Chapter Six
Lia
“When I find him, he’s dead!” I’ve chanted nothing but my intentions to kill Lucian for the last hour. I’m so furious with him; I’m shaking. Normally, Fridays are my favorite day of the week. I only have two classes, which leaves me with the afternoon to catch up on schoolwork and run errands. In addition, I allow myself to splurge on a Starbucks frappe while I enjoy their Wi-Fi. I have received no notification from Date Night, so either Lucian doesn’t plan to see me tonight, or he isn’t using Date Night to do it.
I stop at the mailboxes in the lobby of my apartment building and thumb through the envelopes on the way up. When I find one from my bank, I cringe. Just what I don’t want to see today, my bank statement; proof in writing each month that I’m barely holding my head above water. I know better than to ignore it. I run so close some months that one little mathematical mistake on my part could equal disaster. A returned check and the fees associated with it would put me into the red. My pay from Date Night this week has been better than usual thanks to Lucian, and even though I feel guilty about taking his money, it’s a relief to be caught up on my bills at the moment. I’m surprised when instead of a statement, it appears to be a receipt. Surprise turns to shock when the receipt shows a deposit into my account for ten-thousand dollars.
Opening the door to my apartment, I’m met by a pissed-off Rose. “Bitch, why didn’t you tell me about your new job?!”
“Wha—What?” I ask, still freaked out over the bank’s mistake.
“I had to hear about it from our machine? You had to have known about it for a while if you’ve already quit Date Night.” I want nothing more than for her to go away so I can call my bank before this mess gets any worse. No doubt someone is wondering where their money is about now.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I need to make a call. My checking account has been screwed up.”
Rose gives me a hurt look and walks over to the answering machine we keep for our regular phone. Rose’s parents insist we have it in case there is an emergency and both our cell phones are dead. A little paranoid on their part, but they pay the bill, so we don’t complain. It is also my contact number for school and work. “Lia, it’s Carrie at Date Night. I received your email about your new job at Quinn Software. I’m so sorry to lose you, but congratulations, and give me a call if you ever need a job again.”
Suddenly, everything becomes blindingly clear. I would bet my last dollar that my bank account balance is no mistake; Lucian promised to take care of things and he has. I am his new woman—whore—and he’s paying for the privilege. Rose looks at me in confusion as I literally growl in anger. I run back out the door and to my car. As I start the engine, I realize I have no idea where to find him. I could call or text, but I am spoiling for a fight, and I want it to be in person. I quickly Google his company and find the website for Quinn Software. Bingo, there on the contact page is the address I need.
My anger abates little as I drive entirely too fast to the downtown Asheville area. A parking space in front of the building is empty so I pull in. Quinn Software is an older building that has been carefully restored. I’m surprised; I would have expected all glass and steel. I step into a sleek, modern lobby with shining marble floors. I resist the urge to stomp my feet on the company name etched in the marble floor. I only make it a few steps before I’m forced to stop at the reception desk. Shit, I should have known I wouldn’t be able to reach Lucian without going through his people first; the element of surprise will certainly be lost now.
A perky redhead I estimate to be around thirty asks politely, “May I help you?”
“I need to see Lucian Quinn.” Her eyes widen in surprise as they pass over me. Apparently, Lucian doesn’t receive too many visitors dressed in old t-shirts and cut-off jean shorts. She probably thinks I’m a homeless person looking for money. If she hands me a dollar, I’m going to choke her.
Showing a great deal of restraint, she simply asks, “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Quinn?”
“No,” I snap, “I don’t.” I can see the refusal hovering on her lips, so I quickly add, “Could you please just tell him Lia is here.”
“Miss Adams, I thought that was you.” I whirl around to find Lucian’s driver, Sam, standing behind me with a genuine smile on his lips. The perky redhead looks surprised that Sam seems to recognize me. I resist the desire to stick my tongue out at her.
“Hey, Sam, it’s good to see you again. I, er…need to see Lucian. Is he here?”
