Page 80 of Devilish

We walked in silence for a long time, and I was grateful he gave me some time to think through everything I’d talked about with Father Vitale. It had been weird to open up at first, but he was so easy to talk to, and he asked questions that had me wanting to spill my whole life story.

It helped that I couldn’t really see him through the partition in the confessional. It was much easier to say things when you didn’t have someone staring at you, even if they did have kind eyes. But the more I talked, the more I realized I was telling my secrets, my story, to the wrong person.

Not that a man of God could ever really be consideredwrong. But the man I should’ve been confiding in was the one holding my hand. The one who had entrusted me with his secrets, his home, and his heart.

I stared at Lucien as he hit the crosswalk button, and when the light changed, we walked over to the entrance of Central Park.

“You know, as many times as I’ve walked around this place, I never get sick of it,” Lucien said as we strolled further in.

He was making small talk, another reason I absolutely adored the man. He was giving me a moment with my thoughts, not pushing for information or details about what I’d talked about with the priest. Instead, he was doing everything in his power to make me feel comfortable and at ease after allowing myself to be so vulnerable.

I cuddled into his side, resting my head against his arm as he guided me over to a bench that faced one of the lakes.“I can see that. There’s always something new going on.”

“Exactly.” Lucien took a seat, then pulled me down beside him, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Never a dull moment.”

“I don’t think you actually know the meaning of a dull moment.”

Lucien’s lips twitched. “Are you trying to say I’m outlandish?”

“Not trying. Iamsaying you’re outlandish.”

“Not always. I can enjoy the simple things in life.”

I chuckled but took the distraction for what it was. “Such as?”

“A simple pot of tea and toast in the morning.”

“Simple? You served it to me in some fancy, gold-plated Turkish pot. That is not simple, Lucien.”

“Tea and toast is as simple as it comes.”

“And yet somehow you still made it an adventure.”

He shrugged and then laughed good-naturedly. “What can I say? I believe in enjoying life, even the simple pleasures. I want you to be able to as well.”

“Which I appreciate.”

“Mhmm.”

“I do.” I kissed his cheek to prove it. “Something Ialsoappreciate is your giving me a moment to gather my thoughts.”

“Is that what I was doing?”

I arched a brow. “Yes. Don’t think I’m not onto you. I’m starting to read you as well as you do me.”

“Memorize every chapter.” Lucien pressed a long kiss to my palm and then placed it on his chest. “I want you to know me by heart.”

My cheeks heated under his intense stare, his words mirroring my own sentiments, which was why I needed him to know what I’d confessed back at St. Andrews.

I’d told Lucien a lot. Where my story started and how I’d survived. But the one thing I hadn’t confided was how I’d ended up in Rupert’s company. It wasn’t pretty—in fact, it was downright ugly. But I needed him to know. I wanted him to knowallof me.

“Today with Father Vitale, I was able to…let go of a circumstance that was beyond my control.”

Lucien curled his fingers around mine and drew my hand down to his lap. “You can tell me anything.”

“I know, this is just… It’s so recent. It’s harder to box up and push it aside.”

He nodded. “This is about Rupert?”

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