Lucian

by Bethany-Kris

  • • •

  Jordyn barely managed to subdue her agitation as she waited for the elevator to take her up to the highest floor of the hotel. She wasn’t sure why she was sent here with a black velvet box in her possession, but it was Antony’s request she do a quick run for him before the party.

  All dressed up, heels on, hair pinned back in waves of curls, and her makeup flawless.

  Why it couldn’t just wait until Monday, she didn’t know.

  Sighing impatiently, the moment the elevator dinged and opened to the top floor, Jordyn was slipping out between the spreading doors and hurrying down the hall to find the room number. She was much more interested in seeing Lucian, whenever in the hell that was supposed to happen tonight, than delivering this stupid package.

  Jordyn almost wanted to open the small box just to know what was inside and if it was really that important. She didn’t, though. Somehow, Antony would know she did and he wouldn’t be pleased. Jordyn wasn’t into invading other people and their privacy, anyway.

  Finally, she found the correct room at the very end of the hallway, a Do Not Disturb sign hanging off the doorknob.

  Too bad, Jordyn thought.

  She didn’t have time to wait for whoever was inside to wake up from their nap, fuck session … or whatever. Knocking just hard enough on the door to be annoying, Jordyn smirked as she heard footsteps behind it.

  When the door swung open, Jordyn nearly stumbled back on her three inch heels in surprise at the smiling face staring back at her. She almost dropped the box she was holding, too.

  “Good evening, sweetheart. Have you missed me?”

  Lucian looked amazing in his form-fitted, black tuxedo with the navy blue vest and tie to match her evening gown. She choked on words trying to tumble out of her chest as she took an inventory of him one more time. Nothing was different about him, but for the slight stubble he usually kept shaved clean. Glinting hazel eyes still regarded her like she was the most important thing to grace his presence.

  “Yes, I’ve missed you,” she finally managed to get out. “I’ve been waiting for you all day.”

  Lucian laughed. “God, how I’ve missed you, bella mia.”

  Those words were all the encouragement Jordyn needed. She flew into his embrace, practically knocking Lucian back inside the hotel room from the force. The fresh scent of his soap mixed with whatever cologne he was wearing soaked into her senses like it as a drug. Just being held by him was a high she couldn’t quite comprehend.

  Instantly, his hands found her jaw, cupping gently to tilt her face up so their lips could meet. Jordyn vaguely registered the door being kicked shut as his tongue dove into her mouth and those hands of his wandered down the sides of her dress over the jeweled bodice and the empire waist.

  She lost herself in the kiss, her body reacting to his closeness and touch by heating up from her middle and spreading outwards fast and swift. When he reluctantly pulled away, she giggled quietly while cleaning the red lipstick from his mouth.

  “You look so beautiful, it’ll be a shame when this gown meets the floor tonight,” Lucian breathed against her cheek, grinning. “Cecelia did well picking the dress. She didn’t torture you much, did she?”

  “Yes,” Jordyn mumbled, nodding. “It was awful.”

  “But you enjoyed it …”

  Jordyn scowled playfully. “A little. I didn’t realize this was going to be such a big deal. I already feel out of place and I haven’t even made face with you, yet.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Lucian said darkly. “You fit perfectly at my side. Why would you be worried about that?”

  Shrugging weakly, Jordyn replied, “I’m not a trust fund baby or a hand-me-down-riches kid, Lucian. We’re talking Ivy League, high-society, and lifestyles of the rich and famous. I’ve never even worn a gown before, and that includes graduation, considering I didn’t go. It makes me nervous. What if I screw up or say something stupid?”

  “What, like hello?” Lucian asked sarcastically. Then, he shook his head, staring her straight in the eyes with one of those piercing gazes that rooted her in place and kept her from moving or saying a word. “I don’t care much about the people you’ll meet tonight. No one does, really. They like to think everybody cares about them, but that’s a problem they have to someday handle on their own. Besides, we’ll give them something to gossip about other than themselves for once. Who knows, maybe it’ll be humbling for them.”

