Fueled by Lust: Lucien (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Celeste Prater

  His chuckle had her pulling the blanket back down. Christ! Of course, let’s add the gleaming white teeth behind the lopsided grin sitting next to the freaking dimple. Was he deliberately trying to kill her?

  “Lucien?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do me a favor?”

  “What, sweetness?”

  “Snap my neck the next time we get out of these cells. Put me out of my misery.” Even with a frown, he was spectacular.

  “Why would I want to do something stupid like that?”

  “Because I’m about to say something that’s going to embarrass me again and I don’t think I can take it if you look at me with pity.” He rose from the mattress and walked over to the bars in that hip-gliding, suave, buccaneer way he had and she just gave the fuck up. She was toast.

  “Sweetness, you’re starting to scare me. You look so sad. What do you need to say that you’d think I would pity you?”

  “I love you, Lucien.” There. I said it. Tana pulled the blanket back over her head and bit her lip. She’d be damned if she’d cry on top of the already exhausting second confession. She wouldn’t be able to stop. His voice was hushed and low, but she heard every word.

  “Is that why you pretended to sleep when I knew you didn’t? You thought I would pity you for loving me, mellis?

  “Yes.”

  “Do you pity me, sweetness?”

  She pulled the blanket down a few notches and stared at him with one eyeball. No ridicule, no smirk, and no haughty expression could be detected. Was he real? She had to bite her lip again. She took a deep breath.

  “Why would I ever pity you, Lucien? It’s impossible.”

  “Because when I confessed my love for you, Tana, you wouldn’t speak to me afterward. I thought perhaps you regretted it the moment the words left your mouth.”

  Tana sat up and stared at him. “You’re shitting me. You actually meant that?”

  She didn’t know if the sun just decided to wake up in full force at the same moment that he smiled, or if his smile was what lit the cell. Either way, her breath caught in her lungs.

  “Why would I say it if I didn’t mean it?”

  Tana opened her mouth to explain to her clueless alien how the word ‘love’ had been beaten to hell and back on Earth, but immediately clamped her lips shut. No one really knew what the word stood for anymore. You could love a salty french fry on that fucked-up planet. She guessed it really might be a special word on Insedivertus and she’d be damned if she’d reveal how messed up her species had become. Instead, she just steeled herself and walked over to the bars.

  “You love me?”

  “Yes. I believe that’s what I said.”

  “Are we crazy, Lucien? Is it this screwed up place making us say things we don’t really mean just so we can feel better?” There he went again. His brain was on fire as he thought over what she’d just said and prepared for his response.

  “If I met you outside of this place, would you still have tried to make me laugh if we sat at something as innocent as a table and dined together?”

  “Uh, sure. Life is too short to frown all the time.”

  “Would you have still fed me if you’d worked a long work shift and came home to find that I’d accidently missed my afternoon meal?”

  “Of course. It’s not like you did it on purpose.”

  “Would you have pushed me away from harm if you saw I was about to be injured?”

  “That’s a silly question. Without a doubt I would.”

  “Is your name Tana?”

  She chuckled. “Yes.”

  His eyes became hooded and his voice dropped an octave. Damn he had a sexy voice.

  “Then it is you that I love, Tana. There is no other. The true essence of one’s personality cannot help but leap forward and announce itself to the universe when found in dire straits. You cannot fake that. I see you, Tana. The true you. And I find you fascinating.”

  Tana swallowed hard and then did it again. She didn’t know what to say. He was so eloquent. How could she top that?

  “I…I want to say ‘ditto,’ but you probably won’t understand the context.”

  “Try me.”

  “It’s from my favorite movie.”

  “And?”

  “You’d have to watch it.”

  “Okay. As soon as we get out of here, we’ll do that.”

  Tana chuckled. “I like your confidence.” He tilted his head.

  “Is there anything else that you like about me?”

  She swallowed hard again. “I like the way that you look at me.” One slashing brow rose up.

  “How so?”

