Chapter Thirteen
LUCIUS REALIZED HIS workaholic days had come to an end as soon as he got to his office. It was only his first day of marriage, and already he found himself missing his wife. He thought of sending her a text but decided against it. His wife being clingy was cute as fuck, but not when it was the other way around.
He glanced at his watch.
2:05 PM.
Two, no, fuck, three more hours to go.
Surely he could find a way to occupy himself until he could pick his wife up from work?
So think, Young!
An idea came to him then, and he started making calls. The calls still had nothing to do with work and everything to do with his marriage, but at least he wasn't making a fucking nuisance of himself.
By 4:30 PM, Lucius had arranged everything he needed: a catered four-course dinner at his parents' ranch in Evergreen, a bouquet of his Tassina's favorite flowers that he wanted to surprise his wife with, and finally, the presence of his siblings and closest friends, which—-if he were being honest-—was the least thing Lucius looked forward to, knowing how they would likely give him a hard time once they realized his feelings for his wife.
Thirty minutes to go , Lucius thought.
He drummed his fingers against his desk, the empty inbox on his screen mocking him, and his impatience reached its peak.
He missed his wife. Plain and simple.
Fuck waiting.
Fuck not being clingy.
Lucius grabbed his jacket and strode out of his office, ignoring his assistant's startled expression. The elevator ride to the basement parking felt fucking endless, each second stretching his already frayed patience.
Jacob, his chauffeur of twelve years, already had the passenger door open when Lucius stepped out of the elevator, and having been informed of the billionaire's desire to leave immediately, the older man switched to full speed as soon as they were out on the street.
"Where to, Mr. Young?"
"Did my Tassina give you any instructions about when and where to pick her up from work?"
"Indeed, sir," Jacob answered while hiding his smile. In all the years he had been working for Lucius Young, this was the first time the billionaire had expressed any emotion towards any woman outside his family.
"Mrs. Young asked me to drop her off about two blocks away from her workplace. She asked me to pick her up at the same place at five in the afternoon."
"I think I'd like to surprise my wife, Jacob," Lucius drawled. Let's wait for her at the main entrance, shall we?"
"Understood, sir."
Lucius adjusted his tie as he idly watched Jacob negotiate rush-hour traffic with the expertise of a war tactician.
Big mistake, baby girl.
She obviously wanted to keep their marriage a secret. Unfortunately for her, she should've also realized that a man like him would only see such actions as a challenge.
TASSY AND STELLA HAD just walked out of the building when Stella suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh, wow. Do you see that?"
"The black car?" Tassy asked, genuinely confused by her friend's reaction. It just looked like another luxury vehicle to her—-the kind that regularly ferried Black Carpet International's high-profile clients.
Stella gave her a pained look. "That's Youngest LX, Tas. Close to two hundred thousand dollars. It's one of the most expensive electric SUVs in the world."
"Well, of course I knew that," Tassy quipped without missing a beat. "I was just checking to see if you knew that, too, duh. "
Stella let out a snort. "Why don't you also tell me that the sky's pink, pigs fly, and—-" Stella broke off when a dignified-looking chauffeur in a perfectly tailored uniform opened the passenger door.
"Is that Lucius Young?" Stella whispered beside her, voice hushed with disbelief.
The name barely registered in Tassy's mind, her attention having shifted back to the entrance of their building, where Fontana had just emerged with her trendy entourage, their laughter cutting through the afternoon air.
Fontana, meanwhile, had also caught sight of the electric SUV across the street, and her perfectly manicured hand flew to her throat in recognition when she saw who had stepped out of the car.
Was that Lucius Young?
His presence stirred everyone into a frenzy, and even her own friends looked awestruck.
Perfect.
Fontana tossed her honey-blonde hair over her shoulders, saying loudly enough to be overheard, "He's probably here to see me."
"Oh my gosh, girl. You know Lucius Young?" One of her friends clutched her arm, practically vibrating with excitement.
The answer to that would be no , but what other reason was there? She was the only heiress around here while everyone else (her friends included) was horribly middle-class. He had probably seen one of her photos on Instagram and was instantly captivated. It happened all the time, so this was nothing new.