  “You’re awful,” Jordyn teased.

  “I’m aware.” Lucian pressed another feather light kiss to her mouth. “Seriously, don’t work yourself up over those people. Smile and enjoy the night. That’s really all that matters.”

  Jordyn had another thought, one that sent sadness spinning into her heart. “Are you coming home with me tonight, or do you have to stay away again?”

  “You did hear me say it’ll be a shame when your gown comes off, right?”

  Heat pinked Jordyn’s cheeks. “So you are?”

  “I’ve missed my bed, and you in it,” Lucian replied gruffly.

  “Does that mean they know who is trying to hurt you?” she asked.

  Lucian snorted. “Kill, not hurt. And I’m not sure, but I gave Antony the two weeks he wanted. If he hasn’t figured it out yet, I certainly will. I doubt I’ll be as nice as he’s been about it.”

  A shiver crawled up Jordyn’s spine. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “Tough. I’m still coming home. I won’t keep hiding. I have a life.” Lucian smiled and added, “We have a life we’re only starting together. I’d like to get back to it.”

  “I wasn’t going anywhere, Lucian.”

  “Oh, I know, sweetheart.”

  “Mmm, you have been watching, haven’t you?”

  Lucian shrugged. “I couldn’t be far from you for long.”

  Jordyn remembered the box she still held and tried to hand it over. “From your father.”

  “Actually,” Lucian said in that cocky way of his, “… it’s from me for you. I had him pick it up when it came in a few days ago. I wanted you to have something from me tonight to wear with your gown. Go on, open it.”

  Not entirely sure what to expect, considering the last gift she revived from a Marcello that came in a box like this was thousands of dollars’ worth of diamonds, Jordyn took a breath and opened the box. For a moment, she didn’t look down, not wanting to be overwhelmed again by jewelry she couldn’t ever afford on her own.

  “Look at it, sweetheart. I promise it’s not pretentious and you’ll love it.”

  Trusting him, she finally regarded the gift. A single strand of white pearls with matching earrings rested inside the box. Between every globe was a tiny diamond separating the pearls. The piece wasn’t ostentatious at all. In fact, it was delicate and simple in design and very much to her taste had she been the one to pick it out. She hadn’t even given thought to her jewelry for the night, and it was one thing Cecelia didn’t bother to mention.

  Now Jordyn understood why.

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispered, still awed. “Thank you.”

  “You’re more than welcome. It felt like you. I wondered how they would look on you. May I?” Lucian asked, waving at the pearls.

  “Yes, please.”

  Carefully, Lucian removed the pearls from their case and under his urging, Jordyn turned so he could place the strand around her throat. Warm fingers ghosted along the expanse of her neck as he clasped the back of the necklace closed before releasing the jewelry and kissing the side of her neck. He let her put the earrings in herself, refusing to remove his lips from her throat all the while.

  Jordyn sighed into the kiss. “Yeah, I definitely missed you.”

  “Love me, too?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good,” Lucian murmured as his arms wrapped her frame once more. “And I know you’re worried about tonight, but you really shouldn’t be, Jordyn. Money might give people all the control and power in the world they can buy
, but it doesn’t give them what’s most important. Designer dresses doesn’t give a woman beauty if she’s not amazing in her heart. Diamonds won’t give her dignity if she has no good in her soul. Education doesn’t make a man worthy. A last name won’t garner someone respect unless they can work for it. Those are things we earn by being who we are. You are wonderful. I wouldn’t want anyone else to stand with me tonight while I celebrate my mother.”

  Oddly, those words were all Jordyn needed to hear to make the nerves disappear.

  • • •

  “Buon compleanno, Mamma,” Lucian murmured in his mother’s ear as he came up behind her, wishing her a happy birthday.

  Antony met his son’s gaze and smiled, pride shining through strongly. “Good to see you, son.”

  “You, too.”

  Cecelia’s lips split with a wide smile as she turned to face Lucian. “You’re here!”

  “Of course I am, and on time, as you demanded. You look lovely,” Lucian appraised, taking in the white silk and chiffon gown Cecelia wore. “Angelic. Appropriate for one of the angels in my life looking out for me.”

