
“I’ll go ahead and walk down there before he gets started.” He turns and drops a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll be right back. You going to be okay?” I nod my head when what I really want to do is follow him out of the kitchen. His aunt seems nice, but I have no desire to be stuck with a stranger until Luc returns.
When she offers me a mug and points to the pot, I gratefully accept it; at least I have something to do with my hands for a moment. “Let’s walk out to the sunroom; it’s nice out there this time of the morning.” She leads to me into a sitting room with a comfortable sofa, matching armchairs, a fireplace, and coffee table. “So, how long have you known Luc?” I look up, noting that her interest in me hasn’t faded.
“Um…about a month I guess.” As we walk by the fireplace, I notice some pictures and stop in front of them. I squint down at one that shows two teenage boys and a girl. I recognize a younger Lucian immediately and the other boy looks familiar, as well.
Fae stops beside me and picks up the picture. “The three amigos. You never saw one without the other two close behind. They were nothing alike, but boy, did they bond.” She points to Lucian, “my serious one,” then to the boy on the other side of the girl, “and my golden one.” When I point to the girl she has skipped over in the middle, she says quietly, “My dark one.”
Pointing to Lucian, I ask, “I know that’s Luc, but who are the other two?”
She smiles fondly. “The other boy is Aidan and the girl is Cassie.”
“Ah, I knew I recognized him.” I point to Aidan. “I’ve met him before. How about Cassie? Where is she now?”
Fae puts the picture back, walking to the sofa, and sitting down heavily. “She’s…away. She doesn’t live here.” Her discomfort is obvious. I remember her calling Cassie ‘her dark one’ and wonder why. Out of nowhere, she says, “I’m so happy Luc brought you here. He hasn’t let a woman close to him in so long.”
I feel compelled to clarify my place in his life. I don’t want her to think that things are serious between us when they’re not. Heck, I don’t even know what they are. “We haven’t known each other that long, so we’re just…seeing each other right now.” I don’t think she needs to know we are also having mind-blowing sex, so I keep that to myself.
She surprises me when she reaches over to pat my hand. “Honey, if Luc brought you here, then there is something more than casual between you. I’m not naïve. I know he has women in his life, but he never brings them here, and according to Aidan, he doesn’t have them in his apartment either.” I’m further astounded to see her blink back what are plainly tears as she adds, “He seems lighter, happier.” Lucian walks into the room at that moment, settling on the couch beside me. I see him studying his aunt’s face, possibly noticing the drying moisture there, but he says nothing. After a few moments, she stands. “I’ve got to get to work. You two should stay and enjoy the day. There is plenty of food for lunch.”
Lucian drops an arm around my shoulders, smirking down at me. “I believe Lia wants to go for a swim, don’t you?” I feel myself blushing as I dig my elbow into Lucian’s side.
I want to groan as his aunt unknowingly adds fuel to his nasty thoughts. “Great idea. Luc can whip something up, and you two can just eat out there.” His big body shakes beside me as he assures his aunt he had intended to eat out there all along. When I hear the door shut behind her, I jump up, putting my hands on my hips.
“You’re just evil, you know that, right? By the look on your aunt’s face, she knew exactly where your mind was…in the gutter!”
He holds his hands up, looking like the picture of innocence. “What? You did want to go for a swim, and there was some mention of eating something sweet out there. I was just agreeing with her.” I huff in response, trying to look angry. In truth, now that the embarrassment of his aunt thinking I’m some sort of slut has passed, I’m just hot, bothered, and needy. His words have struck a direct line right to my clit, and it’s throbbing for his attention.
“Oh, baby,” he growls, seeing the look on my face. “Come here, I’m ready for my appetizer.”
“No, oh, no!” I hold out a hand to stop him. “I’m so not getting naked on your aunt’s couch.”
He looks adorably confused as he asks, “What’s the difference between the couch and the pool? I’m sure she uses both of them.”
“The pool has chemicals and stuff to, you know…kill off the evidence.” Lucian appears vastly amused by my statement.
“Baby, unless there’s something I’m unaware of, I don’t think we need to ‘kill off evidence.’” He jumps to his feet, smacking my ass on his way by. “You want to be fucked in the pool, just tell me. No need to make up all these excuses.” I sputter behind him indignantly.
Then, I surprise us both when I say, “Oh, hell, who am I kidding. I do want to be fucked in the pool.” His mouth is hanging open as I walk by him, unbuttoning my pants. I have no idea where I’m going, but when he scoops me into his arms, I know he’ll take care of the rest.
“That was seriously hot,” he says as he cradles me against his chest. I smile proudly in return before looking around at where we’ve stopped.
“Oh, my,” I stare in wonder. The room we have stepped into has huge sliding doors with a patio beyond them. Chaise lounges are arranged both inside and out. Lush greenery and a beautiful waterfall into the pool create a tropical paradise right out of a movie. “Oh, Luc, this is gorgeous.”
He smiles at me shyly, seeming pleased by my comment. “My dad had this built for my mom. She had rheumatoid arthritis from a very young age, and the pool helped her with the discomfort. She used it almost every day. I know it seems like a waste to maintain it when it’s not used that much anymore, but I just…can’t stop.”
