Page 25 of Forsaken Desire
Yet, I lay in bed, battling to fall asleep. Until I had silence, I didn’t realize how used to I’d gotten to the noise of a prison. The comforter was so soft against my skin . . .
I was so lucky to have found my mate so soon. As bad as I felt that he was saddled with me, I couldn’t help but hold onto the gift. Lucian was everything I could have ever wanted. Kind, patient, gentle, and yeah, a little overbearing.
I wasn’t used to being taken care of, and it felt odd. I rolled onto my side, curling my legs up. The front door knob wiggled like a key was being shoved into it. My heart leaped, and I tensed, readying for an attack. I squeezed my hands into a fist, bunching up the blanket.
I wasn’t in prison. It could only be Lucian, he’d said he’d see me again today.
The rustle of clothes being taken off prodded me to turn to my other side.
Half of Lucian’s face was illuminated by the moonlight beaming through the window above my bed and caught his iris, reflecting. He unbuttoned the front of his shirt, exposing his chest inch by inch until he was bare. Each bit showed more of his torso, well-defined and smooth. My eyes dropped to the strip of hair under his belly button leading into his slacks. I curled my fingers into my palm. To top off his attributes, he was hot.
“How did you do all of this?”
The corner of his lips twitched. He undid his belt and set it on the dresser before carefully folding the button-down over the belt.
In two strides, he was sliding into the bed, his arm settling around my back. My stomach pulsed with excitement, and I breathed in his vanilla scent.
“Expeditiously,” he murmured.
“Can you see my glare? Because I’m glaring,” I muttered, nuzzling into his warm chest. “I know I don’t have a lot, but you didn’t have to do this,” I struggled to speak with the shame eating me up. My face burned, and I ducked my head. I didn’t deserve him. It felt like I had taken advantage. Lucian sat up and reached for the lamp on the nightstand, and he flipped it on.
“You don’t like it? I’ll get everything replaced immediately.” He moved like he was about to stand, and I lunged and grabbed his arm, my eyes wide.
“It’s not that! It’s beautiful.”
He frowned, turning toward me, one leg bent, the other off the bed. His hand settled on my cheek.
“Then what’s the problem?” he murmured, leaning down. His vanilla scent enveloped me, and I swayed forward, inhaling. “Josephine?” he said, humor in his tone.
I straightened, my face hot. I didn’t want to say why he shouldn’t do all these things for me; it was fucking embarrassing. When he found out the truth, would he cast me aside? I licked my lips.
“I just . . . don’t need all this.” I waved my hand around. “I just need you.”
His eyes scanned my face, and in a sudden motion, he pulled me against him, hugging me so tight he squeezed the oxygen out of my lungs.
“I don’t deserve you, Princess.” His gruff words were muffled in my hair.
I scoffed.
“I think you have the roles reversed.” It was literally why I was so on edge. He didn’t know the truth, so he couldn’t understand how wrong he was.
His chest rumbled with a hum.
“Is that what this is about?” He pulled back and gripped the outside of my arms, frowning down at me. “You’re doing me a favor by letting me get you things. You refused to move in with me. I won’t have my mate living in squalor.”
I lowered my head. Squalor.
“You know, I worked hard—” I cut off before I spilled about my past.
“Josephine,” he murmured. His hands settled on my face and angled it to look at him. “Everything I am is yours,” he said fiercely. I chewed on the inside of my lip. “Princess, look at me.” He squeezed my face between his palms. I met his warm eyes.
He was just saying that because he didn’t know. “Please. Nothing would make me happier than to spoil you.” The pad of his thumb rubbed my cheek. His sincerity blared at me. Playing hard to get about it seemed counterproductive, so I’d tuck the shame away and work hard to be worthy of him.
“Okay,” I whispered.
“Good mate,” he murmured and kissed me. I tilted my head, meeting his tongue with the same fervor. I hummed and slid my palm up his side, feeling his rib cage. So smoothly, he lifted, not parting our lips as he guided me onto my back.
His taste was intoxicating. His leg slipped between my thighs, applying pressure against my sex. I gasped, and my hips moved as if they had a mind of their own.
