She braced herself, approached the door she required, and knocked.
The lock clicked and the door opened slowly. Sam’s forehead creased as Luciana refused to meet her eyes. “H-Hi,” Sam croaked out. “Can I come in?”
“Yeah…” Luciana stepped aside and closed the door once Sam was safely inside her apartment. She didn’t want to do this, not tonight, but Sam deserved answers. She deserved an explanation as to why this wouldn’t work. “Can I get you something to drink?” Luciana wrapped her arms around herself, her focus remaining on the floor.
“No, thank you.” Sam cleared her throat, taken aback by the change in Luciana’s behaviour.
“Okay.”
Sam noted how she remained distant, a void seemingly between them.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine, yeah,” Luciana said barely above a whisper. “You didn’t need to come all the way over here.”
“It took me five minutes.”
“Still…” Luciana shrugged. “I’m sure it’s a waste of your time.”
“Is it?” Sam stepped closer to her, but Luciana backed away. “Did something happen?”
“Something always happens.”
“You look like you need to sit down.” Sam held out her hand but Luciana refused to take it, a pained look on her face. What the hell is going on? “Look, I know I couldn’t cancel my meeting earlier, and I know she’s been here, but all I care about right now is that you're okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you're not,” Sam countered. “Did she say something? Threaten you again?”
“Sam…”
Sam closed the distance between them, wrapping her arm around Luciana’s waist. When her body stiffened and her eyes closed, a tear fell down her cheek and a groan slipped from her mouth. Sam’s heart shattered. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
“Luciana, I need you to tell me what the hell she’s done to you.”
“It was my own fault. If I hadn’t spoken to her how I did when she came here, this probably wouldn’t have happened.” Luciana moved away from Sam, gingerly, and slowly took a seat on the couch. “Welcome to my home, by the way.”
“It’s beautiful.” Sam’s voice was hoarse with emotion. Watching Luciana, who appeared to be in pain, brought her a huge sense of sadness…and guilt. “Very homely.”
I don’t care about her home right now, Sam held back her emotion.
“Yeah.” Luciana wrung her hands. “Are you sure I can’t get you something to drink.”
“No, I'm fine.” Sam approached her. “Can I sit down?”
“Yeah.”
Silently, Sam took in Luciana’s appearance. A thick sweater hung from her body, and a pair of sweatpants covered her legs. For this time of year, it didn’t make sense, but Sam hadn’t shared this space with her before, so she couldn’t be sure that this wasn’t normal.
“I’m sorry,” Luciana cried. “For letting you down tonight. For breaking your trust.”
“Maybe you could explain what happened before there are any apologies.”
“I-I don’t think I can.”
“I don’t have anywhere to be.” Sam swallowed hard as Luciana lifted the cuff of her sweater slightly, itching her skin. “What’s that?”
“Oh.” Luciana glanced down. “Nothing.”
It doesn’t look like nothing. It looks like rope burns. Sam’s jaw instantly clenched.
“Can I see?” She settled her hand gently over Luciana’s wrist, not wanting to pressure her to do anything at all she didn’t want to do. “I won't hurt you.”
“I know you won't.” Her eyes finally found Sam’s. Dull. Lifeless. Pained. “You've never hurt me.”
“And I never would…” Sam slowly lifted the cuff, sliding it up Luciana’s arm. Deep purple marks wrapped around her wrist, and as Sam glanced up at her, Luciana closed her eyes. “Look at me,” Sam said, curling her fingertips under her chin. “Please?”
Luciana’s eyes opened, glistening with unshed tears.
“Did she do this to you?”
Luciana simply nodded.
“What else did she do?” Sam’s heart ached in her chest, but she also felt her anger rising from deep within. Her eyes landed on more bruising, this time around Luciana’s neck. “Oh, God,” Sam gasped. “S-She choked you?”
“That was before we’d even left here.” Luciana offered a small smile. “I called you after she’d done it.”
“Fuck,” Sam muttered under her breath. “This is my fault. I didn’t come to you, and this happened.”
“No, don’t blame yourself.” Luciana squeezed Sam’s hand. The thought of Sam condemning herself broke her heart; Luciana knew this was her own fault. “This is all on me. I never should have gotten involved with her. I should have stood up to her.”
“Whether you choose to stand up to someone or not, it doesn’t mean you deserve this. It doesn’t mean she has any fucking right to lay a finger on you.” Sam climbed to her feet, pacing the floor in front of the fireplace. “I’ll fucking kill her.”
“Sam, I'm okay.”
“Get a bag ready.” She stopped dead. “You’re staying with me.”
“You don’t have to do that. I don’t want to involve you in any of this.”
“Is that why you told me you didn’t want to do this anymore? With me?” Sam dropped to her knees in front of Luciana, cupping her face gently. “Is this why you said it wasn’t a good idea?”
“You have to know that I don’t want to let you go, Sam. But it is for the best.”
“No.” Sam’s own tears fell. “No. I’ve only just found you… I'm not letting you go. Not like this.”
“You can.” Luciana turned her face, kissing the palm of Sam’s hand. “You’re amazing. Everything I could ever want…but my life is only going to bring you trouble and I wouldn’t put you through that. You've been through enough.”
