Thorneless (Rose of Thorne Series) (5 page)

Five Months Later

Skylar

I
stand out on the balcony and peer out at the beautiful lights of Monte Carlo at night while I secure my earring into my lobe.  It’s been five long months since I found the envelope from him, yet it still sits unopened in my suitcase. I don’t know why exactly I brought the letter along with me, but the thought of being thousands of miles away from his last words to me is completely unbearable.  Although I still haven’t worked up enough courage to open it, I find comfort in knowing that it’s with me when I’m ready. Of course right now, I don’t know when or if that’ll ever happen.  

Once I had recovered from my one and only hangover, Lucas made arrangements for us to begin our travels.
 So far we have done everything from skiing in Switzerland to dancing in the streets of Spain.   With each place came a new adventure and new amazing memories to go along with it.  My birthday and the holidays all went by in one big blur. I’m more thankful to him for that than he’ll ever possibly know.  I miss my sister dearly, and even though we Skype as much as we can, it isn’t the same as being able to actually hug her. From our past conversations, I know that something is going on with her and Rylan—I can feel it.  She assures me they’re fine, but I remain unconvinced. I had worried that the long distance relationship may have taken a toll on them. I hope she can come to visit us soon when we are back in the States. Maybe then I can get her to open up and be honest with me.

I had picked up some freelance jobs and have just finished
a project for my first big client, Kingston Gilbert, from London. My design of their new company logo will be formally revealed at an event in about a month. I don’t know who’s more excited about that, Lucas or me.  Since I am Lucas’ personal assistant, I work closely with him every day. Even working in close proximity with each other, he remains the perfect gentlemen and hasn’t once tried to blur the lines of our friendship. Part of me secretly wishes that he’ll push them and the other part of me wants nothing to do with taking a chance on getting hurt again.

Staring
down at the envelope in my hands, my chest immediately starts to pound.  Sebastian still has a hold on me regardless of my desperation to be free from him.  Right now I should just put myself out my misery and see whatever is inside, but instead I slide it back into the side zipper of my satchel and try to steady my erratic breathing.
Why do I torture myself like this?

The buzz of my phone brings me out of my thoughts and I can’t help but grin when I see Lucas’ smiling face come up on my screen. Just the sight of him makes everything in me relax.
How does he do that?

“Hey
, gorgeous! I just came downstairs. I’ll be waiting on you in the lobby when you’re ready,” he says sweetly over the phone. His voice rushes over me and leaves me with goose bumps.

“I’m almost ready. Give me just a few minutes and I’ll be right down,” I tell him as I grab my clutch and slide my feet into my new Louis Vuitton stilettos that he bought me.
 Before I make my way downstairs, I check my reflection in the mirror once more and drop the lip gloss and room key into my purse. I hope I look all right, I don’t even recognize myself tonight.

While
I have attended many of these events since coming to work for Lucas, this event will be much more formal than the others that I have accompanied him to.  I wasn’t certain what to wear tonight and had spent most of our flight to Monaco contemplating if I needed to go shopping once we arrived.

As if he had read my mind, a huge box and garment bag had been waiting for me in my hotel suite when we arrived. Inside the bag was a beautiful long red silk dress by a famous European fashion designer.
 
Damn, this man has exquisite taste!   
 

I can’t help but chuckle at the note he had attached to the dress because he knows that I would protest to this kindness.
 

No argume
nts! I bought the dress for me, gorgeous.

Lobby. 7 pm
.

-L

The dress fits as if it had been custom made for me and I don’t know how that’s possible, especially with my curvy figure.  The red strapless number tightly clings to my every curve, exposing my back as it scooped down extraordinarily low on my waist. So low, in fact that it almost exposed my now silver faded scar. I had styled my hair putting it up with diamond pins and allowed my deep curls to fall to one side.  Smokey eyes and lipstick the same shade of deep red as the dress I am wearing completed the look.

As the glass elevator makes its way down, I peer down below at the busy lobby. Even though Lucas’ back is to me, I spot him immediately in the crowd of people.
 He’s talking to several other men who also wore tuxes and are facing me. Judging by the smile on their faces, they find my appearance pleasing.  Turning to see what has captured their attention, Lucas’s emerald eyes find mine through the glass elevator wall.  Our eyes lock in an intense hold as he watches me make my way to the ground level.  I can’t help but sense there’s something very different in his gaze tonight.  This look is filled with desire and admiration. His eyes slowly roam my body as the elevator begins to halt. He beams as he greets me at the door with an arm extended. Once I place my arm in his, he brings me close to him and it causes me to lose my breath.

