Dreadnought (Nemesis #1)(69)

“You don’t want me calling anyone else that,” Lucca finished for her, smiling.

She nodded as she blushed from confessing how the darlin’ thing worked on her so much so she didn’t want him to stop calling her that.

He took another bite of her earlobe. “Then I won’t, darlin’.”

Leaning up, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips, wanting him to know how happy he made her.

When she dropped back to her feet, she couldn’t help laughing. “So, what were you doing to get all sweaty?”

“I’ll show you.” Lucca took her hand again, leading her through his penthouse and going up the stairs that led off into the master bedroom. She could see a spiral staircase that hadn’t been in Nero’s, which he led her to, allowing her to head up first.

With each step, she became more confused. “How can it go anywhere? This is the top floor.”

“You’ll see.” He helped her push up the top hatch in the ceiling.

Chloe looked down at her feet as she watched her step, finishing the climb up. Then the slight noise of the city greeted her ears, making her finally look up. When she did, she almost fell back on Lucca, the beauty taking her breath away.

He was silent, holding her up in front of him and keeping her steady as she took it all in.

“I-Is this real?” she whispered, blinking to see if it was heaven or just a mirage.

“Yes, darlin’.”

Taking a step forward and spinning around, her eyes moved over the flowers then to the glass walls where she could see the city all around. It was a little greenhouse filled with many flowers on top of the building. The breathtaking view was unlike anything she had ever seen.

It took her a few moments of looking around before she turned to look into his eyes. “You did this?”

Lucca’s eyes were now a fully bright shade of green. “For you, yes.”

Another slight pain reached her heart. Except, this one was different.

When she turned back to him, it was like the wind had been knocked out of her to stare at someone like him, surrounded by something like this.

“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.

Walking toward her, he wrapped his strong arms around her again. “I started working on it months ago, to keep myself busy so I wouldn’t come for you. I haven’t been with a single woman since I first saw you. I couldn’t. None of them were you. Every time I wanted you so fucking bad, I would come here to keep myself sane.”

The pain in her chest only grew stronger, consuming her whole heart. The heavy, old chains on her soul were beginning to rattle.

“I didn’t think I would ever be capable of love, until you.” He lightly tugged her hair down, forcing her to look into his eyes. “I love you, Chloe. You’re the only person I’ve loved, or ever will love.”

The chains broke free, her soul feeling freedom for the first time in four years. Freedom that only lasted a second before it was claimed again as lighter, tighter chains took hold, claiming her as his.

These chains might hold her captive, but they were ones she could live with. Chains that didn’t weigh heavily on her body, mind, or soul. Chains that were more permanent. Chains that could never be broken … Not even in death.

I am yours forever.





Forty-Six





A Taste of You … Is Worth a Lifetime in Hell.





“I thought you brought me here to have me stay with Elle,” Chloe admitted nervously as Lucca helped her down the last step of the winding staircase after spending hours in the greenhouse.

Lucca lost his smile at her words, stopping to stare down at her bowed head. “Chloe, look at me.”

She made herself look up, seeing mixed emotions on his face.

“I once promised you that, when the semester was over, I would let you leave. You don’t have to be afraid of Lucifer ever again. You don’t have to be afraid of anyone anymore.” He ran a tender finger down her cheek, watching her lip tremble at the love glowing in his eyes, making them look greener than she had ever seen them before. “I can’t keep that promise, though. I can’t let you leave and walk out that door, because now I know what it’s like to have you.”

“I don’t want you to let me leave,” she breathed helplessly. Ever. “I gave myself over to you. I said the words.”

Lucca raised his hand to her throat, his eyes now turning back to blue-green. “Say the words, darlin’.”

Her chest rose and fell with a force, knowing exactly what she was about to do.

Setting her fate in stone, she said. “I am yours … forever.”

He squeezed her delicate throat under his grasp a little tighter. “Again.”

She looked at the frightening being, unafraid, her heart swelling. “I am yours forever.”

His eyes flashed blue for a split second before he lifted her up and carried her to his bed, where he was going to prove he owned her body the way she had always known he had.

Chloe buried her head in his shoulder, nervously imagining the things he was going to do to her. Shockingly, she didn’t feel any of the fear she had always expected. Instead, she was more nervous that she would disappoint him. He had waited months for her, for this moment.

“You won’t be disappointed if I get it wrong the first time? I mean, you’ve been with a lot of women …”