  “Like I’m the most beautiful thing that you’ve ever seen. I can’t comprehend it.” His mouth lifted on one side.

  “You don’t have to. You’re stunning. That’s how I see you and it’s mine alone. The more I learn about you, the more beautiful you become.” She felt her face warm.

  “See, that’s another thing.”

  “What, sweetness?”

  “The way you talk to me. It’s like your words are hugging me and it makes me feel special…when I know I’m not.”

  He frowned and pursed his lips.

  “Never say that again, Tana. You’re an extraordinary female. Whoever in your past made you feel this way should be beaten. You’ve endured something that no one should ever deal with. It would have broken a weaker mind. You even find humor where others would see only darkness. What I hold in my hand is proof of your intelligence and empathy for others. You battled your fear and took what you needed to survive. The trust you showed by giving it to me filled my heart with such warmth, I thought it would burst into flames. I’m in awe of you.”

  Tana melted against the bars. “Geez, Lucien. You had me at ‘extraordinary.’ All the rest just turned my legs to noodles. How can I not love you?” The way his gorgeous, green eyes darkened and the heavily accented, sensuous voice rolled languidly from his lips sent shivers down her spine.

  “If I could tear these bars aside, I would show you how much that I love you, Tana. I think of nothing else but taking you away from this place and assuring your safety. I want to hold you in my arms and not worry that you’ll be taken from me.”

  Tana leaned her forehead against the bars and closed her eyes. She could barely get the words out of her mouth. “I’d like that. Very much.”

  “Look at me, Tana.” She opened her lids and sighed. He was so freaking sweet.

  “We’ll make it so.”

  Nodding, she gave him her best smile. They just stared at each other. There was nothing left to say. Everything she needed to know was in his eyes and she hoped hers were explaining just as much. She snapped from her stupor when a soft, deep voice called her name. It was Geleon.

  “Tana?”

  “Yes?”

  “You sure you don’t have a sister? Cousin? Hell, an aunt? I’d like to meet her.”

  Lucien’s rush of laughter mixed with hers.

  “No. I’m sorry, Geleon. It’s just me.”

  “Pity. There should be more of you.”

  “You’re so sweet.”

  “No, you’re the sweet one. Lucien?”

  “Yes, amici.”

  “About damn time. We all saw it the second you looked at her.”

  Lucien glanced back at her and smiled.

  “You think you like her now? Wait until you hear what she brought back from the kitchen.”

  “Yes. I heard something slide across the floor. What was your gift?”

  “My little minx has stolen a cuff device.”

  Geleon sucked in a breath. “What a strong, worthy female you’ve found.”

  “Yes. I know. Now tell the others of our fortune. I need Tana and Ulixes to hear this.”

  “What about Basilius? He will know our strategy as well.”

  Tana strained to hear the low, rumbling voice two cells down.

  “I will not interfere. I want out of this gods damn place just as much as
you.”

  “Even if it leads to my sticking a knife in your fucking heart?”

  Tana recognized Sotarios’s voice and it sounded positively evil. Basilius didn’t even hesitate in his answer.

  “I know you hate me, but I will take my chances. Anything is better than spending the remainder of my life in this cell.”

  “That’s the most intelligent thing I’ve heard you say since they shoved you in there. Now turn away, I’m sick of looking at your face.”

  Tana was glad Sotarios wasn’t mad at her. If she hadn’t known what Basilius had done, she would have felt sorry for him. But she didn’t. Not in the slightest. She turned back to Lucien.

  “Lucien. I’m confused. You told Geleon to ‘tell the others’ so Ulixes and I could hear. What does that mean?”

  “We can share our thoughts.” Tana felt the blood run out of her face.

  “Uh…you…you can read minds?”

  “Yes. Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “You’ve heard everything I’ve been thinking?” She frowned when he chuckled.

  “No, sweets. Only the Insedi can share their thoughts. And permission has to be given first.”

  Bone-melting relief had her clinging to the bars and muttering to the ceiling. “Oh, thank god.” She realized that she’d said too much when he whispered, “Were you having naughty thoughts of me, mellis?”

