Page 5 of Bought By the Owner's Son
As I admire the piece, a memory niggles at the back of my head. It seems important, and my mind unconsciously grasps at it, but it slips away. My frown lingers as I leave the suite and walk down the hallway. There’s an urgency inside me, and I’m filled with the need to remember something connected to a piece of art—a painting.Is it connected to my amnesia?
My head starts to ache. I immediately push away the urge to remember as I’m reminded of the unbearable pain in my head last night. Instead, I focus on searching for the stone-faced Adonis who rescued me.
My guardian angel.
At the end of the hallway, I walk down a set of steps, landing on the main floor of the huge mansion. The living area is a huge room with modern fixtures and opulent furniture. I can’t help but wonder what the owner has against decorations and knickknacks to spruce up his home.
Except for the few pieces of art on the wall, the room is bare and sterile, like the bedroom suite. No pictures or personal touches. I walk deeper into the living room, my hands gliding along the backs of the couches and my feet sliding on the smooth and marbled flooring.
Before long, I’m standing at an entryway and peeking into the kitchen. I let out an unconscious sigh at the sight of the modern appliances, and my mind is flooded with memories of me as a young girl, giggling with my mother in a small kitchen, baking and cooking together.
I let the memories wash over me, the nostalgic feelings bringing tears to my eyes. Knowing that I still have those memories makes my chest swell with a feeling of joy. If I can remember all of my life up to about a week ago, surely the rest will come back soon enough.
I move away from the kitchen and walk down the wide corridor. Short, deep grunts reach my ears, and a delicious shiver runs through my entire body as I draw closer to the origin of the sound.
When I reach the doorway at the end of the hall, a soft exhale leaves my lips as I take in the scene in front of me. Lucian is next to a large floor-to-ceiling window, shirtless. Dots of sweat line his wide back, his muscled shoulders flexing as he pulls himself up on a bar a few inches above him.
My legs suddenly grow weak, and it has nothing to do with my condition. I lean against the doorframe, watching his angular jaw clench with every pull, a strange heat blooming in my core.
What am I doing?
I should make my presence known, but I can’t stop staring at him, as if there’s something holding me in place. He lets go of the bar and turns around, giving me a complete view of his glistening, contoured body. A wave of lust punches my gut as my gaze shifts up to his face. He is absolute perfection. His face is all chiseled angles, with perfectly arched brows, a straight nose, and sexy lips.
My fingers tingle as I think about gliding them over his tanned skin. My chest tightens in response and my heart starts to beat impossibly fast. His hands flex as his grip tightens on the bar, and my nipples pebble in response. I imagine those hands sliding down my body, digging into my skin.
“Have you seen enough?” Lucian drawls, letting go of the bar with practiced ease and bouncing on his feet.
I startle out of my haziness, my breath catching in my lungs as I meet his striking blue eyes. He walks over to me, dabbing a towel over his forehead.
My heart jolts in my chest, and I straighten, feeling like a kid caught doing something bad. “No…yes. I mean, I…” I clear my throat and slowly exhale, pushing down my nervousness. “Your place is huge,” I say as he stops a few steps before me. “I didn’t see anyone, so I decided to look for you,” I whisper, my face burning with embarrassment.
Still, my eyes stay unmoving on his, the impact of his stare rendering me breathless. His stern face softens into a tender expression that transforms his whole face for a mini-second. “Sorry about that. The doctor said you needed rest, and I thought I would get in some exercise before you woke,” he says in a rich, deep voice that pulls at my core.
“Oh,” I whisper, curling my fingers beneath the tails of the shirt I’m wearing, feeling nervous and shy under his direct gaze.
“Did you change my clothes?” I ask, blushing harder.
“No, my housekeeper did. Or would you rather it was me?” he asks.
“No! I mean…I just…”
Half of his mouth tilts upward in a smirk, and I realize he’s teasing. When I laugh softly, it turns into a full-blown smile.So he can smile.I find myself gaping at the unexpected transformation. I imagined how he’d look if he ever lost that stern expression, but nothing prepared me for the light in his beautiful blue eyes. I thought he couldn’t get any more attractive, but—boy, was I wrong.
“It’s alright. I’m just pulling your leg,” he assures me, still smiling.
“I didn’t know you could smile,” I say, almost breathlessly. I gasp quietly as soon as the words leave my lips. “Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t…”
He starts to chuckle, though the sound cuts off immediately. “I didn’t know I could either,” he admits. “I guess I have you to thank for that.” He hangs the towel on a nearby piece of workout equipment.
“Y-you’re welcome,” I squeak in a high-pitched voice that makes my words sound more like a question.
Oh, get it together, Elena!
“How do you feel now? You were out of it last night,” he says, his eyes worriedly roaming my face.
“Much better,” I say. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
“You’re welcome, angel.”