Sam nods before saying, “He is. Does he know you are dropping by?” By this point, the receptionist is shamelessly listening to our conversation. I take Sam’s arm and pull him away from the desk so we can have a little privacy. I release a breath and decide the truth is the only way to go here.
“No, he doesn’t. Honestly, I’m completely pissed off at your boss, and I came here to tell him all about it. I didn’t really think things through, though.”
Instead of looking worried, Sam looks amused. “So, the boss is in trouble with you. That sure didn’t take long. He’s a good kid, so take it easy while you point out the error of his ways.”
I laugh despite myself; hearing Lucian referred to as a “kid” is somehow hilarious. Nodding my head toward the still-staring receptionist, I say, “It doesn’t look like I’ll get to him, anyway.”
“That’s too bad,” Sam says thoughtfully. “I was just going to chat with my friend Cindy…Lucian’s secretary. I would be happy to have some company on the trip up if you have some free time.”
It takes a moment for his meaning to sink in. Sam is offering me a way of reaching Lucian’s office without actually coming out and saying it. He probably doesn’t want to be fired for helping me past the lobby. I look at my watch then back at him. “Sure, I’ve got some free time. I would love to meet your friend.” Sam puts a hand in the small of my back and leads me past the receptionist to a bank of elevators. He slides a key card into a slot, and we are on our way up to the tenth floor. This floor looks similar to the lobby with more marble bearing the company name; no expense has been spared. Sam leads me by another smiling but curious receptionist before coming to a middle-aged woman whom I suspect guards the double doors behind her desk.
“Sam,” she smiles, “you’re early, and he isn’t ready yet. He’s still going through some contracts.” She looks at me then back at Sam with a raised brow. Sam makes what I feel is a timely excuse to go to the bathroom and takes off in the other direction without further explanation.
This is it. If I have to explain myself again, I’ll have lost the element of surprise and possibly be turned away. I square my shoulders and bolt toward the doors behind Cindy and wrench one open before she can stop me. I hear an exclamation behind me and quickly shut and lock the door. The handle twists futilely as I lean against the frame. In my haste to beat Lucian’s secretary into his office, I have completely forgotten about the man himself. Looking up, I find him sitting behind a massive desk, staring at me in bewilderment. He is so gorgeous with his thick hair rumpled and his suit clinging lovingly to his shoulders; I have to remind myself that I’m mad at him. He stands, saying, “Lia…?”
I march toward his desk, all of my former anger returning. “How dare you make decisions for me! You lied to my employer and put money in my bank account. You knew I would have never agreed to that, Lucian! I’m not some prostitute you can pay. What’s the difference between you paying Date Night to go out with me, and you paying my bills for sex?” He moves to stand in front of me, and I see his eyes glitter with anger and what looks like frustration.
“Lia, I told you I would take care of everything. What did you think that meant?”
Throwing my hands in the air, I say, “I thought that meant you were okay with my job. I had no idea you would get me fired and then replace the money with your own. I never intended that, Lucian.”
He sighs, taking my shoulders in his hands. “I thought we both decided we wanted whatever this is between us to move forward?”
“We did, but I can’t be your whore.” I fight the urge to cry; I’ve become attached to him in such a short time, and now it’s going to end before it even starts.
Suddenly, the door behind us bursts open and Aidan, followed by a flustered Cindy, flies into the room. “What the hell are you doing?” Lucian snaps at them.
Aidan smirks while Cindy stammers to explain. “I’m sorry, Luc. This woman ran into your office and locked the door. I was afraid there was some danger to you, so I called Aidan to come up with his key.”
Without thinking of the consequences, I blurt out, “Lucian was just about to give me a job. It seems I’ve been awarded employment with Quinn Software.” Both Cindy and Aidan are now looking at Lucian, waiting for his reply.
Lucian squirms before saying, “Actually, I was telling Lia we don’t have any openings right now.”
