Page 32 of Lucian

Gently, Lucian rolled his thumb along her bottom lip. The simple action caused goosebumps to creep all over her body from head to toe. “I’m sorry.”

For what?

Jordyn didn’t even care what he was apologizing for. She was much too distracted staring at his face, wondering what his mouth would taste like pressed to hers. How did he kiss, slow and controlled like a building wave, or fast and destructively passionate like a raging forest fire?

“I wondered the same thing the first moment I looked at you inside that confessional,” Lucian said, smirking just a little.

Had she said that out loud?

“Oh,” Jordyn murmured faintly.

She barely had time to react before Lucian leaned down further, removed his thumb, and placed the softest, most tender kiss to her lips. The warmth inside her body seemed to bloom into a full blown heat spreading out from her middle. It only lasted but a brief two seconds before he was pulling away.

Lucian pressed his thumb to her lips once more, the wetness left behind from his own smearing under the digit. “Sleep. The next one will be much better. And I intend for you to remember it.”

Jordyn didn’t quite think she’d be able to forget this one, either.

• • •

The next time Jordyn woke up, the room wasn’t dark. Soft light filtered in through the one window, bathing it in warmth. She quickly noted her mind wasn’t as confused or tired as it had been before.

The bedroom she was in wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t small, either. Pale, beige walls stared back at her. There were no photos on the walls, but a few pieces of art were hung in a stylish way. The comfortable bed she rested in was plush and forgiving to her tender back, the sheets even softer.

She noticed immediately the sheet was the only thing covering her, also. She wore no clothing underneath. Lifting the sheet enough to peer under only bothered her further. Bruises littered her arms, along with gauze wrapping in every direction she looked.

Her pain wasn’t as dulled this time around, however. It literally made her choke on air when she tried to move. From her head to her toes, Jordyn’s body was stiff and sore.

“Ah, the principessa is awake,” she heard someone say from the corner of the room. “It’s good to see you more alive than what you were yesterday morning. Lucian will be happy about that.”

Jordyn jerked in surprise at the unknown intruder. The action caused agony to ricochet all over. A whimper broke from her chest as she turned into the sheets, which only caused more pain. From the distress alone, her body fought back, threatening to upheave what might be in her stomach. A massive headache suddenly pounded in her skull.

“Cazzo merda. I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Breathing deeply to try and ease the pain, Jordyn slowly calmed down. She peeked over the sheets through squinting eyes to see who the unknown male was. At first, she didn’t recognize his green eyes, or dark hair. His features didn’t ring a bell.

Then, she took another look.

Jordyn vaguely remembered the young man to be one of the four Marcello men who had been at Legs and Leather.

That brought with it a whole slew of other memories.

The anger in Will’s face. The cruelty in his words. A belt cracking over her body without any mercy or end in sight. A hot knife searing into her skin, burning off her tattoo. Vomit. Panic. Pain. Blood.

It was a never-ending cycle of memories playing on repeat in her overwhelmed mind.

She’d tried to clean her wounds. Jordyn distinctly remembered wondering if her first aid kit had anything for severe burns in it and if she should shower to wash the injuries first, or if that would only cause more harm.

That was all she could recall. After that, the pain had become so awful she thought maybe sleeping for just a moment would help.

It hadn’t, obviously.

Anxiety thrummed hard and fast in Jordyn’s heart, causing the organ to thunder like hooves as panic ebbed her breathing to short, gasping pants.

“Jesus, calm down. It’s okay. You’re fine. Lucian! Lucian, get in here!”

Jordyn felt his presence in the room the moment he stepped into it.

“What in the hell did you do, Dante?” Lucian growled.