Unbeautifully Loved (Breathe Again) (33 page)

“Lex, you don’t have to finish,” Lukas said his voice tight.

Yes I did.

I ignored his comment and went on. “I thought when his hands moved away that he was done, and I was going to be okay. But I guess he saw the relief because his arm drew back and came down on me a few times. Dex may look like he can’t throw a mean punch but believe me; looks are deceiving when it comes to him. All that over a stupid, fucking bottle of laundry soap,” I said hiccupping a bitter laugh.

Laundry soap to wash his
fucking
clothes.

“I must have blacked out because when I came to Mollie was there cleaning me up. It was bad; I looked like
Sylvester Stallone
at the end of
Rocky Two
– swollen eye and all. It was there in my bathroom when the decision was made. I looked back at Mollie, neither of us said a word, she knew what I was saying and I knew we weren’t leaving alone. It didn’t take long. Dex’s birthday was coming up and he was occupied with that, running his crew and partying. We knew the house was being watched but that day we somehow got lucky,” I said with a small smile, remembering that day and how it felt as if fate was giving me a sign to get out.

“It was raining and snowing, so when Molls came by and parked in the garage it didn’t look strange. We didn’t take much, just enough clothing and some things for Finn; things we couldn’t leave without. Then we were gone, leaving everything else behind. Mollie made us hide in the back seat until we got to her place in case we were followed. We switched vehicles then we hit the road and were out of Kingston in the matter of forty-five minutes.” I finished, wiping the tears from my face as I looked at Lukas who was just sitting in his spot on the couch, unmoving and looking nowhere but straight ahead.

“We’ve been to five different places Lukas. Camden is our sixth. Dex got close the first place but every place after that was nothing but paranoia, so we got another vehicle just in case. That’s it, that’s Dex Davis. He’s my son of a bitch ex and Finn’s father who right now is currently looking for me because I left him. He knows him having Finn would destroy me so that’s the only reason he wants us back– because it’s a game, a sick game to him. He’s never cared about Finn, only sees him as a piece in his game of putting me through hell. That’s his prize and he’ll stop at nothing until he wins.” I wiped my tears away with my shaky hands before I slid the blanket off my shoulders and placed it across the couch.

Lukas hadn’t looked at me or said anything and I couldn’t stand there any longer. I started across the room to the door we came in but I didn’t make it two steps before Lukas stopped me. Turning me so we were chest to chest, his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me as close as he could and held me. I tried to resist him but the more I did the tighter his embrace turned.

He didn’t say or do anything except hold me like he was never going to let me go.

“I got you Lexie, nothing’s ever going to happen to you again, I promise.” At his words I slumped into him, my check pressing against his chest and my arms circled around him tightly as I started to shake with uncontrollable sobs as tears poured down my cheeks.

Lukas held me tight as I cried. There was a huge part of me that felt relief to finally have everything out in the open, the weight finally lifted.

“Baby,” Lukas’ velvety rough voice said.

“Hmm,” I mumbled into his chest, my eyes resting closed as my tears had finally subsided.

“Dex isn’t your worry anymore, you hear. I’m taking care of it and I’m taking care of you and Finn, this shit is over and no longer something you need to worry about.”

What? No, that’s the last thing I wanted him to do.

I pulled my head back and looked up at him. “No, Lukas no, you aren’t getting involved, it’s too dangerous, Dex is too dangerous.” I hesitated, “Finn and I should just leave–”

“The hell you are,” he spat, cutting me off. “You and Finn aren’t going anywhere. You haven’t got it through that stubborn head of yours but you’re mine Lex and I’m not letting you go. Fight it all you want baby, but what’s between us is real, and you’re here with me; same with Finn.” He said his voice hoarse, continuing before I could say anything. “What you and dipshit had wasn’t normal, that’s not how a man treats a woman and I’m going to show you what it’s like to be treated right until it sinks in to that gorgeous, stubborn as hell head of yours; I don’t care how long it takes.” His hand came up from around my waist as he brushed away the fresh tears that fell then cupped his hand gently around my cheek; softly stroking his thumb across it.

“He’s coming for us Lukas,” I said my voice in a low whisper.

He stood taller. “I know,” he said his sultry grey eyes never leaving mine.

“Of course you do.”

He grinned. “Need to make a call, make yourself at home then we’ll order some food after.”

“Okay.” I said nodding.

“You’re not gonna take off?” he asked hopefully, hesitating before leaving the room.

The thought to take off hadn’t even crossed my mind.

For once I was right where I wanted to be. I didn’t want to push him away anymore, I didn’t want to fight him off, and I wanted to be in the moment with him. The feeling was profound. Especially after having spent the last few weeks pushing and fighting my feelings away, while trying to ignore something that was now impossible to do. I believed him, without a doubt, when he said he wasn’t going to let me go, that he was going to keep us safe.

I believed every word he spoke; there was no pushing away this time; not anymore.

“No,” I shook my head, “I’m not going anywhere.” I softly smiled then reached up and kissed his lips softly.

“Good,” his velvety voice said before he stepped around me and walked down the hall.

I could hear Lukas’ muffled voice as he talked on the phone. I walked over and curled up on his couch, my eyes feeling heavy and my body exhausted. Before I knew it my eyes were closing as my body relaxed and sleep took over.

