by Selina Marie
“Something wrong?” I feign innocence, fucking hysterical on the inside.
“Um yeah, It’s my house. It’s gone.” She blinks rapidly as she takes in her predicament, and who would I be if I didn’t sweep in and play her hero, again.
“Spare bedroom is yours if you want it.” I say, knowing her answer before she does. Her eyes shift erratically as she tries to figure out her next move. I walk away from her, toward the stairs and call out over my shoulder, “Top of the stairs on the right… Oh and, Emilia?” Her eyes snap to mine as I glide my tongue along the top row of my teeth. “Don’t look so scared… I won’t bite.” I grin and disappear upstairs to the gym, already tasting victory on my tongue.
CHAPTER TEN
Emilia
My first thought is Shit! My house is nothing but a pile of ash and even though the decent and human thing to do, would be to hope Robert wasn’t in there, I don’t care if he was. A part of me hopes he was. My second thought is that I am so screwed. I can’t possibly stay here with this psychopath, but I also can’t impose on Melody, because that would mean I would have to attend one of the thousand events her family hosts, and I would rather shoot myself than do that. I have no money of my own and nowhere to go.
Maybe I can stay for a few days just until I’ve sorted everything out. I mean he did offer, and I don’t really have any other option. I groan out load, my back still pressed against the wall he had me pinned up against just now. I can try to make this work. Yes, he is an asshole, but how dangerous can he really be? The guy already saved my life once and here he is again. Some might think he has a hero complex but that definitely isn’t it. I try to internally justify staying here, and unfortunately the pros outweigh the cons right now. It’s short term. I’ll be gone before I know it.
Lukas. That’s his name and it suits him. Part of it rolls off the tongue like a wave, but there is a sharpness there too, like a razor gliding over your body until the sting of the blade slices through the layers of skin there, leaving blood and havoc.
Lukas has disappeared somewhere, but I caught what he’d said. I walk until I round the corner at the top of the marble stairs and turn right down a ridiculously long corridor until I reach a door at the end and hope I’m at the right door because I passed a few other on my journey. I reach out and push the door handle down and the heavy dark wooden door opens with ease, as does my jaw which is currently on the floor—marble, figures. This isn’t even a room—it’s a freaking suite and it’s better than I could ever have dreamt or imagined.
The foyer, staircase and hallway leading up here are decorated with white and grey marble but merge into black and silver marble in here, and glisten and reflect the white ceiling lights as if it is glass. There is a queen-sized bed that looks so inviting, I almost dive bomb onto it but restrain myself. Four thick wooden posts frame the bed and as I step further into the room, I can see it curves around a corner to the right. There’s a walk-in closet that’s the size of the entire first floor of my house, and it looks like it has quite a lot of items in it already. Shoes, dresses, trousers, jeans, tops and probably more hidden away inside of the glossy chest of drawers that lines the back of the walk-in.
Why would he have women’s clothes here? Does he have female guests here a lot? The thought stirs something in my stomach that is unsettling and I bury it down deep instantly. I feel eyes on me and spin around to find Lukas behind me, his eyes watching me intently, glued to me with an unreadable mask on his face. Shifting my gaze, I look to the left and follow the curve of the room to a bathroom and freeze. Is that a freaking jacuzzi?
I feel like I’ve stepped into an episode of Selling Sunset. The bathroom glistens, the black and silver flecked marble continuing up the walls, and the shower, which is almost as big as the closet, is made of the same black marble. Across the room is a jacuzzi, which can probably seat about sixteen people. I turn around to make my way back to the bedroom when I hit a solid wall of muscle. He’s so close, pressed up against me chest to chest, it’s heady being this close to him again. It also doesn’t help that he smells incredible, literally edible. I want to stand on my tip toes and lick his neck, taste him and bask in the glory of whatever that masculine, sandalwood, all man smell is.
I can feel my self-control slipping and the thought puts me on edge. I take a step back, looking up through my lashes into those ocean eyes.
