Chapter Twenty-Two
Charlie
We didn't run into anyone on our way out. Lucas was silent while we waited for the valet to return with his truck, not speaking even when he helped me into the passenger seat, carefully arranging my full skirts so the door wouldn’t damage them.
Finally, when we were halfway home, he said, "Nice den of vipers you call friends, Princess."
"Neither of them are my friends," I said. "Harrison is a tool, and calling Elizabeth a viper is an insult to snakes."
Lucas's only response was a gruff sound in the back of his throat. In fact, he didn't say another word until we were almost home. He'd been so quiet that when he spoke, the sound of his voice startled me.
"Is it usually like that?"
"Like what?"
I wasn't sure what he meant. Was he talking about Elizabeth and Harrison? Or the party itself?
The benefit had been pretty standard as those things went, but Harrison's play for my attention and the scene with Elizabeth were definitely unusual.
"That's what I thought," Lucas said obliquely.
I didn't get it. "What do you mean?" I asked. He just shook his head and fell silent again.
He parked his truck in his driveway. I'd spent the day at my place, but other than my makeup, I hadn't moved my things back to my own house.
Was I still staying with Lucas? We hadn't talked about it. We hadn't talked about anything.
I let him lead me into his house, into his bedroom, and let him strip me of my ball gown in complete silence. Standing before him wearing only a white lace thong and matching thigh-high stockings, I shivered.
His green eyes burned, tracking me from head to toe with a hot, possessive gaze.
I expected him to be rough. Impatient. But Lucas Jackson always seemed to surprise me. He stepped closer, reaching out a hand to trace one finger across my collarbone, leaving a trail of heat in the wake of his touch.
"You're so beautiful," he said in a husky whisper. "So fucking beautiful."
I didn't speak. I couldn't. My heart was in my throat, blocking my words. "Lucas, please."
That was all I could get out. Please. I didn't even know what I wanted to say. I knew what I felt. Love and lust. Affection and need. I felt everything for Lucas, and I couldn't tell him any of it.
He was already slipping away. If I laid my heart out for him, he'd disappear.
All I could do was show him. Reaching up, I placed a palm on either side of his face, pulling his mouth to mine. I kissed him with everything I had, gently at first, brushing my lips over his, back and forth, tasting his breath, his heat.
Lucas stepped into me, his big hands coming down on my hips, yanking me into him. He was still fully clothed while I was almost naked. The tips of my breasts rubbed his tuxedo jacket and I leaned into him. He was so tall that at times like this, his size overwhelmed me.
I gave the kiss everything I had, opening my mouth to his, asking him to take what he wanted. Lucas didn't disappoint me. Sex was never our problem.
His fingers grasped my hips, the jut of his hard cock digging into my stomach. His mouth took mine, claiming control of our kiss, of me.
Dropping my hands, I went to work on his clothes, pushing the jacket off his shoulders, tearing at the studs on his tux, suddenly desperate to have him as naked as I was.
I got stuck on his cufflinks, my fingers fumbling with the small metal contraptions, distracted by our kiss and the rasp of his chest hair against my nipples. Abruptly, Lucas stepped back, tearing his mouth from mine.
Eyes hot, hands trembling, he yanked at his shirt, the cufflinks popping free, pinging to the floor. He shoved his underwear down along with his pants. I watched avidly, shedding my thong but leaving the stockings.
"On the bed," he said, the words thick with need. Drawing out the moment, I reached for my hair, pulling out pin after pin, releasing my curls from the elaborate style Maggie had fashioned from my short hair.
Lucas's eyes tracked my every move, his chest rising and falling in deep, harsh breaths. It was costing him to wait, to let me tease him.
It cost me too. Every nerve in my body burned, my breasts swollen and tight, the heat between my legs slick.
Dropping the pins to the floor, I shook my hair back from my face and stepped to Lucas. He stayed where he was, a fine tremble in his hands where they hung at his sides, his cock so hard it pressed to his abdomen, the tip leaking a bead of pre-come.
Reaching out, I ran a finger along a curving line of ink on his shoulder, following it down his arm to his hand. His skin beneath my fingertip was warm silk covering hard muscle. He was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen.
Aggressive and raw, sculpted from sheer power, yet gentle when he wanted to be.
