Page 10 of Forsaken Desire
“Taking care of you is my job.” He scowled, and the corners of his lips tipped down. “I have more than enough money?—"
“Stop.” I clenched my fingers around his muscled bicep. “We still need to get to know each other.”
His lips became a thin line.
“But—”
“Let me down.” I wiggled in his hold, pressing my palm against his chest. I met his stunned gaze head-on, unwavering from the yellowish hue. He seemed to contemplate it, grappling with some internal demon. Likely his own instincts. His jaw shifted from side to side. He sighed, wafting his scent along my nose. It was so painfully delicious-smelling. I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t melt into his embrace. If he wasn’t being stubborn about me working, I would have, but if I gave in now, he would wheedle me down.
I was already weak for him.
“Lucian,” I repeated calmly. “I promise not to take off running.”
He growled, and his arms loosened from around me. I slid to my feet, reveling in the feel of his bulge rubbing against my side. I stood and straightened my slacks. The key card lay on the floor beside the bed, likely flying out of my pocket at some point. I crouched and swooped it up.
“You work here.” He didn’t ask. His gaze was fixed on the key card in my hand. Lucian nodded tightly.
“Yes, see, I won’t be able to run off,” I muttered, straightening the blouse. Shit, the bottom had snagged. I rolled my finger around the thread and snapped it off.
I was yanked forward so suddenly that I yelped. He pulled me between his spread legs. Since he was still sitting, it put us face-to-face. My eyes dropped to his lips.
“Fine,” he growled and buried his nose against my throat. My body melted into his. I’d never known being touched could feel this good. I moaned, inching closer. His chest rumbled, and the vibrations sent shockwaves to my clit. I sucked in a harsh breath.
My mate’s hands slid down my waist to palm my thighs and squeezed them tightly. I licked my lips, pushing my knees tightly together. He turned me on so easily, it was crazy. I throbbed between my legs. Incredibly overbearing, rude, sexy male.
His hand slowly inched up, and his thumb dipped into the crease of my thighs, lightly rubbing against my core. Fucking tease. I whimpered, my mind turning into a scrambled mess.
I might get off simply on his caresses.
He chuckled against my hair, and his teeth tugged at my earlobe. I sucked in harshly, and my pussy felt needy to the point that my underwear must be a mess. Fuck, could he smell how turned on I was?
My face heated even more. I took a shaky step back, and his arm stretched out between us, keeping his palm against my waist.
Standing in front of him, panting, I smoothed my slacks down again while he watched. His dark eyelashes lowered, and his tongue wet his lower lip.
My sinful mate was going to be the end of me.
I cleared my throat and inched back again, and his hand fell away from me. My foot smacked into the lotion, sending it under the desk in the room.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
Lucian only smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“I will come see you before my work shift tomorrow,” I rushed out. His eyes didn’t waver.
My stomach clenched. Excitement and nerves and fear becoming a soup in my stomach. I shuffled out of the room like my ass was on fire. As soon as the door closed behind me, I let out a gust of air and pressed my hand to the tattoo on my rib cage.
“Fuck,” I croaked, beelining toward the open elevator. I clicked the button to the lobby a million times until the doorsslid shut. Pressing my shaking palms to my stomach, I cinched my eyes shut. The Moon had truly worked her magic, bringing us togethernow. She must have known I needed something to fight for—to keep going. My time in prison hadn’t been perfect. The dull, endless days that encompassed the entirety of my memories. If I hadn’t dreamt of the name a year ago, I didn’t know if I’d be alive.
But I was. And I made it out alive.
A grin spread on my lips. I had found my fated.Mymate. I belonged to someone. My nose burned with unshed tears. Lucian was mine, and I was his. We could start our lives together—whoa, hold up. I needed to slow it down, for his benefit. I stepped out of the elevator, striding toward the employee area.
What if he didn’t want me when he found out about my past? What if he rejected me?
My throat clogged, and my steps faltered.
No. I wouldn’t tell him yet.