“I… I don’t think I should stay here. I really appreciate the offer, but I really don’t need all of this.” I motion to the room spreading my arms out, shaking my head in disbelief at this entire situation that I’m in. As much as I hate to admit it, Lukas has this strange power over me, and the pull I feel toward him frightens me more than anything else has. Despite my own willpower and grit, I might not be able to tell him no. The scariest part though, is that I don’t really want to.
Lukas tilts his head to the right as he watches me, his eyes narrowing when he speaks, his voice low and delicious.
“Shall we skip past the part where we pretend you have anywhere else to go. You’re staying, Emilia.” His eyes are heated, but mischief plays behind the surface as well. “Besides, you still haven’t seen the best part.” Lukas strides out of the bathroom, confident, and his presence is intoxicating. So, I follow closely behind, feeling the absence a little. God.
He stops at the wall on the far side of the bedroom opposite the bed, which is covered from top to bottom with a screen. Lukas presses a little discreet button and the screen starts to lift. The view literally takes my breath away. It is almost dark, but the light of dusk is still lingering along the horizon. The most beautiful deep orange, vibrant pinks and reds stretch across the sky as the sun is setting, waiting to mute and vanish shortly after the sun. The moon is rising in the night sky and shines brightly, ready to take center stage.
My gaze fixes on the variation of blues, purples, orange, red and pink hues I can see, and some of the stars already twinkling bright in the sky over the vastness of the ocean; the waves crashing and dancing to the most beautiful song I can just about hear through the glass windows. I have never seen a view like this before, not like this anyway.
I sigh out a laugh. “Wow.” I gulp when my eyes adjust to see Lukas’s reflection behind me, and for the first time I see what looks like a small genuine smile across his lips and a gentle look in his eyes, which instantly turns hard when he meets my stare in the glass. My beath hitches once again because if the view isn’t enough, adding him into the equation makes this something else, more—even if he has his guard up around me, and for whatever reason he’s decided I’m a burden. I don’t have a word for the feeling swelling in my stomach and flooding my veins as I sense my guard slipping, letting him see a glimpse of me without my shield up. Strangely it feels… nice.
Turning my body to face his, I see the muscle in his jaw tick as he keeps his gaze passed my shoulder and fixed on the horizon, before taking three steps back and closer to the door.
“There’s clothes in the closet, toiletries in the bathroom,” he tells me as I watch his chiselled jawline which has a light dusting of dark stubble my fingers are itching to reach out and stroke, and I wonder how rough it would feel under my fingertips and between my thighs.
He swings around to the door, grabbing the handle to close behind him when I stop him.
“Lukas, why are you doing this? I mean, we don’t even know each other.” My voice sounds small and timid which irritates me a little. My defenses should be built up higher than a skyscraper, but every minute I spend in his presence just knocks it down brick by brick and I have no idea why. All I do know is that it’s infuriating.
Lukas doesn’t give me an answer—shocker—but continues on his way out the door. I hear him mutter something under his breath that I don’t think he meant for me to hear, but I do and something in his voice sounds conflicted. “Because I’m an asshole and you fucking deserve it.”
Then he is gone, and I am alone. Alone to wonder what the hell he meant by that.
<
br /> Everything from today is catching up with me and I suddenly feel the weight of exhaustion heavy on every limb and muscle in my body. Too many emotions, thoughts and events crash into me and my body feels like it has been hit by a freight train as everything bombards me all at once. I’m not used to being out of control especially where my feelings and my body are concerned. Sleep calls to me as I yawn on my way into the closet. Closet my ass. I take it in for a second time and notice there is a lot of silk in here. Is that lingerie?
I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing some of the lingerie Lukas clearly keeps in here for his one-night stands. The latex is a look some could pull off but definitely not my style. The thought of him in here with numerous women acting out sexual fantasies makes me feel sick, although it shouldn’t. It’s not like he is mine in any way, but I can’t deny the inexplicable feelings growing and taunting me in my belly.
