ADELINE

 

I MOVE MY hands down over the form-fitting, emerald green dress, and it feels like butterflies are taking flight in my stomach.

I don't know why I'm so nervous.  Perhaps it's the fact that Lucien has never surprised me before…or maybe because seeing him standing in the doorway earlier looking debonair in a three-piece suit set my nerves on fire.

He hasn't touched me in over a week, and I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever reach the place we were before I tried leaving.

I know the bruises on my face and neck bother him tremendously.  When he doesn't know I'm watching, I can see him staring at them with a discernable look of guilt on his face.  So that's why I ordered the makeup — to cover up the evidence of that day and try to move past it.

I check my smoky makeup in the mirror one last time and smile at how different I look compared to this past week where I've been lounging in bed with a rat's nest in my hair and bags under my eyes.

Hoping to blow Lucien away tonight, I leave the bedroom and walk barefoot down the stairs to the foyer.  Jax is walking through the room and glances at me.  Then he does a double take and stops suddenly before nearly running into the wall.

"Wow, Adeline," he gasps.

Smiling, I step down into the foyer and ask him, "Think Lucien will like it?"

I can see a hint of disappointment in his eyes, but I try not to dwell on it.  Jax has been taking such good care of me, but I hope that his feelings for me are strictly on a more doctor and patient basis…even though he's technically not a doctor.  Things are complicated enough with Lucien without adding Jax in the mix.

He schools his features quickly, though, and tells me, "He would be crazy not to."

"Thanks, Jax."

"How are you feeling?" he asks, his brows knitted together.

He's been weaning me off the pain pills, and I didn't even need to take one the past couple of days.  My throat is still very sore, but I'm healing…inside and out.  "I feel great today."

"Good, good.  Let me know if you need anything," he says with a big grin.

"I will," I respond, flashing him a smile before he leaves the room.

Breathing in a deep breath and exhaling, I go to the front door where a guard is waiting.  He tips his head as he opens the door for me.

Stepping outside, I inhale the fresh, tropical air.  I haven't been outside in what feels like forever.

Glancing around for Lucien and not spotting him, I tiptoe to the edge of the front porch.

And that's when I see it.

Gasping, I take in the scene just several yards away.  There is a gazebo by the butterfly garden, and everything is covered in tiny, twinkling fairy lights.  It looks like a page ripped right out of some kind of fairytale.

And then I see my dark knight is standing in front of the gazebo, waiting for me.

Not wanting to waste another moment, I pick up the hem of my dress and walk across the lawn.  The cool grass feels divine on my bare feet.  I haven't walked in the grass like this since I was a little girl, and I vow to go barefoot outside more often.

I step up to the newly-constructed gazebo, and it smells like fresh wood.  "Did you just have this put up today?" I ask.

"Yes.  Do you like it?"

"It's amazing.  And all the lights…"  I turn around, taking everything in and how much work he went through to make this a special night for us.  Meeting his gaze once more, I tell him, "This is amazing.  Thank you, Lucien."

My compliment affects him, and he smiles a panty-wetting smile.  His dark eyes light up when he smiles, and I'm instantly lost in them.

He outstretches his hand, and I take it.  He leads me to one side of a small, round table and pulls my chair out.  Once I'm seated, he pushes the chair in so that I'm at a comfortable distance.

The aroma of the food smells divine, and I'm excited to see what's under the silver dome lids on the table.  Once Lucien is seated, he removes his cover, and so do I.

A delicious meal of sea bass, buttered asparagus and mashed potatoes is revealed, and my mouth waters at the sight.  "Oh, this looks delicious," I tell him.

He seems pleased by my reaction.  "I was hoping you would like it."

Retrieving my silverware from the fancy, folded linen napkin, I dig in, moaning when the fish practically melts in my mouth.

I glance over to Lucien to see how he's enjoying his meal but realize he hasn't started yet.  He's too busy unwrapping his new silverware from special packaging.  And as I stare at his side of the table versus mine, I notice more differences.

His glass is wrapped in some type of cellophane beside a new, unopened bottle of wine whereas I have two glasses filled with water and wine already.  His napkin is wrapped in plastic as well.