“Skylar, you look absolutely . . . breathtaking,” he whispers in my ear. I smile and feel the blush fill my cheeks.
 He takes my hand and he leads me to the group of smiling men. I could feel him tense at their reaction to me and he immediately pulls me into him, possessively wrapping his hand around my waist.  After he makes the proper introductions, Lucas entwines his hand in mine and leads me to the waiting car.

Never letting go of my hand, he gently caresses my fingers as he quietly stares out the window beside him.
Something about him is so different tonight.
The ride to the event is unexpectedly short.  When we pull up to the tall old building, there’s a massive crowd of people standing near the front entrance. Lucas slides out of the car first and holds tightly onto my hand as I step out onto the red-carpeted entry.  Flashes of light flood the air around us as he pulls me close to him and leads me down the long press walk.  Since he’s usually a VIP attendee, I have grown accustomed to him being photographed while we’re at these kinds of affairs.  He had always laughed when I ducked to the side allowing him to pose for these pictures alone, but tonight he doesn’t do that. Instead of allowing me to walk off, I’m startled when he keeps me close into his side and holds me there. The cameras come to life all around us and photographers urge us to look their way. My body stiffens and I try to follow their direction because I certainly don’t want to embarrass Lucas. I feel his hand as it rubs my hip gently and tries to urge me to relax. When I dare glance up at him, Lucas smiles down adoringly and I can’t ignore how his stare affects me.

Ever since the first time I’d met him, I couldn’t deny the attraction I felt for him.
 His flirtatious and fun personality draws me in along with his Greek God body and gorgeous face. A woman would have to be crazy and blind to not be attracted to that. But Lucas is quite the free spirit and is not the ‘settle down white picket fence and house full of kids’ kind of guy.  He loved beautiful women and what those beautiful women could do for him—if you get my drift. It doesn’t matter where we were; women flocked to him wherever we went.  It‘s obvious that many of the women at these events had more than graced his bed a few times over the years.  It is no secret Mr. Lucas Alexi Drake is quite the international playboy, but he’s now my boss and best friend.  That “best friend” had me starting to feel things that I’m not sure about.  I guess it proves that even I’m not resistant to his powerful charms. The problem is . . . I have to be.

Lucas

She is so fucking gorgeous!
 

Seeing her tonight in that red dress is my complete and utter undoing.
 Hell, even seeing her crying hysterically in pajama bottoms on the floor of an elevator is sexy as fucking hell. I’ve been with plenty of women in my life, but let me tell you, she puts them all to shame.  Never, not once, have I ever felt one ounce of feeling for any woman. That is, until her. This is an emotion that I’m not used to having and, well, I’ll admit, it scares the shit out of me.

At the moment,
I swear I want to rip my business associates throats out at the way they’re checking her out. Maybe I shouldn’t have picked such a sexy dress for her to wear after all.
Perhaps she has a sweater she can wear over it tonight?
 When I make introductions, I possessively hold her close to me. I want these bastards to know she’s MINE, even if she doesn’t realize that yet.

Tonight I couldn’t let go o
f her hand.  It was as if it was as natural as breathing to be touching her.  The entire ride to the event, I couldn’t help but savor the silky feel of her warm skin.  Her close proximity always makes me fight to control my desires.  For five months I’ve held back, but after tonight . . . well, let’s just say I don’t plan on fighting it for much longer.

When I laid eyes on her almost a year ago,
I thought I’d literally seen an angel.  I smile as I remember her hitting the hood of my car and the rush of panic I had felt. There was no way I could’ve prepared myself for what I saw when I reached her. Eyes the color of the clearest sea opened to take me in, and I’ve never been the same since.  I had no problem with the ladies, but at that moment, I swear I lost every bit of control of my body.  Hell, honestly, she made me forget my own name.

Even after learning hers
, she became forever “gorgeous” to me.  When I left the bakery with her number, I couldn’t wait two minutes before I texted to tease her about enjoying her “orgasms”.  Even as I watched her beautiful face through the window from across the street, she held my heart captive.  I don’t really think I ever got it back.  I remember the thoughts and emotions that I’d been feeling the weeks following meeting her that night.  Simply said, when it comes to her, I’m worse than a lovesick teenage boy.

Making matters completely worse is the immense attraction Sebastian Thorne h
as for her.  Sebastian and I have known each other since college and were always friendly rivals, especially when it came to sports and now business.  Thorne Enterprises and Drake Corporation have been working together for almost four years now. I handle virtually all of Thorne’s financial investments.  Yes, Thorne trusts me with his money, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t trust me with his greatest treasure of all . . . her.  

Skylar

After gulping down my third glass of Cristal, I wait for the effects to kick in.  I’ve been here now for a mere twenty minutes and already I’m a nervous wreck. Lucas has introduced me to so many different men and women this evening that I’ve lost count.  Tonight, the introductions are very different.  From the moment we arrived in Monte Carlo, it’s as if I’m not really his assistant, but something much more personal.  

