Chapter 28 #2
“Your blood, little flower.” There was very little silver remaining in his irises. “It has ruined me for all other tastes.”
“Oh.” A wondrous sigh escaped my lips.
He brushed my hair from my face, dragging his thumbs across my cheekbone. “Tired, sweetheart?”
“Sleepy,” I managed, leaning forward to seek him out. He tucked me against him. I was tall, so he cradled my head against his, his hand splayed over the back of my skull.
My breaths began to slow. I blinked, fighting to keep my eyes open as my eyelids grew heavier.
“Let’s get you to bed.” When he lifted me to my feet, his eyes lingered over my naked lower half.
Suddenly shy, I made to reach for my leggings.
He hooked his hands around the back of my thighs, freezing me in place, then leaned in and gave my left hipbone a kiss, then the right.
His lips found the center of my tummy, but this time his kiss was openmouthed so that I felt his tongue.
“Unless you’re coming to bed with me, I suggest you refrain,” I somehow managed to say, because this was making me heated all over again.
He chuckled, then released me. I scooped up my clothes and dressed.
“Come.” He led me to the bed. “I’ll tuck you in.”
His insistence made my chest expand. Being tucked in was an indulgence I’d been denied of most of my life. But that’s exactly what he did. He pressed the blankets around me, brushing his hands over my forehead before laying a gentle kiss there. “Good night, beautiful girl.”
My heart skipped a beat.
A second later, he was across the room, collecting the tray. The lights dimmed when he reached the door. “Laurie?”
“Yes, little flower?”
I hesitated. “Thank you for taking me to the cove today.”
“It was my pleasure. Sleep well.”
The door closed and I drifted off to sleep smiling, my body still humming with contentment.
I woke whimpering, covered in sweat. Shivers wracked my body. My mind echoed with the feel of a steel table beneath me. I squeezed the bedding just to be sure. Soft linens.
Not the abandoned hospital.
In the dim light, I spotted Cinna in her crate. I fled my bed, trying to get my breathing under control. Cinna barely stirred as I gathered her in my arms. I hugged her to me as I crossed the room and found the door leading to Laurent’s chambers. It clicked open.
I’d never been in here, and yet I didn’t question the force that drove me.
A lamp was on, casting dim shadows across the room. An immediate sigh fell from my lips when I found him. He was sitting in a plush armchair, a book abandoned on his lap as he watched me. His room was like mine, only bigger, with black accents instead of red.
I didn’t speak. Nor did he. He simply watched me, isolated in his pool of light, as I crossed the room to his bed. Perhaps he could hear my heart or sense that I’d had another nightmare. Did he know that I sometimes woke screaming? Sobbing?
He remained motionless, as if he feared a single movement would send me scampering back to my room.
I climbed into his bed with Cinna’s warm body cradled against mine.
The silky black sheets felt cool against my hot skin.
The entire room smelled like him. I immediately felt safer.
I curled around Cinna’s soft body and closed my eyes.
Sleep dragged me under as the remnants of the nightmare retreated beyond my reach.
Just as I slipped away, I felt soft lips on my temple, a gentle hand stroking my hair. A whispered reassurance that I was safe. Then…nothing more.
When I woke, bright sunlight filtered in through the windows. There was a single red rose on the pillow beside mine. I took it, putting it to my nose, inhaling its sweet scent.
Everything was quiet.
I shot upright almost immediately. This was Laurent’s room.
The memory of seeking refuge caught up to me as my eager eyes took in everything.
Unlike my room, his was lived in. Messy, even.
I spotted a suit jacket draped over one of the sofas in the sitting area.
There were books scattered on his table.
His bathroom door was open, a small pile of clothes on the floor. A smile tugged at my lips.
Did he do his own laundry? And how had I never wondered that before?
A quiet knock sounded. Crap. My eyes darted toward the door linking our two rooms. But there was no point in retreating.
“Uhm. Come in?”
Vittorio swept in, a tray in hand. “Good morning, Miss Shaw.”
“Nothing happened.” I sprang from the bed so he’d see I was fully dressed.
“None of my business.” He cleared space on the table before setting the tray down.
“Right.”
“Cinnamon is enjoying herself with Hassan. He’s taking her on a walk. I hope you don’t mind?”
“Oh. No. That’s, that’s really nice of him.”
“He offered.” Vittorio shrugged, then glanced around, frowning at Laurent’s discarded clothes littering the room. “Look at the state of this place.”
