Chapter Seventeen – Lucian
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
LUCIAN
I use my body as a shield, standing between Evelynn and Seraphine, feeling Talon, Cain, and Silas flank my sides, concealing Evelynn further from Seraphine’s view.
Her gaze flickers over us, assessing. Her ice-cold eyes miss nothing, a devilish smile playing on her lips.
“Please don’t hide your little toy on my account. I can smell her from here. She is positively exquisite,” she purrs, licking her lower lip.
Seraphine is beautiful. Her blonde hair is almost white, her pale skin flawless, and her body is crafted from sin.
She is every man’s dream woman, a siren to human men who flock to her like moths to a flame.
I’ve seen her kill, devouring her prey, and I’ve seen her obliterate other vampires that dare to get in her way.
“Not hiding. Protecting,” I state sharply.
She mocks innocence. “Protecting her from me? Really, Lucian, you make out like I’m some monster. Now step aside and let me meet this… human.” She says the last word as if it tastes bitter on her tongue.
I don’t move. Neither do my brothers. I’m surprised by Silas. He’s made it clear on many occasions how he feels about Evelynn.
“Go, Seraphine. You aren’t welcome here tonight, or any other night,” I seethe, the warning low in my throat.
I don’t miss the flicker of surprise crossing her face. I’ve never turned her away. I’ve always allowed her to stay, and always for selfish reasons. She has, and always has been, just a fuck to me.
She lifts her chin, her face turning to stone. Her gaze flickers over my shoulder, and the corner of her mouth curves.
“I will go, Lucian, but first, maybe you want to explain to me why you are protecting a human?” she queries.
“You see, if you had merely discarded her to the side, I wouldn’t have thought much of it.
I know your rules, and I always respect them while I’m here.
I wouldn’t have hurt her.” She pauses, her glacial gaze spearing mine.
“But here you are, blocking her from me, and not just you, but your coven, too.”
I tense my jaw. I should have ordered Evelynn to go straight back to the room until I had got rid of Seraphine.
I need to distract her.
I step forward, and Silas, Cain, and Clutch read my move and quickly take Evelynn aside, blending her in with the other women.
I plaster an arrogant smile on my lips as I take another step toward Seraphine. It works. Her eyes stay on me.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re jealous,” I provoke.
She smiles, flirtatiously. “Well, I know we aren’t exclusive, but when I am around, I don’t like to share.”
“I don’t remember you minding me sharing you with my brothers. In fact, I think you rather enjoyed it,” I say as I wrap my hand around her throat.
Her eyes spark with desire.
I lean in and graze my lips across hers.
“I’m only interested in one vampire tonight. You.” She runs her hand down my body, cupping my cock. Her brow furrows when she feels I’m not interested, and her gaze flickers in Evelynn’s direction.
I act fast, crashing my mouth to Seraphine’s, distracting her. Her hands trail up, her nails raking down my stomach. I growl against her mouth, hating how her mouth feels against mine. I hate the taste, the scent of her. All of it repulses me.
I hear Evelynn’s breath catch in her throat.
“Leave me alone. I’m going to bed,” Evelynn snaps.
I break the kiss to see Seraphine smiling up at me like she’s won.
I catch the retreating back of Evelynn as she storms off.
“Prez, we’ve got an issue,” Silas states beside me.
I turn my attention to him.
“Rival club has stolen our shipment. This can’t wait,” he interrupts. He looks to Seraphine and gives her a brief nod before walking away.
“Another time,” I offer her.
She sighs. “I could wait in your bed for you.”
“Not tonight. I don’t know when we will be returning,” I counter, hoping she’ll leave.
Something flickers across her eyes. For a moment, I think she’s going to argue, to call me out on my bullshit, but instead she gives me a small smile.
“Very well. Until next time.”
She presses her lips to mine one last time, then turns and saunters out of the club. Shade follows a moment later to make sure she leaves the area.
I turn to Silas. “Thank you.”
“I may not like or pretend to understand what is going on with you and Evelynn, but I saw it the moment you kissed Seraphine. She was in pain. Physical pain,” he rasps, shaking his head.
My gut lurches at the thought of her hurting.
“Where did you hide all the fang bangers?” I ask.
Silas smirks. “They are being kept amused and waiting for me.”
I grin and shake my head, clasping a hand on his shoulder. “Then I won’t keep you any longer.”
I make my way to my room. As I enter, I immediately notice it’s empty.
She’s not here.
Panic rises in my chest. I turn and scan the halls, the kitchen.
Nothing. I pass the old cell where we originally held her, and the creak of the bed makes me pause.
I slowly push open the door. The faint light from the hall highlights her curled up on the bed, her back to the door. Relief floods me.
She’s here. She’s safe.
Before I can take a step forward, she speaks.
“Leave me alone.”
The pain and anger in her tone make me pause only for a second before I move, scooping her up in my arms. She protests, trying to fight me, but I ignore her and don’t let go until we’re in my room. I lay her on the bed, then turn and lock the door before facing her.
“You can’t keep me in here,” she fumes, her eyes ablaze.
I stalk toward her, one slow step at a time.
“Don’t,” she grits, her voice cracking with pain.
I absently rub my chest, as if I can feel the pain I’ve caused her.
“Nothing happened,” I state.
She lets out a cynical laugh. “You had your tongue down her throat, and her hand was on your cock.” She shakes her head. “But you know what? That’s okay. We are not a thing. This—whatever the fuck this is—is not normal.”
“You’re right. We are not just a thing. You are mine,” I bite back, not liking her dismissing this.
“You took me, tortured me, then cared for me. You don’t allow me any freedom.