I think I’m most nervous about meeting Tomas and CeCe Depreve, who are Lucas’ best friends. Tomas is in charge of the Monaco
office for Drake Corporation and CeCe is a renowned artist.  I didn’t know exactly how well they’ll like me since they have been led to believe that I had broken Lucas’ heart all those months ago.  

The champagne had more than worked its way into my system and my bladder was feeling the pain
in this tight dress. After excusing myself, I head to the ladies room.  Lucas wanted to escort me to the doors, but I decline. I need a breather from all of this around me and I certainly could manage my way to the restroom.

After I wash my hands, I head to sit in the large powder room just off the ladies restroom.
 Several very attractive ladies who I ‘d seen shoot daggers at me earlier, give me the cold shoulder and giggle as they stand to leave.  I know enough French to understand that they certainly weren’t happy about me being here with Lucas tonight.  One even turned back to call me a desperate plain bitch before she exited the room.

Trying to compose myself from their unkind words, I sit down on the padded bench and begin reapplying my lipstick and smoothing my curls.
 I think I’m alone so I just sit there and stare back into the mirror.  
Who is this girl?
 I certainly don’t recognize her, nor do I know who she is anymore.  I’m lost. I’m afraid. I’m broken.  My eyes are proof of all of that and there’s no way I can hide it.  CeCe and Tomas would surely see through all of this and wonder what in the world Lucas would have ever seen in me.  I’m a nobody trying to live in a somebody world. There’s no way I’ll ever be worthy of anyone’s love again.  Maybe the girl is right.  Maybe I’m desperate and that’s why Lucas keeps me nearby because he feels sorry for me.

Standing before the sink once more,
I close my eyes and grip the countertop in front of me.  
I will not cry. I will not cry.
No matter how hard I try, it isn’t possible to stop the few tears that manage to escape.  I bury my face in my hands and allow the pain free reign.  I hate this part. He made me this way. Sebastian just won’t leave my head or my heart.

Cool soft hands press down gently on my shoulders and startle me out of my emotional state.
 When I lift my head, I lock eyes with a tall beautiful woman that looks like she just stepped off a fashion runway.  Her silky straight jet black hair spills freely down her pale shoulders all the way down to her midnight blue gown. Her eyes are as dark as coal and her lips are as red as the roses that adorned the main hall outside.  She is draped in jewels and although she looks like she’s some sort of royalty, her eyes are as genuine and pure as anyone I have met in a very long time.  

Those
eyes show concern when she sees my face, but her smile soothes me.  She leads me back to the padded bench, sits beside me and opens her small purse, removes a silk handkerchief and turns to face me.  She’s yet to speak and I’m quite humiliated that someone has found me like this.  There’s no way I can go back out there—not after this.

She extends her hand,
lifts my chin to face her, and begins gently patting and wiping underneath my eyes. I don’t know why, but I let her continue. She doesn’t seem to care that she’s ruining her beautiful handkerchief, but it makes me feel guilty.  Then she speaks and her accent is very prevalent.

“You know I’ve been waiting a very long time to meet you and I must say that Lucas’ wasn’t exaggerating w
hen he spoke of your eyes.  I’m sure they’re much more beautiful when you’re not crying.  Are you alright, sweetie?”

“Um . . . thank you. How do you know Lucas?” I ask and prepare myself for another introduction of a former fuck-a pade. As stunning as she is, I’m sure they have hit the sheets a few times.

“I’m sorry darling. We haven’t met yet.  I’m CeCe Depreve.  I’ve been waiting a long time to meet the person who swept the infamous Lucas Drake off his feet.”

This is so not the way I pictured our introduction.
“Oh, well we aren’t together anymore, but I’m sure you already know that.  Lucas and I are just really good friends now,” I say and try to make my words believable, even though I was beginning to doubt them now myself.

“Skylar, I’ve known that man for a long time now and whether you are willing to admit it or not, you two are definitely more than friends. I’ve watched the two of you all night and there’s no denying that fact my dear. Lucas Drake has
eyes for no one but you.”

“CeCe, it really is a pleasure to meet you and all, but I really think you’re mistaken.
 I attend these kinds of things with him all the time and we’re just business associates. Besides, I’m sure most of the women here will be on him like vultures. They usually are and I just stay off to the side.  So, contrary to what you may believe, Lucas is still the same very happily single playboy he’s always been.”

She smiles at me and then waves her purse up at me.

“Let’s get you fixed up, shall we?” She offers and opens her purse to remove some makeup.  She dabs a little bit on her finger and begins covering the areas where my mascara is smeared.