“How about the new housekeeper?” Cindy asks, appearing confused. “Did you not want me to run that ad for you?” I give Lucian an evil smile and he knows what’s coming next.
“Why, no, Cindy, I believe we’ve already worked the salary out. I’m Lucian’s new housekeeper.” Cindy looks at her boss uncertainly. He runs a hand through his hair before giving her a nod.
“So be it. Cindy will give you all the information.” The look on his face makes me think I’ve jumped straight from the frying pan into the fire. I’ve just demanded a position that will ensure I spend hours per week in Lucian’s house. What in the hell was I thinking?
As I turn to follow Cindy out, Aidan steps into my path, extending a hand. “Welcome aboard, Lia.” With a sexy grin he adds, “It looks like I’ll be visiting Luc more in the future.” I hear what sounds like a growl from Lucian before I hurry out of the office. Dear Lord, what have I done?
Just as Cindy turns to shut the door behind her, I hear Lucian say, “I’ll need Lia to start tomorrow.” I close my eyes briefly, suddenly feeling uneasy. This is what happens when you try to cage a lion; I’ve gone from wanting to have sex with him to washing his underwear.
I can tell Cindy is curious as to how I know Lucian, but she is too polite to ask. Instead, she writes his address down for me, and when I ask about the hours, she assures me the previous housekeeper kept a flexible schedule and Lucian was okay with it. Apparently, he doesn’t care when his apartment is cleaned, just as long as it is. I note the address must be the apartment near the restaurant we dined at last night; I recall him mentioning he spends most of his time there.
Thanking Cindy, I head for the elevator in a slightly different frame of mind than the one I entered in. I can’t help but wonder if I just walked neatly into some kind of trap, but I can’t imagine Lucian would have known I would demand a job. In hindsight, the smart thing would have been to return his money, beg for my job back at Date Night, and walk away. I barely know the man, so why does the thought of never seeing him again cause panic? It’s a question that scares me to answer, and I forcibly shove it out of my mind. I want to see where this takes me…I must.
Lucian
I find my gaze helplessly glued to the curve of Lia’s sweet ass as she leaves my office with Cindy. The jean shorts she is wearing have my cock stirring to attention. I look over and see Aidan’s face turned in the same damn direction. Mine! I want to shout. Keep your fucking eyes off what is mine. I clear my throat instead as the door closes. I don’t ask him to leave because I know he will go straight for Lia, who I hear talking to Cindy. Instead, I control my impatience as he settles in his usual chair in front of my desk. “So,” he begins, “what’s going on with Lia?”
I return to the chair behind my desk and start shuffling papers. I would love to avoid his question, but we both know he has me cornered. If I ignore him, he’ll go after Lia just to gauge my reaction; the bastard knows me entirely too well.
“She’s just someone I am seeing.” I’m mentally calculating how long it will take Lia to leave the building so I can toss Aidan’s nosey ass out of my office.
“What happened with the woman from Date Night I set you up with? I haven’t heard you mention that, but Lia seems to have suddenly appeared soon after.” It’s useless to keep up the charade; he’ll just keep digging until I confirm what he has already figured out.
“Yes, Lia is the woman from Date Night. We…connected and have been seeing each other. As you heard, she is going to be working for me.”
Aidan doesn’t look surprised, but he does look curious. Why is everyone suddenly so damned interested in my love life? There have been other women over the years, so why is Lia such a novelty? “This girl is a complete one-eighty from your usual women. She’s attractive, I’ll grant you that, but there seems to be more going on. I saw the way you looked at her. How is that possible when you barely know her?”
I resist the urge to stand and strangle my best friend. He sees entirely too much, and I want to get rid of him before he asks any more questions; I don’t want him scrutinizing Lia or my relationship with her. “You’re starting to sound like my father. I don’t sit around and nag you about all of the women you run through. Have I even mentioned your date with Monique?”