Turning to him, I stroke his cheek. “Of course, you have to keep it.” He takes my hand, nipping playfully at my fingers.
“I believe something was mentioned about feeding me lunch.” I know what he wants, and even though I am far from the most seductive person, I want to give it to him. Without breaking eye contact, I slowly strip my clothes off until I am standing before him naked. He draws in a deep breath, his eyes blazing. When he makes to touch me, I evade his hand, determined to see my seduction through.
I lower myself to sit on the edge of the pool, leaning on my elbows. Looking back at him, I deliberately ease my legs apart…and wait. I hold my breath, praying he wouldn’t be turned off by what he sees. I am tempted to look when I hear something hitting the floor but continue to stare ahead…waiting. And, oh, is it worth the wait. A splendidly nude Lucian walks down the cement steps looking like a Greek God. The tattoo on his muscular chest ripples, and even better, his big cock is stiff and standing at attention. I am staring…I am drooling. I am in danger of falling into the water and dying a happy woman.
“My face is up here, baby.” As if he knows I am helpless to look away, he encircles the girth of his cock with his hand, stroking it up and down lightly. “See anything you like? I can’t help but notice where your interest is…focused.”
I literally choke on my own tongue, wheezing like someone with a bad case of asthma. “Uh…Hmm…Yeah…Okay.” He looks like he’s trying hard not to laugh as I mumble a bunch of unintelligible gibberish. So very cool, Lia. I’m blushing like a virgin faced with her first picture of a man’s penis. So much for looking seductive; that all went out the window when naked Lucian made an appearance.
Thankfully, he submerges himself in water, covering his luscious anatomy enough for me to regain my composure. Well, until he surfaces between my dangling legs, latching on to them. I squeal, thinking he’s going to pull me in. The water is only to his waist where I am sitting, but I’m not ready to try it out yet. Instead of pulling me in, his body pushes my legs further apart, opening my sex completely for his perusal. His hands wrap around my ass, sliding me closer to the edge, positioning me exactly as he wants me. When he is finished, there is no part of my pussy he can’t easily see or reach.
Lucian runs a finger down the center of my slit, causing my body to jerk. “So perfectly pink, wet and swollen for me baby. Want my tongue or finger first?”
I ‘m not sure if he’s really expecting an answer to his question, but I supply one anyway. “Could I…have both?” Oh, dear God, that question came out sounding like I was asking him for an apple pie with my McDonald’s combo.
I am really screwing this moment up. He slides the tip of his index finger inside me, saying, “Greedy, I like it. I’d love to give you both.” And boy, does he ever. As his dark head descends toward my throbbing clit, sucking it into his mouth, I feel the finger go in fully. He licks, sucks, and finger/tongue fucks me to three orgasms sitting on the side of the pool. My fingers gripping his hair are all that’s keeping me from collapsing backwards. The things he can do with his mouth are probably illegal in a handful of countries, and I love them all. When he finally lets me come up for air, I am boneless, ready to do nothing more than crawl into one of the lounge chairs behind me and go to sleep. Lucian, though, has other thoughts. “Time for a ride, baby. My dick has been punching a hole in this damn cement for thirty minutes; it needs something a little softer now.” My lips barely had time to form an O before he is pulling me off the side and impaling me onto his cock.
“Luc!” I moan as he slides home. “Feels so good, so good.” I feel the rough texture of the side of the pool dig into my back as he braces me against the pool. We both groan as I wrap my legs around his waist, pushing him deeper.
“Baby, fuck me, you feel good. So tight, sucking me dry.” His dirty sex-talk is enough to bring me to the brink. As he uses his hold on my hips to slam me up and down on his length, I lick his neck, biting the tip of his ear. I have never done anything like that before, but the shudder that runs through his body shows me he likes it. I bite the vein standing out in his neck, and his hips go into overdrive. I scream, falling headlong into my release and setting off a chain reaction within him.
The concrete is now digging painfully into my back, and my ass has long since gone to sleep when I start wiggling against him. “You’re getting heavy, babe,” I sigh in his ear as I continue to stroke a hand down his back. He pulls back immediately, picking me up in his arms and walking back toward the steps to sit down with me on his lap. When I’m snuggled against his neck, I squeal as I notice his neck…and his shoulder. “Oh, crap, Luc, I can’t believe I did that.”
Looking more curious than anything, he asks, “What did you do?”
I drop my head on his shoulder, embarrassed at having done something so juvenile. “I…marked you. God, I’m so sorry. I had no idea I was doing it that hard.”
He pinches my naked ass with a wolfish grin. “You gave me a hickey? Little bit eighties, but it’s sexy as fuck. I think I’ll return the favor.” I jump up from his lap, trying to get away. Before I have taken more than a few steps, he is on me.