Fontana moved forward with the confidence of someone who had never been told no, but just as her crimson-colored lips curved into a practiced smile as they came face to face, the billionaire simply strode past her as if she were invisible.
What the hell?
Fontana fumed in outrage, turning around to see who the billionaire intended to meet. This was so embarrassing, but she told herself she could keep faking it until she had him eating out of her... what the fucking hell?
Her body started shaking with a mixture of rage and disbelief as she watched Lucius come to a stop before the very last woman on earth who should have anything to do with him.
Tassy jumped when someone suddenly cupped her elbow from behind. Her lips parted in surprise, but before she could react, she found herself looking up into a pair of familiar copper eyes. Her husband had appeared by her side, the cologne-scented heat of his presence enveloping her senses, and she belatedly realized what the frenzy of excitement around her was all about.
Lucius slowly bent his head, his breath warm against her ear, and her body burst into flames as he whispered, "You've been a very bad girl, wife."
Tassy's knees knocked together, her head spinning.
Oh my gosh .
Had he just called her... wife?
No, actually, he'd done more than that. He hadn't just said it. He'd purred the word, and it was just so... wait .
Did he also just say she was a... bad girl?
Tassy's mystified gaze flew up to his, but his coppery eyes only glinted back at her, dark and dangerous. "Didn't I warn you about how possessive I am? And how easily jealous I get?"
She nodded vehemently. Yes, he had, but—
"Then why," he continued, voice dropping to a silky murmur that sent shivers racing down her spine, "did you instruct Jacob to drop you off two blocks away from your workplace and pick you up at the same place? Are you trying to hide the fact that you're married to me?"
Someone gasped behind them, and Tassy's eyes widened as she realized Stella had heard what Lucius said.
Oh dear .
She turned to her friend with a nervous smile. "So, um..." Her voice faltered, her mind suddenly flooded with memories of the past. What if Lucius was even worse than Xylan? What if he also looked down—
"You must be Stella," Lucius said smoothly, his tone effortlessly charming as he extended his hand. "My wife has told me all about you. I understand you've been friends since high school."
Tassy could only watch in a daze as her normally aloof husband charmed the socks off Stella, who was usually not that easy to impress.
"I hope you'll join us for dinner this weekend, and I'll make sure to send a car."
Stella was flustered at having the red carpet rolled out for her. "Oh, but—"
"You're my wife's closest friend," Lucius interrupted gently but firmly. "Your safety is my priority as well." His gaze dropped deliberately to the healing cut on Stella's cheek, and it was then the two women realized what had prompted Lucius to make his offer.
Tassy found herself blinking back tears when her husband also insisted that Stella save the number of his security chief.
"Day or night," he added, his voice dropping to ensure only the two women could hear. "No questions asked."
Tassy couldn't believe how different Lucius was from Xylan. Her ex had known Stella for years , but not once had he cared to ask why Tassy's friend occasionally sported ill-concealed bruises on her face. In fact, the less he had to do with Stella, the better for Xylan, who didn't want to be seen being friends with someone who cleaned for a living.
And yet her husband, on the other hand...
Lucius had known Stella for all of five minutes, but he had known exactly what Tassy's friend needed and offered it without hesitation.
Why was this husband of hers so perfect?
What had she ever done to deserve him?
By the time they parted ways with Stella, Tassy's heart was bursting with joy and gratitude, and she turned to her husband as soon as they were inside his car. Her adoring gaze lifted to his, and that was when she saw it.
Uh...oh.
Was it just her imagination or did he suddenly look like he was about to give her a beating?
"So..." Her husband's tone was pleasant. Who knew a pleasant tone could sound so... menacing? "I understand keeping our marriage a secret from other people, but when you also chose not to tell your best friend..."
I'm dead.
"Did you think I'd be the type to let you hide me away?"
Tassy started speaking very, very quickly. "I didn't mean to hide you! I just couldn't find the right time—"
Oh no.
Her voice trailed off when she realized where Lucius was staring.
"You're not wearing your wedding ring either."
"So, um, about that—"
Her voice faltered when he pushed a button that had the privacy partition sliding up behind Jacob.
Oh no.
Lucius reached for her waist to pull her close...before slowly guiding her head down...so she would have enough time to understand what he was asking of her.
"You've been a very bad girl, wife."