Aidan grins, effectively sidetracked. “Monique has skills. I don’t know why you try so hard to avoid her because she is a hellhound in bed. She drained me and was begging for more.” I relax my guard as he continues to provide details of his night with Monique. A part of me wants to tell him he can do better, but after accusing him of sounding like my father, I decide to keep the advice to myself. Aidan has only ever loved one woman in his life, and she’ll never return that love. He receives a call and leaves, reverting back to all business in the blink of an eye. Cindy buzzes to remind me of a lunch meeting and I follow Sam out to the car.
Lia will be at my apartment tomorrow, but I find it hard to wait. All our obstacles are out of the way now, and I am out of patience. I have been forced to masturbate like a schoolboy since meeting her, and the relief I find at my own hand does not last. I’ve been hard since seeing her in those skimpy shorts and form-fitting t-shirt. While she was in my office, furious with me, I wanted nothing more than to lay her out on my desk and bury my face in her pussy. I want to feel her convulse around my tongue as it darts deep into her folds. Fucking her is secondary to the need; I have to taste her.
Looking down, I curse as my cock digs into my zipper. Have I been reduced to getting myself off before I leave my office now? The decision is made; I can’t wait until tomorrow. Tonight, Lia will get a preview of what’s to come. Tonight…I’ll know her taste, and tonight…she’ll scream.
Lia
I spend the afternoon holed up in my room, studying for a sociology test I have the next morning. Rose is going to dinner at Jake’s parents’ house tonight, so she is frantically getting ready. They are just so normal it’s hard to understand. There is little doubt she will marry Jake after they graduate, and they will have two kids, live in the suburbs, and drive a mini-van. There is nothing wrong with that. I love to think my life will be that stable at some point. Rose grew up with two loving parents, as did Jake. They will always have a support system to fall back on, whereas I only have myself. I am not bitter; what would be the point? I learned a long time ago that hoping and wishing only bring disappointment. I am in charge of my future, and it’s up to me as to where my story goes. I think of Lucian and feel I’ve made the right decision. I cannot let him take care of me, but I can work for him. What is the difference, really, between working for him versus working for Date Night but being paid by him? I would rather see him than continue to date strangers. I hear Rose yell from the other room, and I walk out to see what outfit she has decided on.
She turns around, showing me the pink cardigan set paired with a black pencil skirt. I smile knowing she is a parent’s dream come true; smart, beautiful, and so obviously well-bred. Jake’s parents will be eating out of the palm of her hand before the dessert course rolls around. “You look beautiful,” I say and mean it. I give her an impulsive hug of reassurance.
She beams at me, pleased by my compliment. “I left you the other coupon Jake had for a free pizza. You’ll just need money for the tip. Save me a piece, though, because I will probably be too nervous to eat anything tonight.”
My stomach growls at her words, and we both laugh. She grabs her sweater and walks out to meet Jake. I know he would come to the door for her, but she is too keyed up to wait. I decide to go ahead and order the pizza, knowing the place is probably crazy-busy tonight. I’m thrilled to find a repeat of Pretty Woman on television. I am dreaming of all things Richard Gere when a knock at the door startles me from the couch. Picking up my wallet, I run to open the door for the delivery guy.
My mouth hits the floor as, instead of the teenager with an ill-fitting uniform I’m expecting, there stands Lucian Quinn holding a pizza box with a grin that makes me want to knock the box away and climb him. “Where—what?” I’m making little sense as I continue to stutter.
“I ran into the delivery man in the lobby. Apparently, he thought I lived here and asked if I knew which apartment was yours. I nicely offered to bring it up for him.”
“But…I had a coupon,” I say, waving the paper Rose left.
Lucian chuckles, saying, “Save it for next time then. It’s only fair I pay since I plan to eat half of it.” When I continue to stand there, he pushes gently past me and closes the door behind him. As he walks toward the table to put the box down, I gasp. He is wearing snug-fitting jeans and a black t-shirt. I’ve never seen him so casual before, and it looks good…so damn good on him. “Do you have plates and something to drink?” Finally, the shock of seeing him wears off, and I run to the kitchen for our stash of paper plates. No doubt he is used to fine china, but that isn’t on the menu tonight.
