Fractured (Lucian & Lia #2)(31)
They both look at me when he continues to stand there, and I reluctantly indicate the other side of the table to him. “Would you like to join us for a moment?” I hope like hell that he’ll turn the invitation down, but he wastes no time seating himself opposite from us. I dart a quick glance at Lia and find her self-consciously rubbing the bandages over her nose as if trying to hide them from our unwanted guest. I shoot a glare at Lee, hoping he’ll get the message, but the bastard completely ignores me and turns his attention back to Lia…his daughter.
“So, Miss Adams, Lucian mentioned that you are in college. What is your major?” I feel the childish urge to kick Lee under the table. No doubt, he already knows the answer to the question he is asking.
We both turn to Lia and I have to give her credit; if she is surprised by his knowledge, she doesn’t let on. “I’m majoring in Business Administration.”
“And what type of position do you hope to obtain after graduation?” he continues to probe. I see Lia loosen up slightly because this is a comfort zone for her. She knows exactly what she wants to do and the passion comes through as she tells Lee about her desire to be a business analyst to help a company remain competitive by proposing ways to improve their structure, efficiency, and profits.
Dammit to Hell, if I wanted to lessen his growing obsession with her, then I should have steered this conversation another way, because Lia is glowing as she talks about her career goals and Lee looks like exactly what he is: a proud father. “That’s very impressive,” he praises when she’s finished. I can tell they aren’t just meaningless words to him, either. Hearing Lia detail her business knowledge to me the first time was the sexiest f*cking thing I’d ever heard from a woman’s lips. I know Lee is blown away by her intelligence and drive, which comes across so clearly when she speaks. Even if he wasn’t her father, her little spiel would have wowed him, I have no doubt. He talks with her about his company and his real estate holdings. He also adds in the fact that I purchased my apartment from him. When he tells her, “I hope you’ll keep my company in mind when you graduate,” I decide I’ve had enough. When Lia finds out he’s her father, it’s going to be even worse that Lee and I sat here with her for an hour and didn’t tell her the truth. This needs to end—now.
I begin sliding from the booth, surprising Lia with the abruptness of the movement. When I’m standing, I throw some money on the check the server had dropped sometime during Lee’s visit and offer my hand to help her up. Lee stands before she reaches my side, raising a brow at my hasty departure. He knows he holds all of the cards here. When he’s ready, he’ll find a way to tell her, and there is damn little I’ll be able to do to stop him; tonight has proven that to me. “It was good to see you again, Lee,” I say as she slips under my arm.
“You, too, Lucian,” he replies, but his eyes are only on his daughter. “Miss Adams, it was a pleasure talking to you. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.” She smiles in reply, seeming to think nothing strange of his words. If only she knew.
We walk back toward the apartment, both lost in our thoughts. When we arrive home, I’m shocked when she continues to hold onto my hand and pulls me toward the bedroom. She shifts on her feet nervously when we’re standing in the middle of the room. “Luc…I need you. I want your hands to be the last ones that have touched my body. I need to know that I belong to you again, all of me.”
My cock immediately jumps to attention at her words, fully willing to give her everything she is asking for. My heart, though, shatters just a little more at the way she has averted her eyes as if expecting me to refuse her. My God, doesn’t she understand yet that she owns me? Pulling her body snugly to mine, I ask huskily, “Are you sure?” My body throbs in anticipation as I try to bank the fires building inside me.
“Yes,” she whispers. “I want you to make love to me, Luc.” With the insecurity she’s feeling over her body, I know how hard this must be and how much courage it’s taking for her to risk rejection. As if that was ever a possibility. I want to erase those bastard’s hands from her body just as much as she does. After not being inside her for two weeks, I’m desperate to feel her again. No matter how hard it will be for me, though, I’ll take it slow and look for any sign that she’s in distress. Tonight is all about cherishing every inch of her body and alleviating any doubts she might have that I feel differently about her.
“You have no idea how much I want that, baby,” I reply as my hands drop to her waist before releasing her. I turn the bedside lamp on, needing to see all of her but also knowing she would prefer the room to be dark. I leave the light on the lowest setting, giving us both some of what we need. I also don’t want her to think for a moment that I need the darkness now to make love to her.
I stay fully dressed as I return to her, easing the sweater she is wearing from her shoulders and letting it fall to the floor. This isn’t the time to worry about neatness; my only focus is her. Next, the scarf she has wound around her neck follows the path of the sweater and I pause to make sure she’s still in the moment with me. She gives me a slight nod, letting me know she wants to continue, and I almost sag in relief.
Her dress is a little trickier and I find myself studying it as if trying to solve a puzzle. It’s so long that I hate to pull it over her head, but at the same time, I’m afraid it will ruin the mood somewhat if I try to push it downwards and she gets stuck in it. When she lifts her arms, I give her a quick smile, thanking her silently for answering my question. Having a wrestling contest with her clothing right now isn’t something I want to do. I ease the dress as gently as possible up her body and over her head before tossing it behind her. Then I step back and swallow as I take in her beautiful body in nothing but a pale blue bra and matching tiny lace panties. Most of her bruises have now faded to a purplish color, and her cuts, scratches, and bites are almost healed. The bandages I applied earlier look stark white against her creamy skin but do nothing to distract from her appeal. She looks achingly fragile but so damned gorgeous it’s almost painful to look at her. “Baby, you are beautiful,” I say and mean every word. In my eyes, there is no equal to her.