CHAPTER 21DENISE
CHAPTER 21
DENISE
The weight of the day hadn’t really hit me yet. It was probably a mix of adrenaline and the fear that I was feeling for Cleo. This was my fault. I’d allowed us to fall into this space by involving them in my mess. The whole time they’d been asking questions, I was thinking about Cleo being traumatized again and Hugh being discovered and thrown in jail.
I wanted to be by her side, holding her hand and making sure she was okay. But I knew that the best thing I could do for her was handle as much of this as I could and get them the fuck out of her house as soon as possible. It was selfish of me keeping them involved in my bullshit. And now Lucian Foxx was here, the man who signed my paychecks, all because of someone that I should’ve stopped dating a long time ago.
When I’d called him, I meant to tell him I’d meet him at his condo. I knew that he would be coming here straight from the airport, and I didn’t want to put him in the middle of everything—again.
But when I heard his voice, I changed my mind. It was dangerous for him to be there, to occupy that moment with me, but I needed him. And I let my selfishness win over the reason that perpetually ruled my brain. I’d been so strong before he got there, keeping my fear in check to keep us safe. But the second he came through the door it was like I’d been given permission to crumble a little.
At that moment, I knew I could’ve done it without him. I didn’t need him, but I wanted him. I selfishly wanted to be in his arms. I wanted him to hold me so I could feed off his strength. And, more than that, I craved the comfort that came from it. I trusted him because I loved him.
Holy fucking shit.
I loved him.
My head was against his chest, and I leaned into him enjoying his body heat.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Reaching up, I wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled him close to me. There were so many words rattling around in my brain, but they all coiled in on themselves as I reached for them. How could I explain all the things that I was thinking?
I could be strong without him but felt safe and taken care of with him. I trusted him to help me when I needed it. Before I could fall into the word salad that was running through my brain, I brought my lips to his, a graze that moved along his cheek to his jaw and neck. Without knowing the realizations that were rattling around in my brain, he held me tight and gave me a moment to exist—just me and him.
When we headed into Cleo’s apartment, his hand was in mine. It was like he was aware that all I needed was to feel and touch him at that moment—exist within the protection of his arms. Cleo was in her kitchen, throwing dishes into the sink and Lucian was standing a few feet away, watching as she moved around in the kitchen. We’d clearly walked in on something. My gaze bounced between them as I looked to Hugh who gave me the tiniest shrug.
Before I could say anything, Lucian turned to me and pointed to Cleo. “Tell Cleopatra she can’t stay here tonight.”
I raised my eyebrows at Cleo who was still turned away from me. She clearly wasn’t interested in whatever was happening behind her.
Lucian gave me a look and I nodded towards the living room. He walked away with Hugh leaving me with Cleo.
“Hey,” I said, grabbing her hand that was scrubbing at her clean stove. Before she could protest, I pulled her into a hug, pressing my front to her back.
“I’m fine,” she said. We both knew she wasn’t. But she wouldn’t say anything until she was ready to.
“You can’t stay here tonight,” I whispered to her, letting her go and coming around to the side of her.
“I know,” Cleo said, continuing to avoid my gaze. My eyebrows must’ve shown my confusion because she kept talking. “He wants me to stay with him.”
Aww shit.
I schooled my expression. Instead of digging to try and figure out what was going on between them, I braved a glance toward the men and saw Lucian staring right at us as Hugh talked to him.
“Well, what do you want to do?” I asked, trying to keep my opinion to myself.
Cleo shot me an annoyed glance before huffing.
“I don’t fucking know,” she said.
“Well, let me talk with Hugh, maybe you can stay in the spare room,” I whispered.
“I have a penthouse in the city, Cleo is staying there,” Lucian said, his voice carrying from across the room.
“No one is talking to you!” Cleo snapped.
“How did you even hear me?” I asked, throwing a fist on my hip.
“Oh, were you trying to whisper?”
“You kinda suck at whispering, babe.”
Lucian and Cleo spoke at the same time, and I narrowed my eyes. Lucian raised an eyebrow, and I raised two back at him.
“I can whisper… right?” I glanced at Hugh, and he looked away and didn’t reply. “Damn, well I guess there’s no point in trying to have a little powwow over here.”
Hugh gazed over and gave me the sweetest smile and the annoyance I felt melted away.
Love.
No. Focus .
“Cleo can stay with us, right?” I asked him.
Lucian’s glare cut to Hugh and he threw up his hands.
“She’s staying at my condo,” Lucian said, walking towards us. He grabbed Cleo’s wrist, and I watched as her fingers curled up and touched him.
I looked over at Hugh and saw that he’d also caught the way her fingers were gripping Lucian’s wrist. I stepped back and neither of them even realized that I wasn’t standing there anymore. They were watching each other, something silent passing between them, making the air heavy.
Hugh’s hand reached out to mine, weaving his fingers with mine as his thumb found the inside of my wrist and gently grazed the skin. My attention was on the way my body was practically humming when Lucian spoke, his voice deeper than I’d ever heard it.
“Stay with me,” Lucian said.
“Just—just for tonight,” Cleo replied.