A laugh burst from me. “I take it he doesn’t let you do his laundry—?”
“Ah, you’re awake.” Laurent strode into the room. “Not talking about me, are you?”
“We were merely commenting on the disarray, sire.”
I clapped my hands over my mouth but it was too late, a laugh slipped free. Laurent’s eyes narrowed first on Vittorio, then on me, as if I was to blame. I could only drop my hands and grin. “It is a bit…messy.”
I’d never taken Laurent for an untidy person.
He scoffed, strolling across the room. His finger slipped under my chin. He tilted my face up and kissed my forehead. Right in front of Vittorio.
His voice was lower as he said, “Good morning, little flower. Shall we eat?” I gaped at him. “Yes, then? Good. Thank you, Vittorio. I appreciate it.”
“Of course, sire. Shall I clean up a bit while you eat?”
Laurent glanced around his room. His expression darkened. “No. I’ll get it later.”
I could practically feel Vittorio’s desperation. “Laurie. Just let him. Look how happy it will make him.”
Laurent scoffed. “Fine. Have it your way. But—leave the books.”
“Very good, sire.”
Laurent lifted me into his arms and strode forward. He settled me on his lap at the table.
“What are you doing?” I hissed, eyes darting toward Vittorio.
“Eat, little flower. You’ll need your strength today.”
“Because you can’t wait to sink your teeth into me?” I taunted.
There came a choked sound from across the room.
“Well, you’ve officially scandalized poor Vittorio. And yes, naturally I cannot wait. But I will. No, you’ll need your strength because I have other plans for you.”
Something hot curled low in my abdomen. The variables in our equation kept shifting—attraction plus trust minus fear, multiplied by an unknown factor I couldn’t quite solve for yet. “Like… Sex plans?”
This time, a muttered curse sounded. Laurent’s lips twitched. “You’re the one who insisted on tidying up.”
I bit my lip and our eyes met. The same idea seemed to flash between us as I said, “I enjoyed what you did with your fingers last night.”
“And I enjoyed the sounds you made when I did it.”
“Fucking hell,” Vittorio growled. “Fine, clean your own damn mess. You’re both making my ears bleed.”
Laurie and I remained locked in a silent battle. Then we burst into laughter. I hunched over in his arms, tears leaking from my eyes. “Oh, God. Poor Vittorio.”
“Indeed,” he agreed, his face transformed. I’d never seen him like this. I drank in the sight of him, memorizing it.
“I think we scarred him for life,” I gasped between giggles.
“He will recover.” Laurie scrubbed a hand over his face, turning serious. His thumb brushed over my lips. “You’re fun, little flower. Unexpectedly so. I haven’t felt this alive in centuries. Being around you…”
I exploded with warmth.
“Hmm. I’m going to enjoy having you with me in Italy this season.” His head titled, thoughtful. “And every season thereafter.”
My throat closed up. I tried to think of something to say. Something about how he’d change his mind. How in the end, no one ever wanted to keep me forever.
“Stop that,” he demanded, pressing his thumb firmly against my lips. “No sadness, no feeling sorry for yourself, and no doubt. You will be with me, do not fear.”
I swallowed, then changed the subject. “Are you going to tell me what you have planned for today?”
“Eat. I will tell you.”
I took my first bite while he explained what he had in mind.
“I want you prepared when we reach Italy. The other houses will see you as either a weapon to steal or a weakness to exploit. You must be able to protect yourself—and to use what you are to our advantage.” His plans included Hassan for self defense training and several of the others to hone my voice control.
As he spoke, he picked at the tray of eggs, bacon, and toast. Sometimes, he’d snatch my wrist mid bite, steering it toward his mouth instead.
I didn’t tell him how erotic it felt to hold the fork that fed him. Or that these moments between us were doing something to me. Making me feel things for him—deeper things beyond lust and hunger. I’d learned long, long ago to avoid attachments, especially when stuff felt too good to be true.
I wanted to believe I could pull back, that I’d learned to protect my heart better than this.
That I could stop myself from feeling something deeper before it was too late—before he had the chance to decide I wasn’t worth keeping.
But the truth was, he’d pushed me off the cliff when I’d spotted that golden bundle in a pink bow.
And I hadn’t realized how deep the bottom of the ravine was.
I was still falling, and the truth was, I didn’t want to catch myself.