Exposed: Laid Bare (Laid Bare #1)(10)

Friend? I let out a light laugh. To me, he was so much more than that.

Veronica continued, breathless, ignoring my snicker. Damn, this had to be good. “I dug deep,” she said. “And let’s just say I discovered some really weird shit.”

“Like what?” I ventured.

“You sure you want to hear what I found?”

I needed to know who—and what—Lucien was, so I plopped down on the sofa, cradled the phone to my ear, and said, “Yeah, I’m ready. Hit me with what you’ve got.”

I listened as Veronica took a deep breath. Gearing up, I supposed, before she began with, “Well, there are rumors and undisclosed reports—and these were not easy to find, Dahl—that Lucien’s mother practiced some kind of witchcraft in her younger years.”

“What?” I dragged out the a, stupefied. “That is so bizarre, Veronica. Who are your sources exactly?”

“I can’t say, hon, but there’s more if you want to hear it.”

“Okay.” My voice had become soft and reticent, as had my attitude. I was afraid of what might come next. I was also worried that I’d gotten Veronica into something that could turn out to be dangerous. I mean, come on, this had to be some super-confidential information.

“Well,” Veronica went on, “there are also rumors that Lucien’s father is some kind of black magic expert.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please. Is there even such a thing? I thought all that black magic crap was made-up stuff for books and movies. What could really exist for someone to be an ‘expert’ in?”

“I don’t know,” Veronica replied. “Maybe that’s how he met Lucien’s mother. You know, if the rumors about her and the witchcraft are to be believed.”

“That’s just it,” I said. “Who would believe such a thing?”

I tried to make my tone light and dismissive, but the truth was I could see how those rumors might be true. Witchcraft, black magic, it would certainly explain Lucien’s incredible success in every endeavor, his parents’ success, too. And it provided an explanation for the something-other-than-a-man look in Lucien’s eyes, both in person and in that damn photo.

“Hey, I don’t know what’s true and what’s not,” Veronica continued. “I’m just reporting the facts to you as I found them.”

“I know, I know.” I sighed. “And I appreciate all your work, V, I do. It’s all just so unbelievable.”

I had to keep up my farce of disbelief. I didn’t want my cousin involved more than she already was.

But when Veronica quietly muttered, “Maybe Lucien is, like, some kind of magical being or something,” she unknowingly took the words that’d been floating around in my head and made them seem more plausible.

“Oh, I don’t know,” I said, backtracking to throw her off. “This all sounds kind of silly.”

Silly, but accurate, I secretly thought.

Veronica was silent for a long period, and then she said, “Well, silly or not, Dahlia, please promise me you’ll stay away from Lucien Chambers.”

That was a promise I could not make.



My restlessness extended throughout the remainder of the day. I was useless. I didn’t even bother getting dressed. Instead, I lazed around in my robe, trying to read, trying to watch TV. But my mind was in one place and one place only—on Lucien.

I printed out the picture of Lucien—the one of him with the inhuman eyes—and carried it to the bedroom with me.

“What are you?” I asked the image as I sprawled back on the bed and held the photo high above my head.

Perhaps Lucien was some kind of a magical being. Or maybe he practiced magic of some sort and this was how he looked at those times. He’d certainly done something to me last night. I’d been under his spell, no doubt.

As I stared up at the photo, I half-expected the image to come alive. But, of course, that didn’t happen. What did occur, though, were more feelings of arousal and more wanton need.

I undid the sash on the robe and touched myself again and again. I was unstoppable. I brought myself to orgasm so many times I lost count. By nightfall, I was spent and drenched in sweat. One thing for sure, I needed a shower.

Nude, I got up and walked to the bathroom. After lazily turning on the water, I stepped into the shower stall. I still felt kind of out of it, but the hot water calmed me. I stood for what felt like an eternity, until I finally picked up the loofah and soap and washed away everything.

I tried to think of nothing, but thoughts of Lucien broke through my weak mental defenses. I wondered if I’d hear from him again. Would he realize he’d allowed his real self to be seen in that one picture? If that was the real him—and I felt certain it was—then perhaps he’d feel compelled to stop me from turning it in for publication.

Would I do that? Turn the photo in and reveal him to the world?

No, never. I would protect what he had shared with me.

But he didn’t need to know that.

Suddenly, I felt like I had a way to ensure Lucien would see me again. And it was time to capitalize on it.

It was juvenile and unprofessional, yes, but after wrapping myself up in a large white towel, I headed back out to the living room to find my cell so I could call Lucien.

“Mr. Chambers,” I began hesitantly when he answered on the second ring.