“Let me help you, Luciana,” Sam begged. “If at the end of this, you don’t want to be with me, I’ll walk away. But, please, let me help you.”
“She still doesn’t know about you.”
“All the more reason for you to come home with me.”
“I’m in pain,” Luciana whispered, her eyes closing. “Everywhere.”
“Come here.” Sam climbed from her knees and took a seat beside Luciana. “At least let me hug you.”
“God, I want that…” She winced. “But…my back.”
Another wave of sadness coursed through Sam. Before this week was out, she would step over Janet’s cold, dead body.
“Okay, let’s get out of here.” Sam stood up, straightening herself out. “We will get you back to mine, get you cleaned up, and then call the police.”
“No! No police.” Luciana shook her head, her tone adamant. “Please, no police.”
“I think you're making a mistake not calling them.” Sam sighed. “They should really know.”
“I was an escort, Sam.” Luciana looked up at her, laughing. “Do you really think they will believe a word I say when I tell them my client tied me up and beat me?”
Sam’s blood ran cold.
“Seriously? Do you think they will give a shit?”
“You have to try…” Sam ran her fingers through her hair. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“No. I just want to forget about it and pray I never see her again.”
“And if you do see her again?” Sam’s eyebrow rose. “If she comes here and does the same thing?”
“I’ll look for somewhere else to live. I’ll go back home to my parents. I used to commute to the station, I can do it again.”
“You’d leave the city?”
“If it meant I didn’t have to see her again, yes.” Sam imagined the prospect of not seeing Luciana anymore, not partial to that possibility. However, this was Luciana’s decision and she wouldn’t force any of her own ideas on her. “What are you thinking?”
; “Me?” Sam smiled faintly. “About how much I'm going to miss you…”
“I’m sure you won't.” Luciana slowly got to her feet. “Like you said, you only wanted dinner and conversation. You’ll forget I ever existed soon enough.”
“No,” Sam whispered as she shook her head. “I couldn’t ever forget about you.”
“That makes me feel a little better.”
“Is there anything I can do while you're still here? I’d like to think I could make you stay…but only you know what you want.”
Luciana’s eyes brightened. She wasn’t used to hearing those words from another woman, and after tonight, she hadn’t expected them from Sam. How could she be so calm with her? After she’d openly admitted to sleeping with another woman, how could Sam even give her the opportunity to explain herself? Because she’s different than the rest, Luciana thought. She always was.
“Can I stay with you tonight?”
“Of course.” Sam smiled, wrapping her arms around her own body. “Whatever you need.”
I need you, but this is a fucking mess, Luciana inwardly scolded herself, a slight relaxation settling in her shoulders.
“I’ll just get some clothes together. Would you mind waiting?”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Sixteen
Sam sat in the window of her living room, her huge slouch chair enveloping her, comforting her. Last night played over in her mind, but she didn’t know where to begin. What she wanted was to find Janet and make her disappear, but logically and realistically, it wasn’t her business. Luciana chose not to tell Janet about their relationship, and she had to respect that. Her hope for this morning was that she could get Luciana to open up about what happened last night, but as with meeting at her flat, she wouldn’t push her. If Luciana wanted to talk in her own time, Sam would be here waiting.
Her phone buzzed beside her, Lindsay’s name on the screen.
“Hey,” Sam breathed out. “You okay?”
“Haven’t seen you for a few days…”
“I know, I've been busy.” Sam’s eyes focused on the river, the bright blue sky doing nothing for her mood. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Lindsay replied. “Did you want to meet for lunch today? Or I can come to the office…”
“I’ve cancelled my plans for the day,” Sam said. “I have some other things to deal with that don’t require being at the office.”
“Oh, like what?”
“Nothing for you to worry about.” Sam knew Lindsay was digging, but it was a waste of time. “Nothing for anyone to worry about.”
“Mm, why don’t I believe you?”
“I don’t know. That’s something you’ll have to deal with yourself.” Sam shrugged, hearing movement in the kitchen. “Can I call you later?”
“I suppose so.” Lindsay sighed. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.” Sam smiled. “I’ll have lunch with you tomorrow, I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“I promise. Bye, Linds.”
“Bye, Sam.”
She glanced back over her shoulder. Luciana appeared to be moving with a little more ease this morning. Sam didn’t know the extent of her pain, or her injuries, but the thought of it made her stomach churn. How could anyone lay their hands on another woman? Someone they supposedly cared about? Sam was dumbfounded, she truly was.
“Can I get you some coffee?” Sam asked, not moving from her seat.
“I’m okay with water, thanks.” Luciana rounded the counter with a glass of water and took a seat on the couch. “Did you sleep okay?”
“Could have been better…”
“Sorry about that,” Luciana said, her eyes lowering. “What time are you leaving for the office?”
“I’m not.” Sam faced her fully. “And I didn’t sleep last night because I wanted you beside me.”
It seemed the right thing to do last night when she offered Luciana her spare room, but once she climbed into bed alone, Sam regretted it. She knew Luciana needed space and that this wasn’t about her own needs, but the last couple of days had been pleasant having her here, happy and enjoying one another’s company.