“Nooooo,” I yell as I try to dodge him. Once again, he has me trapped against the pool and his mouth is lowering toward the vulnerable skin of my neck. “Luc,” I giggle, “you wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, baby, believe me, I’d dare.” With that statement, his lips connect with my skin, and he is sucking on my neck. Who knew getting marked could be so damn sexy? My toes are curling and my nipples are hardening as he sucks my skin. By the time he pulls back, I am ready to ride his cock again. From the feel of his hot length pressing against my belly, he’s of the same mind.
He releases my neck with a pop and pulls me from the pool. Without a word, he lies back on a lounger and pulls me astride him. “Take it deep, baby, and ride me.” I line his cock up at my entrance and slowly lower myself on his massive width until he’s fully seated inside me. His big body is tense, but he waits for me to adjust to his size and set the pace.
My body arches as my hips circle and buck. He puts his hands on my hips to guide me up and down, hitting the places we both need stroked. Again, within moments, I feel the pressure building inside me. When Lucian releases my hips to rub my clit, I float away. His mouth at my nipples, swirling and biting, sends me to nirvana. My body clenches and convulses around his length. His hips rise up off the lounger as he slams into me one, two, three more times before stiffening in his release. “Oh, Luc,” I pant out… “That was so unbelievable.”
I lay down against his chest, enjoying the heat of his body against mine. His hand rubs my lower back before moving upwards to stroke the rough skin of my scar. His hand pauses as he feels me stiffen against him. “Lia…you’re beautiful and sexy as ever-loving fuck. This in no way takes away from that; it just makes me furious to think of how you got it.”
I relax back against him, letting him continue touching me. “I have to go to court on Friday for the preliminary hearing for my mother.” I hope I don’t sound as nervous as I feel about it. I would rather Lucian believe I’m not terrified by the prospect of seeing my stepfather again.
I am floored when he says, “I know. My lawyer and I will be there with you, of course.”
Pulling back, I look at him in astonishment. “Wh…what?”
“Of course, baby. I know you’re scared; hell, anyone else in your position would be. I’d never let you go to something like that alone. Max is going to see if they will let you give video testimony so you don’t have to be in the courtroom.”
To my horror, I feel tears gathering and washing down my cheeks. It’s like the floodgates have opened. Before I can stop the flow, I’m sobbing all over his chest. I can say nothing but, “Oh, Luc,” as I embarrass myself all over him.
He seems stunned, then panicked at my loss of control. He sits up quickly, pulling me onto his lap. “Honey, what’s wrong? What did I say?” He strokes my hair gently while I struggle for control.
“It’s just…I’m not used to…people caring. Really, you will come?” I know I’m sitting there looking at him with my heart on my sleeve, but I’m powerless to stop. Debra and Martin would do anything for me, and I have Rose, but I’ve never had a man in my life, someone who seems to worry about me. I want to lay back and revel in the safety of his arms. I never want to leave them.
He wraps me tighter against him, kissing my ear. “I know you’ve been worried about it. I’d never leave you to face that alone. I talked to Max about it as soon as I found out. I’m sorry; I should have told you earlier.”
I can’t resist saying, “That’s okay, you were too busy avoiding me for a week, remember?”
A faint blush lines his cheeks as he smiles at me. “Yeah, I remember. Sorry, baby. Just a lot of shit in my past I don’t deal with too well sometimes. You make everything feel better, though. I want to move forward for the first time in so damn many years.” His admission is both unexpected and touching. I am also more than a little curious as to what has happened in his past. I’ve seen pieces of a very complicated puzzle, but I’m not even close to solving the mystery. I decide to ask him one thing that has been bugging me. I’m curious as to his reaction.
“So, I saw some pictures that were on the mantle. One was of you, Aidan, and Cassie.” Bingo, his harsh breath and taut body answer one question for me. Cassie might not be all of his past problems, but she is there somewhere. Both his and his aunt’s reaction confirm that. I know I shouldn’t, but I go one-step further. “Aidan works with you, but there hasn’t been any mention of Cassie. I take it you all grew up together, so where is she now?” The hand that had been stroking my hair is now twisted in it, causing my scalp to sting. I don’t think he is even aware of what he’s doing. Not wanting to change the subject, I don’t protest the pain.
“Lia…Cassie’s been gone from here for years. She...lives elsewhere now. I just...please, can we not talk about her?” His skin beneath my hand has gone clammy, and his face is pale. I feel like an ass for pushing him on the subject. I wonder if Cassie is dead; maybe that’s what he and his aunt mean by her not being here anymore. Whatever the reason, it causes both Lucian and Fae pain to talk about her, so I decide to let it go. Thankfully, when I make no further mention of Cassie, Lucian’s grip on my hair loosens, and the pressure is gone.
Trying to lighten the mood, I sit back on my heels and lift my hair. “So, what does my neck really look like? You do realize people at school will notice this tramp stamp I have now.” His chuckle is light, but shadows remain in his eyes. I stand, trying to wiggle my ass in some halfway-seductive manner and dive off the side of the pool into the deep end. When I surface, a smile plays over his lips, and the darkness is leaving him. I give him by best straight face and ask, “Do you guys have a pool boy who could come in and assist me? I fear the pool drain has captured one of my nipples.” When he stands and prepares to jump in, I know…I’ve got him. He’s mine for now. The past will have to wait.