Everything he's using is new and untouched.  However, now that I have an understanding of why he is the way he is…I completely understand his need for perfection and purity.

Just the fact that he's eating outside with me tonight is a big step and something he probably hasn't done in years.

Baby steps, I tell myself.  If it's the last thing I do on this earth, I want to help Lucien heal from all of his wounds…inside and out.

We eat our meal in companionable silence, sometimes commenting on the weather or bringing up something funny Jackson had said.  It's clear to me when Lucien talks about his cousin that he's really fond of Jax.  I'm pretty fond of him too.

After dinner, Lucien tentatively suggests we walk on the beach.  Before he has a chance to change his mind, I jump at the chance to sink my feet into the sand.

Walking side by side, we stroll along the length of the beach before coming to a stop.  With hardly a cloud in sight in the dark sky, the full moon above reflects off the water, and it's a spectacular sight.  "Wow," I gasp.  Looking up, I stare at the stars twinkling in the vast darkness.  "It's beautiful here," I say.

"Yes, it is," he says softly.

I shudder from the chill of the air blowing off the water.  My dress is sleeveless, and I didn't account for spending this much time outside.

"Cold?" he questions.

Nodding, I watch in awe as he strips out of his suit jacket and drapes it around my shoulders.  I wrap it around me tighter, welcoming its warmth.  It smells like Lucien, and I can't help but nuzzle my nose into the material, deeply breathing in his scent.

When I look up at Lucien, who's staring at me with an odd look and a raised brow, I realize I was caught in the act of sniffing his jacket.  "Did you just…?" he starts to ask, but doesn't finish.

"You always smell so good," I whisper.  I take another whiff of the jacket, not even caring this time.  "Your jacket smells like you."

"Ah," he mutters in understanding.  He grabs the arms of the jacket and pulls me closer.  I snuggle my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat against my ear.  It feels so good to be in his arms, and I wish he could be this affectionate all the time.

And then I hear the distinct sound of him sniffing the top of my head.  My face breaks out into a big grin as I ask in a mimicking tone, "Did you just…?"

He chuckles deeply, his chest rumbling against my cheek.  "I guess you're not the only who likes to smell beautiful things."

I pull back and cock a brow.  "Beautiful?  I don't remember using that word to describe you," I joke.

"You don't think I'm beautiful?" he asks, pretending to be offended.

"Devastatingly handsome maybe," I quip.

"Devastatingly handsome," he says, moving his mouth around as if he's tasting the words.  "Yeah, I can definitely see that," he says with a grin.

I've never seen this playful side of Lucien…and I love it.  And that sexy grin of his melts my heart and gives me the courage for what I'm about to do next.

Wrapping my hands around the back of his neck, I pull his mouth down to mine.  He's tense at first, but all too soon he's kissing me back.

I'm determined to explore what is happening between us.  And if he doesn't want me or thinks I'm damaged goods now…I need to know that too.

But the reaction I begin to get from him doesn't tell me those things at all.  He pulls me flush against his body, his hands molding to my backside as he presses his growing erection into my stomach.

I gasp, and he uses it as an invitation as his tongue invades my mouth.  He kisses me like he's been starving for me for years, and I allow him to consume me.  I want him to own me…inside and out.

His large hands hold me possessively to him as he takes what he wants.  And when he breaks the kiss and stares down at me, I can see the fire igniting in his gaze.

"Adeline, I want you," he says, his voice hoarse and strained.

"Let's go to your room," I suggest.

Nodding, he takes my hand in his and leads me away from the beach and back to the manor.  I can barely keep up with his long strides, and my feet keep getting tripped up on my dress.

When I almost fall, he stops and looks down at me.  Growling, he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder as if I weigh nothing.  Carrying me in a fireman's hold, I giggle the whole way to the mansion.

Never in a million years would I have pictured getting Mr. Control Freak so worked up that he's willing to pick me up and carry me back to his room like a caveman.

He stalks into the house and carries me up the stairs without even breaking a sweat.  We pass by Jax in the hallway.  "What —?" he starts to inquire, but Lucien simply says, "Don't ask."

Jax stares after us, and I give him a shrug with a grin on my face.  Shaking his head, Jax smiles before walking away.

