Page 51 of Forsaken Desire
“A female is telling you what to do now?” He smirked. “How quaint?—”
His eyes widened with shock.
“She’s your fated.” Drake boomed out a laugh. “You have quite the living target now.”
He chortled, walking away. The threat wasn’t lost on me. Nor was it lost to my mate, he vibrated with rage. I bunched the back of his suit jacket and slid my other palm along the front of his stomach.
“It’s okay,” I exhaled. He jerked around, facing me, his hand delving under my hair. The cold air touched the side of my neck, raising goose bumps. Lucian pressed his fingers into the bite like it was all that grounded him, and I stifled my wince.
I kept hold of his angry eyes, and so slowly, he eventually relaxed.
“Let’s get out of here,” he rumbled, voice deep. His arm went around my waist, and he pulled me with him.
“Where are we going?”
“Home, Princess,” he murmured curtly, and I stayed silent as he guided me away from the ballroom and into the main hall, going in the opposite direction from where he’d fucked me. The hotel was huge and ostentatious, but he easily found his way around, guiding me until the hall spat us out in the large lobby.
Moments later, we stood in front of the hotel, his wide stride not hesitating. I lifted my foot and turned it in a circle to stretch out the sore muscles. Then I did the same with my other foot.
Lucian hadn’t let me go, his grip near painful, and he kept looking around, as if waiting for an attack. That Alpha had puthim on high alert. I mean, I could understand why since he’d thrown a threat at him so easily.
Lucian fiddled with his cell phone and put it to his ear.
“Get Gideon Drake out of my fucking hotel,” he hissed. Just as quickly he hung up and slid the phone into his pocket. He wouldn’t let me go, and he kept squeezing me like I would fly away.
“Could I ask you something?” I rubbed my fingertips against his side. It was clear that the male had set him off.
“Always, Princess.” He tapped my nose.
“Who’s Gideon Drake?”
His expression blanked. In that moment, the valet pulled his Mercedes up to where we stood. The valet was out of the car in the next beat.
“I left your keys inside, sir,” he called, stepping back.
I followed his guiding hand and plopped onto the passenger seat while he waited patiently. He placed my little handbag on the dash and shut the door.
Lucian slid into the driver's side. He pulled away from the curb. I kept peeking at him from the corner of my eye. The silence stretched to the point that I figured I wouldn’t get my questions answered.
“We don’t get along.” His voice startled me.
“It seemed deeper than just not getting along.” I was surprised by my backbone. I’d never been scared of speaking out, but Lucian made me nervous.
I couldn’t just be quiet with him though; we were mates.
“Nothing to stress yourself over, Princess,” he replied. I pressed my lips together. He obviously didn’t want to share, and I didn’t feel comfortable pushing him. Tapping my fingers against my thigh, I rolled my lips between my teeth. Trees flashed by, the thick woodsy Oregon landscape passing in a blur. He sighed and rubbed his jaw.
“He will do anything to fuck me over. Remember that. Stay away from him at all costs.”
With that final comment, we settled into silence. The woods began to thicken, evidence that we were heading further from the city.
“Where are you taking me?” I eyed the freeway exit that led south toward Portland.
“Home.” With the curt word, he revved onto the road.
With the adrenaline leaving my veins, my neck was beginning to sting.
My secret was out. I couldn’t help but feel like it hung between us, yet he hadn’t asked me anything.
