As the door closed behind Helas, she returned her attention to Luka. He tugged on the cuffs weakly and let out a pained groan. Dark, ugly bruises covered his torso, making Alice wince in sympathy. She knelt on the ground in front of him. His eyes weren’t black the way they’d been the last time she’d seen them. His pupils were still dilated, but he looked slightly more aware than he had yesterday. He let his gaze roam over her hungrily.
His head snapped up when a loud voice boomed from somewhere in the ceiling. “Touch him, Alice!”
She glanced back to Luka. His whole body had tensed at the sound, and his eyes were wild.
Before she could react to the sudden command, a bolt of electricity shot through Luka’s chains, causing him to double over and roar in pain.
Alice cried out and moved toward him. As much as she wanted to disobey Helas, she couldn’t allow Luka to suffer. She waited until the electric buzz had faded, then, when she was sure she wouldn’t be shocked, she reached out and tentatively placed her hand on his shoulder. Immediately, he leaned into her touch.
Luka glanced up at her, the pain evident on his face. How hard had Helas kicked him yesterday? If his ribs were broken, then seizing up like that must be excruciating.
Alice raised her other hand as well and caressed her fingertips over his bunched shoulders. His hard muscles relaxed under her touch, and he began purring. She smiled and whispered, “I’ve never heard a man purr before.”
As she rubbed his shoulders more firmly, her musings from the night before came back to her. Luka was very strong. Stronger than any man she’d ever met. What if she was able to get these shackles off him? He’d already proven to be protective of her. He could help them escape.
Smoothing back his hair, she looked into his eyes. “I’m so sorry they’re hurting you. Maybe we can get out of here together.”
I need a plan.
Alice allowed her hands to gently run over Luka’s arm until she reached his wrist. With her back to the camera, she hid his shackle from view and examined it. She’d never picked a lock before, but maybe she could learn.
“Shit,” she whispered under her breath. The thick metal circling his wrist didn’t have a keyhole, or any opening for that matter. Fingerprint. I forgot.
She was just about to move away to examine the metal plate itself when he snagged her hand with his own restrained one. She glanced at him, startled, but saw his eyes were focused on their interlaced fingers. He gently flexed and relaxed his fingers, running them against hers. His eyes slid closed, and his purring intensified.
Butterflies began flapping around in her stomach, and she attempted to tug her hand away. Luka’s eyes shot open, and he looked at her with brows drawn. He squeezed her hand softly then released it.
Even drugged, he was being more of a gentleman than a lot of guys she knew. He wanted to touch her, that much was obvious, but he also released her when she asked him to.
Moving to kneel in front of him again, she reached up and wound her arms around his neck, embracing him in a hug. Luka’s body tightened, and he pulled at the metal around his wrists, trying to get closer to her.
He nuzzled his head against her neck, giving her goosebumps.
Focus, Alice! she scolded.
This closeness was probably giving him the wrong idea, but she needed to talk to him without the guards hearing. In his ear, she whispered, “Can you understand me?”
He said nothing, but stilled when she spoke, so she continued, keeping her voice low in case Helas could hear her as well as see her. “I need your help to break out of here. Can you understand me?”
Again, he said nothing but instead began running his hot mouth over the sensitive flesh just below her ear.
Her plan to whisper to him and work out an escape together had failed, but Luka’s soft touches were helping to melt away her stress, so she hesitated a moment too long before pulling away. Heat flooded her core when his head dipped to press a hot kiss to the junction of her neck and shoulder.
Alice felt his chest expand with his inhale, and a low, rumbling growl escaped him. She jerked away from him and found his eyes were black again. He strained toward her.
Even after everything she’d been through, Alice still found herself drawn to this man, and a fleeting urge to kiss him overwhelmed her.
Embarrassment and shame made her flush, and she quickly scooted away from him. He was restrained and loaded up with drugs to make him horny. Of course he wouldn’t want her to kiss him. He probably didn’t truly want to kiss her either and was only touching her that way because he couldn’t help himself.
“I’m sorry,” she said, hugging her knees to her chest.
Luka glanced at his manacled wrist, then back to her. He released a frustrated breath and closed his eyes in concentration. In a broken voice, he grated, “Come back…Alice.”
Hope soared in her. Alice quickly scooted toward Luka and placed a hand on his knee. “You remembered my name! Can you understand me?”
He said nothing. Frustration overwhelmed her. Still, she thought, if he’s aware enough to remember my name, then maybe he’s fighting off whatever these meds are doing.
Helas had told her he was a scientist. If that was true, it meant Luka had to be at least a little smart. If he could break out of this haze, then maybe he’d have a clear enough mind to think of a way out of here.
A