I shake my head clearing the little green feeling that has no place inside of my body for this man, when I see a pretty emerald, green satin nightdress that calls to me. It’s so beautiful with black lace trimming around the hem with a small slit that teases up the thigh a couple of inches. Removing my clothes from my body I slip it over my head feeling the satin skim across my skin like water. I’ve never worn something so elegant and feminine yet sexy as hell in my life. As I stand in front of the floor to ceiling mirror inside the closet I take in my appearance, a little stunned. I know I’m conventionally pretty, but I‘ve never seen myself like this before. My long dark hair flows past my shoulders almost down to my waist, the emerald standing out against my porcelain skin and blue eyes, making them pop even more than usual. The satin clings to my body in all the right places making me feel beautiful for the first time, maybe ever?
After brushing my teeth and checking my phone I dive into bed and literally die and go to heaven. I wiggle my body from left to right as I settle in, sinking deep into the mattress moulding to my body, in a way that makes me want to morph into this bed and never leave.
My phone pings, and I see I have a text from Mel. The message is her freaking out over the fire and begging me to stay with her, and a colorful account of how her day was and the advances of a guy that had taken an interest in her for a couple of months. She had very obviously placed him in the friend zone, but he just wasn’t getting it. Not sure how hard it is for him or anyone to grasp that no means no. She asks if we can meet after college sometime this week.
Mel attends college in the city which is adequately named Penderal—which isn’t confusing at all. Whereas I go to the community college in Penderal Bay. I reply, telling her that I’m not sure, I have stuff to deal with like find a place to live which is true. I avoid the other questions and hit send. I think about today and how I’ve been trying to tone down the attitude and make a little bit more of an effort with the caveman who kidnapped me. As much as it pains me to the point of agony to admit, it’s kind of nice having someone to fall back on, someone who sucks at showing it but cared enough to save my life.
Before snuggling down into the duvet, I check the top drawer of the bedside table, turning on the lamp and find headphones. Bingo.
My body gives in then, drifting off to the sound of "Believer" by Imagine Dragons as my mind succumbs to sleep.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Lukas
Last night, after a quick workout in my home gym and a cold shower, I tried to sleep and not think about Emilia in the next room. Her thoughtful, innocent and genuine expression reflected back at me through my window fucked with everything in me, because even though I knew it was a façade, her look alone contradicted every poisonous thing I knew her to be.
How many masks does this girl wear to deceive those around her, I wonder. My guess is too many. I won’t be one of the idiots to be lured by her vixen charm and made a fool in the end. I’m sure there are many of those too, who fall for her beauty, because that is undeniable.
I chose to leave out the fact we are only a wall away when I told her to take the guest room. Keep your enemies closer and all that shit.
Stretching and making my way to the kitchen to make a strong coffee, I pause outside Emilia’s door, listening for any indication that she is up. I don’t hear anything so figure she is still asleep. I leave her, relieved for the space to clear my head.
Part of my morning routine has always been to have my coffee out on the balcony as I rise with the sun. It stretches across the entire first floor with access to the master and guest bedrooms. It’s my favorite spot in my house. The one place where the noise in my head calms and there is nothing but me, the sea and the warmth of the sun that feels like my mother’s hand reaching down from heaven and gently caressing my face, soothing the lost boy inside of me. It keeps me alive, passionate and motivated to rise with the sun each day, at the same time keeping a piece of my mom alive too. You can’t beat this view. The pinks and oranges are vivid, bold and energetic as the sun rises every day; it is and will always be one of the most exceptionally breath-taking views.
It’s not the only thing that steals my breath. I step out onto the balcony and everything freezes, every drop of blood coursing through my veins heads south. My jaw drops open, and I might as well be catching fucking flies. I nearly spill my coffee over my legs and feet as I watch the back of Emilia as her body moves. I am angry that she ruined my place of solace for all of a spilt second and then my dick takes over.
