Chapter 8 Lucian
LUCIAN
I stare at the guestroom door I just closed, my head pounding.
I still don’t know how I found the strength to walk out of the room.
All I wanted was to pull Grace into my arms and kiss those plump lips until I couldn’t fucking breathe.
It physically hurt to resist. I can feel the tension wrapping itself around my muscles, squeezing tight.
Fuck, this is unbearable.
After everything I shared tonight, I feel closer to Grace than ever.
She was so sweet when I told her about Dominic, and opening up to her felt so right.
But then I remembered those damn words again: “too young, too sweet, too good for me.” They hit me all at once while I was sitting across from Grace with her soft hand in mine.
I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t. Even now, the poisonous thoughts race through my head.
If you get too close, you’ll make her more like you…
Miserable, jaded, cynical.
You’ll extinguish her light.
But this time, another part of my brain fights back. A tiny, hopeful part that has been dormant for a long, long time.
Or maybe she’ll make you more like her…
Gentle, happy, vibrant.
Maybe she’ll make you burn brighter than ever.
I swallow hard, reaching my hand for the door handle.
I curl my fingers around it, heart thudding in my ears.
Ever since I met Grace, I’ve tried to keep my distance.
God knows I’ve tried to be noble, tried to resist. But I can feel the last of my resolve melting away as I think of her standing on the other side of the door, that beautiful angel with her bright smile and sparkling eyes.
I want her so fucking badly.
Grace has made me feel alive again for the first time in twelve years.
She makes me feel like I could be so much more than what I am now—more than a bitter recluse with a past that haunts him.
All these excuses…all this holding back…
it’s just fear in disguise. I can see that now, clear as day.
I’m scared to care about her in case I lose her.
But that ship has sailed.
I already care about her more than anything.
I suck in a breath and start to twist the door handle. But it slips from beneath my fingers, already being turned from the other side. I stare in surprise as Grace opens the door. Her eyes go wide when she sees me, a small “oh” escaping her lips.
“I was coming to see you,” we say at the same time.
Then Grace smiles, those pretty lips curving upward, tugging at my heart.
“You always seem to show up at the perfect time,” she says softly.
I look at her, my breath coming fast. In the time I’ve been standing outside her door, she’s changed into a white tee and red plaid pajama bottoms. Her hair is loose, falling in lilac waves, and as I close the space between us, I wrap a soft strand around my fingers.
“I’m sorry, Grace,” I mutter. “God, I’ve been an idiot.”
“What do you mean?” Her voice is breathless, lips parted as she tips her head back to look up at me. There’s barely an inch of space between us, and the warmth of her body radiates against me.
“I’ve been holding back. Trying to keep my distance ‘cause I thought it was the right thing to do. But it wasn’t.
” I let her hair fall from my fingers, moving my hand to her face and cupping her rounded cheek.
She’s so close I can smell her warm scent—vanilla and cinnamon—and I breathe it in, already drunk on her.
“I was stupid to think I could ever resist you, Grace.”
“But then…why did you try?” she whispers.
“Because you’re too young for me, sugar. Too sweet. Too damn perfect.” My heart thuds as I brush her bottom lip with the pad of my thumb. “But I want you, Grace. So fucking much…”
There’s a moment of silence as she looks up at me, and all I can hear is the blood pounding in my ears.
Then we move as one. Leaning in. Suddenly my lips are on hers, and the world dissolves until there’s nothing but Grace, her soft body pushing against mine, her mouth warm and silky.
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer, tangling my hands through her hair.
We kiss desperately, hungrily, all the pent-up tension finally bubbling over.
Fuck, yes.
My nerves are screaming with need, heat rushing downward as I slip my tongue between Grace’s lips.
She tastes cherry-sweet, moaning softly into my mouth as her hot tongue brushes mine.
It’s as much as I can take. I’m already pulling her back toward my bedroom, blindly reaching behind me to open the door.
God, she has no idea how crazy she’s making me.
I’m moving fast, but I can’t stop. I need to have her.
Need to claim her. Every second since I met her, I’ve been fighting against my desire, pushing it down.
Now it’s erupting, burning through my veins like lava, setting my whole damn body on fire.
My cock is rock hard, aching for her. I’ve never wanted anyone like this before—never felt so damn out of control.
But with Grace, it feels good. It feels right.
“Come here, beautiful,” I murmur as I push her back onto my bed, kissing the smooth skin of her neck.
