Page 5 of Lucian's Soul

“What do you mean by no? I have to go home. I don’t normally sleep with men I don’t know. Actually, I never do what I did last night. I don’t know you, Lucian. You’re not my type. Well, I don’t know if I have a type. I’ve only ever been with one other person and he wasn’t very good.” She pushed at his chest to get out of his hold, but he wouldn’t let her go. His arms and body were like steel. “Lucian, last night was…unbelievable, but it’s time for me to go home. I can’t stay here. I don—”

“Yes, you can. You’re mine, Tessa. You’re special. I want you.”

Okay, Tessa needed to get away. Lucian was intense. The sex she’d had may have been amazing, and the way her body reacted to him was scary, but his possessive and strange ways now were freaking her out. She needed to get away. “I need to go home and get some clean clothes. I’m hungry, too, but I need clothes to go anywhere to eat. Where are my clothes?”

Lucian released her and held her hand. “Come. I‘ll take you home to get some clothes and then we can get some food.”

“That sounds great.” Right now she’d say anything to leave. Tessa needed time alone to think. Something was going on. As much as she would like to think Lucian all of a sudden wanted her and thought they had something, Tessa knew better. Men like Lucian didn’t go for women like her. Tessa didn’t think she was ugly—she just wasn’t hot playboy billionaire girlfriend material.

* * * *

Lucian ducked his head as they walked into Tessa’s little granny flat. The flat was about the size of his bedroom and bathroom combined. The bathroom had a shower, a sink, and toilet, and there was barely room to move. The kitchenette, one small bench and sink with a tiny fridge, sat in one corner with her bed on the opposite side of the room. A wooden painted folding divider separated the room. A TV sat next to her bed with a tattered two-seater sofa.

Tessa rummaged through drawers against the wall and then went to a small closet and grabbed some clothes. She clutched her items to her chest. “Um… thanks again for dropping me home. You can let yourself out. I’ll er…see you Monday?”

“No.” Ha, his little mate thought she was escaping him. No way was he letting his mate stay here another night. “You will get changed, then gather a bag and some of your things. I’ll buy you some more clothes later. You’re coming back with me.”

“Excuse me?” Her mouth gaped opened and her eyes widened.

Advancing on her, he tilted her head up so she gazed into his eyes. He wanted her to know he meant business. “You’re staying with me from now on. Grab the things you want. Anything else you need I will buy for you. Be quick now. I think this place is making me claustrophobic.” He let her go.

“You’re crazy,” she whispered. Tessa blinked and shook her head.

“Do you need help to get changed?” He chuckled when she backed up and, if at all possible, her eyes got bigger.

“N…n…no,” she stuttered. “Give me a moment and I’ll be back.”

Lucian watched as she scurried to her tiny bathroom. While she hid in the bathroom he snooped. In the fridge sat milk, butter, cheese and yogurt. The cupboards had two-minute noodles and bread, bowls, plates and some containers. The two draws held utensils. He sighed, her kitchen contained the bare minimum. He walked the couple of steps to her closet, opening it to find three pairs of shoes, two dresses and four skirts, six blouses and five t-shirts with three pairs of jeans. Lucian shook his head and walked to the draws, surprised to find a large draw filled with fancy bras and underwear. Another draw held two flannelette PJs and three tracksuit pants with five old, big shirts. The bottom draw held papers and knickknacks.

Going over to the sofa, he sank into it. Holy crap, that was it—she was not coming back to this place…ever. It was a death trap. Standing, he marched to the bathroom door and opened it. Tessa sat on the toilet with the seat down, her arms hugging her legs. “No more hiding. Get up and pack or I will do it for you.”

Her gaze narrowed on him and she slowly stood. “You are not the boss of me. You may be my boss at work, but here you’re just plain old Lucian Samson. I barely know you. I am not yours to push around. I’m not your girlfriend. I’m not anything to you, so leave me alone. I’m not coming with you. I’m staying right here until you go.”

His demon raced to the surface and took charge. Lucian let him because right now he was on the same page, getting their mate out of this shitty little flat. Stalking to his woman, he picked her up, placed her over his shoulder, and walked out of the tiny dwelling. Palming her arse as she squirmed under him, he smacked her. “To you I am never plain old Lucian Samson. I am your mate, your boyfriend, and soon to be husband. I will keep you safe and make sure you have everything you need. You are everything to me. You, my little kitten, are mine. I will never leave you. I have waited centuries for you. You will stay with me from now on.”

“Oh my God, you’re crazy.” She whacked his back and screamed, “Help, help! A crazy man is taking me. Call the police. Help!”

Smacking her arse again, he placed her in front of his car. Cupping her face, he stroked her soft cheek. “Give me a chance. I want to give you everything. You deserve to be treated like a princess. I promise I’m serious about us.”

Her eyes scanned his face and she let out a puff of air. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this but…fine, you get a chance. If things get weirder or you break my heart I will run and I swear you will never see me again. Got it?”

He let a grin slowly claim his face and he nodded. “Sure, kitten. Anything for you.” He winked at her.

“You are dangerous.” She got in the passenger seat and he went around to the driver’s side, opened the door, and got in.

“More than you know, but I’m never dangerous to you.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “We’ll see.”

* * * *

Lucian wouldn’t let her pay for anything. They now stood at the counter with a pile of sexy underwear.

“I am not letting you pay for my underwear. For Christ’s sake, Lucian, you have already bought me a bunch of clothes that cost more than what I make in a year. You haven’t taken no for an answer. I told you I didn’t need shoes and you still dragged me into a shoe store and guessed my size and bought me three pairs.” She shoved him away. “Now I am going to buy my own friggin’ underwear.”

Lucian raised his eyebrow and a smirk spread over his devilishly handsome face. “Sure, kitten, you can pay.” He almost purred, and didn’t that sound just spike her growing anger? “How are you going to pay? You didn’t bring your wallet with you.”

Glancing down at her jeans and tank top, she groaned when she realized she didn’t have her bloody bag. It was all Lucian’s fault—he’d thrown her over his shoulder and didn’t let her get her things. Lucian laughed and handed his black credit card over to the smiling saleslady.

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