Emilia’s hips sway side to side, and I am mesmerized watching her move and want nothing more than to slide up behind her, grab those hips in my palms and feel her petite curves roll against my body, which is now rock hard. The way the green satin clings to her body hugging her so perfectly in all the right places, I am suddenly jealous of a fucking fabric for getting to feel her naked skin underneath it. Is she naked underneath it? I can feel my pulse beating so violently as I place my coffee down and move closer to her, fucking up my own promise to stay away from Emilia Blake. I am going to hell anyway so I might as well solidify my place.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Emilia
"Pillowtalk" by Zayn plays through my headphones as my body moves, flowing to the rhythm while watching the sun grow higher, bursting in bright, captivating colors over the horizon. Music has always been my escape; it gives me the freedom I crave and the pure magic of getting lost in my senses. And in this moment, witnessing Mother Nature boast her magnificent beauty is magic.
Every muscle in my body tenses, stills and tingles when I feel him in the air. He carries this electricity that bolts straight through my veins, shocking me when he is close, but this is different. I don’t need to move my body to know he is close, approaching slowly like the predator he is.
My heart beats erratically, drowning out every other sound. I feel him everywhere, over every inch of skin that tingles in apprehension of what he is doing and what is coming. I jump a little, startled when one of the headphones is removed from my ear and moved into his, as he slides up close behind me. My body is catatonic as I wait to see what he will do next. His front presses tightly to my back, still wrapped in the satin nightdress and completely bare underneath. It doesn’t help that I can feel the heat from his naked chest and toned stomach against my back, through the material. The song builds at the same time I feel his fingers skim down the sides of my body making me shiver. Involuntarily, I tip my head back against his hard shoulder at the same time a sigh slips out. Strong, powerful hands settle on my hips as he begins to move behind me, pulling my hips into his pelvis, and rolling my ass back into him further with every movement. Each move matches so that our bodies never leave the other. My body is ablaze and all I want is to just give my body over to him—give him everything.
Squeezing my hips, he pushes my body forward softly, until my hipbones press against the cold hard glass edge of the balcony. He follows closely behind. The music plays as I feel him harden against my back—still slowly moving our hips from side to side. I have never felt anything like this before. The utter abandonment and su
rrender of control, replaced with pure passion, wonder, lust and excitement all tangled into one moment, one man.
We dirty dance with the rising sun as our witness, my heart-beat increasing as he slides his fingers down further, caressing the sides of my thighs.
He pauses there a moment like he is asking for permission, which does something to my insides. I swallow and nod before his calloused palms glide across my skin to the inside of my thighs, caressing the skin there for a few excruciating seconds until the chorus hits and his fingertips glide over my sensitive core. Lukas moves his fingers up and down spreading the wetness there, making me moan. Hungry lips kiss my shoulder, moving to the crook of my neck, sucking the delicate skin there as he slides one finger inside of me. I suck in a deep breath, arching my back and pushing my ass further into his hardness as he strokes me so expertly I feel it everywhere in my body. My muscles already tightening under the magic he is performing with his fingers.
I can hear my breaths turning desperate; I am panting, on the verge of losing my freaking mind because no one has ever touched me there, made me feel this good. Lukas’s kisses are bruising and painful when he bites down on my neck so hard I hiss and almost feel the skin break. His mouth punishing and ferocious, but his fingers delicate and tentative. I am a prisoner to my own body but only he holds the key.
The angle he is inside of me shifts, moving faster as the music is forgotten entirely. The build of my orgasm reaches its peak as his thumb circles my clit sending me over the edge. Lukas catches me around the waist as my body shakes with aftershocks and his fingers work me over as I grip him tight until it becomes too much, and I beg him to stop.
After another second, he removes his fingers from me, my eyes following his hand as it moves up from between my legs, wanting to see what he will do next after giving me the best and only orgasm that anyone has ever given me. I can see my juices on his hand as he lifts it to his mouth, sucking on the finger that had just been inside of me. Lukas’s moan sends shivers throughout my body as he tastes me and I come down from the high, his eyes on fire, locked on mine.