I awoke in Lukas’ bedroom. The room was dark with only the faint light from the hallway coming under the door. Throwing the covers back I climbed out of bed and made my way across the cool hardwood floor and quietly opened the door. I walked down to the living room and saw the flickering of the television as it bounced across the walls and Lukas sitting back on the couch with his feet up on the coffee table and beer in his hand.

He looked different. I don’t know what it was but there was something about him that looked different, almost as if a weight had also been lifted from him.

“Hi,” I said softly and his head turned in my direction.

He grinned, “You sleep okay Peaches?”

“Yeah,” I motioned my head in the direction of his room, “your bed’s comfortable.”

“Come here,” Lukas said then leaned to the side and set his beer on the table.

“First, let me call Mollie and check on Finn. I want to make sure everything’s ok.”

“Already done. I went over and saw them while you were sleeping. Told ‘em you and me needed some time to get this shit sorted out. Mollie was extremely happy and more than willing to help out with Finn so no need to worry about that baby. She’s gonna put him in for a bath before he heads to bed. I told him you would see him in the morning and that you love him.”

Oh. Wow. Well, alright then, time to get the rest of this over with.

“Thanks baby, I appreciate that.” I crossed my arms over my chest, “Lukas there’s something I need to tell you,” I said looking at my feet nervously.

He was not going to be happy about what I had to tell him.

He was going to be pissed.

He leaned forward, his arms over his legs, and his hands dangling in the middle. “Shit.” He grumbled. “If this is you about to tell me you’re still leaving town, then you didn’t hear a fuckin’ word I said earlier Lexie,” he shook his head irritated.

“What? No Lukas, it’s not that, it’s about...” I paused biting my lip avoiding eye contact with him but I could feel him watching me.

“It’s about what Lex?” he questioned. “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.”

“You remember the flowers I was getting, right?” I asked shifting my weight from one side to the other.

“Yeah,” his brows knitted together, “what’s this about, they stopped didn’t they?”

“They did... the flowers stopped but I’ve got other things. Well only one thing, well okay two things in one box twice. Does that make sense, sounds confusing to me–”

“Lexie,”

“Sorry,” I said looking at him, biting my lip. He didn’t look too pleased.

“What about the boxes,” he said standing to his feet; his eyes were slowly darkening as they bored into mine and I watched his frame stiffen.

“The first one I found late Sunday night when I took the trash out. It was on the porch, shiny black wrapping paper and a card. Inside was a bottle of my favorite wine and chocolates. I freaked out and tossed it all in the trash; card included. Then Monday, when I said I left work because I wasn’t feeling well, that was a lie. Truth is when Erik stopped by he found another box sitting outside the bar; same as the one before,” I said.

Lukas ran his hands through his hair. “What’d the cards say?”

I knew this wasn’t gonna be good as I tried to swallow the nerves. “First card said ‘soon’ and the second said ‘not much longer’.”

His head tilted back and he looked at the ceiling, agitated and unhappy. “Christ Lex, why the hell didn’t–”

“There’s more,” I blurted out loudly, cutting him off. “I’ve noticed things missing from my room. Personal things that I can’t find anywhere, like my cross I asked you about and a few other things,” I told him.

“You should have told me Lex,” he grumbled softly.

“I know but Lukas, I’m not finished.”

“What else?”

“I’ve felt like someone’s been watching me, since I was attacked. At first I brushed it off as being paranoid but I know it’s not that, I can feel someone watching me almost every time I leave the house, whether I’m with you or Mollie or alone. I can feel it and I know it’s not just me being paranoid,” I rushed out, feeling anxious but for a first time in a long time, weightless.

Everything was out and Lukas knew.

“Fuck.” He snapped. “Why didn’t you tell me about any of this?”

“I thought if I ignored it and tossed everything then whoever was sending it would get the hint and stop.” I shrugged my shoulders innocently. “What else was I supposed to do, accept the gifts from some crazy stalker and wave while I do it?”

“You should have
told
me,” he turned around and snatching his phone off the coffee table. “Christ,” he said under his breath putting his phone to his ear.

“What are you doing?”

Not that I expected an answer from him.

“Kane,” he rumbled as he walked to the kitchen.

No surprise.

Lukas walked back into the living room not long after, snapping his phone shut. “Why’d you call Kane?” I blurted out, standing up from the couch.

“He’s good at this kinda thing,” Lukas said vaguely.

This kinda thing being stalkers?

“What kinda thing?” I asked as my brows knitting together. “I thought he was bad news or whatever, is he a cop?”

“When it comes to you being near him and no he’s not a cop.” He sighed. “He’s good at finding people quicker and faster than anyone else I know,” he said throwing his phone down on the table. “Usually,”

“And that means what exactly?” I said not following what he was telling me.

Lukas walked towards me and pulled me into his arms. Not saying anything, he swept my hair to the side then started planting soft kisses up my neck, stopping and softly growling in my ear. “Mean’s you have nothing to worry about anymore. Now,” his teeth grazed the bottom of my ear, “I’m gonna take you to my bed, undress you then make love to you all night. ‘Cause baby since I put you in my bed I’ve wanted to be wrapped in your arms, and buried so deep inside you, you’d feel it for days.”

I couldn’t wait.

I ripped Lukas’ shirt off. Buttons flew all over the place as I shoved it down his arms and it fell to the ground. His perfectly sculpted body radiated with heat as I ran my hands over his hard chest and down over his defined abs to the top of his jeans that perfectly showed the deep indents coming out the top. Hurriedly I undid his jeans then pushed them down over his ass until they fell and pooled at his feet.