I am your prisoner, and the fact that my deluded brain was making me believe I was falling for you…
” She laughs bitterly. “Just when I think you like me too, you shove me away and kiss someone else. I can’t keep doing this back and forth.
” She gestures between us. “I mean, hell, a shrink would have a field day with this one. ‘So he kidnapped you and tortured you, and now you are in a relationship.” She uses a mocking voice. “You know what, bring back Jerry Springer. This is his kind of thing. The only thing we are lacking is a DNA test.” She paces back and forth, ranting. “I mean, it’s been, what, a few weeks? And I’m falling for my captor, who not only could kill me at any point, but he’s a vampire. And not the cute, sparkly kind.”
“Seven weeks, three days, and around fourteen hours,” I interrupt.
She stops pacing and looks at me. “What?”
“That’s how long you’ve been here,” I answer.
She blinks, her brows knitting together. “It can’t be that long. I mean… it can’t be.”
I move to her while she’s distracted enough that she can’t push me away. I take her chin, forcing her gaze to mine.
“If I did not distract Seraphine, she would have tried to kill you,” I tell her.
There’s still doubt in her eyes.
“She is a lover.” I feel her body jolt, and she shoves at my chest. I release her chin and take a step back. “A past lover,” I clarify. “Casual. She wants—and has always wanted—more. If she saw, or knew how I felt about you, she would want you dead.”
“How do you feel about me?” She shakes her head, disbelief in her eyes. “I’m nothing more than a pet to you. A possession.” Her mouth twists into a sneer. “You’re just going to have to learn how to share your pet. I’m sure one of the others will let me sleep in their room.”
She turns to storm past me, but she doesn’t get the chance. I catch her easily, lift her, and throw her onto the bed. Her body bounces with the impact. I’m on her instantly, pinning her beneath me, my weight a promise she can’t escape.
“Get off me,” she snaps, fighting.
“No.” My voice comes out low, dangerous. “You’re going to listen.”
Her chest rises fast beneath me.
“You are mine,” I growl. “Not a pet. Not something to be shared. You’re my prey.”
Her eyes darken.
“Every part of me is obsessed with you. Your scent. Your heat. The way your pulse jumps when I’m close.” I lean in, my breath brushing her mouth. “I crave you.”
Her lips part despite herself. I inhale slowly, tasting her arousal on the air.
“You consume every fucking part of me,” I admit, raw and unguarded. “You can pretend you don’t feel it, but your body tells me the truth.”
I brush my mouth over hers, barely touching.
“But it’s wrong,” she whispers. “None of this makes sense.”
“Everything about my undead existence is wrong,” I murmur, my gaze dropping to her lips. “You’re the only thing that’s ever felt right.”
My eyes flick back to hers. “Tell me this doesn’t feel right.”
Then I take her mouth.
She doesn’t resist. She kisses me back with the same savage hunger burning through me.
I release her wrists and tear her dress apart; the soft fabric giving easily in my hands.
She lies bare beneath me, her darkened eyes following every movement as my hands roam her skin—slow and claiming—tracing each curve as if memorising her. As if carving her into me.
“Lucian,” she breathes.
My amber gaze snaps to hers.
“I… I’ve never…”
“I know,” I cut her off.
I rise deliberately, making her watch as I shed my jacket, unbutton my jeans, and kick off my boots. My clothes fall away.
I fist my cock once, hard, while she lies open beneath me. Something ancient coils in my chest.
Mine.
I crawl back over her, settling between her legs, guiding myself to her entrance. Her eyes never leave mine as I press forward slowly, filling her inch by inch. Her lips part as she breathes through the stretch. I stop right there, right before I take what cannot be undone.
Her gaze burns into mine. “Make me yours,” she whispers.
The last thread of restraint snaps. I thrust, feeling the barrier give. She gasps, pain flashing across her face. A deep, feral growl tears from my chest.
Her blood hits the air—sweet, intoxicating—mixing with her arousal. It nearly shatters me.
I pull back abruptly.
“Lucian, what are you—?” Her words die as my mouth claims her centre.
I taste her blood and desire. It takes everything I have not to lose myself completely. I work her with my tongue, marking her with my mouth, consuming her. Her body writhes beneath me, her pleasure building, completely helpless to stop it.
“Oh God,” she pants. “Help me.”
I lift my head slowly, a dark smile spreading across my lips, knowing her blood and arousal glisten across my mouth.
“Not even the devil can help you now,” I murmur. “You gave yourself to a monster.”
I trail my mouth back up her body, brushing my lips over her throat, breathing her in, branding her with my scent.
“You’re marked,” I growl softly. “Every part of you knows it.”
My gaze locks on hers as I settle between her thighs again. Her hips lift instinctively, seeking me.
“Lucian. I need you.”
I fill her in one hard movement.
She cries out, her back arching beneath me.
I begin to move, slow at first, deep and deliberate, claiming her body with every thrust. Her breasts rise and fall. The way she grips me, the way she takes me, it feels inevitable.
Like she was made for this.
For me.
Her eyes flutter as her body tightens around me, and her nails dig into my back.
“Look at me,” I demand. “Give me your eyes.”
She obeys. Her dark gaze locks with mine, cheeks flushed, lips parted.
“Watch while I claim you,” I growl. “While I mark you as mine.”
I drive into her harder now, still holding back my strength. Her pleasure breaks loose as she cries out, her body clenching around me. She’s coming apart. She tightens around me. I thrust again. Once. Twice.
Then I spill inside her, a roar tearing from my chest as release crashes through me. Her cries echo through the room.
Afterwards, I hover over her, staring down at her trembling body, something dark and absolute settling into my bones.
She smells like me now. Feels like mine.
I thought I’d known possession before.
I was wrong.
This is something primal.
Permanent.