  She closed her eyes and huffed out a resigned breath. “Yes.”

  “I knew that you were. I could feel it.”

  Tana opened her eyes and frowned when she saw his eyes had widened and his lips had parted as if he wanted to say something else, but was afraid to. She tried to help him along.

  “Uh…would you care to elaborate?” He pushed her curiosity higher when he shook his head and swallowed hard.

  “Later, sweetness. I’ll explain everything later. I need to discuss strategy. We don’t know when they’ll decide to come back for us.”

  She understood that they needed a plan and her curiosity would only delay them. She caved. “Okay. I understand.”

  The look of utter relief passing over his face made her more determined to grill him the first chance she got. Geleon’s voice broke into her musing of what he could possibly be hiding from her.

  “Lucien. Eryx has been communicating with the Nawiens. One of them took a soft tree husk from the field and hid it in his clothing. He has been scratching out pictures and sharing it with him. They were planning to take a Dar Kan down and steal a device and rod. Now, they agree to work with us. What would you have them do?”

  “We’ll attack right after midday meal and the cuffs are engaged. They’ll least expect an attack. When the Nawiens see my shackles are disabled, have their group slowly pass by and I’ll release theirs. Immediately attack the closest guards from the front. An Insedi will attempt to distract from the rear. The goal is to acquire at least two rods. Head for the forests when that has been accomplished. We cannot take on the entire group. Scatter no more than five hundred meters in any direction, if it can be helped. We regroup two hundred meters on the other side of the clearing by the river at first light. I saw a curve of a river there as we passed over. We’ll make additional plans at that time. This scenario is filled with risks. Should we fail at any point, you are on your own until we can find each other. Whatever happens and whoever can get to it, destroying their ships is the top priority.”

  “What of my group? What would you have us do?”

  Tana watched Lucien grind his teeth. He was trying hard to keep civil, but failed.

  “I don’t give a shit what you do, Basilius. I’ll free you despite my reservations. Don’t make me regret it. Just stay the hell out of our way. If you are not feeling cowardly at the moment of truth, then by all means, fight alongside the Nawiens and stick with them when they scatter. Just don’t expect any help from an Insedi.”

  “I understand. I wouldn’t have expected anything less. We shall call a truce amongst ourselves this day and the Dar Kan as our mutual enemy. You’ll find no interference from me.”

  Tana could see immediate surprise flitter across Lucien’s features before it turned back into hard stone.

  Lucien snorted. “Forgive me if I don’t believe a word that comes from your mouth. You are nothing but a snake that pretends to sleep.”

  “I…I know. I will not ask for your trust. There is none to find and I am undeserving. I have…I have seen things…my thoughts are clear at this moment. I just want to go home. I miss my home. Forgive me…I need to rest before they come.”

  Tana stood with her mouth open in shock. Lucien fared no better. There had been genuine lucidity in those sad words. Perhaps Basilius had finally walked through a foggy barrier of confusion and was just now experiencing reality for the first time in his life. Had this perilous experience impacted him to the point where he now saw the truth about himself, and he’d been frightened by it? It was fascinating and sad all the way to the bone.

  Tana glanced down the corridor. She saw Ulixes’s fingers locked onto the bars. His knuckles were bone-white and unmoving. Her heart hurt for him. Lucien had told her of the love Ulixes had once held for the former ruler. What a fine line between love and hate. Could you ever really just shut it off, or was the trick to just bury it deep and forget where you put it?

  Christ! If Basilius was genuine, it warranted buckets of tears at the injustice that a mind could break to that level, yet the body could still walk around as if truly alive. If he was really the sleeping serpent ready to strike as Lucien claimed, her skin shivered at how easily someone could be sucked into believing a change had truly come, only to have a knife slip easily between their ribs as they hugged the perceived shattered child to their breast and died while looking into the eyes of a snake. She shivered and wished this whole damn day would just end so she could shut her mind off.

