31
Damien
Chimes of the ancient grandfather clock echo in the hallway as I enter the manor. The time is exactly midnight.
Everything is still and quiet inside Volkov Manor. Mikhail is away on his mission to keep tabs on his street messengers while Leon is still locked with the traitors. Lilja is either sleeping in her room or out partying.
My feet follow a familiar path and stop before a door. The woman I’ve been yearning to see is locked inside the room.
Keying in the passcode to the lock, I open the door.
My heartbeat races at the sight before me. Lucia is asleep on the bed in the corner. She doesn’t stir as I step inside the room and close the door behind me.
Excitement and apprehension crash inside me, kicking up a storm in my chest. Maybe I am a monster from her nightmares who watches her while she sleeps.
Self-loathing washes over me but I ignore it. Just the sight of Lucia in my home is enough to send a gust of warmth through me. She belongs here , my mind whispers to me.
Will Lucia ever realize what we’d do to make her a part of our pack?
We brought her here against her will. Even if we offered her protection, she probably wants to live her life the way she desires it. Is forcing her to stay here making me the same kind of man as her brother?
A part of me resents how easily she nullifies my hatred toward her. I want to bond her, break her, and then toss over the pieces of her heart to Callum. That way, I’ll get over my grudge and continue living my cursed life.
Instead, I covet her and lock her up in my manor.
I struggled for years to erase her memories from my mind but failed miserably. The way she smiled and called my name, the way she’d hug me all the time, the way she’d secretly watch me and my brothers, the way it felt to kiss her for the very first time...
Lucia is here now , my mind whispers as I stare at her. She can never escape. She can never leave. She’s mine...
A rush of victory chases away my doubts.
Lucia stirs in her sleep. The blanket covering her shifts, revealing the thin straps of a silken nightdress.
Lucia is such a princess . Even though she bought those ridiculous clothes from Ryder’s gay brother, she ended up buying something as classy and timeless as this lavish lavender-hued nightdress.
Asleep, she can’t see my face. This way, I won’t have to witness the terror and disgust in her soulful emerald eyes. For the first time, I’m realizing how alluring she looks in her sleep.
I’d been desperate the last time I took her. The adrenaline from fighting and killing Morelli’s men sent me over the edge, making me drag her into her little room and fuck her.
I could’ve almost imagined the look of pleasure in her eyes back then. That’s what it was , I remind myself. Your fucking imagination .
Leaning down, I reach out and gently slide the blanket away from her.
Her nightdress rides up high over her thighs, allowing my eyes to greedily take in her long, silky legs before reaching out to touch her.
Lucia lies still as my fingertips glide over the curve of her knee and her bare thigh. How can she allow herself to sleep so peacefully with a predator so close by?
A soft sigh escapes her as my hand slides over the dip of her waist to reach her full breasts spilling out from the low-cut neckline. My bare touch on the silky skin sends a shiver through her. Still deeply asleep, she nuzzles her face deeper into the pillow.
She’s soft and pliant as I capture her shoulders and ease her onto her back. Her head falls to the side but she continues to sleep, her breathing deep and even.
I gently part her thighs and run my hand over the satiny fabric of her panties. Gently digging my fingers into the elastic waistband, I pull them off her.
Bringing her panties close to my face, I inhale her intoxicating scent before bunching it up and stuffing it into my back pocket. This is going to be my little keepsake.
With the slowest, most patient moves, I lower the straps of her nightdress and proceed to pull them off her. Lucia remains in deep sleep, heightening my excitement.
If only she could be this pliant and accepting when she’s awake , I think with desperation, staring at her fully naked body.
Lucia is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her skin is flawless and soft. I want to bite every inch of her body and mark her as mine.
My gaze falls on the silver scars adorning her shoulders and the column of her neck. They were the bites my brothers and I gave her during her heat. We’ve already marked and bonded her to us. No matter how much she hates us, she’ll never truly be able to stay away from us.
The primal urge to drive my cock into her pink, inviting pussy overwhelms me but I need to stay patient and not wake her up. Lucia must stay asleep so I can enjoy her this way.
I climb onto the bed and settle myself next to her. Leaning in, I swipe my tongue over the apple of her cheek.
Lucia swipes her cheek and continues to sleep.
Next, I press my lips to hers. My tongue traces over her bottom lip, gently coaxing her to open up to me.
Her warm breath fans over my face as she unconsciously parts her lips.
My tongue languidly swirls around hers, deepening the kiss. Warmth floods my body as I let my hand gently cup her right breast. Little moans escape her and I swallow them all.
“You taste so sweet,” I whisper and lick her lips.
She makes a small humming noise and suddenly throws her arms around my neck. Still asleep but probably in the throes of a dream, she pulls me down with surprising strength.
Clutched in her unconscious embrace, I resume kissing her gently.
Warmth and excitement swell inside me. For the very first time, I’m having Lucia this way. It’s refreshing to see her accept me instead of struggling to get away from me.
“You’re all mine,” I whisper, giving her pink nipple a light squeeze.
A moan escapes her. My hand resting over her belly feels her muscles tightening. The sheet rustles as she rubs her thighs together.
Curious, I let my hand glide over to her pussy. Swiping a finger over her seam, I realize she’s slick and wet. Clouds of her sweet caramel and vanilla scent spread over me, intoxicating my senses.
My balls tighten, responding to her wet, inviting pussy.
Burying my face into the crook of her neck, I push a finger inside her wet folds. She stays asleep as my digit plunges into her slicked core effortlessly.
Staring at her, I slowly pump my finger in and out of her. How can she be still asleep when I’m doing this to her?