My fingers interlaced with his and I tugged him to the bed, falling back onto the mattress, taking Lucas with me. I touched him everywhere I could reach, sliding my hands over his body, kissing his jaw, the side of his neck, his shoulder.
Rising over me, he pressed our joined hands to the mattress above my head. Arching my back, I spread my legs, inviting him into me. His cock was so hard, drawn so tight to his body, he had to release my hand to guide himself in.
I'll never forget how perfectly he filled me, the way his cock was made for me, how complete I was when Lucas Jackson was inside me. He took me slowly, gliding in deep and holding still for a heartbeat before he withdrew and rocked in again.
He was killing me, building pleasure in my core with every thrust, driving me closer and closer to my orgasm even as love and pain gathered in a tight ball in my chest, too much for me to contain.
A single tear escaped the corner of my eye.
Lucas dropped his head to mine, kissing away the salty drop. "Charlie," he murmured in my ear.
He didn't tell me not to cry.
He knew.
I couldn't hold him.
I didn't know how.
I had nothing to offer him but what he'd already taken.
My body and my heart.
He'd had all he wanted of the first and he had no interest in the second.
I fought my tears as hard as I fought my orgasm. I didn't want to come. I didn't want it to be over. I wanted to stay like this forever, joined to Lucas, everything I was belonging to him.
All too soon, Lucas reached his limit. With a groan, he moved faster, pounding into me, pushing me over the edge into an orgasm so hard it was a bright flash behind my eyes.
I cried out his name as I came, freeing my hands to hold on to him, my face buried in his neck, my tears streaking his skin.
We fell asleep there, me half on my side, Lucas draped over me, our legs entwined, his arm firmly around me, my back against his chest, my head tucked beneath his chin.
I'd never felt so connected. So safe.
Seven hours later, I woke to see Lucas at his dresser, stuffing clothing in a bag. I blinked, washing the sleep from my eyes as my brain tried to process what he was doing.
He was dressed in cargo pants and a black t-shirt, his gun in a shoulder holster, boots already laced on his feet.
Lucas had been up for a while. My duffel bag sat beside his bedroom door, a plastic bag stuffed with toiletries sitting on top.
This was it. It was over. I closed my eyes, feigning sleep. I'd known something was off the night before. He'd been a little distant all day, but after he'd dragged me from the benefit he'd gone cold and silent.
He'd made love to me—and it had been making love, not fucking. Not that last time. He'd been drawing it out, trying to make it last.
Okay. Fine. If he wanted this to be over, I couldn't stop him. I couldn't hold him if he didn't want me. At the thought, my chest clenched in pain.
Later. I'd think about it later.
I was not going to cry in front of Lucas Jackson. Not again. Not when it was over.
If I thought I could change his mind, could bare my heart and convince him to stay, I'd do it in a second.
I suspected Lucas already knew how I felt. And he was leaving me anyway.
Lucas wasn't afraid of my love. He just didn't want it.
I dug my fingers into my palms and bit my lip, using my two best tricks to fight back tears. When I was sure I could hold it together. I opened my eyes and sat up.
Lucas turned to face me, his eyes on the wall behind my head.
"You're awake."
"Are you leaving?" I asked, pulling the sheet up to cover my nudity.
"Uh, yeah. I got a call for a job early this morning. Since your situation is under control, I need to get back to work."
"Okay."
Was I wrong? Was he just going out of town for a while? I got out of bed, taking the sheet with me. My ball gown was carefully folded beside my duffel, the sparkle of the crystals flickering like tiny flames against the creamy satin and filmy tulle.
I'd never be able to wear it again without thinking of Lucas.
"I have to head out, but you can take your time. I can lock the place remotely." His eyes skimmed across my body, coming nowhere near my face. Tilting his head toward my duffel, he said, "I got your stuff together."
"Okay." I didn't know what else to say. Lucas wouldn't look at me.
Keeping his eyes on the bag he was zipping shut, he said, "I'll see you when I get back."
"How long will you be gone?" I asked, watching him for some kind of sign. He gave me nothing. When he finally met my eyes, his were flat and blank.
"Don't know. But I'll see you around."
"You'll see me when you get back, or you'll see me around?"
Breaking eye contact, Lucas slung his bag over his shoulder and turned for the door.
"I'll see you around."
"Okay," I whispered, mostly to myself. His feet echoed across the hardwood floor. The front door opened and closed. The engine of his truck rumbled.
He was gone.