Chapter 24
Never, not even in my most secret fantasies, did I imagine he would be this intense. Reality far surpasses my girlish dreams.
As he tells me what he wants from me, what he likes, my nails dig into his skin. I can’t stop myself from marking him too, because no matter how many times he says we’re temporary, Lucifer will always be mine.
“Tell me something about yourself,” I ask, waging an internal tug-of-war to keep from letting him pull me into his seductive web.
“You know everything about me,” he says, his body going tense.
“That’s not true.”
He grabs my wrists.
“This might not work on me, Jackie.”
My heart tightens in my chest as I watch him retreat into his suite.
“Want to hear something about me, Lucifer?” I say, saddened by the fact that he doesn’t even try to let me in. “In every dream I ever had about the future, whenever I pictured happy moments, Christmases, and family, you were there.”
I run to my room, but I still catch sight of him standing in the dark, staring at me.
The Next Day
“I ran into L yesterday,” Taylor says over the phone.
“What?”
“I’d had a fight with William, so I went back to your apartment. I saw L on the sidewalk outside the building.”
I know he left right after our post-dinner conversation, but I had no idea he went to my apartment.
“Did he say what he was doing there?”
“No, he just told me to be careful because he has enemies. I didn’t understand any of it.”
“It was good advice, Taylor. I don’t want you to freak out over what I’m about to say, but maybe it’s best if you stay with William for good. Don’t go back there.”
“I was going to talk to you about that anyway, but I thought we’d do it in person. I’ve decided to move in with him. I’m tired of fighting my feelings, Jackie. I love him, and it’s not going away. William’s not just my baby’s father, he’s my love, too.”
“I think you should give yourself a chance to be happy. He loves you, Taylor.”
“I’m starting to believe that. Look, I don’t want to be nosy, but L said you’re moving in with him.”
“What?”
“L told me you were at his place yesterday, which I already knew, because I remembered the dinner invite you got, but when he said you were moving in for good, I didn’t know how to process that.”
Jesus. I don’t know whether to laugh or kill him. The man has no concept of subtlety.
I decide to break the news to her slowly.
“It’s true,” I say, because even though we didn’t exactly discuss that but rather the marriage, based on what Lucifer told me about his enemies, I know he’d never leave me exposed, living alone.
Besides, if I understood him correctly, this marriage that will guarantee my safety will have to happen very soon.
“And your apartment?”
“I’m not selling it. I’m leaving it as it is. This thing between us happened so suddenly. I’m not sure it will work out.”
“What will work out? You sound serious. Now I’m worried.”
“For your own protection, I can’t tell you everything, Taylor. Only that there’s a lot about my past you don’t know. I thought I’d left it all behind years ago, but no one can run from their origins.”
“I won’t push for confessions, Jackie. I hate that, but at least tell me you’ll be safe.”
“I will. And I’m not planning to leave Manhattan. We’ll stay in touch. I just don’t think it’s a good idea, for now, for us to be seen together. There’s something else I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“L’s been investigating your disappearance since he rescued you, and he said he’s following a hot lead. I forgot to mention it, he told me last night at dinner, I think, as a way to shift the conversation from our future marriage.”
“He’s found out who kidnapped me?”
“If he has, he didn’t give me the details. If he’s sure, he hasn’t told me yet.”
“I know you can’t tell me much about him, but can you at least answer me this: Is L one of the good guys, Jackie?” she asks, then quickly adds, “Sorry, I didn’t have the right to say that. Whatever he does for a living, L was my hero.”
“Honestly, I don’t think you need to know the details, Taylor. Isn’t it enough to know that whoever hurt you will be punished?”
“Yes, that’s more than enough. Promise me you won’t disappear?”
“I promise. One last thing. I’ll have to stop my in-person work at the association for now.”
She goes quiet, and I think she wants to ask questions, but she holds back.
“And your things? When are you going to get them?”
“I need to go to my place today. I don’t have anything here.”
“Can we have lunch sometime?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Tell me you’re not a prisoner, Jackie, because despite what you’ve asked of me, I’m starting to freak out.”
“I’m not. And you have my word that I’m not in any danger with him. I’m certain L would give his life for me without a second thought.”
“The love you have for him is beautiful. It’s unshakable faith.”
“Because I can see all of him, not just the beauty, not just the darkness. I see him. I know the flaws and the sins.”
“And you forgive it all?”
“I’ve never stopped to think about it. I guess I just don’t judge him, just like I didn’t judge my brother or my father.”