He didn’t. In fact, as he took her in, his lip curled in a contemptuous sneer.
My heart started beating faster. I didn’t know why, hatred, fear for my future life as this man was going to factor largely in it or both.
He heard my heart. I knew this because his eyes cut to me, his face lost its disdain and his brows drew together in puzzlement.
“Edwina,” Katrina said in a soft farewell and I tore my gaze from Lucien but before I could focus or Edwina could respond, Katrina was gone.
“See to the groceries,” Lucien ordered Edwina. I looked back to him to see him striding with purpose toward me.
I started backing up the steps.
“Clean up this mess,” Lucien continued his instructions, his gait wide and determined and I started backing up double time. “You don’t need to say good-bye when you leave,” Lucien finished his commands to Edwina.
At those ominous words, I turned on the landing and ran.
In a second I was cradled in his arms and in the next we were in the bedroom and I was bouncing on the bed.
Lucien was looming over me, fists to his hips, eyes dark and glittering.
“You run from me?” His voice was dangerous.
I felt my fear escalate at a slightly lower rate than my temper flared.
“Down there, I trusted you.” Those five words were an accusation.
His head cocked to the side. “And how, exactly, did I betray that trust, pet?”
“You told me to stay,” I informed him.
“Yes?”
“I stayed.”
“And?”
“You can’t possibly need me to explain!” I snapped.
“I’m afraid I do,” he clipped back.
I got to my knees, hands balled into fists at my sides and I leaned toward him.
“You just beat your wife in front of me!” I shouted.
“It wasn’t the first time but, fortunately, it was the last,” he replied indifferently.
I drew in a sharp breath, reared back in horror and fell to my bottom.
“You disgust me,” I hissed, meaning every word.
His body did that thing again, that menacing, sinister change where his muscles came into sharp relief.
“I disgust you?” he whispered.
I ignored his stance even though he had to know my fear. My heart was beating so wildly I could, indeed, this time actually hear it.
If I could, he certainly could.
“Yes,” I retorted with more bravery than sense.
“You don’t have any fucking idea what you just witnessed.” His voice was still a low, outraged whisper.
“I do and it was nauseating.”
All of a sudden his rage filled the room, clogging my throat, expanding my lungs and he was leaning over me, his fists in the bed beside my hips.
I scrambled backwards up the bed.
He followed, faster, crawling along with my body.
My head hit the headboard and he retreated, only far enough to rise up, using my legs to yank me back down the bed between his thighs and then he settled his heavy weight on me.
“You’ve demonstrated another appalling trait, pet.” He was still using his scary whisper.
“And what’s this one?” I shot back. “I thought you’d seen them all.”
“You’re quick to judge, not even asking that first, fucking question,” he retorted.
“And how could you explain bloodying your wife’s nose in front of your supposed to be lover? Hunh? How about humiliating her in the same company? How about wanting a lover at all when you have a wife.” I made a snorting noise that was slightly embarrassing but I was too furious to care. “I shouldn’t be surprised. You’ve forced me to humble myself more than once. Why I trusted you and didn’t run so I wasn’t forced to witness that I… will… never… know.”
His body went solid and his eyes bored into mine. This lasted what felt like an eternity.
Then he pulled in a breath sharply through his nose.
When he was done, I sensed the patience he was seeking eluded him.
I wasn’t wrong.
“I’ve risked everything for you,” he told me quietly.
“Your marriage?” My voice was dripping acid. “It didn’t seem you prized that overly much.”
It was like I didn’t even speak.
“Everything,” he repeated. “And what do I get in return?”
It was beginning to dawn on me that I was in a very bad situation.
Firstly, Lucien could and did in a fury beat the crap out of his wife. Secondly, if he did that to me, I wouldn’t survive. Thirdly, for whatever reason, he was angry, no, he was infuriated. Beyond anything I’d ever experienced from anyone before in my life. And lastly, I couldn’t fight him. I had absolutely no way to defend myself against anything he chose to inflict on me.
All the tissues in my body petrified as fear paralyzed me.
“That’s the smartest response you’ve had today,” Lucien informed me and I knew I was in trouble.
He grinned and it was not one of his handsome grins. This was a grin I’d never seen before.
It was ruthless.
His grin disappeared because his face disappeared in my neck.
“Listen to me now, Leah. I will break you. Do you understand me?” he vowed, his voice rumbling against my skin.
I didn’t but at the same time I did.
He continued, “And, right now, I’m taking a taste of what I’m risking everything for.” His head came up and his face came close, so close, I could feel his breath against my lips. “But don’t worry, pet, you don’t have to beg for it.”
Oh no.
My body burst into a flurry of frenzied motion, a futile effort at escape.
I knew this would have no effect and it didn’t.
My robe was gone in nary a second. My panties whisked down my legs in a blur of his arm. He spread my legs with his large hands and I opened my mouth to scream.
The scream died in my throat as his mouth touched me.
The sudden shock of his mouth moving on me killed my scream. His obvious talent subdued my struggles. He’d lived a long time and in that time he’d obviously learned exactly what to do between a woman’s legs.
In fact, it was pretty clear he made an art of it.
In an instinctive reaction to the pleasure rippling through my system, my hips rose to meet his mouth.
He was not gentle. He was voracious. Lips, tongue, suction, he used it all. My fingers curled into the covers as my neck arched and moans of sheer pleasure purred from my throat.
His hands went up the back of my thighs to my knees and pushed them high, until they were at my sides.
This gave him better access which he utilized to his definite advantage.
I was close, so close, right there and it was going to be beyond anything I’d ever experienced. Beyond anything any woman had ever experienced (unless she’d been with Lucien, obviously).
My hands went from the comforter to his head, holding him to me as I prepared to topple over the edge.
His mouth disappeared and I was yanked right back.
“No!” I cried as his big body settled on me and his strong hand cupped me between my legs, keeping me warm but exerting no pressure which was a cruel tease.
“Now, you beg, Leah,” he said against my mouth.
With effort, my eyes focused on him and I screamed, “I hate you!”
He disappeared but only for a moment then his mouth was back at me. The advantage I’d gained over my body’s reaction was lost in seconds. This time he teased as I fought my rising desire. When I lost, he made me go after it. He gave me enough to keep me squirming. And when my fingers clutched his hair in defeat, he gave me all of it again.
Then, right at the golden moment, he was up over me and covering me again.