“I am sorry that you got hurt, though.”
“I didn’t get hurt.” Sam frowned. “You did, not me.”
“I still slept with her, Sam.”
“I’m not interested in that, I'm really not.” Sam held up her hand. “But did you want to talk about what happened?”
“I don’t know.” She pushed her blonde hair from her face. “She’s never been like that before. She was always dominating, more so in the last few months I spent time with her, but last night wasn’t the same. It was violent.”
Sam chose to remain silent, allowing Luciana as much time as she needed.
“She always told me that her interpretation of that life was the way it was supposed to be. I knew it wasn’t. I mean, I have friends who are into BDSM, and it’s fascinating. It’s nothing like what Janet practices. Nothing.”
“I don’t know much about it, but I do know that it doesn’t result in this,” Sam said.
“It all changed about a year into our escort/client relationship. Before then, Janet had been perfect. In every sense of the word. Then she insisted we try something different. At first, it was just a little bondage. Sometimes a blindfold. It was quite enjoyable.” Luciana side-glanced Sam, noting the shudder that travelled through her body. “We don’t have to talk about this.”
“No, please continue.” Sam gripped her coffee cup, determined to be here for Luciana.
“That went on for a few months, and then she introduced other stuff. Things I didn’t want to be involved in.” Luciana chose not to go into too much detail. It wasn’t needed and she wasn’t sure she wanted to go over it again. “Then, once it got too full-on for me, I spoke to her about it. Explained that I wasn’t willing to go any further with her if she continued to want what she was asking.”
“That seems like a reasonable request.”
“She didn’t like that. She said we’d been meeting for long enough and I should be able to trust her. One night, she booked me for dinner. She seemed different, closed off. I didn’t complain; I was happy she didn’t want me to go back to her place with her.”
“I’ll bet you were…”
“She said she would call the next time she wanted to book me. I didn’t hear from her again.”
“Until this week?” Sam asked.
“Until this week…” Luciana breathed out. “Last night though, I saw the evil in her eyes.”
“What did she do?” Sam shifted closer, taking Luciana’s hand. “You don’t have to go into every detail, but I want you to talk about this with me.” If Luciana wouldn’t call the police, Sam needed her to open up in the confines of her home. She would always be safe here.
“She showed up at my door. Said she found me through one of the girls at the agency.”
“Do you know which one?”
“No, and I don’t care.” Luciana sighed, the tension releasing slowly from her shoulders as Sam stroked her thumb over her knuckles. “She told me to get ready, that we had plans. I already had plans with you but she wasn’t interested that I was already busy.”
“Janet is a very demanding woman,” Sam agreed.
“You don’t have to convince me.” Luciana snorted, a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “She didn’t like how I spoke to her and that’s when she choked me. Then I received a smack for it, too.”
“I’m sorry.” Sam’s voice broke. “I should have been there for you.”
“I knew I shouldn’t call you, that you were busy with meetings, but I just wanted to hear your voice. It calmed me, but once we’d been out to dinner, she took me back to her place and that’s when this happened.” Luciana stood up and lifted her T-shirt from her body. As she turned around, she prepared for the gasp from Sam but it never came. Instead
, she heard sobs.
Sam couldn’t comprehend what she was seeing. Deep bruising consistent with a whip plagued Luciana’s back, her beautiful body hurting. This was far too much. Sam felt a heat rising through her, an anger she’d never felt before. She couldn’t allow it to boil over, so she closed her eyes and released a deep breath.
“I have them on my legs too, but they’re not as bad.”
“Not as bad…” Sam whispered. “This couldn’t be any worse.”
“I just lay there and took it. Like I was supposed to.” Luciana sat back down beside Sam, slipping her T-shirt back over her body. “I didn’t want to do this with her, Sam. Please, you have to believe that. She didn’t touch me, not like that. I had to pleasure her.”
Sam took her hand and lifted it, pressing a kiss to her skin. “We’re okay, I promise.”
“How? How can we possibly be okay?”
“She won't hurt you ever again. I won't let her.”
“I’m not sure even you can stop her.”
“You underestimate me, beautiful.” Sam pressed the palm of her hand against Luciana’s cheek. “Trust me, okay?”
“I’ve always trusted you.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to stop this.” Sam held Luciana’s face. “That won't happen again.”
“I don’t want to leave the city,” Luciana admitted. “But I don’t know what else to do.”
“Stay here with me. I’ll keep you safe.”
“This isn’t your problem.” Luciana smiled softly. “As much as I appreciate it, you have a business to run. Not to be here looking after me.”
“I won't be here looking after you. You’re strong enough in yourself to do that, but I won't ever not be available for you again.”
“You were doing your job,” Luciana said. “You didn’t intentionally leave me to get myself into this mess.”
“Still, having you in my life… I have new priorities.”
“I don’t follow…”
“I want to make us exclusive.” Sam smiled, running her thumb beneath Luciana’s eye and catching a tear as it fell. “I want to call you mine.”
“Yeah?”
“Mmhmm.” Sam leaned in, pressing her lips to Luciana’s. “If you want that, too?”
The Arrangement Page 17