My thumb rubs over her swollen clit. A shiver goes through her and her brows pucker slightly. Soft moans escape her lips as she presses her head back into the pillow.
Afraid she’d wake up anytime, I pull my finger out of her.
An annoyed look comes over her pretty face. Unconsciously, she reaches between her thighs but her sleepy movements are clumsy, not giving her the same intensity of pleasure as I’d been offering her.
I’m sure she’ll wake up from her distorted dream any second. Not willing to let go of the opportunity, I take off my trousers and shirt, getting as naked as her, and then, climb on top of her, covering her body with mine.
A hiss escapes me as my cock prods her soft belly.
Holding my shaft, I guide my length along her seam, coating the head with her slickness. Aligning myself against her core, I thrust in.
She gasps out and her eyes fly open.
Pulling out, I thrust in again, slipping my whole length inside her hot, wet heat.
“Damien,” she gasps as her head falls back onto the pillow.
I don’t want to hear her protests and rejections, so I smash my lips against her mouth and continue gliding in and out of her. My fingers curl around her wrists, forcing them over her head, giving her no chance to push me aside or fight back.
Her body writhes underneath me as I plunge inside her. It’s a good thing she’s woken up because I can no longer control my lust. My thrusts grow harder and faster, rocking the bed underneath us.
I keep my mouth closed over hers, giving her no way to scream and curse at me. Tonight, she is mine and there’s nothing she can do about it but submit to me.
It’s a while before I notice the way her hips are slamming upward to meet my thrusts. Surprised, I break the kiss and stare down at her.
Lucia’s eyes are screwed shut, her expression edging on both pain and pleasure. Loud moans escape her. Most surprising of all, she isn’t screaming for me to get off her.
“Look at me,” I command while continuing to plunge inside her.
Her eyes slowly open but close again as her core squeezes and tightens.
I let go of her wrists and guide my hand between us, reaching for her pussy. Finding her clit, I rub hard over the sensitive nub, making her cry out.
Next moment, her walls clench onto my cock so hard, I almost lose control. She becomes a shuddering mess as her pleasure crashes over her.
I use my weight to keep her in place and plunge inside her like a mindless beast. Her walls squeeze and pulse around my cock, telling me she’s reaching another climax.
This is how I love her. Despite her disgust for me, she gets blinded by the flames of pleasure I ignite in her. My cock drives her so insane, she easily ignores the ugly scars etching my face.
“Look at me, Damien,” Lucia’s voice sends a thrill through me.
Surprise flickers through me as I realize she’s staring right at me. There’s no disgust or revulsion in her emerald eyes. My movements slow down as I meet her gaze. This isn’t my imagination.
Lucia is wide awake and not fighting to get away from me. Wounding her legs around my hips, she pulls me closer, making me sink deeper into her pulsing heat. Her arms come around my neck, pulling me in for a kiss.
A burst of heat explodes through me the moment our lips touch. My eyes widen from shock. Breaking away, I glance down at her.
Lucia thrusts her hips upward, seeking the tight friction of my cock. I’m no longer in the realm of my imagination. Lucia wants me .
My balls harden, driving me to grab her hips and pound into her at a relentless pace.
“Gods, Damien,” she groans, clutching the locks of my dark hair.
My mouth captures her sweet lips as I thrust into her, drinking in her moans and gasps. The reality of having her writhing underneath me, her face screwed up with an expression that borders on pain is so much better than anything I could’ve imagined.
What changed? I wonder.
Her thighs shake and her mouth opens wide while her fingers claw my back. She squeezes around me, driving me to the edge of pleasure.
Letting out a growl, I slam deep into her before losing all control.
Lucia’s fingers dig into my shoulders as she holds onto me while her body reverberates with the force of her climax. She pulses around my shaft, milking me to the very last drop.
It’s a while before I can catch my breath again.
Lucia is still panting and gasping for breath, her forehead glistening with sweat. Her cheeks are deliciously red and her emerald-green eyes are glazed with lust. She looks the most beautiful during moments like these.
Shifting away from her, I fall onto the bed beside her.
Twisting around, she gazes at me. “I thought it was all a dream.” Reaching out, she pokes my cheek. “You’re really here.”
It’s a struggle to keep my face from splitting into a wide grin. Fuck, I can feel my face flush with heat. She’s making me feel like a young man in love again.
“Why are you acting like I don’t disgust you?” I ask in a deep, intimidating voice.
“You’re my Damien,” she answers in a soft voice. “It took me a while to realize who you are...who you all are. My feelings for you never changed. It doesn’t matter what your face looks like now. Callum is the one who disgusts me, not you.”
A grim look descends into her eyes. “Stop hurting me, Damien. Don’t push me away so far that it becomes impossible for us to close the distance between us.”
Her words take me by such surprise, I can’t form the right response. Deciding to leave, I start climbing off the bed.
Lucia is on me in an instant. Grabbing my arm, she pulls me back on the bed. “Don’t leave,” she says in a tone that’s a mix of hurt and apprehension.
“I’m tired.”
“You can sleep here,” she says, scooting away. “This bed is too big for me anyway.” Placing a pillow beside hers, she pats it into shape.
I lie next to her, wondering if this is all a dream, and that I’ll jerk awake any second.
She pulls the covers over us and slides in beside me. Her soft, naked body presses into my side as she flings an arm over my chest.
What the hell is she doing treating me like a fucking teddy bear?
By the time, I turn around to face her, she’s closed her eyes and is snoozing softly.
A fierce need to protect her rises inside me as I watch her sleeping innocently. There’s no way I can ignore the emotions swirling inside me. It doesn’t matter who I have to kill next to keep her by my side. Lucia is mine .