“We have Dr. Pepper and Coke. Do you like either of these?” I yell over my shoulder. I almost jump out of my skin when arms come around me from behind, and I’m pulled firmly into a very hard body.
I moan as his tongue licks the rim of my ear. “I’ll have the Coke.” The contrast of the cold air in the refrigerator on my front and Lucian’s warm body at my back causes me to shiver. His hands climb to my breasts, feeling the hard nipples pushing against the fabric of my t-shirt. I am braless, and he moans at the discovery. “You have no fucking clue how many times I’ve thought about this body today.” He drops one hand to my belly, just touching my waistband. “These shorts are etched in my brain.” I throw my head back and whimper as his hand dips lower, touching me through the denim. His mouth is back at my ear as he says, “I’m going to fuck you tonight. Nothing is going to stop me this time.” I spread my legs further apart, ready for him to take me right there. One touch from him and I’m on fire. His hand pulls me against his cock briefly before he loosens his hold.
“Luc,” I protest, trying to follow the heat of his body with mine.
He leans closer again for a moment and grabs two, a Coke and Dr. Pepper from the refrigerator. “Bring the plates, baby, I’m starved.” I stand there looking dazed and confused until he gives me a stinging slap on the ass.
“Hey!” I protest, rubbing my hand over the tender flesh.
“Chop, chop, baby.” He laughs and takes the box to the coffee table in the living room. For tonight, at least, it appears Lucian can do casual very well. I drop the plates on the table and sit on the place he pats next to him. He opens the lid of the box, and we both inhale appreciatively. He puts two pieces of the supreme pizza on each plate, and I smile as he picks off the mushrooms before putting a piece in his mouth.
We both turn toward the television, as Julia Roberts seems to shout her trademark line from Pretty Woman, “Well, color me happy, a sofa for two.”
I burst out laughing as Lucian smirks, saying simply, “Indeed.” Lucian seems different tonight, more relaxed and carefree. I would never have imagined him sitting in my small apartment, cross-legged while eating pizza and watching Pretty Woman.
Before taking another bite of pizza, I ask him teasingly, “So, what happened to your last housekeeper? Did she flee in terror?”
He tweaks my nose playfully before answering. “Hardly. Apparently, I wasn’t dirty enough for her.” Dr. Pepper comes flying from my mouth, spraying everything in the vicinity. Lucian starts mopping me up with one hand while patting my back with the other. Shaking his head, he says, “Maybe I should have phrased that a little better. I meant she was used to taking caring of families, and I don’t require that much care. She didn’t feel the work was challenging enough. I rather thought she enjoyed that aspect since she seemed to nap a lot during the day.”
“Thank you for clearing that up,” I say as I look down at the stain on my shirt. As I ponder getting up to change, he finishes his piece of pizza and suddenly stands, holding out a hand. As I hesitantly take his proffered hand, he pulls me to my feet.
He looks around before asking, “Where’s your bedroom?” I point toward my door and allow him to pull me in that direction. Either he’s going to change my shirt for me or this was it. The door shutting behind me sounds like a gunshot in the small room. I open my mouth to ask him what we’re doing when suddenly he is on me. My back hits the door as his mouth fuses with mine. The laughing man of a few moments ago is gone and in his place is a man brimming with intensity. His hands seem to be everywhere on my body at once. I grab his waist and hold on for dear life. He licks, teases, and sucks every inch of my mouth before moving on to my neck. I feel him sucking the tender flesh there and know I will wear the evidence of his passion tomorrow. My tank top is gone before I can register a protest, and when his dark head drops to take a nipple in his mouth, I’m past caring.
“Luc.” I moan as his teeth nip at my tender peak. He rolls the other nipple between his fingers, and I feel moisture flowing from my core. As if he knows where I need him, he drops one hand to my stomach and slides it under the waistband of my shorts. I cringe as I remember the cotton underwear I’m wearing; at least they’re pink instead of white. When his fingers part my slick folds, I feel Heaven knocking at the door.