She lets out a shaky breath. I can feel her heartbeat coursing through me, fast and urgent just like mine as I reach for the hem of her tee.
I tug the fabric over her head and toss it aside impatiently, my pulse skittering when I realize she’s not wearing a bra.
Holy shit…
She’s perfect.
My hands cup her soft, rounded breasts, rubbing her pebbled nipples as I lean in to kiss her again. She shudders against me with a mewl of pleasure, and I grit my teeth, trying to stop myself from coming in my pants like a teenager.
Fuck, I want more.
I want to make this angel scream my name.
I break our kiss and grab at her pajama bottoms, sliding them down over her legs until she’s wearing nothing but a pair of white panties.
My gaze roams her creamy skin, her curves like something out of a painting in the soft lamplight of my bedroom.
Every inch of her is gorgeously plump and soft, and I bite back a groan as I pull down her sodden panties, exposing her naked mound.
“You’re so beautiful,” I tell her, my voice hoarse with need. “Tell me you want this, sugar.”
Grace wets her bottom lip, meeting my gaze. She looks nervous, but I can see desire glowing in her eyes as she says, “I want this, Lucian. I want you.”
It’s all I need. Hearing those words on Grace’s lips turns me feral, and I’m already fumbling with my jeans, kicking them aside. My cock is straining against my boxers, painfully hard, aching for release.
But there’s something else I need first.
Something I’m craving desperately.
The scent of Grace’s arousal hangs in the air, sweet and musky, making me salivate as I push her thick thighs apart. She sucks in a surprised breath but doesn’t protest. My gaze roams her glistening pink core, and I trail a finger between her folds, coating it in cream.
“Fuck, you’re so wet for me.”
She nods, pressing her lips together. A warm blush is spreading over her cheeks, her lilac hair fanning out like a halo on the pillow. It hits me all over again—how crazy it is that this sweet goddess is naked in my bed, her legs open for me, arousal seeping down them.
I must be the luckiest son-of-a-bitch alive.
The thought echoes inside my mind as I kiss my way down her perfect curves, only stopping when my head is between her thighs. I can feel her heat flare against my lips, hot and heady as I slip my tongue between her folds.
Fuck, she tastes so good.
Her legs tremble on either side of me, and I hold them tight, keeping her still as I worship her sweet pussy.
I hear a primal cry rip from her throat, her hands threading through my hair.
Her moans are so fucking hot. I relish the way she gets louder as I lick up to her clit, sucking on the swollen nub.
Her whole body bucks at the contact, but I don’t let her move.
I’m not letting her escape my hungry mouth. I need more.
“Oh…oh, Lucian!” she gasps, tugging harder at my hair.
My heart jolts when she moans my name, and I have to reach down to fist my cock, trying to ease the ache.
Holding back my orgasm is torture. Her sweet cries are enough to drive me crazy, and I’m desperate to make her come before I lose control.
I suck hard on her clit, increasing the pressure, bringing my hand to join my mouth.
As I slip two fingers inside Grace’s slick core, I feel her walls quiver, hot and tight around me.
“Yes! Don’t stop…” She sobs the words like a plea, begging for release.
I pump her with my fingers, drinking in the heady scent of her arousal as I bring her to the edge.
She’s close. I can feel it in the way her body tightens, her muscles clenching in anticipation.
Part of me wants to draw out her pleasure—force her to hold on for longer.
I could happily spend all night lapping up her sweet cream, savoring the way her body reacts to my mouth.
But I know I can’t hold on much longer…
And neither can Grace. Spasms run through her as she comes for me, crying out my name like a prayer.
Her warm juices soak my beard, and I lick her pussy dry, devouring every drop.
When I come up for air, she’s looking at me with glazed eyes, breathing hard as she shivers through the aftershocks of her orgasm.
“You’re so fucking pretty when you come,” I murmur, bending down to press a kiss on her neck.
She smiles at me dazedly. I know I should give her time to recover, but my control is slipping fast. A deep, primal need is pulsing through me, turning me wild and desperate.
I need to be inside her. Make her mine. There’s a wet spot growing in my boxers, pre-cum dripping from my aching cock. I can’t wait another second.
“You ready for me, sugar?” I ask, straightening up and reaching for my shirt.
She nods before she says the words I’m dying to hear.
“I’m ready, Lucian.”