Luca (I Love the Way You Lie #1) (9 page)

However, it didn’t matter what monikers I put on it. Archer has always been riveted by my old man. He was all in at ten years old. His adulation had only increased since. “I know. I want this. I want this for us. We
need
this.” His tone was almost persuasive. This conversation needed to be neatly tucked away for the time being. After making my decision, I now wanted to focus on the prize in front of me. My days were numbered. I had only days to make a significant impact on Allison…as she had on me.

“Dude, you listening to anything I’ve been saying?” he asked, torching up his joint, smoke billowing from his lips…half dragon…half man. He offered it to me.

I needed to be straight so I shook my head no. “Nah, I’ve got plans.”

He laughed. “Right?! By the way…fuck my parents. They work too hard for what they have. If I’ve learned anything, I learned to enjoy what you have in front of you.”

He was right on that front. “Seriously,” I said dismissively. “I don’t want to be stoned.” I shrugged, walking to my closet. I didn’t have much in the way of a wardrobe here. However, it wasn’t as though I was taking her off the premises. My romantic gestures would have to wait.

“Who’s the chick?” he asked before taking another hit.

“Doesn’t matter.” I blew it off.

A few things about Archer: he was loyal to a fault, but it was bros before hos with him. Neither of us had been in a serious relationship.
Relationship
was typically a word we steered around. Allison would unsettle him. And I couldn’t afford for him to be…unsettled. I’d hang on a bit longer before discussing Allison with him.

“No worries. I’m out. Text me later. I’m stoked you’re out of this shit hole soon.” He shook my hand, his heavy-lidded red eyes smiling back at me. What he didn’t get…this was a reprieve from my family—less…exhausting. I inhaled confidence and exhaled doubt. And committed to it.

Responding in kind, I said, “Dude, we’ll talk soon.” I hugged him in a brotherly way with a slap on the back.

He was in every way blood to me—there from our early years and never passing judgment, despite my parents’ proclivities.

