Page 121 of Blood & Lace
“Whose is it?” I asked.
“Elia’s,” he said. “You two are about the same size.”
I stripped out of the cargo pants and top in the bathroom. When I went to put the dress on, Lucero took it instead and slipped it over my head. He pulled it down slowly, letting it fall around me. When I turned, he laced the back, the strings showing my back through them. As soon as the dress was on, I felt more like myself.
“Better?” he asked as he placed his chin on top of my head.
I smiled up at him. “Better.”
“Good. We should go down and eat. Oh, and check on Adam.”
I stiffened. “Oh God, I forgot about Adam for a second!” My stomach twisted. “I’m such a piece of?—”
Lucero’s big hand slapped over my mouth. His eyes had darkened in the mirror, mine wide. He leaned down until his lips brushed my ear.
“If you say something bad about yourself right now, I’m going to fuck you again and not listen to any of your orders,” he said, his lids low. “I’ll make sure everyone hears what a little freakyouare.” He kissed my temple. “Adam is a grown man. If he needed help, I’m sure he would ask for it. That is not your job. Stop trying to think for him when he hasn’t told you to.”
I stared at Lucero in shock. Every word either twisted me into a lustful idiot or made me feel stripped bare in front of him. He gazed at me in the mirror as if he was waiting for me to get my shit together.
I nodded. When he removed his hand, I sighed. “Okay,” I whispered. “You’re right. I’m sure he’s fine.”
Lucero’s grip on my shoulders was tight. “Good job.”
“Yeah?” I asked. I smirked. “Good boy.”
Lucero looked like he was going to cum in his pants from those two words. “That’s not fair, bella! You did me so dirty just now.” He stopped and gasped. “Fuck, did I do this?” He held my wrists, the bruises already turning a deeper shade. “Shit!”
I touched his cheek. “It’s okay,” I said. “Trust me, if you hadn’t been holding me so tightly I would have killed you for sure. And then I would have been sad forever.”
Lucero kissed each wrist. “I’ll still make it up to you.”
I smiled wider. “I'm looking forward to it.”
We went downstairs together. The moment we stepped into the dining room, every pair of eyes went our way. My smile faltered. I swallowed thickly.
What if they hate me for hurting Lucero?
Mrs. Marino stood up. “Onyx! Come here, darling.” She pulled me into a tight hug. “You look lovely in that dress!”
I hugged her back. “Thank you.”
“Hey… is that my dress?” Elia scoffed.
“Leave him alone,” Lucero said before I could answer. “He looks pretty in it.”
Elia’s jaw dropped. “Ma, he stole my clothes!”
“I can take it off,” I said.
“Don’t you dare,” Lucero said as he sat down and started filling up a plate with food. He sat it next to him. “You sit here. Please, bella.”
“Ma!” Elia called. “I’m going to punch him,” he said, his face turning ruthlessly cold.
I shivered. “Shit.”
“It’s fine,” Lucero said. “His punches only hurt a little.”
Elia gasped. “Did you just insult me?”
