Dreadnought (Nemesis #1)(39)

“W-We first met in the gazebo …” Her voice trailed off.

“I had been watching you for a week before that, darlin’.” He continued gliding his fingertips up and down her scar. “I was watching Elle’s house when a black BMW dropped her off from school. I had this strong, instinctual feeling to follow, and even though I didn’t understand it at the time, I listened to my gut. I still hadn’t seen your face before I followed you into the shop, but then, when you turned around and I saw your beautiful face, it was like the world stood still. That was when I knew”—Lucca cupped her face, using his thumb to smooth over her scar—“that you were mine.”

Chloe’s mind raced with her heart, trying to comprehend everything he had just told her.

“It was everything I could do not to take you then and there,” he confessed.

But you didn’t, not until several months later … That only made her mind and heart race more.

“Y-You said y-you took me to save me.”

“I did.”

She could feel it then. Something she had been missing fell into place as Drago’s words flew through her mind, We both know what being a real prisoner feels like, Chloe. Then Maria’s, Are you sure you’re being held hostage? And, It’s not what you think. You’re here for a reason, Chloe.

“Why am I here?” she whispered. “Tell me why I’m really here.”

Still caressing her scar, he shook his head. “I can’t tell you, darlin’, not yet.”

“You told me I can ask you anything. I need to know why I’m her—”

“You can, and I will answer anything and everything you want to know, but not this. Not until the time is right.” He pressed his hand deeper into her skin. “I need you to trust me, Chloe. Will you do that for me?”

A sudden feeling came over her as she stared into his intense eyes. She couldn’t understand it. She only knew she believed in it, trusted in it. It was … instinctual.

“Y-Yes.”

“You feel it, too, don’t you?” He didn’t need the answer, because the feeling was shared between them, like a bond.

The feeling had been there since meeting Lucca, just how it had been for him when he had first seen her. She had subconsciously pushed away the intense feeling because it frightened her, yet it only grew stronger the more she was around him.

He smiled. “It took me a week to understand it, darlin’. Let’s see how long it takes you.”

“I-I met you in the gazebo a week later … You bought the music box a week later.”

Lucca nodded.

She was unsure if she ever wanted to know what the feeling meant, more frightened of it now that she knew he felt it, too.

Taking one final swipe across her scar, he released her.

The loss was evident, not only on his face, but in his voice. “You may go to bed now, darlin’.”

Chloe stood from her knees, still in shock of what had taken place. “G-Good night, Lucca.”

“Good night, Chloe.”

The shock never left her body as she left him behind and went upstairs.

In her room, she opened the music box and listened to the beautiful tune, feeling her heart grow heavier, heavier, heavier, while the chains he placed on her body grew lighter, lighter, lighter.

She reached up, touching her scar. The loss wasn’t only felt by Lucca, but by her, too.





Twenty-Seven





His Dreams of Fulfilling His Darkest Need Would Have to Suffice





Playing back everything that had just occurred in his mind, he recalled her voice, her face, her scar. It was like he could still feel her on his fingertips. They had just left her face, and already he couldn’t wait until the next time he could touch her.

It was the most erotic thing he had ever experienced, and he had only touched her face.

Lucca only hoped he would be able to control his darkness when he finally allowed himself to take more from her. Some time would have to pass before he did, though. Not only was Chloe not ready, but neither was he. He couldn’t trust the darkness with her yet.

Until then, his dreams of fulfilling his darkest need would have to suffice.

Lucca felt like he had made up for yesterday, and then some. When he had started the day, he had felt like he had only gone backward. Now he felt like he had taken ten steps forward.

She had to face the feeling she was running from. And even though she still didn’t understand it, it was only a matter of time before she would. It would click, just how it did for me …

Taking one last look at the scar on her face, he couldn’t wait for the day he could run his fingers across it. Beautiful.

Watching her car pull away from the shop then disappear, he went back to the music box she had been looking at. It had been obvious that it meant a great deal to her.

He carefully opened it, allowing the lullaby to play once more.

The older woman came to stand beside him. “I just had a girl in here looking at—”

“I would like to purchase it.” The words came out of their own accord, knowing he had to be the one to have it.

“I’m sorry, but I have to decline. The girl who was just looking at it seems to really want it, so I’m reserving it for her.”