Page 36 of Lucy and Her Wicked Three

"No, not… not this time. Just… I'll talk to her, find out what's going on."

"Think she changed her mind?" Silas asks. Typically confident and cocky, he sounds dejected. He was so excited yesterday after spending the day with Lucy.

"I don't think she's had time to decide one way or another. With everything else going on…" I leave it hanging, thinking of my call with my lawyer last night. He says I can't do shit to keep Delaney away from Lucy unless she asks for it herself. The only reason Delaney confessed to lying about the pictures as quickly as she did was because I threatened to sue her for defamation. But her hanging around outside Lucy's apartment is, unfortunately, not a crime.

I leave in a hurry, stuffing my phone in my pocket, hailing down the first cab I see. I get to my apartment—Lucy's, now, I guess—twenty minutes later.

I'm worried. It's unlike her to blow someone off. If she wasn't coming, she'd have said so. I half expect to find Delaney hanging around downstairs when I get there, but I don't. Greeting the doorman, I hurry through the lobby and stab the elevatorbutton. I have to wait for it to arrive, navigating around an older couple who takes their time exiting.

When I get to the penthouse, I debate knocking or using my key.

Bracing myself for potentially making the wrong decision, I stick my key in the door and let myself in. The apartment is quiet, the lights off.

Music filters from down the hall, low, soft and haunting. I make noise, dropping my keys on the white marble kitchen counter, but she doesn't hear me. If she does, she ignores me. It doesn't feel great.

"Lucy?" I call out. She doesn't respond, so I tentatively make my way down the hall, the music getting louder the closer I get to our bedroom. I call out again, but she doesn't reply.

The door is ajar, but I tap my knuckles, anyway. Still, no answer, so I let myself in. It is my bedroom, after all.

The room is dark, a soft glow coming from the bathroom, where the music originates.

Rapping my knuckles on the door frame, I open slowly and walk in.

Bubbles float around the bathtub. A smile touches my lips, but it drops away when I catch her expression. She looks fucking sad, and man does that gut me.

She doesn't ask me to leave, and she doesn't seem surprised to see me. We stare at each other for a moment. Slowly tugging off my tie, I kick off my shoes and get undressed, giving her ample time to kick me out. She doesn't.

When I climb into the tub opposite her, she brings her knees closer to her chest. The water may be warm, but it's being with her that brings comfort. Reaching out, I grab her foot, pulling it onto my lap.

Her legs are wet and slippery, and I work the bubbles into her skin, rubbing the muscles in her calves. Lucy runs a lot,her legs are strong and firm. I love her body. She's made self-deprecating comments about being ordinary or average. She's not particularly dainty or small, or curvy or voluptuous. But she's strong. I like that about her.

Maybe I don't tell her that enough.

I open my mouth to say something, maybe step closer to sticking my foot in my mouth with unasked-for commentary on how much I admire her body, but she beats me to it.

"Did you call?"

Frowning, I shake my head. "What do you mean?"

"Is that why you're here? Did you call again, and I didn't answer?"

"Where's your phone?"

She shrugs. "I don't know. I think I'm going to stop using it." She reaches out, gathering more bubbles, pulling them closer to her body, obscuring her chest completely. Fluffy white foam sticks to her chin, an amusing contrast to her somber expression.

"I thought you were coming over for dinner?"

She looks surprised, then takes a deep breath, closing her eyes. "I forgot."

"You forgot? That's unlike you."

She nods, "I'm sorry. I should text Silas. That was so rude of me."

"It's okay Lucy. What's going on with you?" I let go of her leg and she pulls it close to her body, so I reach out, grabbing the other, resisting the urge to pull her naked body closer.

"What do you want from me, Mateo?"

My ministrations slow, but I keep rubbing her leg, massaging the bath oils into her muscles. "I told you already, Lucy. I want everything."

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