He left without question. My thoughts were on the night ahead and—her. Before today, I was a selfish prick. Any emotion I held was only toward darkness, danger, fire—destruction. The need to feed the darkness that dwelled within. As the fire danced tauntingly in front of my eyes—suffocation, no breathing—I realized sanity was spread too thin. And I was empty. Unstable. Hungry. Broken. Feeding on the fire’s chaos. And living in sin. I was incapable of the intensity of a relationship. Lacked the moral code. But…she grounded me. Took the breath out of me. She is my light. My spark. The need to be her sentinel…her guardian…her everything was suffocating. And it flipped me the fuck out. I shook my head in awe.
So, this is how is happens? Out of fucking nowhere. When least expected,
I thought. I’d fit the pieces of this disturbed puzzle together, deciding I’d bare her cross. Chase her demons. Feed her strength. Burn her with my love. Be her flame.

~~~

I froze just outside her door. My phone in hand, I switched it to vibrate and smiled to myself.
I’m one perverted fucker
, I thought. The air around me crackled with need. Me needing her. Her needing to be filled by me.

The door opened and she gasped. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were here.”

“I belong here,” I stated matter-of-factly.

She nodded, smiling.
I am the devil. You should run
, I wanted to say. She’s too good for me. But I didn’t give a fuck. I’ve already claimed her. She. Is. Mine. “You should grab a sweater. It may be chilly out.”

She blinked once. Twice. Three times. “We can’t leave here.”

“I didn’t say we were leaving the grounds. Did I?” I kept a warm smile on my lips.

I wanted her to feel safe with me. However, my insides were a turbine of need. She’s anything but safe with me. Her saving grace being in the confines of this building. Once outside…she is mine. She did as she was told, saying goodbye to her roommate before closing the door. I wanted to roll my eyes but didn’t. Instead, I grabbed her hand, lacing my fingers between hers. Her eyes flashed to our hands as she tried to hide her smile, but wasn’t very good at it. I decided I liked that. She’s cute to me.

“Would you like coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?” I asked as we continued to walk.

She looked up though her thick eyelashes. “No, thank you. So this is like a real date?”

“Not like. It is.” I glaced at her sideways. Yeah, this wasn’t even close to what I had in mind or wanted. But, time was ticking. I needed her to know she was mine. She swallowed the lump in her throat and then lifted her chin proudly. I almost chuckled to myself.
So, the Lion falls in love with the Lamb
, I thought.

I opened the door to the stairwell and we took the stairs down to the main level. James, the night security guard, was on tonight. I made sure to throw some much-needed cash into his pocket. In return, he’d allow some much-needed alone time with Allison. However, making sure that cock-block Sven was nowhere in sight.

Allison stared up at me as we walked, almost imploring me as to where we were going. I didn’t tell her. My hand was firm and tentative around hers. I squeezed and let the strength of my hand secure any doubt she may have had. She settled imperceptibly and I smiled inwardly. I felt exhilarated. High on the potential of the night.

Finally pushing open the last barrier to my sanity, I nod at James as we walked past.

“Are we supposed to be out here?” she whispered, looking around in the darkness.

“Yes, and no.” I never stopped or broke my pace.

“Umm…well…I…”

“Don’t worry, Allison. You’re safe with me.”
Yeah right
, I thought.

She pulled me to a stop. “That’s not what I’m asking.” She motioned up ahead to the path just before the woods. “I don’t think we should be coming here at night. You know, sneaking around…we’ll get in trouble.” She sighed.

“Number one, you belong right here.” I pulled her flush against my chest, letting her feel that I’m all man, and all about being here with her. “Two, we’re not sneaking around. James knows we’re out here.” My thumb played with her pouty bottom lip that I was aching to bite. “Three, since when do you follow the rules?” I didn’t give her a moment to respond. I just took. I resisted her struggles until she fell limp—submissive. She did. And I wanted to roar and beat my fucking chest in the night air.

She was surprised, flushed, and breathless.
Perfect.
“God…”

“I can live with that. Though, I’d prefer Luca or sir,” I tossed out, joking.
Hardly
. My balls drew up tightly.

She pretended to straighten her clothes. “Yeah, bite me. Not happening. Ha! Sir…” she laughed to herself, but I watched closely as the words rolled off her tongue, past her lips, almost digesting them.

I decided to be patient. I knew they would come.

I grabbed her hand again, leading her down the path to the pond. She was hesitant, but followed. This pleased me. But a knot of dread sank into my stomach.
If someone hurt her, I’ll kill them. Fucking utterly and most definitely kill them,
I thought. Though, I decided not to dwell on it for the time being. I’d have plenty of time to right any wrongs to my Allison.

“Wait.” I held up my finger as I retrieved the green backpack from behind the bush.

“What’s in there?” She craned her neck to look.

I pulled out the comforter from my bed that I had neatly tucked away earlier. With a quick shake, I laid it over the dewy grass along the pond. The moon was high and bright, glistening over the lily pads. Serenity blanketed me, quelling the monster—temporarily. I turned to her, offering my hand.
Trust
, my eyes pleaded.

She placed her hand in mine and paused. “It’s beautiful out here, and yet kind of scary.” She looked around. She was right to be scared, but I didn’t tell her that. I kept
that
to myself.

“I come out here all the time. It’s perfectly safe,” I lied. I rarely came here. This was beautiful—natural. Everything, I’m not. My solace lay within the shadows. My tastes, contrarian. Darkness alit by fire was my beauty. My heart skipped each time flames danced and seethed around me. It was there that I was most at peace—amongst the flickers.

She sat back on her palms, crossing her ankles. My posture was less formal. I sat directly behind her, a leg on either side…caging her in. Her head was now resting on my chest. My lips pressed to the nape of her neck, which had become my new reason for living.
Mark her. Mark her
, I thought. My teeth danced between her neck and shoulder, tasting her—nipping. Her broken, ragged sighs that rang through the air did nothing for the zipper now biting into my swollen cock. I needed to remedy this situation before I exploded.

I pulled her into my lap none too gently. The time, any pleasantries were long gone. I wanted. I needed.

She flushed, feeling my desire for her. Blood flowed to my cock, nearly choking oxygen from my brain. I decided that her being on my lap was no good for speech. So, I laid her next to me.

“This is so odd.” She shook her head.

“Odd?” I asked coolly. I didn’t like the word
odd
. It’s fucked up.

She grabbed my face and pulled me toward hers. “I don’t mean odd in a bad way. What I meant to say is… It’s odd how comfortable I feel with you. Here…in this place of all places. After what happened. I just never expected…” She closed her eyes painfully and I fed upon that fear, giving her all my fervor. My strength. Stroke after stroke after stroke. My tongue worshipped hers, harnessing her pain and turning it into a carnal energy that crackled around us. Her scent filled my lungs. Vanilla, feminine, and utterly seductive—not nearly satisfying my baser needs.

Our kisses broke with her sigh and my growl. I made my way down her breastbone with my tongue in tow. Cupping the undersides of her breasts with my hands, I squeezed them gently, feeling the soft flesh with my fingers. Both begged to be thoroughly worshipped by yours truly. Pinked buds tightened in the night air.
Kill me fucking now,
I thought. She was going to be the death of me. I gently pulled down her bra without fully releasing it, my lips drying with anticipation. I paid equal attention to both—suckling, kneading, pinching, and licking. I ran my hand down the flat of her stomach until I reached her core. Her arching back and whimpers gave me unspoken permission. Fuck. I needed to taste that pussy more than my brain needed oxygen.

I was a calamity of ADD. So many fucking things to taste, I shook my head in disbelief. As I had suspected, her juices soaked through her panties and jeans, and all I could smell was liquid need. My cock throbbed in time. I was doing my best to control my need, and yet without realizing, she was staring up at me like an injured lamb. I stopped. Pain laced with something, I didn’t have a name for.
What kind of a fucking animal am I
, I thought. Her mouth had a wounded look, her lips full and soft. Yet sadness pulled at the corners.

Frozen and sickened by my behavior, I stuttered, “I’m sorry. I…” I pulled the panels of her bra back in place.

Her hand stopped me with a squeeze. “Don’t stop. Please.” Her plea was barely a whisper.

Her tits taunted my eyes and my mouth watered. I swallowed and my cock flinched, all in one pregnant pause. She definitely didn’t have a
don’t stop
face. Her face was one of dread and loathing. Why would she loathe me? I had to admit that she confused me, and that was fucking hard. The energy was still crackling around us. Suddenly, I was consumed by fear. Fear of what? Losing her?

“Please. You don’t know how much I want you right now.” Her small, pink tongue flicked her bottom lip.

My eyes narrowed and the beast stirred. “Then show me,” I dared, pressing my cock into her heat. She bristled under me. And without another word, she pressed her soft lips to mine.
Heaven.
This time, there was no hesitation—only need.
Who, was I to get in the way of her need,
I thought. I wanted to nurture it. Feed it, grow it, and roar in its primal grip over me.