“So fucking wet for me,” he groans as his finger slips easily inside me. My back arches and I quiver as desire races through my body. I never felt this way with Jackson, and the intensity of the feelings he is awakening in me are frightening. I gasp as another big finger invades my tight passage, feeling a twinge of discomfort. Before I can pull away, he rubs my clit and like a tidal wave crashing against the shore, my body comes apart. I have never achieved this type of climax at my own hand, and my legs are threatening to fold beneath my limp body. “That was just to take the edge off, baby,” he murmurs before swinging me into his arms and walking the few steps to my bed. My shorts and panties are pulled off in one swift movement with his following after.
I have limited experience with a naked man, but to me, Lucian is beautiful. I want to study him like I would a work of art. Stepping forward, I put my small hand on his chest, marveling over the ripple of muscles there. I trace my fingertip down the tattoo on his chest and then notice something that hasn’t been visible before. A scar runs the length of his neck, right below his Adam’s apple. As I touch the skin there, he jerks away. Looking up in surprise, I ask, “I…does it hurt?”
His eyes cloud and he turns his head away. “No, not anymore.” Before I can question him further, he pushes me backwards, and I sprawl in an inelegant heap across my bed. He studies my body for so long I start to fidget. How can a man like Lucian not find me lacking? My breasts and my hips seem unusually large on my otherwise-slender frame. Maybe Lucian is an ass man. The thought is so absurd I have to fight the urge to giggle. Probably not a good idea when a man has his cock at eye level; there is certainly nothing to laugh about there. Rose had mentioned more than once in the crude college way that Jake was hung like a horse. I don’t think he could possibly even give Lucian a run for his money. My poor sex quivers in equal parts excitement and terror. He is huge, and I have no idea how something that large will fit inside such a small space. “Like what you see?” My face flames as Lucian looks at his cock, then back at me. I nod shyly; why bother to hide it? “Spread your legs.”
“What?” Oh, my God, he didn’t just say that.
“Spread your legs. You’re tiny and I want to make sure you are ready for me.” When I don’t immediately obey, he drops to his knees in front of me and nudges his body between my thighs. I watch in fascination as his hand is once again between my legs, a finger sliding back inside my body. Unable to hold back, I moan as he swirls the tip around. “Your pussy is tight; how long has it been since you’ve been fucked?”
“A…while,” I manage to whisper. He is now working two fingers in and out of me, and I’m mortified to hear the wet sound as my juices coat his fingers. When he adds a third finger, the pinch of pain has me gasping before my body stretches to accept the added width. His three fingers are now gliding into my sex as my body starts to clench. An amazing second orgasm is waiting in the wings, and with a few firm strokes to my clit, I see stars.
A protest forms on my lips as he pulls out, but I hear the sound of something tearing and then he is back. Still riding my orgasm, I feel his large hands move me up the bed and then he is over me, his arms bracing on each side of my head. Pleasure tingles along my nerve endings as I feel a nudge at my entrance. I realize with a start that it’s Lucian’s cock. Momentary panic hits me and my eyes fly to his.
“I’ll take care of you, baby. Just trust me. Keep your eyes on mine so I know where you are.” Without another word, he slides in slowly, and I catch my breath. He is big, so much bigger than I had imagined. “Wrap your legs around me.” As I focus on obeying his request, I inhale sharply as this new position pushes his cock into the hilt. We both freeze as I struggle to adjust to his size. He drops his forehead to mine and nuzzles against me. “Are you okay, baby?” I have no idea how to answer that question. The pinch of pain is gone, leaving in its place an uncomfortable, but not unpleasant, fullness. Experimentally, I push my hips against his and marvel at the sensations it produces. The strain of holding back is evident in the trembling of his big body against mine. “I can’t wait any longer,” he whispers before pulling almost completely out and slamming back home. My hips rise instinctively to meet his, pushing past the twinge of pain as his huge cock batters inside me. “Fuck…Lia,” he shouts as he pulls back on his heels, pushing his hands under my ass and bringing my bottom off the bed.