Doesn’t this woman get it?
 Lucas knows I’m not interested and I know he loves the attention from the ladies.
 When CeCe is done, she pats a bit of powder on my cheeks and places her items back into her small clasp purse.  She looks down and then reaches for my hand that’s resting in my lap.

“Skylar, I know you don’t know me, but I’d like to share something with you. Before I met Tomas, I had been madly in love with my fiancée Raul.
 Jus when we were to wed, I caught him and another woman in our bed.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry! That’s awful!” I reply.

“Thing is, it never even bothered him that I walked in. He just stared back at me and kept pounding into the slut.  He never loved me. He only wanted my family’s money.  The cheating went on from day one, so I basically lost trust in all men. I swore I would never love again. This has happened to you, no?”

I nod and look back down before replying, “It hurts too much and I’m not willing to risk that again.”

“That’s how I felt until I met my husband. When I met Tomas, let’s just say he and Lucas were both all about chasing the women.  The man who owned the gallery I did my first show at, had been both friends and clients of Lucas’.  I was presenting my first exhibit downtown and Lucas had brought Tomas along with him, no doubt scoping for women.  Tomas had been quite the charmer and kept trying to get me to go back to his place, but I did something he wasn’t expecting. I told him I wasn’t interested,” she says as she begins laughing.

I smile at her and continue listening to her tell her story.

“You should’ve seen his face when I told him, ‘No, thank you’. It was priceless.  I figured he would go home with one of the many women that were fawning over him, but he didn’t.  Instead, he hung around until after everyone had left.  We talked and talked for hours and then he kissed me.  It was magical and so powerful that we both felt it. It scared the hell out of me and I pushed him away and ran.  I couldn’t let myself lose control to another man. In my mind, they all were cheaters and liars, plus I had already seen him in action.  I knew I’d be just another girl in the sack to him.”

“What made you change your mind?” I ask, intrigued by her personal story.

“He never gave up on me.  The harder I pushed him away, the harder he pushed back. For months, all he did was prove to me that he only wanted me and begged me to give us a chance.  Then one day, I pushed him too far and I almost lost him,” she says as her face drops.  I can see the pain in her eyes from the thought of losing him. “I love him more than anything in this world—he is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I almost lost him, all because I believed he would break my heart like my fiancée had.”  She was silent a moment as she studied me. “I know Lucas has a past, honey, but we all do.  That man loves you more than you’ll ever know.  Don’t punish him for loving you. Love him back with all your heart. You deserve to be happy again, Skylar. Let him be your happiness.”

Her words hit me hard. I needed to hear this
—I can relate to this girl.  She knows how scared I am because she has been there too.  Come to think of it, Lucas hadn’t brought anyone back to his room the whole time we’d been away from Austin.  Sometimes he would even check on me before he went to bed—so does he sneak them in later? Could it be true? Could he really still love me? Had he really not been with anyone in the entire five months we’ve been gone?

I’m still trying to process it all in my head when she urges me up to stand.

“Come now.  We mustn’t keep our men waiting. I’m sure Lucas is going crazy with worry. Let’s go shall we?” she says and I hesitantly smile and nod.

Once we’re back out into the open, I spot the two women that had been so nasty to me earlier standing near Lucas and another handsome tall man I assume to be Tomas.
 I feel CeCe’s hand tighten around mine and then she does something I hadn’t been expecting . . . she pulls me over to them.   Lucas looks relieved to see me and not at all amused with the two girls that continue vying for his attention.

“Bonjour
, CeCe!” The tallest brunette spoke first with a fake smile on her face.  She slid her hand down Lucas’ arm and smirked at me. Lucas drew back his arm and moved away to bring me up against him.

“Cut the shit, Sasha. First of all, don’t ever show your face at another one of my events or so help me I will give you a real reason to visit that plastic surgeon of yours.
 Just so you know Botox for blowjobs isn’t paying off, sweetie. You and skank number two have exactly two minutes to exit this party gracefully, before I have you very ungracefully thrown out on your asses!” CeCe barked out and her husband proudly smiles and puts his arms around her waist.  

“What? You wouldn’t dare!” Sasha roars and CeCe raises her hand to the man in the corner who is speaking into a device in his ear.

“
Oui, madame
!” The man says and then CeCe gives him orders to remove the ladies from the building.  

Sasha screams and turns to face me. She calls me a few ch
oice words and says I would always be worthless to him. I thought Lucas was about to rip her head off when I gathered my courage inside and spoke.

“
Avoir une bonne nuit, chienne!
Have a good night bitch!”
I say and CeCe throws her head back and laughs.

“Oh
, I
love
this girl, Lucas!!” She says and Lucas whispers something in my ear.

“Yes, she’s easy to love isn’t she?”

Those words change everything in my already upside down world.