  Cecelia may not have given him life as his mother, but she had given him the next best thing: love. She was the second woman on earth to show him it was possible to love something with an unconditional fierceness. While his biological mother had given up her life to save his, Cecelia gave that life back in a whole new way. Cecelia had essentially taught him how to love others … like Jordyn. Lucian wouldn’t miss his mother’s special day for the world.

  His mother winked, glancing over his shoulder at Jordyn who was already in conversation with Gio. “Did I do well?”

  “Perfect,” Lucian assured. “She looks beautiful. Thank you.”

  Cecelia reached up and swiped at the corner of his mouth, suppressing her grin. “Well, even if you hadn’t said anything, I would have guessed you liked it by the red stains on your mouth. Try to keep the PDA to a minimum, Lucian. No need to go marking your territory all over the place tonight, sweet boy.”

  “Got it.”

  “I’m so very happy for you.”

  “I know,” he said quietly. “But it’s your night, not mine. I take it we’re still drinking ourselves stupid on cocktails until they allow us into the ballroom again?”

  Cecelia nodded, eyeing the closed doors over her shoulder. “I’m getting bored.”

  “It won’t be long,” Antony said behind her. “Patience, Tesoro.”

  “Did you like my gift this morning?” Lucian asked his mother.

  “The flowers were lovely. They filled the kitchen table. I didn’t have time to find places for them all.”

  “There was a point to that. I bought you a bushel for every room in the house so you wouldn’t keep moving them from room to room like you did the last time I bought you flowers.”

  “I figured,” Cecelia said wirily. “I still have to decide where they need to go in the rooms, though. It’s a process, Lucian. Someday you’ll understand.”

  “Did you look inside the flowers?” he asked purposely.

  “No, why?” Cecelia eyed him curiously, smiling even wider. “What did you do?”

  “There’s something special in each of the bouquets. Be sure to check them all, yes?”

  “Lucian … the flowers were enough.”

  No, they certainly weren’t. Not for his mother.

  “I love you, Mom,” Lucian said. “Always.”

  Cecelia sighed softly. “I love you, too, my boy. Now, go keep an eye on your brothers before they steal Jordyn away.”

  She didn’t have to tell Lucian again. Sure, he wanted to speak with his father about what he missed over the last couple of weeks, and Cecelia definitely deserved more of his time, considering he missed most of her birthday. Still, Lucian felt out of place when Jordyn wasn’t at his side.

  “You’re a special kind of woman,” Lucian told his mother. “There’s a beautiful place in heaven for mothers of all boys, especially our kind.”

  “So someone keeps telling me,” Cecelia agreed with a look back at Antony. “Go, Lucian.”

  It wasn’t long before Lucian was back where he belonged, and so was his hand, firmly planted to the curve in Jordyn’s waist. Because some of the guests in the hall were friends of Lucian’s parents, those people made their way through the crowd sipping on catered drinks to give Cecelia birthday wishes. That, of course, led them to the brothers to say hello, also.

  Jordyn didn’t stay hidden behind Lucian, and for that, he was proud. Introducing her to just a few people was good enough, as once they knew, it would start to spread between the others who were curious and asked without actually coming to meet her themselves. That was also how the gossip would begin to spread, but he didn’t care.

  It wasn’t like he planned on leaving her alone to the wolves.

  After the doors were opened to the ballroom for the important guests who were invited early to the Opera event, things moved more fluidly. While the whole night was essentially about the show happening later, the early party had a point, too. A silent auction was going on in the hall they’d just come from, all the proceeds being donated to a charity both Cecelia and Antony were fond of.

  The live band in the background of the ballroom was of a more classical type. Certainly not to Lucian’s tastes, though his mother pulled him out to dance a waltz with her at least once. It led her to demanding he do the same with Jordyn.

  How was he supposed to deny his mother when it was her birthday?