All reason has left me; I am aware only of the needs of my body and the driving force to reach completion. I feel every inch of his cock as it powers in and out of my pussy. If someone yelled fire right now, I’d gladly go up in flames; I’m too caught up in all things Lucian. I hear someone moaning loudly and realize in surprise that it’s me. “Please, Luc…oh, God, please!” I say, begging for release. I feel his hand against my clit, rubbing roughly, and that’s all it takes. I shatter again and again as he continues to fuck me. My spasms against his cock finally push him over the edge, and I feel him jerk, grunting as if in pain.
“Lia…baby, fuck!” He pulls out and rolls next to me. The ragged sounds of our breathing fill the room. I’m completely blown away by what just happened. My sexual encounter with Jackson doesn’t even rate on the scale of sex with Lucian. To me, it’s the difference between being with a boy versus a man. Through the haze of my afterglow, I wonder what comes next. Sex without love seems complicated. Will he leave now? I want to curl into his arms, but I am unsure of his reaction to that. I didn’t have to make decisions last time since Jackson left after discovering my scar. I’m grateful my back has been to Lucian the entire time, and I vow to keep it that way. I don’t want to see the same distaste in his eyes I saw in Jackson’s. Lucian makes the decision for me as he stands and stumbles toward what I assume is the bathroom. I giggle as he opens the closet door instead. He looks toward me, a smile forming on his lips as I point toward the other door. I hear the sound of running water and a few moments later, he is back. He looks at me uncertainly, and I decide to throw caution to the wind.
“Stay, please,” I say, hoping I don’t sound as clingy as I feel. He looks torn for a moment before walking back to the bed and settling in beside me. I wrap my body around his with my head on his chest. I purr like a kitten as his hand settles on my back, stroking up and down. “That was amazing,” I admit. “Was it…good for you?” Oh, crap, why did I ask him that? My lack of self-confidence couldn’t be more obvious.
His hand stills for a moment before resuming its path over my hip. “Yes, it was. I hope I wasn’t too rough with you.”
“No, I…liked it.” Talk about the understatement of the year; I want nothing more than for him to take me again, right this second.
“How long since you’ve been with a man?” I wonder what his obsession is with that. Was it so obvious that I lack experience? Shit, of course it was to someone like him.
“It was last year,” I admit, hoping it’s the end of the conversation.
“And before that?” he probes. I stiffen, knowing he is not going to let it go. Maybe he should have worried about my level of experience before he slept with me.
“He was my first and only.” There, are you happy now? I feel the urge to ask. It would serve him right if I started questioning his sexual conquests.
He sounds surprised as he asks, “Why? You’re a beautiful woman, Lia; I’m sure there have been a lot of opportunities.”
“Not any I was interested in. Between work and school, I really haven’t had the time or inclination for a social life. Jackson was friends with my roommate’s boyfriend, so he was just there. It was a mistake, and I moved on.” Humiliation will do that for you in a hurry.
I assume we are finished discussing my pitiful love life when he asks, “Did he hurt you?”
Stiffening, my mind automatically goes to my stepfather before I realize he is talking about Jackson. “Not physically,” I answer honestly. Jackson’s scars had been of a different variety.
His warmth wraps around me as I snuggle deeper into him. I have no idea if I will see him again after this, so I want to revel in the moment. All too soon, drowsiness takes over, and I find myself dozing, lulled into sleep by the sound of his heartbeat against my ear. “Sleep, baby,” I hear faintly and then I am drifting away.
How long I had been asleep, I have no idea. The room is dark, but someone near is choking. The gurgling sounds fill my ears as I frantically push the webs of sleep away and grope for an answer in the darkness. Someone thrashes next to me as I jump from the bed, rushing to turn on a lamp to light the darkness.