When we reach Lucien's bedroom, he kicks the door shut and unceremoniously dumps me on the bed.  I bounce on the soft mattress and can't help the laugh that escapes me.

But my laugh slowly dies in my throat as I watch Lucien pulling loose his tie with his dexterous fingers.  He has a look on his face like he could just eat me up.  And I'm surprised by how much I want that right now.

Swallowing hard, I slip out of his jacket and toss it to the edge of the bed.  Standing, I turn my back to him and ask, "Can you unzip me?"

I hear what sounds like a muted groan coming from him before he walks over to me.  The sound of the zipper going down is almost deafening, and it feels like my heart is going to beat out of my chest as his hands slip under the material and skate across my skin.  He slowly peels my dress away, and it falls to the floor, puddling at my feet.

Turning me suddenly, he places one arm around my waist, pulling me impossibly close.  The other hand goes to my hair where he tightens his fist around my locks.  He stares at me with a pained look on his face.  "What are you doing to me?" he asks heatedly.  "I lose myself when I'm around you," he confesses.

Feeling bold, I tell him, "Maybe that's a good thing sometimes."

He pushes me towards the bed; and when my knees hit, I fall backwards.  Grabbing my legs, he spreads them roughly as his eyes rake down my naked form.  "Fuck, you're beautiful," he growls.

I watch as he unbuttons his white shirt and strips out of his pants and boxers.  My greedy gaze peruses his muscular physique.  He looks like he was carved out of stone to mirror some Greek god, and it has my entire body buzzing with pent-up desire.

Reaching into the nightstand, he withdraws a condom and sheaths his rock hard length.  Gripping himself by the root with his right hand and locking his left hand on my thigh, he rubs the tip against my clit, causing me to moan loudly.

"I can't go slow," he hisses out in confession.  "I want you too damn much right now."

"I don't want slow," I tell him even though the words make my heartbeat double in speed.

He takes a step back, and his fingers dip inside of me, testing me.  "Fuck, you're soaked," he says through gritted teeth.

I want to tell him it's because he's been teasing me, albeit unknowingly, all evening.  I wanted him the moment I saw him standing by the gazebo.  And knowing that he did all of that planning and preparation for me made me want him even more.

"Fuck me, Lucien," I gasp, not wanting to wait another second without him inside of me.

He growls at my words, and I don't have to wait long before he positions himself at my entrance and enters me, not stopping until he's fully seated inside of me.

I gasp at the intrusion as my walls try to accommodate his length.  "Oh, shit," I pant.

He only gives me a moment to recover, however, before he withdraws almost the entire way before sliding home again.  And the feeling is incredible.  My eyes roll back in my head as I scream out his name.

He grabs my legs and pins them against his chest, locking my ankles together with one of his large hands while the other reaches for my breasts, tugging on my hardened nipples.  The sensation is driving me closer and closer to the edge.  And before I can even stop myself, I'm tumbling over.

"Lucien!" I cry, his name a soft plea on my lips, as my inner walls spasm around his cock.

He slows down his thrusts, but barely gives me time to recover before picking up the pace again and brutally pistoning his hips into me.  "Again," he demands.  "Come for me again.  I want to hear you fucking scream, Adeline."

As if on command, my body betrays me as I soar off the precipice once again.  A scream rips out of my throat as he fucks me harder, faster.

"Yes.  That's it," he drawls out.  "You're mine."

"I'm yours," I gasp.

My words seem to be his undoing, because his thrusts falter and then he's joining me in bliss.  He grinds out my name from his beautiful mouth as he pumps into me three more times before stilling.  The look of ecstasy and overwhelming serenity on his face takes my breath away.

Our panting breaths fill the silence of the room as we stare at each other.  Something passes between us, and I couldn't describe it even if I wanted to.

After several minutes, Lucien suggests, "Let's take a shower."

I'm quiet as he helps me up and leads me to the en suite.  And under the spray of the water, we lose ourselves quickly in one another again…and again…and again.  It's as if he can't get enough of me now after pushing me away for so long.

And I'm afraid I'll never be able to get enough of him...even if that means being his prisoner forever.