  “Let me lead, sweetheart,” Lucian told Jordyn after she muttered for the fourth time she couldn’t dance to music like this. After the first steps, Jordyn caught on that the waltz was a simple few movements that followed the same pattern over and over. It was about the man leading to show off the beauty of his partner. “See, easy.”

  Jordyn winked, then looked around. “People are watching us again.”

  “Good. Beautiful things should be watched. They shine.”

  • • •

  “You don’t seem impressed,” Jordyn said quietly.

  Lucian shrugged, chancing a glance over his shoulder at the curtain that kept their private booth closed off. “Opera and theater isn’t my favorite thing. Cecelia loves it, so Dante couldn’t resist getting us the balconies for her birthday.”

  “I think it’s fascinating. The elegance and power mixed together is kind of astounding.”

  “You do, huh?” Lucian was happy she was enjoying herself. “That’s all that matters, then.”

  “It does get to be tiring after a while, though.”

  Jordyn tossed him a grin from her plush leather chair pushed close to his. Between them, their fingers laid laced together, her thumb rolling soothingly over the side of his hand. It was the only thing keeping Lucian from nodding off in the dimly lit balcony, even with the singing filling the theater. Her innocent touch was ensuring Lucian’s body was fully awake and hyperaware of just how close she was.

  Oh, he’d missed this woman terribly.

  “Another hour,” Jordyn said, reading the event itinerary in her hand. “And then you’ll be free again.”

  Lucian hummed lowly. “Or we could skip out now. I do have that hotel room booked for the night. It’d be a shame to waste it and the hot tub out on the balcony I didn’t even get to try.”

  Jordyn’s lips crept upwards with a smirk. “Will Cecelia be terribly angry?”

  “She won’t even know.”

  His lover was standing before Lucian could get another word in edgewise.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The moment the elevator doors opened, Lucian was pushing Jordyn inside the small space.

  Jordyn had teased and touched him with her soft hands and sweet mouth all the way back to the hotel. Whispered words in his ear sent desire spiking. Lucian was as hard as a steel rod under his tuxedo pants and it was becoming downright fucking painful.

  He was going to find the best relief between the heavens of her thighs.

 
Lucian backed Jordyn into the corner of the empty elevator, his lips meeting hers punishingly. All over again, he wanted to leave his marks on her body and feel her on his for days afterwards. Being apart, even if it was only for a couple of weeks, had led him into a slow insanity of want. Her tongue slipped into the heat of his mouth, exploding his taste buds with her flavor and causing his cock to grow harder still.

  The shower and palm sessions just weren’t getting it done. Lucian needed this.

  “I’ve wanted to fuck you so badly,” Lucian muttered against Jordyn’s mouth. “Taste you coming all over my tongue. Mio Dio, I’ve missed this.”

  Jordyn gasped a breathy laugh as his teeth and lips attacked her neck. “Not in here, Lucian.”

  “Why not? Let’s give the cameras a show, sweetheart.”

  Lucian took the silent glimmer of heated desire in her eyes as her consent. Driving the satiny skirt of her gown upwards, he reveled in the smoothness of her thighs to his palms. With her dress above her knees in his grasp, Jordyn squeaked an embarrassed noise that stopped his motions in their tracks.

  It was only then Lucian realized the elevator doors were finally beginning to close.

  A glance over his shoulder said someone had slipped in last minute and was standing only feet away, attention fully diverted to the closed doors of the elevator. Lucian huffed an irritated sigh and rested his forehead to Jordyn’s chin, feeling her smile as he dropped her dress back in place.

  “Dammit,” he mumbled.

  Jordyn giggled. “Patience is a virtue.”

  “I’m not a virtuous man,” Lucian replied very quietly. “Not when it comes to you.”

  Still, he couldn’t help but think the person’s presence behind him was odd. It was a hotel, a rather busy and well-known one, for that matter. But, that wasn’t really his issue. Frankly, it was late, which meant most guests were either in their rooms, or still enjoying the New York nightlife.

  Most people tended to take notice of an engaged couple in an elevator and made an effort to let the doors close and wait for the next one, not wanting to be rude or interrupt.