And this time, all she could think of saying was...
"Y-Yes."
Liquid heat pooled between her already trembling thighs.
"I've b-been a v-very bad girl."
And her fingers were moving on their own while she was speaking, her breasts aching harder as she unzipped his pants.
"So what do you think I should do next? Do you think I should punish you?"
His hands guided hers to his massive length, and her nipples hardened when she felt it throb violently between her fingers.
"Take it out, wife."
She did as commanded, and a strangled sound escaped her throat when she realized her fingers weren't even enough to fully encircle him.
"Do you think this is a suitable punishment?"
No.
Not at all.
Because punishments were supposed to make someone terrified, not excited.
"Answer me." The demand was a velvety growl against her ear.
The harsh tone made her jump...but still not in fear. Instead it was the opposite, with her panties now completely soaked, and every part of her body that could swell was indeed swelling and aching.
"Y-Yes."
"So say it," Lucius growled.
Embarrassment heated her cheeks at what he was asking of her.
"Give me the words, wife."
But her toes were also curling hard because she realized that she did want to say it.
"P-Punish me with your cock, h-hus—"
He didn't let her finish, with Lucius deliberately taking her by surprise as he gripped her hair in order to pull it back and... aaaaah .
He was too big, too thick, too everything inside of her mouth.
His grip on her hair controlled the movement of her head, and all she could do was squeeze his muscular thighs as he guided her mouth up and down on his length.
"Start sucking, wife."
Her belly tightened with desire at the roughness of his voice, and she found herself helplessly obeying his command. She sucked as hard as she could, and the sound of his harsh breath filled the car.
He started moving faster and harder, his length diving deeper and deeper until it was reaching the back of her throat. She didn't want to stop. But she was afraid she was about to lose her breath. Her mind started to spin. But she couldn't seem to stop herself from sucking. She wanted both of them lost, and it seemed her husband wanted the same thing, with his hand suddenly inside of her blouse.
Aaaaaah!
The moment his fingers tightened possessively around the swollen globe of flesh, everything started to spiral, and as soon as he started pinching her nipple, she instinctively sucked on his length as hard as she could.
Orgasm pounded into both of them at the same time, with Lucius growling her name out while her own body buckled in release.
Tassy was completely limp when she felt him pull out of her mouth, and it was only when he murmured in her ear that she realized she had fallen asleep.
"We're here, Tassina."
Her eyes fluttered open.
What?
Lucius chuckled at the way his wife shot up in her seat when she realized where they were—outside his parents' ranch.
"Ready to meet my family?"
"No!"
His lips curved in a smile that could only be described as shamelessly sadistic. "That's exactly what I want to hear."
Aaaargh!
Tassy did her best to straighten her disheveled clothes before reluctantly stepping out of his car, but as soon as he had her on her feet, he immediately pulled her into his arms, and all she could do was clutch his shirt as he undid all the desperate hand combing she had done in the past five minutes.
When Lucius lifted his head, Tassy's eyes were still hazy with passion, her cheeks a becoming shade of pink, and her lips kiss-swollen.
Perfect .
Tassy's head was still reeling as they stepped inside his parents' home, and it was only when they walked past a framed mirror that she accidentally caught sight of her reflection, and her steps came to a horrified halt.
"Lucius!" Her tone was aghast. "I can't meet your parents like..." Her voice trailed off when she saw the telltale glint in his gaze, and she realized he wanted this.
He actually wanted his entire family to see her like this, and she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"I honestly thought you were just trying to make me feel better when you told me you were the possessive type."
"How foolish of you."
She choked back a laugh. The type to mince words, her husband was obviously not.
"I meant every word I said, wife. You're mine—"
She shook her head, saying teasingly, "I think what you mean to say is that you're crazy—"
"Over you? Absolutely."
A shiver ran down her spine at how his voice had suddenly gone dangerously soft.
"And it will do you best not to forget this."
Tassy was saved from replying since they had already reached the dining hall, but even as Lucius started to introduce her to everyone, she was unable to shake off a terrible sense of premonition.
That her husband was crazy over her she was happy to remember, but there was one thing she realized now that she had forgotten.
And it was the fact that she had yet to tell Lucius anything about Xylan.