  Too tired to even stand, much less think, Tana flopped on the mattress. She glanced over and saw that Lucien was in the same position, but his hands were laced behind his head as he stared up to the ceiling. A thousand scenarios were probably pinging around his brilliant brain. Tana sighed and pulled the blanket over her head. They would be coming for her soon. She needed to have her wits about her if she was going to help him in the upcoming battle.

  Chapter 17

  Lucien swallowed hard as he watched Tana handing out food trays to the Nawiens. He wished that he could have spirited her away before any of this went down. She was unbelievably smart and he had faith that she’d be able to adjust to any situation thrown at her, but he couldn’t handle the thought that she might suffer from so much as a scratch. He had to tear his eyes away before he worked himself into a full panic.

  He looked around and surmised everything was close enough to the way he’d envisioned it. The Dar Kan males had retreated back to their shade tree and were spending more time snuggling with their claimed females than worrying about the exhausted prisoners. Three very disgruntled males remained close-by. They constantly looked over their shoulders to eyeball the unclaimed females or fussed with their fresh wounds. Their full rut appeared to have waned, but the cycle obviously hadn’t completed. Tana had been dead-on with her observation.

  Glancing back down to the cuff device he’d been studying, Lucien touched it to his left wrist, pushed his thumb along the side, and watched as the metal separated at the seam. He’d figured out by accident that direct contact released it completely. The knowledge had changed his strategy significantly. He hoped their fortune would continue to mount. Pressing the metal back together, he slipped the device back into his waistband and focused on his meal. Soon, Tana was perched on the stump next to him. He could sense her restlessness and threw her a comforting smile when she looked his way.

  “No matter what happens, sweetness, just stick by my side. Okay?”

  She nodded and glanced back to her tray. “Like glue, mister.” He chuckled and patted her knee.

  “Just as we discussed, as soon as the first Nawien
strikes, drop to the ground. I’ll get you as soon as the way is clear.”

  She nodded again and he watched her eyes dart around the clearing as she picked at her food.

  “Eat as much as you can, Tana. We don’t know how long before we’ll find our next meal. You’ll need your strength.”

  Lucien chuckled when she rolled her eyes, sighed heavily, and began stuffing food into her mouth. She was just too damn cute.

  Eventually, the food was devoured and he noticed the anxious swaying of the Nawiens as they prepared for the next step. He was impressed when Tana picked up on their movements and immediately stood. Silently, she gathered all of the trays and returned to her station. As expected, the cuffs snapped together. As his warriors stood and blocked him from the guards, Lucien pulled the device and released his own cuffs. Flinging them over the stump behind him, he began releasing the warriors as they shuffled by in a tight line. He’d warned them earlier not to remove the bands until they were ready to strike.

  The Nawien’s eyes widened when they realized the cuffs were loose, but caught on very quickly that they should leave them in place. Lucien didn’t even glance up when Basilius and his group passed. He hated releasing them, but he needed the bodies. Noticing that Royce wasn’t bringing up the rear of the line, he shot a glance over to Tana and saw the human handing his tray over and trying his best not to look at her. Cursing under his breath, Lucien realized he’d forgotten to tell Eryx to clue the stupid bastard. Too late. He’d just have to catch on and run when he got the chance.

  Lucien knew the Nawiens were known for their docile behavior, but no one could have anticipated the level of aggression these large males could hand out when their lives were in danger. Lucien was extremely glad they were on his side. They were barely past Tana’s station when he saw them flip the cuffs aside and leap on top of the clueless Dar Kans. The sound of necks snapping and dull thuds as the bodies dropped left everyone standing frozen for a few beats. There was nothing for his warriors to do but rip rods out of limp blue hands and haul ass. They glanced over their shoulders with a “what the fuck” expression then sprinted toward the forest when he commanded them to get moving. Haemon led the pack out and laid waste to any Dar Kan in their path. He wielded the rod like he’d been born with it in his hand. The Nawiens scooped up as many machetes as they could carry and headed in the opposite direction with Basilius and his group bringing up the rear.