Lucian is on his back, his body twisting as if in agony. His hands are holding his neck and gasping sounds escape from his throat. Oh, dear God, he is choking, but on what? Rushing toward him, I put my hands over his on his neck. “Luc,” I whisper, not wanting to startle him further. He continues to wither as if in great pain, so I shake him lightly. “Lucian. Wake up, you’re scaring the hell out of me!” Just as I decide to call 911 in case he is having some sort of seizure, he bolts upright in bed, looking around wildly. I stroke his arm, trying to soothe him. ‘It’s okay, it’s me…Lia.” His other hand rubs against his throat, but the gurgling sound has stopped. I’m weak with relief that he appears to be unhurt. As suddenly as he jumped up, he sinks back down to the bed, forcing me to move aside as he lowers his head in his hands, taking deep breaths. Sitting beside him, I hesitate before starting to rub his back in slow, soothing circles.
“I’m sorry,” he says hoarsely. “That…hasn’t happened in a long time. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
I continue to rub his back, trying to digest his words. That this has happened to him before is obvious. I wonder if this has anything to do with the scar on his neck, but I’m not brave enough to ask. “No, I was just worried about you. Would you like a glass of water?” He looks so young and vulnerable sitting here with his shoulders slumped forward that I feel something in my heart twinge. I don’t think this is some random bad dream for him. Someone hurt this man badly, and I find myself wanting to protect him, which is absurd. Just because I live with past traumas doesn’t mean everyone does. He pulls away mentally before he does physically. I see the shutters going down and the walls going up; I’m an expert at this behavior, so it’s easy for me to recognize.
“I’m fine, Lia; it was just a dream.” He makes a point of looking at the clock, which shows it’s just after midnight. He gives me a quick kiss before standing. “I really need to go, though. I have some emails to return before morning.” Instinctively, I grab my shirt from the floor, keeping my back turned away from him until I am covered. At this point, I don’t think either of us could handle any more upset tonight, and I’m in no shape to answer questions. I want him to stay, but I know he won’t; he needs space and this I understand too well to try to stop him.
He quickly dresses, and I’m pleasantly surprised when he takes my hand, pulling me behind him from the bedroom and into the living room area. There is no sign of Rose, so I assume she is either staying the night with Jake or has stopped somewhere on the way home. Lucian surprises me further when he drops my hand and quickly walks to the table to pick up our leftover pizza and drink cans. He makes short work of throwing them in the trash. “Maybe I should be the one hiring you as a housekeeper.” This surprises a laugh out of him, and I smile in return.
His hand again takes mine, and I am pulled into his arms. His kiss this time feels more as if he is giving me comfort, rather than the fire of earlier. I think he is embarrassed by what happened and wants to make sure I’m not upset, which is sweet but unnecessary. I wrap my arms around his waist and hold him tight for a moment, giving him the reassurance I feel he needs. “Goodnight, baby,” he sighs against my neck. Pulling back, he raises a questioning brow. “I’ll see you in the morning?”
“Yep, I don’t have a class till after lunch. I can come for a few hours in the morning so you can show me around, and then I’ll be back in the afternoon.”
“What time shall I have Sam pick you up?” I’m helpless to suppress a giggle at his question. He looks for the world like someone who missed out on the joke and is running through the conversation in his head. I decide to put him out of his misery.
“I don’t think the cleaning lady typically gets chauffeured to and from work unless she is Cinderella. I have a car, and I’m driving myself. Besides, I need my car for my afternoon classes.”
Stubborn, Lucian insists. “Sam can drop you and pick you back up.” Shaking my head, I open the door and push him bodily through it.
“Don’t even think of sending your car. I’ll ignore it and drive myself anyway. Sam doesn’t want to deal with that.” I see he wants to argue but instead turns on his heels, looking like a spoiled child for a moment as he mutters under his breath and stalks off. Declaring victory in our battle will have to wait until morning; I’m not confident he won’t ignore me and send the damn car anyway.